CLASS 9 — SCIENCE

Chapter 2: Cell — The Building Block of Life

HIGH-PROBABILITY EXAM QUESTION BANK

Strictly based on the uploaded NCERT/Exploration Grade 9 textbook chapter

Most Expected Definition Important Remember Exam Trap Quick Revision
Prepared by Sir DEBA (MBBS)

SECTION A — VERY HIGH PROBABILITY (Most

Expected) All .

1-Mark Questions (Definitions / One-word / Fill in blanks)

Q. What is the limit of resolution of the human eye? [1 Mark]

● 0.1 mm — two points closer than this appear as a single point.
Q. Who observed the cell first and when? [1 Mark]
● Robert Hooke, in 1665, using a self-designed microscope; he observed cork cells.
Q. What is the plasma membrane also called? [1 Mark]
● Cell membrane — the selectively permeable boundary of the cell.
Q. Define osmosis. [1 Mark]
● The movement of water molecules from a region of higher water (dilute solution) to lower water (concentrated
solution) concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.

Q. Define diffusion. [1 Mark]

● The net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration (occurs even
without a membrane).

Q. Name the model that explains the structure of the cell

membrane. [1 Mark]
● Fluid-mosaic model.
Q. What is the main chemical component of the plant cell wall? [1
Mark]

● Cellulose.
Q. Who discovered the Golgi apparatus and when? [1 Mark]
 ● Camillo Golgi (Italian scientist), in 1898.
Q. What is the 'powerhouse of the cell'? [1 Mark]
● Mitochondria.
Q. What is chromatin? [1 Mark]
● The entangled, thread-like mass of DNA and protein present in the nucleus of a non-dividing cell.
Q. What are the functional segments of DNA called? [1 Mark]
● Genes.
Q. What is the region containing genetic material in a
prokaryotic cell called? [1 Mark]
● Nucleoid.
Q. Name the green pigment present in chloroplasts. [1 Mark]
● Chlorophyll.
Q. What is the fluid part of the chloroplast called? [1 Mark]
● Stroma.
Q. What is cell sap? [1 Mark]
● The watery fluid filling the vacuole of a plant cell.
Q. Define cell division. [1 Mark]
● The process by which new cells are formed from pre-existing cells.
Q. Name the two types of cell division. [1 Mark]
● Mitosis and Meiosis.
Q. Where does meiosis occur in humans? [1 Mark]
● In the testes (males) and ovaries (females).
Q. What is contact inhibition? [1 Mark]
● The stopping of cell division when animal cells come in contact with neighbouring cells.
Q. Define Cell Theory (any one point). [1 Mark]
● All living organisms are made up of one or more cells; the cell is the basic unit of structure and function; all cells
arise from pre-existing cells.

Q. Who gave the Cell Theory (three scientists)? [1 Mark]

● Matthias Schleiden (1838, plants), Theodor Schwann (1839, animals), Rudolf Virchow (1855, cells arise from pre-
 existing cells).

Q. What is a nanometre? [1 Mark]

● One-billionth of a metre (1 nm = 0.000001 mm).
Q. Name the heat-loving unicellular bacteria found in hot
springs. [1 Mark]
● Thermophiles.
2-Mark Questions

Q. Why is a cell usually too small to be seen by the unaided

(naked) eye? [2 Marks]
● The size of most cells (10–100 µm for eukaryotic cells) is far below the limit of resolution of the human eye (0.1
mm = 100 µm), so individual cells cannot be distinguished without magnification.

Q. Differentiate between diffusion and osmosis. [2 Marks] V. V. Imp

● Diffusion: net movement of particles from higher to lower concentration; occurs even without a membrane; can
involve any particles.

● Osmosis: movement of water only, across a selectively permeable membrane, from a dilute to a concentrated
solution.

Q. What is meant by a selectively permeable membrane? Give

one example. [2 Marks] v. v. IMP .

● A membrane that allows only certain substances to pass through while blocking others. Example: the cell/plasma
membrane allows water to pass but blocks salt or sugar molecules.

Q. Why do plant cells not shrink in concentrated sugar/salt

solution, though animal cells do? [2 Marks] V. Wimp
'

● Plant cells have a rigid cell wall which maintains their overall shape; only the cell membrane pulls away from the
wall (plasmolysis) while the wall stays intact. Animal cells lack a cell wall, so they shrink completely (crenation).

Q. State two functions of the cell wall. [2 Marks] V. v. imp .

● (i) Provides rigidity/structural support so plants can withstand wind and rain. (ii) Helps leaves, flowers and the
whole plant remain firm and upright; also permeable, helping absorption of water and minerals.

Q. What is the fluid-mosaic model of the cell membrane? [2 Marks] V. v. Imp

● It explains that the membrane has a lipid bilayer (water-attracting heads outward, water-repelling tails inward) with
proteins embedded like tiles in a mosaic; molecules can move sideways, flip and rotate, making the membrane fluid.

Q. Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (any

two points). [2 Marks] V.V. IMP 2201 .

● Prokaryotic: no well-defined nucleus (nucleoid present), no membrane-bound organelles, usually unicellular,

diameter 1–10 µm.
 ● Eukaryotic: well-defined nucleus, membrane-bound organelles present, can be unicellular or multicellular, diameter
10–100 µm.

Q. What are the three basic parts of a cell? [2 Marks]

● (i) Plasma/cell membrane (selectively permeable). (ii) Cytoplasm (semi-fluid, jelly-like substance). (iii) Nucleus
(prominent, contains genetic material).

Q. Give the functions of the nucleolus and nuclear pores. [2 Marks]

= :
● Nucleolus: site of synthesis of ribosomal subunits, which exit to the cytoplasm to form ribosomes. Nuclear pores:
allow transfer of material between the nucleus and cytoplasm.

Q. Differentiate between RER and SER. [2 Marks] V.v. IMP .

● RER (Rough ER): has ribosomes attached, so looks rough; involved in protein synthesis and secretion (e.g.,
n o t
pancreatic cells).

