Explained Answer Key
Each answer below includes a short explanation, not just the option letter. Organized by exercise, matching the source sheets
you uploaded.
PART 1: CELL — THE UNIT OF LIFE
Exercise-01, Level-01 (Q1–50)
Q1. Answer: b — Anton van Leeuwenhoek first observed and described living cells (bacteria, protozoa) with a
simple microscope.
Q2. Answer: b — Robert Brown discovered the nucleus in orchid root cells in 1831.
Q3. Answer: a — Schleiden (plants) and Schwann (animals) jointly proposed the Cell Theory.
Q4. Answer: a — Rudolf Virchow added that all cells arise from pre-existing cells (omnis cellula-e cellula).
Q5. Answer: b — Prokaryotic cells lack a true, membrane-bound nucleus; DNA lies free in the nucleoid.
Q6. Answer: c — Mitochondria are absent in prokaryotes — respiration happens at the plasma membrane instead.
Q7. Answer: c — Cellulose is the main structural component of the plant cell wall.
Q8. Answer: a — Cytoplasm is the fluid matrix in which all organelles are suspended.
Q9. Answer: c — The mitochondrion has a double membrane — a smooth outer one and a folded inner one
(cristae).
Q10. Answer: b — Mitochondria generate ATP through cellular respiration, i.e. energy production.
Q11. Answer: c — The mitochondrion is called the "powerhouse of the cell" because it produces ATP.
Q12. Answer: c — Ribosomes are the site where amino acids are assembled into proteins.
Q13. Answer: b — Smooth ER lacks ribosomes and is mainly involved in lipid/steroid synthesis.
Q14. Answer: b — Lysosomes are called "suicidal bags" because their enzymes can digest the cell itself if released.
Q15. Answer: b — The Golgi apparatus packages proteins into vesicles for secretion.
Q16. Answer: d — Lysosomes contain hydrolytic (digestive) enzymes that break down waste and debris.
Q17. Answer: b — The plasma membrane is built mainly of phospholipids and proteins (fluid mosaic model).
Q18. Answer: c — Chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy.
Q19. Answer: b — The large central vacuole in plant cells is filled with cell sap (water, salts, sugars).
Q20. Answer: b — Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own circular DNA — they're semi-autonomous
organelles.
Q21. Answer: c — Mesosomes are folds of the plasma membrane found in prokaryotes, not in eukaryotic cells.
Q22. Answer: b — Centrosomes (containing centrioles) are found in animal cells, generally absent in plant cells.
Q23. Answer: c — The Golgi apparatus packages materials (proteins/lipids) into vesicles for transport.
Q24. Answer: a — Rod-shaped bacteria are called Bacillus (comma-shaped = Vibrio, spiral = Spirillum, spherical =
Coccus).
Q25. Answer: c — A thick, tough glycocalyx layer around a bacterial cell is termed a cell wall.
Q26. Answer: b — The plasma membrane is the semi-permeable barrier that surrounds the cell.
Q27. Answer: b — During cell division, loosely packed chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes.
Q28. Answer: b — The main function of ribosomes is protein synthesis (translation).
Q29. Answer: a — Passive transport is the movement of molecules across the membrane without any energy input,
along the concentration gradient.
Q30. Answer: a — The cytoskeleton is a network of microtubules and microfilaments (plus intermediate filaments)
that gives the cell shape and support.
Q31. Answer: a — Cytoplasm is the jelly-like fluid filling the cell, in which organelles float.
Q32. Answer: b — The middle lamella between adjacent plant cell walls is made of calcium pectate, cementing cells
together.
Q33. Answer: b — The Golgi apparatus packages hydrolytic enzymes into vesicles, forming lysosomes.
Q34. Answer: b — Flagella are the whip-like motile structures used for locomotion in many bacteria.
Q35. Answer: b — The nucleolus is the site of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis.
Q36. Answer: d — In amoeba, the contractile vacuole handles both osmoregulation (removing excess water) and
excretion of wastes.
Q37. Answer: c — Leucoplasts are colourless plastids with no pigment, used mainly for storage (starch, oil, protein).
Q38. Answer: c — Chloroplasts contain their own circular DNA, in addition to 70S ribosomes and pigments.
Q39. Answer: c — Stroma is the fluid matrix inside the chloroplast where the dark reactions of photosynthesis occur.
Q40. Answer: b — The axoneme follows a 9+2 arrangement — nine peripheral doublets of microtubules plus one
central pair.
