CLASS-9 SCIENCE EXTRA QUESTIONS

CHAPTER 5 - THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE

MCQ QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following can be made into crystal?

(a) A Bacterium

(b) An Amoeba

(c) A Virus

(d) A Sperm

2. A cell will swell up if

(a) The concentration of water molecules in the cell is higher than the concentration of
water molecules in surrounding medium

(b) The concentration of water molecules in surrounding medium is higher than water
molecules concentration in the cell

(c) The concentration of water molecules is same in the cell and in the surrounding medium

(d) Concentration of water molecules does not matter

3. Chromosomes are made up of

(a) DNA

(b) Protein

(c) DNA and protein

(d) RNA

4. Which of these options are not a function of Ribosomes? (i) It helps in manufacture of
protein molecules

(ii) It helps in manufacture of enzymes

(iii) It helps in manufacture of hormones

(iv) It helps in manufacture of starch molecules

(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii) (c) (iii) and (iv) (d) (iv) and (i)

5.

Which of these is not related to endoplasmic reticulum?

(a) It behaves as transport channel for proteins between nucleus and cytoplasm

(b) It transports materials between various regions in cytoplasm

(c) It can be the site of energy generation

(d) It can be the site for some biochemical activities of the cell

6. Following are a few definitions of osmosis

Read carefully and select the correct definition

(a) Movement of water molecules from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower
concentration through a semipermeable membrane

(b) Movement of solvent molecules from its higher concentration to lower concentration

(c) Movement of solvent molecules from higher concentration to lower concentration of

solution through a permeable membrane

(d) Movement of solute molecules from lower concentration to higher concentration of

solution through a semipermeable membrane

7. Plasmolysis in a plant cell is defined as

(a) break down (lysis ) of plasma membrane in hypotonic medium

(b) shrinkage of cytoplasm in hypertonic medium

(c) shrinkage of nucleoplasm

(d) none of them

8. Which of the following are covered by a single membrane? (a) Mitochondria

(b) Vacuole

(c) Lysosome

(d) Plastid

9. Find out the false sentences

(a) Golgi apparatus is involved with the formation of lysosomes

(b) Nucleus, mitochondria and plastid have DNA; hence they are able to make their own
structural proteins

(c) Mitochondria is said to be the power house of the cell as ATP is generated in them.

(d) Cytoplasm is called as protoplasm

10. Find out the correct sentence

(a) Enzymes packed in Lysosomes are made through RER (rough endoplasmic reticulum)

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(b) Rough endoplasmic reticulum and smooth endoplasmic reticulum produce lipid and
protein respectively

(c) Endoplasmic reticulum is related with the destruction of plasma membrane

(d) Nucleoid is present inside the nucleoplasm of eukaryotic nucleus

11. Which cell organelle plays a crucial role in detoxifying many poisons and drugs in a cell?

(a) Golgi apparatus

(b) Lysosomes

(c) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

(d) Vacuoles

12. The proteins and lipids, essential for building the cell membrane, are manufactured
by

(a) rough endoplasmic reticulum

(b) golgi apparatus

(c) plasma membrane

(d) mitochondria

13. The undefined nuclear region of prokaryotes are also known as

(a) nucleus

(b) nucleolus

(c) nucleic acid

(d) nucleoid

14. The cell organelle involved in forming complex sugars from simple sugars are

(a) endoplasmic reticulum

(b) ribosomes

(c) plastids

(d) golgi apparatus

15. Which out of the following is not a function of vacuole?

(a) Storage

(b) Providing turgidity and rigidity to the cell

(c) Waste excretion

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(d) Locomotion

ANSWER

1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (c)

5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (b)

9. (a) 10. (a) 11. (c) 12. (a)

13.(d) 14.(d) 15.(d)

Q.1Who coined the term protoplasm?(1 Mark)

Ans.J.E. Purkinje

Q.2On what factors do shape and size of cell depend?(1 Mark)

Ans.The shape and size of cell depend on the functions they perform.

Q.3Name the cell organelle in which cristae are present?(1 Mark)

Ans.Mitochondria

Q.4Name the cell organelle that is found only in animal cell.(1 Mark)

Ans.Centriole

Q.5Name the cell organelles that are found only in plant cell.(1 Mark)

Ans.Plastids and cell wall.

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Q.6What is Tonoplast?(1 Mark)

Ans.Outer membrane of vacuole.

Q.7Name two-cell organelles, which have DNA apart from nucleus.(1 Mark)

Ans.(i)Plastids

(ii) Mitochondria

Q.8Name the substances, of which cell membrane and cell wall are made up of.

(1 Mark)

Ans.Cell membrane is made up of proteins and lipids. Cell wall is made up of cellulose.

Q.9Which cell organelle is known as the kitchen of the cell, why? (2

Marks)

Ans. Chloroplast is known as kitchen of the cell as photosynthesis takes place in them

resulting in synthesis of food.

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Q.10 What are the types of plastids? Write their names and fuctions. (3
Marks)

Ans.Plastids are of three types -

(i) Leucoplasts

(ii) Chromoplasts

(iii) Chloroplasts

Leucoplasts store starch, protein and fat.

