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50 JAMB and WAEC Biology Questions on Cell Structure and Organelles (With Answers)

This comprehensive set of objective questions covers the fundamental principles of Cell Theory, the contributions of key scientists (Hooke, Dujardin, Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow), and the detailed structure and function of cellular organelles. Topics include the cytoplasm, cell wall, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, plastids, nucleus, and the key differences between plant and animal cells. These questions are designed to test deep comprehension for JAMB and WAEC Biology examinations.

Check – 50 JAMB and WAEC Biology Questions on The Cell as a Living Unit (With Answers)

Biology Questions on Cell Structure and Organelles (With Answers)

The cell theory states that new cells arise from pre-existing cells by
A. spontaneous generation
B. cell division
C. aggregation of protoplasm
D. condensation of chromatin
Who was the first scientist to examine cork tissue and coin the term “cell”?
A. Felix Dujardin
B. Robert Hooke
C. Matthias Schleiden
D. Theodor Schwann
In what year did Robert Hooke discover cells in cork tissue?
A. 1835
B. 1838
C. 1665
D. 1855
The living content of the cell was first named “sarcode” by
A. Purkinje
B. Robert Hooke
C. Rudolf Virchow
D. Felix Dujardin
The term “protoplasm” was first introduced to describe cell content by
A. Felix Dujardin in 1835
B. Purkinje in 1839
C. Theodor Schwann in 1839
D. Matthias Schleiden in 1838
Which scientist concluded that plants are composed of cells?
A. Theodor Schwann
B. Matthias Schleiden
C. Rudolf Virchow
D. Robert Hooke
The statement “all cells come from cells” is attributed to
A. Matthias Schleiden
B. Theodor Schwann
C. Rudolf Virchow
D. Felix Dujardin
The cell is composed of protoplasm which consists of
A. cell wall and cell membrane
B. cytoplasm and nucleus
C. vacuole and plastids
D. endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes
The semi-fluid part of the cytoplasm is responsible for
A. providing rigidity to the plant
B. suspending all living substances including the nucleus
C. manufacturing proteins only
D. storing genetic information
Streaming of the content of the cytoplasm facilitates
A. photosynthesis
B. interchange of materials between organelles
C. cell wall formation
D. nuclear division
The non-living outer boundary of a plant cell made of cellulose is the
A. plasma membrane
B. cell wall
C. tonoplast
D. nuclear membrane
Which of the following structures is absent in animal cells?
A. Mitochondria
B. Nucleus
C. Cellulose cell wall
D. Cytoplasm
The tiny pores in the cell wall allow for
A. selective permeability of the plasma membrane
B. passage of nutrients from one cell to another
C. attachment of ribosomes
D. storage of cell sap
Ribosomes are attached to the surface of the
A. smooth endoplasmic reticulum
B. rough endoplasmic reticulum
C. Golgi apparatus
D. nuclear membrane
The rough endoplasmic reticulum is primarily involved in
A. lipid and steroid synthesis
B. packing and transporting proteins made by ribosomes
C. detoxification of drugs
D. production of cellulose
Which of the following is a function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)?
A. Formation of nuclear membrane during division
B. Attachment of ribosomes
C. Synthesis of lipids and detoxification of drugs
D. Transport of metabolic products within the nucleus
The selectively permeable structure that controls the entry and exit of materials in the cell is the
A. cell wall
B. tonoplast
C. nuclear membrane
D. plasma membrane
The sites of protein synthesis in the cell are the
A. mitochondria
B. ribosomes
C. lysosomes
D. Golgi bodies
Ribosomes contain a large amount of
A. DNA
B. ATP
C. RNA
D. ADP
Mitochondria are often referred to as the “power house” of the cell because they
A. synthesize proteins
B. store genetic information
C. oxidize food substances to release energy
D. digest worn-out organelles
The inner membranes of mitochondria contain enzymes that convert ADP to
A. DNA
B. RNA
C. ATP
D. NADPH