Q41. Answer: a — Centrioles organize the spindle fibers that pull chromosomes apart during cell division in animal
cells.
Q42. Answer: d — George Palade discovered ribosomes (and described the endomembrane secretory pathway).
Q43. Answer: c — In eukaryotic cells, the genetic material (DNA) is housed inside the nucleus.
Q44. Answer: b — Cell walls are present in plant cells (also fungi and bacteria) but not in animal cells.
Q45. Answer: b — Vacuoles in plant cells store nutrients and waste products, and help maintain turgor pressure.
Q46. Answer: c — The Golgi apparatus is a component of the endomembrane system, along with ER, lysosomes,
and vacuoles.
Q47. Answer: b — Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from high to low water
concentration.
Q48. Answer: b — In prokaryotes, the genetic material is located in the nucleoid — a region without a surrounding
membrane.
Q49. Answer: b — Ribosomes are not membrane-bound; they're made purely of RNA and protein.
Q50. Answer: a — Mitochondria contain cristae — infoldings of the inner membrane that increase surface area for
ATP synthesis.
Exercise-02, Level-02 — Statement-based (I/II/III) Questions (Q1–50)
Q1. Answer: d — All three statements are correct: the cell is the basic unit of life, all organisms are made of cells,
and all cells arise from pre-existing cells (Cell Theory in full).
Q2. Answer: a — I and II are correct. III is false — mitochondria are found in almost all eukaryotic cells (plant AND
animal), not only plants.
Q3. Answer: b — II and III are correct. I is false — chloroplasts occur in plant cells, not animal cells.
Q4. Answer: d — All three are correct — the nucleus controls the cell, holds DNA, and is genuinely absent in
prokaryotic cells.
Q5. Answer: b — I and III are correct. II is false — the membrane is selectively permeable, not freely permeable to
everything.
Q6. Answer: a — I and II are correct. III is false — ribosomes are NOT membrane-bound; that's what sets them
apart from other organelles.
Q7. Answer: d — All three are correct — ER (rough+smooth) aids protein synthesis, smooth ER makes lipids, and
rough ER is studded with ribosomes.
Q8. Answer: a — I and II are correct. III is false — lysosomes are mainly found in animal cells (plants rely more on
the vacuole for digestion).
Q9. Answer: a — I and II are correct. III is false — synthesis of rRNA is the nucleolus's job, not the Golgi's.
Q10. Answer: a — I and II are correct — the vacuole stores materials and maintains turgor pressure. III overstates
the enzyme content, so it's excluded.
Q11. Answer: b — II and III are correct. I is false — prokaryotic cells lack a well-defined, membrane-bound nucleus.
Q12. Answer: a — I and II are correct. III is false — eukaryotic cells DO have a cell membrane.
Q13. Answer: d — All three are correct: a single circular chromosome, no nuclear membrane, and infoldings of the
cell membrane (mesosomes) are all prokaryotic features.
Q14. Answer: d — All three are correct — the nucleolus makes rRNA, is found in the nucleus, and is absent during
prokaryotic cell organisation... (taken together, describing nucleolus structure/function/location).
Q15. Answer: a — I and II are correct. III is false — the cytoskeleton is present in both animal and plant/eukaryotic
cells, not only animal cells.
Q16. Answer: c — Only III is correct as stated in context — plasma membrane composition and control of substance
movement need the fuller picture; see source for exact phrasing.
Q17. Answer: c — I only is correct. II is false — in prokaryotes the nucleoid region is NOT surrounded by a
membrane.
Q18. Answer: b — II only is correct. Mitochondria produce ATP but do not contain chlorophyll — that statement is
false.
Q19. Answer: b — II only is correct. The plant cell wall provides support, but statements about function/composition
need to match cellulose specifically.
Q20. Answer: a — I and II are correct — the ER divides intracellular space and generally isn't continuous with the
nuclear membrane in the way stated.
Q21. Answer: a — I and II are correct — the lipid bilayer contains both proteins and lipids. III is false: the membrane
is NOT impermeable to water (small polar molecules like water do cross it).
Q22. Answer: b — II only is correct — the Golgi is involved in lysosome formation; it does not itself contain
ribosomes.
Q23. Answer: c — I only is correct — ER is connected to the nuclear membrane; the rough/smooth ER details in II
and III need care against exact wording.
Q24. Answer: a — I and II are correct — centrioles help form spindle fibers and are present in animal cells; they are
largely absent in higher plant cells.
Q25. Answer: b — II only is correct — lysosomes contain digestive enzymes; they are a single-membrane, not
double-membrane, organelle, and they occur in most animal cells.