● SER (Smooth ER): lacks ribosomes, looks smooth; involved in synthesis and storage of fats (lipids) and hormones.
Q. What is the function of the Golgi apparatus? [2 Marks] V. Vitimp
● It modifies, sorts and packages proteins and/or lipids into vesicles for transport, secretion, or lysosome formation —
acting like the cell's post office.

Q. What are lysosomes? State their function. [2 Marks] V.v. IMP .

● Single membrane-bound sacs filled with enzymes. They break down unwanted proteins, carbohydrates, fats and
damaged organelles, keeping the cell clean ("clean-up system").

Q. Describe the structure of mitochondria. [2 Marks] v. v. IMP 2201 .

● Mitochondria are surrounded by two membranes — a smooth, porous outer membrane and an inner membrane
folded into finger-like cristae which increase surface area for energy production (ATP synthesis) during cellular
respiration.

Q. What are plastids? Name their three types. [2 Marks] V.V. IMP 2201 .

● Special organelles found in plant cells used for food synthesis/storage. Types: Chloroplasts (green, contain
chlorophyll), Chromoplasts (yellow/orange/red pigments), Leucoplasts (colourless, store starch/oil/protein).

Q. What is the function of the vacuole in a plant cell? [2 Marks] V. v. IMP .

● The large central vacuole, filled with cell sap, stores water, minerals, sugars and waste material, and maintains cell
pressure (turgidity), keeping the plant firm.

Q. Why do mature red blood cells (RBCs) lack a nucleus? [2 Marks] V.v. IMP
● The absence of a nucleus provides more space for haemoglobin, allowing RBCs to carry a larger amount of oxygen;
however, they cannot repair/divide, so their lifespan is short (~120 days).

Q. What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis (any two

points)? [2 Marks] v. v. IMP Diagram 2201 (Page : 2122) .

● Mitosis: one division, produces 2 genetically identical daughter cells with the same chromosome number as parent;
occurs in body cells for growth/repair.
 ● Meiosis: two successive divisions, produces 4 daughter cells (gametes) with half the chromosome number; occurs
only in reproductive organs (testes/ovaries or anthers/ovaries in plants).

Q. What is a tumour? How is it formed? [2 Marks] v.v IMP .

.

● An abnormal mass of cells formed when cell division becomes uncontrolled (loss of contact inhibition), as seen in
cancer cells.

Q. What is Programmed Cell Death (PCD)? Give one example of

its importance. [2 Marks]
● A genetically regulated, organised process of selective cell destruction, essential for normal development and
immune function. Example: during embryo development, PCD removes cells between digits to form separate
fingers (without it, hands would be webbed).

Q. Name any four important cell organelles and one function

each. [2 Marks] IMP .

● Nucleus – controls cell activities/contains DNA; Mitochondria – site of cellular respiration/ATP production;
Ribosomes – site of protein synthesis; Golgi apparatus – packaging and secretion of materials.

3-Mark Questions

Q. Describe Activity 2.2 (potato osmosis experiment) with

observation and conclusion. [3 Marks] IMP .

● Procedure: Two equal-sized potato pieces are weighed; one is placed in Beaker A with plain water and the other in
Beaker B with 20% salt/sugar solution; left undisturbed for about an hour.

● Observation: The potato piece in Beaker A swells (weight increases); the potato piece in Beaker B shrinks (weight
●=
decreases).

Conclusion: Water moves into the cells of the potato in plain water (dilute medium) and out of the cells of the potato
in the concentrated solution — proving osmosis
_
occurs through the selectively permeable cell membrane.

Q. Explain isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic solutions with the

effect on a cell in each case. [3 Marks] v. IMP v. .

● Isotonic: solute concentration outside = inside the cell; no net water movement, cell stays unchanged.
● Hypotonic: solute concentration outside < inside the cell; water enters the cell, causing it to swell.
● Hypertonic: solute concentration outside > inside the cell; water leaves the cell, causing it to shrink.
Q. Explain the structure of the cell membrane based on the fluid-
mosaic model. [3 Marks] v.v IMP 2201 . .

● The membrane is 7–10 nm thick, made of lipids and proteins.

● It has a lipid bilayer — two layers of fat molecules with water-attracting (hydrophilic) heads facing outward and
water-repelling (hydrophobic) tails facing inward.

● Various proteins are embedded within this bilayer, acting as gatekeepers that help substances pass through.
 ● Molecules can move sideways, flip and rotate (fluid), and are arranged like tiles in a mosaic — hence 'fluid-mosaic
model'.

Q. Describe the structure and function of the nucleus. [3 Marks] v.v. IMP .

● Structure: double-layered nuclear membrane with pores for material exchange between nucleus and cytoplasm;
contains the nucleolus (dense round body where ribosomal subunits are made) and chromatin material (DNA +
proteins).

● Function: acts as the 'house of coded instructions' — controls cell activities; chromatin organises into rod-shaped
chromosomes (carrying genes/DNA) when the cell is about to divide.

● Ribosomal subunits made in the nucleolus exit to the cytoplasm and assemble into ribosomes.
Q. Explain the structure of mitochondria and chloroplasts, and
I n- I n

state one similarity between them. [3 Marks]

[Link]
● Mitochondria: double membrane-bound; outer membrane smooth & porous, inner membrane folded into cristae; site
of cellular respiration producing ATP.

● Chloroplasts: double membrane-bound; contain a semi-fluid stroma with disc-shaped chlorophyll-containing

membranes; site of photosynthesis.

● Similarity: both have their own DNA and ribosomes, so they can make some of their own proteins — suggesting an
evolutionary link to single-celled bacteria.

Q. Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (five

points) using a table format. [3 Marks] 220%
,

● Primitive nucleus (nucleoid): Present in prokaryotic, Absent in eukaryotic.

● Membrane-bound nucleus: Absent in prokaryotic, Present in eukaryotic.
● Membrane-bound organelles: Absent in prokaryotic, Present in eukaryotic.
● Cell number: Prokaryotic usually unicellular; Eukaryotic unicellular or multicellular.
● Typical diameter: Prokaryotic 1–10 µm; Eukaryotic 10–100 µm.
Q. Explain the process of mitosis and its significance. [3 Marks] v.v IMP .
.