Chromoplasts provide colour to fruits and flowers.

Green coloured chloroplast is the site of photosynthesis as it contains chlorophyll.

Q.11Why are Mitochondria known as powerhouse of the cell? (2

Marks)

Ans. Mitochondria are called powerhouse of cell because respiration takes place in these
organelle and energy is released in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The
cell to perform various functions such as mechanical work and making of new
chemical compound uses this energy.

Q.12Explain the structure of Mitochondria. (3 Marks)

Ans. Mitochondria has a double membrane. The outer membrane is porous and inner
membrane is deeply folded. These folds are known as cristae and they provide a
large surface area for ATP generating chemical reactions. Mitochondria have their
own DNA. Hence, they are also known as semiautonomous bodies.

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Q.13Write one fuctions of each of the following cell organelles. (5 Marks)

a)Plasma membrane

b) Mitochondria

c) Lysosomes

d) Endoplasmic reticulum

e) Vacuoles

Ans.a)Plasma membrane or cell membrane

It controls the entry and exit of material from the cell to outside and from
outside to inside. It also protects the cell.

b) Mitochondria - Cellular respiration takes place resulting in release of

energy. Hence, they are also known as powerhouse of the cell.

c) Lysosomes - They contain powerful enzyme that can digest and remove
worn out cell
organelles.

d) Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) - Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)-It

synthesizes proteins. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)- It synthesizes fats
and lipids.

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 e) Vacuoles, - They are filled with a liquid cell sap and provide turgidity and
rigidity to plant cells.

Q.14. How will you relate nucleus with DNA?(3 Marks)

Ans. Nucleus is located in the center of the cell. It is the main cell organelle and controls
all the activities of cell. A membrane having pores surrounds it. Its chief
compounds are chromatin material and nucleolus. Chromatin material when
condenses form knot like structures called chromosomes. Chromosomes contain
hereditary units called genes, which in turn are made up of DNA. These DNA are
carriers of characters from one generation to another.

Q.15 Name the living parts of a cell.(2 Marks)

Ans.1.Plasma Membrane

2.Cytoplasm

3. Endoplasmic reticular (ER)

(a) Smooth ER
(b) Rough ER

4.Mitochondria

5.Golgi apparatus

6.Ribosomes

7. Lysosomes

8. Centrioles (animals only)

9. Plastids (plants only)

Q.16Name the non - living parts of a cell. (2 Marks)

Ans.1.Cell wall (plants only)

2. Vacuoles

3. Granules (cell inclusions)

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Q.17Who discovered the cell? (1 Mark)

Ans.Robert Hooke discovered the cells.

Q.18When and how the cells were discovered? (2 Marks)

Ans. Cork is a substance, which comes from the bark of a tree. In 1665, Robert Hooke
observed a thin slice of cork through a self - designed microscope and saw that the
cork resembled the structure of a honeycomb consisting of many little
compartments. Robert Hooke called these boxes cells. Cell is a Latin word for a
little room.

Q.19Who discovered free-living cells and how? (2 Marks)

Ans. Leeuwenhoek with the improved microscope discovered the free-living cells in pond
water for the first time.

Q.20Who discovered the nucleus in the cell? (1 Mark)

Ans.Robert Brown in 1831 discovered the nucleus in the cell.

Q.21Who presented the cell theory for the first time? What was it?
(2Marks)

Ans. Two biologists, Schleiden (1839) and Schwann (1839) presented the cell theory.
This stated that all the plants and animals are composed of cells and the cell is the
basic unit of life.

Q.22What are unicellular organisms? Give examples. (2 Marks)

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Ans. Some organisms are made up of a single cell only. They are known as unicellular
organisms. e.g. Amoeba, Chlamydomonas, Paramecium and Bacteria.

Q.23What are multicellular organisms? Give examples. (2 Marks)

Ans. The organisms which are made up of many cells and various cells perform various
functions of the body are known as multicellular organisms e.g.fungi, plants,
animals.

Q.24Every multi - cellular organism has come from a single cell. How? (1 Mark)

Ans. Cells divide to produce cells of their own kind. Thus, all cells come from pre -
existing cells.

Q.25Why is the cell called the structural and functional unit of life?(2 Marks)

Ans. Cell is called structural and functional unit of life because -

(i) All the living organisms are made up of cells

(ii) All the functions taking place in the body of organisms are also performed by
cells.

Q.26 Name two major functional regions of a cell. (1 Mark)

Ans.The two major functional regions of a cell are-

a) Nucleus

b) Cytoplasm

Q.27Draw various cells from Human body (5 Mark)

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Q.28 Define- a) Diffusion b) Osmosis( 3 Marks )

Ans. a) Diffusion - It is the spontaneous movement of molecules from a region of high

concentration to lower concentration, leading finally to uniform concentration. It is
faster in the gaseous phase than in liquids and solids.

b) Osmosis - It is the passage of solvent (water) from a region of higher

concentration

through a semi - permeable membrane to a region of lower concentration. Osmosis

is a

purely mechanical process by which cells absorb water without spending any
amount of

energy.