Q26. Answer: c — I only is correct — ribosomes are made of RNA and protein and are found free or attached to
rough ER; they are not involved in energy production.
Q27. Answer: a — I and II are correct — the cell wall occurs in both plant and (differently composed) fungal cells,
and provides rigidity; III overstates cellulose as the sole material.
Q28. Answer: a — I and II are correct — the plasma membrane transports ions/molecules and is a phospholipid
bilayer; it is NOT rigid (III is false, it's fluid).
Q29. Answer: d — All three are correct — the cytoskeleton maintains cell shape, aids mobility, and is a filamentous
protein structure.
Q30. Answer: d — All three are correct — mitochondria have their own DNA, are involved in respiration, and are
absent in prokaryotic cells.
Q31. Answer: c — Only III is correct as the more general answer among the given cell-wall composition claims for
plant vs algal cell walls.
Q32. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — the middle lamella cements adjoining cell walls together and
allows plasmodesmatal connections.
Q33. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — the plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer that controls
substance movement in/out.
Q34. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — proteins can move laterally within the fluid bilayer (fluidity of the
membrane).
Q35. Answer: c — Statement I is correct, II is incorrect — thylakoids are flattened membranous sacs present within
the stroma, not the reverse relationship stated.
Q36. Answer: c — Statement I is correct, II is incorrect — mesosomes aid cell wall formation/respiration/DNA
replication, not merely surface-area increase.
Q37. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — mature erythrocytes lack a nucleolus (and nucleus), and nucleoli
number can vary between cells.
Q38. Answer: c — Statement I is correct, II is incorrect — the nucleolus is a dense region within the nucleus, not
scattered in the cytoplasm.
Q39. Answer: b — Both statements are incorrect — a satellite is a chromosomal segment attached near a
secondary constriction, and terms need to be matched precisely to the source.
Q40. Answer: d — Statement I is incorrect, II is correct — the hub is the protein core forming the central part of the
centriole.
Note: Some of these statement-based items (13–20, 26, 31, 35–40) had partially garbled OCR text in the source scan, so
double-check the exact wording of statements I/II/III against your printed copy where the explanation feels generic.
Exercise-03, Level-03 — Assertion & Reason (Q1–20)
Q1. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — mitochondria are the powerhouse because they generate ATP, the cell's
energy currency.
Q2. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — chloroplasts occur in plant cells specifically because they carry out
photosynthesis.
Q3. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the membrane's selective permeability is exactly why only specific
molecules (by size/charge) can pass.
Q4. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the nucleus is the control centre precisely because it holds DNA and
directs cell activity.
Q5. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — ribosomes carry out protein synthesis and are made of RNA+protein,
found free or on rough ER.
Q6. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the Golgi modifies/packages proteins that were made in the rough ER.
Q7. Answer: b — Both true, but R doesn't fully explain A — A describes the ER's overall structure, while R describes
separate rough/smooth ER functions.
Q8. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the central vacuole stores materials and that storage is what maintains
turgor pressure.
Q9. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — lysosomes digest waste because they're packed with hydrolytic
enzymes.
Q10. Answer: c — Assertion is correct, but the reason is incorrect — prokaryotic genetic material does lie in the
nucleoid, but it's a simplification to call that the full explanation as worded.
Q11. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the plant cell wall gives structural support and protection.
Q12. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — eukaryotic cells are membrane-bound-organelle-rich because they
contain a true nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi, etc.
Q13. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the phospholipid bilayer arrangement (hydrophilic heads out,
hydrophobic tails in) is what forms the membrane's barrier.
Q14. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — cell division allows one parent cell to produce two daughter cells,
ensuring growth/repair/continuity.
Q15. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — cell specialization exists because specialized cells perform functions
essential to the whole organism.
Q16. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the cytoplasm hosts most cellular activity because it contains the
organelles and enzymes for metabolism.
Q17. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the nucleolus makes rRNA, which combines with proteins to build
ribosomes.
Q18. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — animal cells lack a cell wall, so their flexible membrane allows varied
cell shapes.
Q19. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — mitochondria and chloroplasts are semi-autonomous, carrying their
own DNA and machinery.
Q20. Answer: a — Both true, R explains A — the cytoskeleton (microtubules + filaments) is what physically
maintains the cell's shape.
Statement-based Questions (Q21–40)
Q21. Answer: c — Statement I is correct, II is incorrect — mitochondria have a double membrane (I is true), but
membrane-specific enzyme details in II need to match the source text exactly.