● Mitosis is the most common type of cell division; one parent cell divides once to form two daughter cells.
● Each daughter cell is genetically identical to the parent — same DNA and same number of chromosomes.
● It is responsible for growth (a fertilised egg dividing repeatedly to form trillions of cells), repair of damaged tissue,
and asexual reproduction; ensures genetic information is maintained across body cells.

Q. Explain the process of meiosis and its significance. [3 Marks] v.v. IMP .

● Meiosis occurs only in reproductive organs (testes/ovaries in animals; anthers/ovaries in plants) and produces 4
gametes.

● The parent cell divides twice in succession: the first division reduces the chromosome number to half; the second
division (similar to mitosis) forms four daughter cells in total, each with half the chromosome number of the parent.

● Significance: creates genetic variation and diversity; during fertilisation, gametes from two parents combine to
 restore the original chromosome number.

Q. What are the consequences of errors in mitosis and meiosis? [3 V.v. IMP .

Marks]
220%
● Errors in mitosis: lead to uncontrolled cell division, which can cause the formation of tumours and abnormal
chromosome numbers in body cells.

● Errors in meiosis: may result in genetic disorders associated with developmental problems or distinctive physical
features; can also cause early pregnancy loss or reduced fertility.

Q. State the postulates of the Cell Theory and explain its

significance. [3 Marks]
● Postulates: (i) All living organisms are made up of one or more cells. (ii) The cell is the basic unit of structure and
function in living beings. (iii) All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

● Significance: it unifies all of biology, from bacteria to humans, and explains the continuity of life through cell
division.
Diagram: Plant cell, Animal cell, Nucleus,
5-Mark Questions Mitochondria, Chloroplast v. v. IMP
.

Q. Describe, with a labelled diagram, the structure of a typical

plant cell, animal cell and bacterial cell, and compare them. [5 Marks]
● Bacterial cell (prokaryotic): has cytoplasm, ribosomes, nucleoid (genetic material without membrane), cell wall, cell
membrane, and appendage for locomotion; lacks a well-defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

● Plant cell (eukaryotic): has cell wall, cell membrane, large central vacuole, chloroplasts, nucleus with nucleolus,
endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi body, ribosomes.

● Animal cell (eukaryotic): has cell membrane, nucleus with nucleolus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ER, Golgi body,
ribosomes, lysosomes, small vacuoles; lacks a cell wall and chloroplasts.

● Comparison: both plant and animal cells are eukaryotic with membrane-bound nucleus and organelles; the plant cell
additionally has a cell wall, plastids and a large vacuole which the animal cell lacks; the bacterial cell is prokaryotic
and much simpler than both.

Q. Explain, with functions, all the major cell organelles present

inside a eukaryotic cell. [5 Marks] v.v. imp .

● Nucleus: 'house of coded instructions'; contains chromatin/chromosomes (DNA + protein) carrying genetic
information; nucleolus makes ribosomal subunits.

● Ribosomes: 'protein factories'; site of protein synthesis; free in cytoplasm or attached to ER.
● Endoplasmic Reticulum: 'manufacturing factory'; RER (with ribosomes) makes/secretes proteins; SER (without
ribosomes) synthesises and stores lipids and hormones.

● Golgi apparatus: 'packaging and shipping centre'; modifies, sorts, packages proteins/lipids into vesicles for secretion
or lysosome formation.

● Lysosomes: 'clean-up system'; membrane-bound sacs of enzymes that digest waste, worn-out organelles and
unwanted material.

● Mitochondria: 'powerhouse of the cell'; site of cellular respiration; produces ATP (energy currency) using cristae to
increase surface area.
 ● Plastids (in plant cells): chloroplasts for photosynthesis/food synthesis, chromoplasts for pigmentation, leucoplasts
for storage of starch/oil/protein.

● Vacuoles: storage and support; large central vacuole in plant cells stores cell sap and maintains turgidity.
Q. Describe Activity 2.4 / Table 2.1 comparing bacterial, plant
and animal cells for the presence/absence of six structures. [5 Marks]
● Cell membrane: present in bacterial, plant and animal cells.
● Cell wall: present in bacterial and plant cells; absent in animal cells.
● Cytoplasm: present in all three (bacterial, plant, animal).
● Well-defined (membrane-bound) nucleus: absent in bacterial cells; present in plant and animal cells.
● Primitive nucleus/nucleoid: present in bacterial cells only; absent in plant and animal cells.
● Membrane-bound organelles: absent in bacterial cells; present in plant and animal cells.
Q. Explain how the cell membrane and cell wall regulate the
movement of substances in and out of the cell, using the concepts
of diffusion and osmosis. [5 Marks]
● The cell membrane is selectively permeable — it allows water and small molecules to pass but blocks larger solute
molecules like salt or sugar.

● Diffusion is the net movement of particles from higher to lower concentration and can occur even without a
membrane (e.g., dye spreading in water).

● Osmosis is the diffusion of water specifically, across a selectively permeable membrane, from a region of more
water/less solute (dilute) to less water/more solute (concentrated), until concentrations equalise.

● The cell wall, though rigid, is permeable and allows water and dissolved minerals to pass through it, helping plant
roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

● Together, in plant cells placed in a concentrated solution, the membrane loses water (plasmolysis) while the rigid
wall keeps the overall shape intact; in animal cells lacking a wall, the whole cell shrinks.

Q. Explain the cell cycle concept: how normal cells grow, divide,
and eventually die, and how cancer disrupts this. [5 Marks]
● Cells grow and divide in a controlled, orderly manner called the cell cycle; both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
divide, but eukaryotic division is more controlled.

● Cells stay in the right place, carry out their functions, and eventually die when no longer needed (definite lifespan);
dead cells are replaced by new cells performing the same function.

● In many animal cells, division stops when cells touch neighbouring cells — this is called contact inhibition.
● Cancer cells lose this control and continue dividing uncontrollably, forming tumours; cancerous (malignant) tumours
can invade nearby tissue and spread to other body parts.

