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A Level Biology: Cell structure MCQs — Biology

25 multiple-choice questions on A Level Biology: Cell structure from Biology, each with the correct answer and, where available, a teacher's explanation. Read through them to revise the chapter, then practise the same questions one by one to test yourself.

1. Electron microscopes have a higher resolution because

  1. electrons are larger than photons
  2. electrons have a much shorter wavelength than light
  3. the specimen is stained
  4. they use glass lenses

Answer: B) electrons have a much shorter wavelength than light

Explanation: Shorter wavelength gives better resolution. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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2. Cells use ATP as

  1. the immediate energy source for energy-requiring processes
  2. a long-term energy store
  3. an enzyme
  4. a structural molecule

Answer: A) the immediate energy source for energy-requiring processes

Explanation: ATP releases energy when hydrolysed. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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3. Which feature is found in a typical bacterium?

  1. 80S ribosomes
  2. Mitochondria
  3. Peptidoglycan cell wall
  4. Nuclear envelope

Answer: C) Peptidoglycan cell wall

Explanation: Bacteria have peptidoglycan walls. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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4. A scale bar labelled 10 µm measures 20 mm on a micrograph. The magnification is

  1. ×2000
  2. ×200
  3. ×500
  4. ×20 000

Answer: A) ×2000

Explanation: 20 000 µm ÷ 10 µm = 2000. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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5. The size range of a typical prokaryotic cell is

  1. 10–100 µm
  2. 1–5 µm
  3. 1–5 mm
  4. 0.1–0.5 nm

Answer: B) 1–5 µm

Explanation: Bacteria are about 1–5 µm. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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6. The resolution of a light microscope is about

  1. 200 nm
  2. 2 µm
  3. 20 nm
  4. 0.5 nm

Answer: A) 200 nm

Explanation: Light limits resolution to about 200 nm. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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7. The membrane surrounding the large permanent vacuole is the

  1. nuclear envelope
  2. capsid
  3. tonoplast
  4. cristae

Answer: C) tonoplast

Explanation: The tonoplast surrounds the vacuole. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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8. Plasmodesmata are

  1. hair-like structures that beat
  2. folds of the membrane for absorption
  3. channels through plant cell walls linking adjacent cells
  4. stacks of thylakoids

Answer: C) channels through plant cell walls linking adjacent cells

Explanation: They connect cytoplasm of neighbouring cells. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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9. The function of the nucleolus is to

  1. digest old organelles
  2. make lipids
  3. make ribosomes
  4. produce ATP

Answer: C) make ribosomes

Explanation: The nucleolus makes rRNA and ribosomes. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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10. Which is present in plant cells but not in animal cells?

  1. Ribosomes
  2. Plasmodesmata
  3. Mitochondria
  4. Golgi body

Answer: B) Plasmodesmata

Explanation: Plasmodesmata cross plant cell walls. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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11. An eyepiece graticule must be recalibrated when

  1. the light is dimmed
  2. the slide is moved
  3. the specimen is changed
  4. the objective lens is changed

Answer: D) the objective lens is changed

Explanation: Each objective changes the value of one eyepiece unit. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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12. How many nanometres are in one micrometre?

  1. 1 000 000
  2. 1000
  3. 10
  4. 100

Answer: B) 1000

Explanation: 1 µm = 1000 nm. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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13. Microvilli are found on cells that

  1. photosynthesise
  2. contract
  3. absorb substances, such as in the small intestine
  4. divide rapidly

Answer: C) absorb substances, such as in the small intestine

Explanation: Microvilli increase surface area. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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14. Resolution is best defined as

  1. the brightness of the image
  2. how many times larger the image is
  3. the depth of the specimen
  4. the ability to distinguish two points as separate

Answer: D) the ability to distinguish two points as separate

Explanation: Definition of resolution. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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15. On a stage micrometer, 1 division = 10 µm. 25 eyepiece units match 5 micrometer divisions. One eyepiece unit equals

  1. 2 µm
  2. 5 µm
  3. 50 µm
  4. 0.5 µm

Answer: A) 2 µm

Explanation: 5 × 10 = 50 µm ÷ 25 = 2 µm. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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16. A structure is 25 mm long on a micrograph at ×5000. Its actual length is

  1. 0.5 µm
  2. 50 µm
  3. 5 µm
  4. 125 µm

Answer: C) 5 µm

Explanation: 25 000 µm ÷ 5000 = 5 µm. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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17. Which organelles contain 70S ribosomes?

  1. Mitochondria and chloroplasts
  2. Rough ER and smooth ER
  3. Lysosomes and vacuoles
  4. Nucleus and Golgi body

Answer: A) Mitochondria and chloroplasts

Explanation: These organelles contain 70S ribosomes and circular DNA. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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18. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is involved in

  1. DNA replication
  2. lipid synthesis
  3. protein synthesis on ribosomes
  4. making the cell wall only

Answer: B) lipid synthesis

Explanation: SER makes lipids and steroids. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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19. Viruses are described as non-cellular because they

  1. contain DNA
  2. have no cytoplasm, membranes or ribosomes of their own
  3. are very small
  4. have a protein coat

Answer: B) have no cytoplasm, membranes or ribosomes of their own

Explanation: They are nucleic acid in a capsid. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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20. Lysosomes contain

  1. hydrolytic enzymes
  2. chlorophyll
  3. ribosomes
  4. DNA

Answer: A) hydrolytic enzymes

Explanation: Lysosomes digest materials with hydrolytic enzymes. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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21. Which structures are made of tubulin?

  1. Lysosomes
  2. Plasmodesmata
  3. Microtubules
  4. Ribosomes

Answer: C) Microtubules

Explanation: Microtubules are polymers of tubulin. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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22. Which is a disadvantage of electron microscopes?

  1. Specimens must be dead and in a vacuum
  2. Their resolution is poor
  3. They cannot show organelles
  4. They only show colour images

Answer: A) Specimens must be dead and in a vacuum

Explanation: Electron beams need a vacuum. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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23. Which organelle modifies proteins and packages them into vesicles?

  1. Rough ER
  2. Lysosome
  3. Nucleolus
  4. Golgi body

Answer: D) Golgi body

Explanation: The Golgi modifies and packages proteins. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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24. Centrioles are involved in

  1. lipid synthesis
  2. photosynthesis
  3. storing starch
  4. organising the spindle during cell division

Answer: D) organising the spindle during cell division

Explanation: Centrioles organise microtubules of the spindle. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.2 Cells as the basic units of living organisms

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25. Which microscope produces three-dimensional surface images?

  1. Stage micrometer
  2. Transmission electron microscope
  3. Light microscope
  4. Scanning electron microscope

Answer: D) Scanning electron microscope

Explanation: SEM scans the surface. AS & A Level Biology · Topic 1 Cell Structure · 1.1 The microscope in cell studies

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