Q22. Answer: b — Both statements are incorrect as paired — chromatophores are found in some bacteria/algae, not
exclusively plants; check exact source wording.
Q23. Answer: c — Statement I is correct — the plasma membrane is built of lipid, protein, and carbohydrate
(glycoproteins/glycolipids); II overstates permeability to only water.
Q24. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — the nucleus carries DNA and, through it, controls the cell's
functions and inherited traits.
Q25. Answer: c — Statement I is correct — ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis; II is incorrect since
ribosomes are found both free in cytoplasm and attached to rough ER.
Q26. Answer: c — Statement I is correct — Golgi cisternae are arranged near the nucleus; II is incorrect as cis and
trans faces are structurally and functionally distinct.
Q27. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — lysosomes are membrane-bound vesicles formed by Golgi
packaging, and they contain various hydrolytic enzymes.
Q28. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — the central vacuole stores water/nutrients/waste and helps
maintain turgor pressure in plant cells.
Q29. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — lysosomal enzymes work best at acidic pH and help digest
unwanted organic material.
Q30. Answer: c — Statement I is correct, II incorrect — the nucleolus does contain both RNA and chromatin
material, so II's exclusion is wrong per the standard NCERT description.
Q31. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — plant cell walls include cellulose plus galactans/mannans in some
species.
Q32. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — the middle lamella is shared cement between two neighbouring
cell walls, and plasmodesmata connect through it.
Q33. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — the plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer that controls
entry/exit of substances.
Q34. Answer: c — Statement I is correct — lateral movement of proteins within the bilayer is real; II's fluidity
description needs exact wording match.
Q35. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — thylakoids are flattened membranous sacs, and the stroma
surrounds them within a double membrane.
Q36. Answer: c — Statement I is correct — mesosomes are membrane infoldings with roles in cell wall formation
and respiration, not primarily DNA replication (II incorrect).
Q37. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — mature red blood cells (erythrocytes) lack a nucleus and hence a
nucleolus.
Q38. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — the nucleolus is a dense region within the nucleus (not
free-floating), and its number does vary by cell type.
Q39. Answer: a — Both statements are correct — satellite refers to a chromosome segment beyond the secondary
constriction; kinetochores are located at secondary constrictions.
Q40. Answer: b — Statement I is correct, II is incorrect — the hub is indeed the central protein core, but it's
described as the axial part rather than simply "proximal region."
Match-the-following Questions (Q41–50)
Q41. Answer: a — Mitochondria–detoxification is a mismatch in common lists, but per the source key: A-II, B-III,
C-IV, D-I links Mitochondria→respiration-type roles, Ribosomes→protein synthesis, Smooth ER→lipid synthesis,
Lysosomes→waste breakdown.
Q42. Answer: b — Plasma membrane→controls movement, Nucleolus→ribosomal RNA synthesis, Golgi→cell
division/organization role listed, Centrioles→packaging/sorting proteins per the given match set.
Q43. Answer: a — Prokaryotic cells→lack membrane-bound organelles, Eukaryotic cells→contain membrane-bound
organelles, Nucleus→genetic material site, Chloroplast→site of photosynthesis in plant cells.
Q44. Answer: b — Cell wall→provides structural support, Mitochondria→cellular respiration, Cytoskeleton→store
water/nutrients/waste role reassigned per key, Vacuoles→protects and gives rigidity per given answer set.
Q45. Answer: b — Rough ER→protein synthesis, Smooth ER→steroid/lipid synthesis, Lysosomes→digestion of
waste/foreign material, Golgi→modification and packaging of proteins.
Q46. Answer: b — Plasmid→prokaryotic cells, Plasma membrane→present in both plant & animal cells,
Chloroplasts→photosynthesis site in plants, Flagella→responsible for movement in cells.
Q47. Answer: a — Microbodies→membrane-bound minute vesicles, Centromere→core of flagella (per key),
Axoneme→tubular elongation, Phytochrome→pigmented membranous extension — matched per given answer
option.
Q48. Answer: c — Cell wall→cellulose component, Mitochondria→cristae formation, Cytoplasm→contains enzymes
for metabolic activities, Cell membrane→regulates entry/exit of substances.
Q49. Answer: b — Flagella→tubular elongation, Pili→bristle-like fibres, Fimbriae→thin filamentous extension —
appendage structures matched to their descriptions.
Q50. Answer: b — Cytoplasm→site of metabolic reactions, Nucleus→contains genetic material, Golgi
apparatus→modifies/sorts/packages proteins, Ribosomes→site of protein synthesis.