● Programmed Cell Death (PCD) is a genetically regulated process of selective cell destruction essential for normal
development (e.g., removing cells between digits) and immune function; problems arise if cells fail to die when they
should, or die too early.
 SECTION B — HIGH PROBABILITY
Short & Reasoning-Based Questions

Q. Why do the hot springs of Puga Valley (Ladakh) interest

scientists studying the origin of life? V.V. IMP .

● They maintain very high temperatures (near boiling point) similar to conditions on early Earth about 3.5 billion
years ago; heat-loving unicellular bacteria (thermophiles) live there, and calcium carbonate deposits formed around
them may have protected early organic molecules and helped in forming the first protective membrane.

Q. How is the actual size of an onion peel cell estimated using a

microscope (Activity 2.1)?
● Place a transparent mm-ruler on the microscope stage and measure the diameter of the field of view; convert this to
micrometres (1 mm = 1000 µm). Replace the ruler with the onion peel slide, count the number of cells along the
diameter of the field of view, then divide diameter (µm) by the number of cells to estimate one cell's size.

Q. Why are electron microscopes needed in addition to light

microscopes?
● Electron microscopes use a beam of electrons instead of light, giving much higher magnification and resolution,
allowing scientists to see fine details of cell structures (down to the nanometre scale) that light microscopes cannot
resolve.

Q. Why do onion peel cells appear box-shaped and regularly

arranged, while cheek cells appear irregularly arranged?
● Onion peel cells have a rigid cell wall which gives them a fixed, regular box shape, whereas cheek cells (animal
cells) lack a cell wall and so can change shape, appearing irregular.

Q. Why is cellulose important in our diet even though humans

cannot digest it? v. v. IMP .

● Cellulose acts as roughage, helping in digestion (adding bulk and aiding movement of food through the intestine).
Q. Why do plants need a cell wall but animals generally do not? v. V. IMP .

● Plants are generally fixed in one place and need a rigid structure to withstand environmental stresses like wind and
rain; animals move from place to place, so their cells (without a wall) can flex and change shape, supporting
movement and tissue function.

Q. Why do chromosomes become visible only when a cell is about

to divide?
● In a non-dividing cell, DNA exists loosely as chromatin (entangled thread-like mass); before division, chromatin
condenses and organises into compact rod-shaped chromosomes, making them visible.

Q. How do mitochondria and chloroplasts show evidence of an

evolutionary link with bacteria? v.v. imp .

● Both possess their own DNA and ribosomes and can make some of their own proteins, similar to independent single-
 celled organisms (bacteria), suggesting they originated from ancient bacteria living inside larger cells.

Q. Why do flowers and fruits show bright colours other than

green? v. v. impi
● Their plastids (chromoplasts) contain pigments other than chlorophyll (yellow, orange, or red), which produce bright
colours that attract pollinators and fruit-eating animals, aiding pollination and seed dispersal.

Q. Why do plants wilt when they do not get enough water?

● The large central vacuole loses water, reducing the pressure (turgidity) that keeps the plant cell firm; as a result, the
cells become less firm and the plant wilts.

Q. Why do RBCs have a short lifespan of about 120 days? v. V. IMP .

● Since mature RBCs lack a nucleus, they cannot repair or divide themselves, limiting their functional lifespan.
Q. Why is meiosis important for sexual reproduction?
● It produces gametes with half the chromosome number, creating genetic variation and diversity; children resemble
but are not identical to their parents because of this variation.

Q. Why don't plant cells show contact inhibition like animal

cells? V. v. imp .

● Due to their rigid cell walls, plant cells follow a different pattern of growth and do not show contact inhibition.
Q. What did the Craig Venter synthetic biology experiment
(2010) demonstrate?
● That DNA controls the structure and activities of a cell — when synthetic DNA was inserted into a bacterium whose
own DNA was removed (cytoplasm/membrane kept intact), the cell grew and divided following instructions from
the new DNA.

Q. What is totipotency, as shown by Haberlandt's work?

● The special ability of a living plant cell, even a mature cell from permanent tissue, to develop into a complete new
plant when given suitable nutrients and conditions; this laid the foundation for Plant Tissue Culture Technology.

Q. What is cell culture and why is it useful?

● A technique where cells taken from an organism are grown outside the body in a nutrient-rich medium under
controlled temperature, pH and sterile conditions; useful for studying how cells work and producing biochemicals,
food, medicines and vaccines.

Structure/Function Recap Table

Organelle Popularly known as Main Function
Nucleus House of coded instructions Controls cell activities; stores
DNA/genetic info
Ribosomes Protein factories Site of protein synthesis
Endoplasmic Reticulum Manufacturing factory Synthesis & transport of proteins/lipids
Golgi apparatus Packaging & shipping centres Modifies, sorts, packages
proteins/lipids
Lysosomes Clean-up system Digest waste & damaged organelles
Mitochondria Powerhouse of the cell Cellular respiration; ATP production
Chloroplast (plastid) Centre for food synthesis in plant cells Photosynthesis; food synthesis
Vacuole Organelle for storage and support Stores water, minerals, sugars, waste

SECTION C — IMPORTANT (Objective Type) All .

