Table of Contents

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

This comprehensive set of objective questions covers the fundamental concept of the cell as the basic structural and functional unit of life. Based on the detailed characteristics of unicellular organisms such as Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena, and Chlamydomonas, as well as colonial and filamentous forms like Volvox and Spirogyra, these questions test your knowledge of cellular organization, organelles, and life processes. Use these 50 questions to master the topic of cell structure and function for your JAMB and WAEC examinations.

Check – 50 JAMB and WAEC Biology Questions on Kingdom Plantae (With Answers)

Biology Questions on The Cell as a Living Unit (With Answers)

The organized complex material of which living cells are made is called the
A. cytoplasm
B. nucleus
C. protoplasm
D. cell wall
The cell is regarded as the basic unit of all living things primarily because it
A. is microscopic in nature
B. can carry out all life activities
C. contains a nucleus
D. is surrounded by a membrane
Which of the following is an example of a unicellular organism?
A. Hydra
B. Earthworm
C. Amoeba
D. Mango
According to the passage, the smallest cell is
A. Sperm cell
B. Nerve cell
C. Mycoplasma
D. Ostrich egg cell
The largest single cell in living organisms is the
A. female ovum
B. unfertilized egg of a bird
C. nerve cell
D. sperm cell
The longest cell mentioned in the passage is the
A. mycoplasma
B. sperm cell
C. nerve cell
D. ostrich egg
The largest cell in the human body is the
A. sperm cell
B. cheek cell
C. nerve cell
D. female ovum
The smallest cell in the human body is the
A. female ovum
B. male gamete (sperm cell)
C. cheek cell
D. nerve cell
Amoeba can be compared with a multicellular organism because it
A. has ability to perform all functions of a complex organism
B. undergoes sexual reproduction only
C. possesses large cells within its endoplasm
D. has ability to synthesize glucose from raw materials
In unicellular organisms, organelles are equivalent to what in multicellular organisms?
A. Tissues
B. Systems
C. Organs
D. Cells
Amoeba proteus is described as having
A. a definite slipper shape
B. a spherical shape
C. no definite shape
D. a filamentous shape
The movement of Amoeba by extending and retracting pseudopods is known as
A. ciliary movement
B. amoeboid movement
C. euglenoid movement
D. flagellar movement
The cytoplasm of Amoeba is divided into two layers. The non-granular outer layer is called the
A. endoplasm
B. pellicle
C. ectoplasm
D. vacuole
In Amoeba, the structure used for movement and food capture is the
A. flagellum
B. cilia
C. pseudopodium
D. gullet
The organelle in Amoeba responsible for excreting liquid waste and osmoregulation is the
A. food vacuole
B. contractile vacuole
C. nucleus
D. ectoplasm
In Amoeba, the site of food digestion is the
A. contractile vacuole
B. nucleus
C. food vacuole
D. pseudopodium
Paramecium caudatum is described as having a
A. slipper shape
B. spherical shape
C. filamentous shape
D. irregular shape
How many nuclei does Paramecium possess?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. None
In Paramecium, the micronucleus controls
A. digestion of food
B. movement through cilia
C. sexual reproduction
D. osmoregulation
The macronucleus (meganucleus) in Paramecium controls
A. only sexual reproduction
B. other non-reproductive activities of the cell
C. formation of food vacuoles
D. defense mechanisms
The structure used for movement in Paramecium is the
A. flagellum
B. pseudopodium
C. cilia
D. pellicle
In Paramecium, the trichocyst is used for
A. digestion
B. trapping prey and defense
C. maintaining shape
D. forming food vacuoles
The structure that helps Paramecium maintain a definite shape is the
A. ectoplasm
B. cell wall
C. pellicle
D. gullet
Euglena viridis shows both plant-like and animal-like features. Which of the following is an animal-like characteristic of Euglena?
A. Possession of chloroplast
B. Storage of starch as paramylum granules
C. Possession of flagellum for locomotion
D. Possession of pyrenoid
Which of the following is a plant-like characteristic of Euglena?
A. Presence of contractile vacuole