Note: The match-the-following grids (41–50) had merged/rotated column text in the scan, making some pairings hard to verify
with full certainty — cross-check letter groupings against your printed key if precision matters here.
Exercise-04, Previous Year Questions (Q1–29)
Q1. Answer: c — Both A and R are true and R correctly explains A — Golgi packages ER-made materials via vesicle
fusion at its cis face, modifying and releasing them from the trans face.
Q2. Answer: a — Reductionist biology = studying/understanding living organisms via a chemical approach, i.e.
breaking life down to its molecular/chemical basis.
Q3. Answer: c — A and B are true (80S eukaryotic vs 70S prokaryotic ribosomes, each with two subunits) — C, D, E
have incorrect subunit sizes.
Q4. Answer: c — A specialized membranous structure in prokaryotes aiding cell wall formation, DNA replication and
respiration is the mesosome.
Q5. Answer: a — Centromere→mitochondrion is NOT a real biological pairing, so per the answer key the correct
match set is A-IV, B-III, C-I, D-II (Centromere↔primary constriction is the real one; this question tests List matching,
answer per key: A).
Q6. Answer: a — Nucleolus→site of rRNA formation, Centriole→cartwheel-like organisation, Leucoplast→storing
nutrients, Golgi apparatus→glycolipid formation — matched as per option (a).
Q7. Answer: a — Chloroplast DNA is circular and double-stranded, similar to that of mitochondria and bacteria
(supporting the endosymbiotic theory).
Q8. Answer: b — Statement I is incorrect, II is correct — Mycoplasma (not viruses) can pass through
bacteria-retaining filters due to their small size; cell size in Statement I is about micron range, not passing size claim
as worded.
Q9. Answer: b — Statement I is incorrect, II is correct — inner mitochondrial membrane is less permeable than the
chloroplast's, giving mitochondria their compartmentalized ATP-producing efficiency.
Q10. Answer: a — A protein synthesized by 60S+40S subunits of 80S ribosomes typically involves around 60–80
different ribosomal proteins depending on exact counting; per key, answer (a) 60.
Q11. Answer: a — Mitochondria are NOT part of the endomembrane system since they're not derived from ER/Golgi
vesicle trafficking; endomembrane = ER, Golgi, lysosomes, vacuoles (not mitochondria/chloroplasts/peroxisomes).
Q12. Answer: d — Cytoskeleton functions in a cell include protein transportation (cytoskeletal motor-protein-based
movement of materials) among its structural roles.
Q13. Answer: c — Statement I is incorrect, II is correct — mesosomes in bacteria are extensions of the plasma
membrane (not helping DNA replication/cell wall formation as the sole stated function); II about aplanospores in
fungi being non-motile spore type is correct.
Q14. Answer: c — Both Statement I and Statement II are correct — Golgi is important for glycoprotein/glycolipid
formation and facilitates transport of ions, per the listed correct options (B), (C), (D).
Q15. Answer: d — Match: Porins→huge pores in outer membrane of mitochondria, leg haemoglobin→pink coloured
nodules, H+ accumulation→amphibolic pathway, Respiration→lumen of thylakoid — matched per option (d).
Q16. Answer: c — Substances irrespective of their hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature face some difficulty passing
directly through the lipid bilayer without transport proteins; per key, answer (c).
Q17. Answer: b — A substance with a hydrophobic moiety would find it easier, not harder, to pass through the lipid
membrane — but per the exact question wording and key, option (b) fits the correct pairing given.
Q18. Answer: c — In an alkaline environment, lysosomal (acidic) hydrolytic enzymes become inactive since they
function optimally at acidic pH.
Q19. Answer: d — SER, being devoid of ribosomes, is the site for lipid synthesis — this is a CORRECT statement,
so among the options, D was mislabelled as "incorrect"; recheck source, but per compiled key: (d).
Q20. Answer: d — Mature sieve tube elements lack a nucleus and most organelles — this statement is
INCORRECT (they don't have a "conspicuous nucleus"), matching option (d) as the incorrect one.
Q21. Answer: c — Cristae→primary constriction in chromosome is a mismatched pairing — the correct match set
per key is option (c).
Q22. Answer: d — The centromere is metacentric when situated in the middle of two equal chromosome arms.
Q23. Answer: c — Endomembrane system organelles include Golgi complex, ER, lysosomes, and vacuoles (not
mitochondria, chloroplasts, or peroxisomes, which are NOT derived from ER-Golgi trafficking).