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q. The limit of resolution of the human eye is: (a) 1 mm (b) 0.1
mm (c) 1 µm (d) 0.1 µm
● Answer: (b) 0.1 mm
Q. Cork cells were first observed by: (a) Camillo Golgi (b)
Robert Hooke (c) Matthias Schleiden (d) Rudolf Virchow
● Answer: (b) Robert Hooke
Q. The cell membrane is chiefly made up of: (a) Cellulose and
water (b) Lipids and proteins (c) DNA and RNA (d) Starch and
protein
● Answer: (b) Lipids and proteins
Q. Movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane
is called: (a) Diffusion (b) Osmosis (c) Plasmolysis (d)
Transpiration
● Answer: (b) Osmosis
Q. Which organelle is called the 'powerhouse of the cell'? (a)
Golgi apparatus (b) Mitochondria (c) Ribosome (d) Lysosome
● Answer: (b) Mitochondria
Q. Which of these is absent in a prokaryotic cell? (a) Cell
membrane (b) Ribosomes (c) Membrane-bound nucleus (d)
Cytoplasm
● Answer: (c) Membrane-bound nucleus
Q. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum has ribosomes and is mainly
involved in: (a) Lipid storage (b) Protein synthesis and secretion
(c) Water storage (d) Waste digestion
● Answer: (b) Protein synthesis and secretion
Q. The Golgi apparatus was discovered by: (a) Robert Hooke (b)
Camillo Golgi (c) Rudolf Virchow (d) J. Craig Venter
● Answer: (b) Camillo Golgi
Q. Plastids that store starch and lack pigments are called: (a)
Chloroplasts (b) Chromoplasts (c) Leucoplasts (d) Nucleoids
● Answer: (c) Leucoplasts
Q. Mitosis produces: (a) Four identical daughter cells (b) Two
genetically identical daughter cells (c) Four gametes with half
chromosomes (d) One daughter cell
● Answer: (b) Two genetically identical daughter cells
Q. Meiosis occurs in: (a) All body cells (b) Skin cells (c)
Reproductive organs only (d) Root tip cells
● Answer: (c) Reproductive organs only
Q. Stopping of cell division on contact with neighbouring cells is
called: (a) Osmosis (b) Contact inhibition (c) Mitosis (d)
Plasmolysis
● Answer: (b) Contact inhibition
Q. Cell Theory was expanded by stating 'new cells arise from
pre-existing cells' by: (a) Schleiden (b) Schwann (c) Virchow (d)
Hooke
● Answer: (c) Rudolf Virchow
Fill in the Blanks x

● The cell membrane is also called the ______ membrane. (plasma)

● The plant cell wall is mainly made of ______. (cellulose)
● ______ is the dense round body inside the nucleus where ribosomal subunits are made. (Nucleolus)
● The region of genetic material in a bacterial cell is called the ______. (nucleoid)
● The inner membrane of mitochondria is folded into finger-like projections called ______. (cristae)
● The semi-fluid substance inside a chloroplast is called ______. (stroma)
● Plastids that give colour to flowers and fruits are called ______. (chromoplasts)
● The large sac-like structure that stores cell sap in a plant cell is the ______. (vacuole)
● Cell division that produces gametes is called ______. (meiosis)
 ● Uncontrolled cell division may lead to the formation of ______. (tumours)
True / False

Q. A cell membrane is fully impermeable to all substances.

● False — it is selectively permeable.
Q. Robert Hooke observed the first cell using an electron
microscope.
● False — he used a self-designed light microscope.
Q. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a selectively
permeable membrane.
● True
Q. Prokaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles.
● False — they lack membrane-bound organelles.
Q. Mitochondria and chloroplasts contain their own DNA.
● True
Q. Mitosis produces four daughter cells with half the
chromosome number.
● False — that is meiosis; mitosis produces two identical daughter cells.
Q. Cancer cells show normal contact inhibition.
● False — cancer cells lose contact inhibition.
Q. All living organisms are made up of cells, according to Cell
Theory.
● True
Match the Following
Column A Column B
1. Mitochondria (a) Packaging and shipping
2. Golgi apparatus (b) Powerhouse of the cell
3. Lysosome (c) Protein synthesis
4. Ribosome (d) Clean-up system
5. Nucleus (e) House of coded instructions
Answers: 1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c, 5-e

SECTION D — DIAGRAM-BASED QUESTIONS

Q. Draw and label the structure of a light microscope.
● Parts to label: Eye piece, Body tube, Course adjustment knob, Fine adjustment knob, Objective lens, Stage, Mirror,
Base, Handle (Fig. 2.2).

Q. Draw and label the structure of the cell membrane (fluid-

mosaic model).
● Parts to label: Lipid bilayer, water-attracting heads, water-repelling tails, various types of proteins embedded in the
membrane (Fig. 2.7).

Q. Draw and label a typical bacterial cell, plant cell, and animal
cell.
● Bacterial cell: cytoplasm, nucleoid, ribosome, cell wall, appendage for locomotion. Plant cell: cell wall, vacuole,
chloroplast, nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosome, Golgi body, ER. Animal cell: cell membrane, nucleus,
nucleolus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosome, lysosome, vacuole, ER, Golgi body (Fig. 2.10).

Q. Draw and label the structure of the nucleus.

● Parts to label: Double-layered nuclear membrane, nuclear pore, nucleolus, chromatin (Fig. 2.11).
Q. Draw and label the structure of a mitochondrion.
● Parts to label: Outer membrane, inner membrane, cristae, intermembrane space, DNA, ribosomes (Fig. 2.14).
Q. Draw and label the structure of a chloroplast.
● Parts to label: Outer membrane, inner membrane, stroma, DNA, ribosomes (Fig. 2.15).
Q. Draw a flowchart 'From cell to DNA'.
● Sequence: Nucleus → Chromatin → Chromosome → DNA (Fig. 2.12).
Q. Draw a diagram showing the effect of isotonic, hypotonic and
hypertonic solutions on a cell.
● Isotonic: cell unchanged. Hypotonic: cell swells. Hypertonic: cell shrinks (Fig. 2.6).
Q. Draw a diagram showing mitosis producing two daughter
cells.
● One parent cell (with chromosomes) → divides once → two genetically identical daughter cells (Fig. 2.18).
Q. Draw a diagram showing meiosis producing four daughter
cells (gametes).
● One parent cell → first division → two cells (chromosome number halved) → second division → four daughter
cells, each with half the chromosome number (Fig. 2.19).

SECTION E — ACTIVITY-BASED QUESTIONS

Activity 2.1: Let us estimate the size of a cell
Aim:

● To estimate the actual size of an onion peel cell using a light microscope.
Materials Required:

● Transparent mm-ruler, light microscope, onion peel slide.