Small round sacs containing digestive enzymes that destroy worn-out cell parts are known as
A. vacuoles
B. ribosomes
C. lysosomes
D. centrioles
One of the functions of lysosomes is to
A. manufacture proteins
B. release enzymes to destroy bacteria cells
C. provide energy for the cell
D. synthesize cellulose
The Golgi apparatus is involved in the manufacture of
A. ribosomes
B. lysosomes
C. centrioles
D. chloroplasts
Which organelle is absent in mature sperms and red blood cells?
A. Mitochondria
B. Nucleus
C. Golgi apparatus
D. Endoplasmic reticulum
In animal cells, centrioles provide spindle fibres to which chromosomes are attached during
A. protein synthesis
B. cell division
C. respiration
D. photosynthesis
Centrioles are generally absent in plant cells except in
A. higher angiosperms
B. some few algae and fungi
C. all bryophytes
D. monocotyledons
The plastid responsible for photosynthesis in green plants is the
A. leucoplast
B. chromoplast
C. chloroplast
D. amyloplast
Colorless plastids used for the storage of starch and lipids are called
A. chloroplasts
B. leucoplasts
C. chromoplasts
D. tonoplasts
The various colors of flower petals are primarily due to the presence of
A. leucoplasts
B. chloroplasts
C. chromoplasts
D. ribosomes
In plant cells, the vacuole is surrounded by a membrane known as the
A. plasma membrane
B. nuclear membrane
C. cell wall
D. tonoplast
The fluid content of a plant vacuole is called
A. nucleoplasm
B. cytoplasm
C. cell sap
D. matrix
Which of the following is NOT a function of the vacuole?
A. Storing nutrients and waste products
B. Containing pigments like anthocyanin for coloration
C. Synthesizing proteins
D. Providing osmotic function via cell sap
The nucleus is separated from the cytoplasm by a thin
A. cell wall
B. nuclear membrane
C. tonoplast
D. plasma membrane
The spherical body found inside the nucleus is the
A. chromatin
B. nucleolus
C. centriole
D. lysosome
Chromosomes are made up of
A. RNA and proteins
B. DNA and proteins (histones)
C. Lipids and carbohydrates
D. ATP and enzymes
According to the passage, DNA does not pass out of the
A. cytoplasm
B. vacuole
C. nucleus
D. mitochondria
Which of the following is a function of the nucleus?
A. Oxidizing food to release energy
B. Carrying chromosomes with hereditary materials
C. Synthesizing lipids
D. Digesting foreign particles
The red blood cell in man lacks a
A. cell membrane
B. cytoplasm
C. nucleus
D. ribosome
A major difference between plant and animal cells is that plant cells possess
A. centrioles
B. glycogen granules
C. chloroplasts
D. irregular shape
In plant cells, the cytoplasm is typically
A. spread throughout the entire cell
B. pushed towards the edge of the wall by a large vacuole
C. located only in the nucleus
D. absent
The carbohydrate storage granule found in animal cells is
A. starch
B. cellulose
C. glycogen
D. chitin
Unlike animal cells, plant cells are usually
A. spherical and indefinite in shape
B. rectangular and definite in shape
C. amoeboid and flexible
D. irregular and constantly changing
The chromatin materials condense to form chromosomes during
A. protein synthesis
B. cell division
C. respiration
D. photosynthesis
The fluid inside the nucleus is known as
A. cytoplasm
B. cell sap
C. nucleoplasm
D. matrix
The enzymes in the smooth ER of the liver are responsible for the detoxification of drugs such as
A. penicillin and aspirin
B. morphine and codeine
C. caffeine and nicotine
D. alcohol and sugar
Rough endoplasmic reticulum assists in the formation of the nuclear membrane during
A. interphase
B. nuclear division
C. protein export
D. lipid synthesis
The organelles that interconnect the various parts of the cell and provide surface for ribosome attachment are the
A. Golgi apparatus
B. mitochondria
C. endoplasmic reticulum
D. centrioles
The pigment that gives coloration to flowers, fruits, and leaves when present in vacuoles is called
A. chlorophyll
B. xanthophyll
C. anthocyanin
D. carotene
The presence of tannins and alkaloids in the vacuole serves to
A. attract pollinators
B. prevent herbivores from eating the plant
C. aid in photosynthesis
D. store energy for germination