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Q.29 Differentiate between diffusion and osmosis. (5 Marks)

Ans.

Diffusion
OSMOSIS

1. Diffusion can occur in any 1. It occurs only in liquid medium.

medium.
2. The diffusing molecules may
be solvent.
3. Semi permeable membrane is 2. It involves movement of solvent
not required. molecules only.
4. It is dependent upon the free
energy of the diffusing
3. Semi permeable membrane is required.
molecules and independent of
molecules of other substances
in the system.
5. An equilibrium in the free
4. Though it is the diffusion of solvent
energy of diffusion molecules
is achieved in the system. molecules only yet influenced by the
presence of other substances (solutes) in
the system.

5.Equilibrium in the free energy of solvent

molecules is never achieved.

Q.30Write any three differences between the plasma membrane and cell well.

(3 Marks)

Ans.

Plasma Membrane
CELL WALL

1.It is made up of lipids and protein. 1.It is made up of cellulose.

2.It is living. 2.It is dead.

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 3. Present in both plant and animal 3.Found exclusively in plant cell.
cell.
4.Cell wall provides structural strength
4.It regulates entry and exit of to the plants.
molecules

in and out of the cell.

Q.31How does an Amoeba obtain its food? (3 Marks)

Ans. Amoeba engulfs its food by forming pseudopodia around the food particle.

These pseudopodia are projections of cell membrane. Once surrounded by

pseudopodia the

food becomes part of cell and it forms a food vacuole. This method of engulfing
food is

termed as endocytosis (phagocytosis).

Q.32What will happen if we put an animal cell or a plant cell into a solution of

sugar or salt in water?(5 Marks )

Ans. Osmosis will take place and the movement of water molecules will depend on the
concentration of the surrounding solution.

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 1. If the medium surrounding the cell has a higher water concentration than the cell,
it means that the outside solution is very dilute, then the cell will gain water by
osmosis. Such a solution is known as a hypotonic solution. The cell is likely to swell
up. This is called endosmosis.

2. If the medium has exactly the same water concentration as the cell, there will be
no net movement of water across the cell membrane. Such a solution is known as
an isotonic solution. The cell will stay the same size.

3. If the solution has a lower concentration of water than the cell, meaning that it is
a very concentrated solution, the cell will lose water by osmosis. Such a solution is
known as a hypertonic solution. The cell will shrink. This process is called
exosmosis.

Q.33Explain the terms.(3 Marks)

a)Endocytosis.

b)Plasmolsis.

Ans. a) Endocytosis- The flexibility of the cell membrane enables the cell to engulf in
food and other material from its external environment. Such processes are known
as endocytosis.

b) Plasmolysis - When a living plant cell loses water through osmosis, there is
shrinkage or contraction of the contents of the cell away from the cell wall. This
phenomenon is known as plasmolysis.

Q.34How do substances like CO2 and water move in and out of the cell?(3
Marks)

Ans. Gases like CO2 and O2 move in the and out of the cell by diffusion from their
higher concentration to lower concentration.

Water enters the cell by endosmosis through semi - permeable plasma membrane
from its higher concentration to lower concentration.

Similarly, water moves out of the cell by exosmosis when a cell is placed in a
hypertonic solution.

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Q.35Why is the plasmamembranes called a selectively permeable membrane? (2
Marks)

Ans. The plasma membrane allows or permits the entry and exit of some materials in
and out of the cell. It also prevents movement of some other materials in the cell
membrane. Therefore, it is called a selectively permeable membrane.

Q.36What are chromosomes? Where are they present in the cell? (2 Marks)

Ans. Chromosomes are visible rod - shaped structures present in the nucleus.

They are composed of DNA and protein.

Chromosomes contain information for inheritable features from parents to next

generation in the form of DNA molecules

Q.37 Match the following.(2 Marks)

A B
1. Master of the cell A. Mitochondria
2. Powerhouse of the cell B. Nucleus
3. Protein factories of cell C. Chloroplast
4. Kitchen of the cell D. Ribosome

Ans. 1- B, 2- A,3- D,4 – C

Q.38Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell. (5 Marks)

Ans.

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 Feature Prokaryotic cell
1. Nucleus Lacks true nucleus. Circular
DNA lies naked in the
cytoplasm. No chromosomes,
nucleolus or nuclear
membrane.
Nuclecoplasm undifferentiated
from cytoplasm.
2. Organelles Membrane – bound organelles
like Golgibodies, plastids,
mitochondria and endoplasmic
reticular (ER) are absent.
3. Cell division Divides by simple fission,
spindle is not formed, no
mitosis and meiosis.
4. Examples Bacteria and cyanobacterica
(blue – green algae).
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Eurkaryotic
True nucleus bound by
nuclear membrane contains
DNA, chromosomes,
nucleolus and nuclear
membrane present,
Nucleoplasm differentiated
from cytoplasm.
Membrane – bound
organelles present.
Divides by mitosis or by
meiosis.
All other organism.