Procedure:

● Place the ruler on the microscope stage and focus using the adjustment knob.
● Observe and measure the diameter of the circular field of view in mm; convert to µm (1 mm = 1000 µm).
● Remove the ruler and place the onion peel slide; count the number of cells along the diameter of the field of view.
● Estimate cell size = Diameter of visible field (µm) ÷ Number of cells along the diameter.
Observation:

● Example: diameter of field = 5000 µm; number of cells along diameter = 25; estimated cell size = 5000/25 = 200
µm.

Conclusion:

● The actual size of a microscopic cell can be estimated using simple ruler measurements and cell counts; total
magnification = eyepiece power × objective lens power (e.g., 10X × 10X = 100X).

Viva Questions:

● Why must the ruler be removed before placing the specimen slide? (Because the ruler is only used to calibrate the
field-of-view diameter.)

● What does a total magnification of 100X mean? (The cell appears 100 times larger than its actual size.)
Activity 2.2: Let us experiment (Osmosis in potato)
Aim:

● To demonstrate osmosis using potato pieces in plain water and salt/sugar solution.
Materials Required:

● Kitchen knife, potato, weighing balance, two beakers, plain water, 20% salt or sugar solution.
Procedure:

● Cut a potato into two equal-sized pieces and record their initial weight.
● Place one piece in Beaker A with plain water and the other in Beaker B with 20% salt/sugar solution.
● Leave undisturbed for about an hour; measure and record the final weight of each piece.
Observation:

● Beaker A — potato piece swells (weight increases). Beaker B — potato piece shrinks (weight decreases).
Conclusion:

● Water moves into the cell (from a dilute medium) and out of the cell (into a concentrated medium) through the
 selectively permeable cell membrane — this movement of water is called osmosis.

Viva Questions:

● Why must the two potato pieces be of roughly equal size, and why measure initial weight? (To make a fair,
controlled comparison between the two set-ups.)

● What would happen if both beakers had plain water? (No net change in weight — no concentration gradient.)
Activity 2.3: Let us investigate (Onion peel & cheek cells)
Aim:

● To compare plant cells (onion peel/Rhoeo leaf) and animal cells (human cheek cells) under a microscope, and
observe plasmolysis in plant cells.

Materials Required:

● Onion/Rhoeo leaf, safranin stain, cotton swab/toothpick, methylene blue stain, glass slides, coverslips, microscope,
20% sugar solution.

Procedure:

● Prepare a temporary slide of onion/Rhoeo leaf peel, stain with safranin, and observe.
● Prepare a temporary slide of cheek cells (scraped with a swab/toothpick), stain with methylene blue, and observe.
● Observe both slides under a microscope; then treat both cell types with 20% sugar solution and re-observe after half
an hour.

Observation:

● Onion peel/Rhoeo cells: box-shaped, regularly arranged. Cheek cells: irregularly arranged.
● After sugar treatment: plant cell boundary stays the same, but inner content shrinks (space appears between
membrane and wall). Cheek cells shrink considerably overall.

Conclusion:

● Plant cells are regularly shaped due to the rigid cell wall, which also prevents them from shrinking completely even
when they lose water; animal cells, lacking a cell wall, are irregular and shrink fully in concentrated solution.

Viva Questions:

● Why does the plant cell not shrink in shape even though it loses water? (Because the rigid cell wall maintains the
outer boundary while only the inner cell membrane pulls away.)

Activity 2.4: Let us study (Cell structures — bacterial, plant, animal)

Aim:

● To study and compare the structures present in a bacterial cell, a plant cell, and an animal cell.
Materials Required:

● Labelled diagrams/charts of bacterial cell, plant cell, and animal cell (Fig. 2.10).
Procedure:

● Study the diagrams of the bacterial cell, plant cell, and animal cell.
● Observe the different structures present in each.
 ● Record observations in Table 2.1 (presence/absence of cell membrane, cell wall, cytoplasm, well-defined nucleus,
nucleoid, membrane-bound organelles).

Observation:

● Bacterial cell: cell membrane ✓, cell wall ✓, cytoplasm ✓, well-defined nucleus ✗, nucleoid ✓, membrane-bound
organelles ✗.

● Plant and Animal cells: cell membrane ✓, cytoplasm ✓, well-defined nucleus ✓, nucleoid ✗, membrane-bound
organelles ✓; cell wall ✓ only in plant cell, ✗ in animal cell.

Conclusion:

● Bacterial cells are prokaryotic (lack nucleus & membrane-bound organelles); plant and animal cells are eukaryotic
(possess both), with the plant cell additionally having a cell wall.

Viva Questions:

● Which structure distinguishes a plant cell from an animal cell? (Cell wall and plastids are present only in the plant
cell.)

Activity 2.5: Let us enhance our skills (Onion root tip — cell division)
Aim:

● To observe stages of cell division in growing onion root tip cells.

Materials Required:

● Onion bulb, glass jar, water, aceto-alcohol (glacial acetic acid:ethanol :: 1:3), 70% ethanol, dilute HCl, aceto-
carmine stain, slide, coverslip, spirit lamp, microscope.

Procedure:

● Place an onion bulb over a water-filled jar with roots immersed in water; leave for 5–6 days for roots to grow.
● Cut 2–3 cm of the freshly grown roots; fix in aceto-alcohol for 24 hours, then preserve in 70% ethanol.
● Place root tips on a slide, treat with dilute HCl (to soften tissue), rinse, then add aceto-carmine stain.
● Warm gently over a spirit lamp, cut the root tip, add a coverslip, and squash gently to spread the cells; observe under
a microscope.

Observation:

● Cells at different stages of division show different structures — some show entangled chromatin, others show
organised, rod-shaped chromosomes.

Conclusion:

● The root tip cells of a growing onion divide continuously (cell division); this continuous division allows the root to
grow, illustrating mitosis in a living tissue.

Viva Questions:

● Why do cells in the root tip show different structures? (Because they are captured at different stages of the cell
division/cell cycle.)

SECTION F — TEXTBOOK EXERCISE (Revise, Reflect, Refine) —

Answers
Q. Differentiate: (i) Cell membrane and cell wall (permeability)
● Cell membrane: selectively permeable — allows only certain substances (like water) to pass, blocks others (like
salt/sugar).