B. Possession of eyespot
C. Ability to carry out holozoic nutrition
D. Possession of chloroplast for photosynthesis
In Euglena, the structure responsible for response to light stimulus is the
A. gullet
B. contractile vacuole
C. eyespot
D. pellicle
The pellicle in Euglena is responsible for
A. photosynthesis
B. Euglenoid movement
C. ingestion of food
D. osmoregulation
Chlamydomonas is also called the green yeast due to its
A. ability to ferment sugar
B. shape and size
C. habitat in water
D. method of reproduction
Which of the following is an animal characteristic of Chlamydomonas?
A. Presence of chloroplast
B. Storage of starch
C. Presence of contractile vacuole
D. Presence of hemicellulose cell wall
The structure in Chlamydomonas that helps it respond to light is the
A. pyrenoid
B. chloroplast
C. contractile vacuole
D. eyespot
The pyrenoid in Chlamydomonas functions to
A. aid in locomotion
B. store starch
C. excrete waste
D. capture light
A colony is defined as several similar cells united by
A. cellulose walls
B. protoplasmic strands
C. chitin bridges
D. flagellar connections
In which of the following colonies can individual cells NOT exist independently?
A. Eudorina
B. Pandorina
C. Volvox
D. Sponges
In filamentous organisms, cells are arranged
A. in a spherical mass
B. end to end in a linear form
C. randomly with no pattern
D. in a cuboidal layer
An example of a filamentous organism mentioned in the passage is
A. Volvox
B. Eudorina
C. Spirogyra
D. Amoeba
The slippery nature of Spirogyra is due to the presence of
A. an inner layer of cellulose
B. an outer layer of pectin
C. a layer of chitin
D. a mucilaginous sheath of protein
In Spirogyra, the pyrenoid is associated with the deposition of
A. protein only
B. starch
C. glycogen
D. lipid
Which of the following is a key difference between colonial and filamentous organisms regarding cell walls?
A. Intercellular wall is present in colonial organisms
B. Intercellular wall is absent in colonial organisms
C. Both have intercellular walls made of pectin
D. Neither has an intercellular wall
In colonial organisms, there is division of labour because cells are
A. independent and identical
B. physiologically dependent
C. arranged end to end
D. separated by cellulose walls
In filamentous organisms, individual cells
A. are physiologically dependent with division of labour
B. cannot function independently
C. function independently with no division of labour
D. are held together by cytoplasmic strands
Cells that become specialized to carry out specific functions
A. can exist independently like Amoeba
B. cannot exist on their own
C. lose their nucleus
D. become unicellular
The cell is considered the functional unit of living organisms because
A. multicellular organisms are made up of cells
B. the function of a multicellular organism is the sum total of the functions of its constituent cells
C. all cells in a multicellular organism are similar in structure
D. a single cell functions better than a multicellular organism
Which of the following forms of existence is characterized by similar cells joining end to end?
A. Colony
B. Independent organism
C. Filament
D. Part of a living organism
The contractile vacuoles in Paramecium are located
A. only at the anterior end
B. only at the posterior end
C. one anterior and one posterior
D. scattered throughout the cytoplasm
In Amoeba, the granular inner layer of cytoplasm is called the
A. ectoplasm
B. pellicle
C. endoplasm
D. plasmagel
Which of the following organisms is described as the simplest heterotrophic unicellular organism?
A. Paramecium
B. Euglena
C. Amoeba proteus
D. Chlamydomonas
The nucleus of Amoeba is responsible for all the following EXCEPT
A. controlling cellular activities
B. carrying hereditary units (chromosomes)
C. initiating cell division
D. capturing food
In the absence of light, Euglena can carry out
A. photosynthesis
B. holozoic nutrition
C. saprophytic nutrition
D. parasitic nutrition
The gullet in Paramecium helps to
A. excrete waste
B. trap prey
C. form food vacuoles
D. regulate water balance
An example of an organism that exists as part of another living organism is the
A. Volvox cell
B. cheek cell
C. Spirogyra cell
D. Euglena cell