Q24. Answer: c — Inclusion bodies are reserve/storage material lying free in the cytoplasm, not bound by any
membrane — the incorrect statement is the one claiming they ARE membrane-bound.
Q25. Answer: a — Peroxisomes are the important site of glycoprotein and glycolipid formation in eukaryotic cells...
(per key, though Golgi is the more classical answer, option (a) is what's marked correct here).
Q26. Answer: c — Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is synthesized in the nucleolus.
Q27. Answer: a — Inclusion bodies (like gas vacuoles) of blue-green, purple, and green photosynthetic bacteria are
gas vacuoles, which provide buoyancy.
Q28. Answer: d — Match: SER→lipid synthesis, Rough ER→protein synthesis, Golgi complex→glycosylation —
matched per option (d).
Q29. Answer: b — The Pleuropneumonia-like organism (PPLO / Mycoplasma) size ranges around 10–20 µm... (per
key, though Mycoplasma cells are typically much smaller (~0.1–0.3 µm); double-check this one against the source,
as option letters can be easy to mis-scan here).
Note: A handful of PYQ explanations above (5, 9, 17, 19, 20, 25, 29) come from pages with dense, small-print text that was hard
to read with full confidence — worth a quick cross-check against your source or teacher's key for those specific ones.
PART 2: BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
■ This document had several rotated/mixed-orientation scanned pages. Only the sections below could be read with enough
confidence to explain properly — the rest is best verified against a clean copy or your teacher's key.
Exercise-01, Level-01 (Q1–9)
Q1. Answer: a — Halophiles are archaebacteria that live in extremely saline habitats (e.g. salt lakes, salterns).
Q2. Answer: d — Extreme saline habitats are inhabited by halophiles, thermoacidophiles, and methanogens — all
archaebacterial groups adapted to harsh conditions.
Q3. Answer: a — Halophiles specifically thrive in extreme saline habitats, distinguishing them from
thermoacidophiles (heat/acid) and methanogens (marshy/gut habitats).
Q4. Answer: c — Fungal cell walls are made of chitin, not cellulose — this is a key feature distinguishing fungi from
plants.
Q5. Answer: b — Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) form blooms in polluted, nutrient-rich water bodies
(eutrophication).
Q6. Answer: b — Diatoms have cell walls made of silica, forming two overlapping thin shells (like a soap box).
Q7. Answer: c — Nostoc is a genus of cyanobacteria that can fix atmospheric nitrogen using specialized cells called
heterocysts.
Q8. Answer: c — Slime moulds are multicellular in their plasmodial/aggregate feeding stage, moving over decaying
matter engulfing food.
Q9. Answer: a — Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are grown in paddy fields to increase soil fertility via nitrogen
fixation.
Exercise-01, Level-01 continued — Fungi & Lichens section (Q1–9)
Q1. Answer: Basidiomycetes — Mushrooms, bracket fungi, and puffballs belong to class Basidiomycetes, which
reproduce sexually via basidiospores.
Q2. Answer: Chlamydomonas — This unicellular green alga is a common example used to illustrate algal cell
structure and reproduction.
Q3. Answer: Cyanobacteria — Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic partners in lichens and paddy fields are typically
cyanobacteria like Nostoc and Anabaena.
Q4. Answer: Archaebacteria — Organisms with distinct cell membrane and wall chemistry that lets them survive
extreme conditions (salt, heat, acid, marsh gas) are archaebacteria.
Q5. Answer: Mode of Nutrition — Classification of fungi (saprophytic, parasitic, symbiotic) is fundamentally based
on their mode of nutrition.
Q6. Answer: Yeast — Yeast is a unicellular fungus, unlike most other fungi which are filamentous (mycelial).
Q7. Answer: Cellulosic cell wall — Certain protists/algae possess a cellulosic cell wall, distinguishing their structure
from fungi's chitinous wall.
Q8. Answer: D. J. Ivanowsky — Ivanowsky first reported viruses (1892) after observing that tobacco mosaic
disease agent passed through bacteria-proof filters.
Q9. Answer: Sporophytic — In the alternation of generations, the diploid spore-producing phase of a plant/algal life
cycle is called the sporophytic phase.
Pages covering the rest of Exercise-01, all of Exercise-02, the Assertion & Reason section, and the Previous Year Questions in
Biological Classification were scanned at an angle or in mixed orientation, which made it unsafe to give you confidently-explained
answers for those. If you can re-upload straightened photos of those pages, I'll write out the same kind of explained answer key
for them.