● Cell wall: freely/fully permeable — allows water and dissolved minerals to pass through easily.
Q. Differentiate: (ii) RER and SER (structure) V. V. Imp .

● RER: has ribosomes attached to its surface, giving it a rough appearance.

● SER: lacks ribosomes on its surface, giving it a smooth appearance.
Q. Differentiate: (iii) Chloroplasts and chromoplasts (pigments) V. V. IMP .

● Chloroplasts: contain the green pigment chlorophyll, used in photosynthesis.

● Chromoplasts: contain pigments other than chlorophyll (yellow, orange, red), giving colour to flowers and fruits.
Q. Cell X (pure water) swells; Cell Y (concentrated salt solution)
shrinks. Which statement correctly explains this?
● (ii) Water moved into Cell X and more water moved out of Cell Y than the salt solution entered it — because the
membrane is selectively permeable to water (osmosis), not to salt.

Q. Fig. 2.20 — Identify parts (a)-(g) and match with functions.

● (b) Nucleus — controls all activities of the cell. (a) Mitochondria — site of cellular respiration. (g) Vacuole —
storage organelle that also provides rigidity. (c) Cell membrane — separates cell contents from surroundings. (e)
Cell wall — provides structural rigidity. (f) Golgi body — packs and stores materials received from ER. (d)
Chloroplast — helps in manufacturing food.

Q. Which option correctly places organelle pairs under 'Present

in plant cells' / 'Absent in animal cells'?
● (i) Leucoplast / Cell wall — both are correctly placed (leucoplasts and cell walls occur in plant cells and are absent
in animal cells).

Q. Renu says plastids are present in all plant parts including

roots; Rohit disagrees. Who is correct?
● Renu is correct. Roots contain leucoplasts (colourless plastids) that store starch, even though roots do not
photosynthesise; so plastids (just not chloroplasts) are present in roots too.

Q. How are mitochondria and chloroplasts similar and different?

● Similarities: both are double membrane-bound organelles; both have their own DNA and ribosomes and can make
some of their own proteins, sharing an evolutionary link with bacteria.

● Differences: mitochondria perform cellular respiration (release energy/ATP) and are found in almost all eukaryotic
cells; chloroplasts perform photosynthesis (trap light energy to make food) and are found only in plant cells (and
some protists) containing chlorophyll.
Q. Which pair of cell organelles contains DNA? V. V. IMP
.

● (ii) Mitochondria, Nucleus.

Q. Carrot experiment: plain water vs concentrated salt solution
— hypothesis, improvement, and reason for stiffness/limpness.
● (i) Hypothesis: water moves in or out of plant cells by osmosis depending on the surrounding solution's
concentration.

● (ii) Improvement: use carrots of exactly equal weight/size, use a control set-up, repeat the experiment multiple times
for reliability.

● (iii) The carrot in plain water absorbs water by osmosis, making its cells turgid/firm (stiff, crunchy); the carrot in
concentrated salt solution loses water by osmosis, making its cells flaccid (rubbery, limp).

Q. Presence/absence of structures in bacterial vs animal cell

(chromosome, nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi complex,
chromoplasts).
● Chromosome: bacterial cell has a single circular DNA (not a true chromosome, present as nucleoid), animal cell has
true chromosomes in the nucleus.

● Nucleus: absent in bacterial cell, present in animal cell.

● Mitochondria: absent in bacterial cell, present in animal cell.
● Golgi complex: absent in bacterial cell, present in animal cell.
● Chromoplasts: absent in both bacterial and animal cells (plastids occur only in plant cells).
Q. Potato cup experiment (Cups A–D): why water gathers/does
not gather.
● (i) Water gathers in the hollowed portion of Cup B (sugar) and Cup C (salt) because the sugar/salt creates a
concentrated solution inside the cup; water moves from the surrounding beaker water (dilute) into the potato tissue
and then into the hollow by osmosis.

● (ii) Cup A (empty) is necessary as a control, to show that without added solute, no extra water collects — confirming
the effect is due to the solute, not the potato tissue alone.

● (iii) Water does not gather in Cup A (no solute, no concentration gradient) or Cup D (potato is boiled, so its cells are
dead and the membrane's selective permeability is destroyed, so no osmosis occurs).

Q. Which pair incorrectly matches cell organelle with its

function?
● (ii) SER — Lipid and cellulose synthesis is incorrect. SER synthesises and stores fats (lipids) and hormones, but
cellulose synthesis is not its function (cellulose is a cell wall material, not an SER product).

Q. Expected outcome if all mitochondria are removed from a

eukaryotic cell.
● The cell would be unable to carry out cellular respiration and would fail to produce enough ATP (energy currency);
 as a result, energy-dependent cellular activities would stop and the cell would eventually die.

Q. Which phenomenon inhibits tumour formation in the human

body? Can plants develop tumours? V.V. IMP .

● Contact inhibition (the stopping of cell division when cells touch neighbouring cells) inhibits tumour formation in
animals. Plant cells do not show contact inhibition (due to rigid cell walls) and follow a different growth pattern, but
plants can develop abnormal growths (galls/tumour-like growths), often caused by pathogens, though this differs
from typical animal cancer.

Q. Which cell organelles help synthesise the cell membrane

(proteins + lipids)? Trace the path from synthesis to the
membrane.
● Ribosomes (on RER) synthesise proteins; Smooth ER synthesises lipids. Path: Ribosomes/RER/SER → transported
via ER → to the Golgi apparatus (modification, sorting, packaging into vesicles) → vesicles fuse with and are
transported to → the plasma/cell membrane. (Diagram: Nucleus/ER with ribosomes → Golgi apparatus → vesicles
→ cell membrane, as shown in Fig. 2.13.)

Q. What would happen if gametes were formed by mitotic

divisions instead of meiosis?
● Gametes would have the full (diploid) chromosome number instead of half; upon fertilisation, the offspring's cells
would have double the normal chromosome number, disrupting normal development and reducing genetic variation
between generations.

