The Fundamental Unit of Life (Class 9 Science)
The cell is the smallest unit of life and all living organisms are made of cells. Understanding cell structure and function is crucial to biology.
TL;DR: The cell is the smallest unit of life and all living organisms are made of cells. Understanding cell structure and function is crucial to biology.
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The cell is the smallest unit of life and all living organisms are made of cells. Understanding cell structure and function is crucial to biology.
The Fundamental Unit of Life MCQs with Answers & Explanations
Q1. What is the cell?
- Part of atom
- Part of tissue
- Basic unit of life ✓ (correct)
- Part of organ
Explanation: The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
Q2. Who discovered the cell?
- Louis Pasteur
- Isaac Newton
- Antoine Lavoisier
- Robert Hooke ✓ (correct)
Explanation: Robert Hooke discovered the cell in 1665 while observing cork tissue under a microscope.
Q3. What are the two main types of cells?
- Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells ✓ (correct)
- Active and inactive cells
- Plant and animal cells
- Large and small cells
Explanation: Cells are classified as prokaryotic (no membrane-bound nucleus) or eukaryotic (with membrane-bound nucleus).
Q4. What is the control center of the cell?
- Cell membrane
- Nucleus ✓ (correct)
- Ribosome
- Mitochondria
Explanation: The nucleus is the control center that contains genetic material and controls cell activities.
Q5. What is the powerhouse of the cell?
- Nucleus
- Chloroplast
- Mitochondria ✓ (correct)
- Ribosome
Explanation: Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, producing ATP energy through respiration.
Q6. Which organelle is responsible for photosynthesis?
- Mitochondria
- Ribosome
- Nucleus
- Chloroplast ✓ (correct)
Explanation: Chloroplasts are present in plant cells and perform photosynthesis to produce food and oxygen.
Q7. What is the cell membrane?
- A flexible barrier controlling what enters and exits cell ✓ (correct)
- Inside the nucleus
- A rigid outer wall
- Part of cytoplasm
Explanation: The cell membrane is a semi-permeable boundary that controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell.
Q8. What is cytoplasm?
- Part of nucleus
- Thick fluid inside cell containing organelles ✓ (correct)
- Genetic material
- Outside cell boundary
Explanation: Cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance filling the cell, containing all organelles except the nucleus.
Q9. Which is true of plant cells but not animal cells?
- Nucleus
- Cell membrane
- Cell wall and chloroplasts ✓ (correct)
- Mitochondria
Explanation: Plant cells have cell walls (outside membrane) and chloroplasts, which animal cells lack.
Q10. What are ribosomes?
- Energy producers
- Storage organelles
- Genetic material
- Sites of protein synthesis ✓ (correct)
Explanation: Ribosomes are organelles where proteins are synthesized following instructions from DNA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Prokaryotic cells (bacteria) lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles. Eukaryotic cells (plants, animals, fungi) have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Why is the cell membrane called semi-permeable?
The cell membrane is semi-permeable because it allows some substances to pass through (like water and oxygen) while preventing others from entering or leaving freely.
More Class 9 Science MCQs
- Light Reflection and Refraction
- Electricity
- Acids Bases and Salts
- Life Processes
- Carbon and its Compounds
- Metals and Non-metals
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