Q. Case study — Deepa's amla/lemon preservation (pickles,

murabba, sharbat): scientific concept, explanation, recipe,
values.
● (i) Scientific concept: osmosis — high concentrations of salt/sugar draw out water from microbial cells (and from
the fruit) by osmosis.

● (ii) High salt/sugar concentration creates a hypertonic environment; bacteria and fungi cells lose water by osmosis
and shrink (plasmolyse), preventing their growth and spoilage of the produce.

● (iii) Recipe: e.g., amla murabba — amla pieces soaked and cooked in sugar syrup, stored in clean glass jars (a
'healthy recipe' focus: using jaggery/less refined sugar, hygienic bottling).

● (iv) Scientific values addressed: preventing food wastage, applying science for food security, boosting rural/local
economy through value-added agro-processing, promoting sustainability.

FINAL RAPID REVISION

Top 30 Most Expected Questions (One-line cues)

● Limit of resolution of human eye = 0.1 mm

● Robert Hooke — discovered cell (1665, cork cells)
● Cell membrane = plasma membrane; selectively permeable
● Osmosis vs Diffusion — definitions & difference
● Fluid-mosaic model — lipid bilayer + proteins
● Cell wall — made of cellulose; only in plants, fungi, bacteria
● Nucleus — nucleolus, chromatin, chromosomes, nuclear pores
● Ribosomes — protein synthesis
● RER vs SER — structure & function
● Golgi apparatus — packaging & shipping; discovered by Camillo Golgi (1898)
● Lysosomes — clean-up system (enzymes)
● Mitochondria — powerhouse; cristae; ATP
● Plastids — chloroplast, chromoplast, leucoplast
● Vacuole — cell sap; turgidity
● Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic cell — key differences
● Nucleoid — genetic material region in bacteria
● Mitosis — 1 division, 2 identical daughter cells
● Meiosis — 2 divisions, 4 daughter cells, half chromosomes
● Contact inhibition & cancer/tumours
● Cell Theory — Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow
● Programmed Cell Death (PCD) — example: finger formation
● Activity 2.1 — estimating cell size formula
● Activity 2.2 — potato osmosis experiment
● Activity 2.3 — onion peel vs cheek cells
● Activity 2.5 — onion root tip cell division
● Isotonic, hypotonic, hypertonic solutions
● RBC — no nucleus, 120-day lifespan
● Craig Venter's synthetic DNA experiment (2010)
● Haberlandt — totipotency & Plant Tissue Culture
● Cell culture — meaning and uses
Top 20 Definitions

● Limit of resolution, Magnification, Osmosis, Diffusion, Selectively permeable membrane,

● Plasma membrane, Cell wall, Fluid-mosaic model, Nucleoid, Chromatin,
● Gene, Cell division, Mitosis, Meiosis, Contact inhibition,
● Cell Theory, Programmed Cell Death, Totipotency, Cell culture, Prokaryotic cell
Top 20 Reasons (Why questions)

● Why cells cannot be seen by naked eye

● Why potato swells in water & shrinks in salt solution
● Why plant cells don't fully shrink like animal cells
● Why plants need a cell wall
● Why chromosomes are visible only during division
● Why mitochondria/chloroplasts are linked to bacteria evolutionarily
● Why fruits/flowers have bright colours
● Why plants wilt without water
● Why RBCs lack a nucleus
● Why meiosis is important for variation
● Why plant cells don't show contact inhibition
● Why hot springs are studied for origin of life
● Why cell wall is freely permeable but membrane is selective
● Why cancer cells form tumours
● Why gametes must be formed by meiosis, not mitosis
● Why boiled potato does not show osmosis
● Why cell size must be estimated using formula, not measured directly
● Why nucleolus is important
● Why lysosomes are called suicide/clean-up bags
● Why totipotency is significant for plant biotechnology
Top 20 'Differentiate Between' Pairs

● Diffusion vs Osmosis
● Cell membrane vs Cell wall
● RER vs SER
● Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic cell
● Mitosis vs Meiosis
● Chloroplast vs Chromoplast
● Chromoplast vs Leucoplast
● Plant cell vs Animal cell
● Nucleus vs Nucleoid
 ● Chromatin vs Chromosome
● Isotonic vs Hypotonic solution
● Hypotonic vs Hypertonic solution
● Cell wall vs Plasma membrane (rigidity)
● Bacterial cell vs Plant cell
● Mitochondria vs Chloroplast
● Normal cell growth vs Cancer cell growth
● Vacuole in plant cell vs Vacuole in animal cell
● Contact inhibition (animal) vs Plant cell growth
● Light microscope vs Electron microscope
● Cellulose cell wall vs lipid cell membrane
Top 20 MCQs — Quick Answer Key
Refer to Section C for full MCQs with options; key answers: 0.1mm, Robert Hooke, Lipids+Proteins, Osmosis,
Mitochondria, Membrane-bound nucleus (absent in prokaryotes), Protein synthesis & secretion, Camillo Golgi, Leucoplasts,
Two identical daughter cells, Reproductive organs only, Contact inhibition, Rudolf Virchow — plus revise all objective sub-
sections above.

Top 20 Fill in the Blanks — Quick List

● Plasma (membrane)
● Cellulose (cell wall)
● Nucleolus
● Nucleoid
● Cristae
● Stroma
● Chromoplasts
● Vacuole
● Meiosis
● Tumours
● Cell Theory
● Chlorophyll
● Genes
● Cell sap
● Contact inhibition
● Fluid-mosaic model
● Thermophiles
● Totipotency
● Cell culture
● Programmed Cell Death
Top 20 True/False Style Statements

● Cell membrane is selectively permeable — True

● Prokaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles — False
● Mitochondria has its own DNA — True
● Mitosis produces 4 daughter cells — False
● Meiosis halves the chromosome number — True
● Cancer cells show contact inhibition — False
● Chloroplasts are found in animal cells — False
● Golgi apparatus packages proteins — True
● Cell wall is present in animal cells — False
● Nucleolus makes ribosomal subunits — True
● RBCs have a nucleus — False
● Cell Theory states cells arise from pre-existing cells — True
● Lysosomes are called the powerhouse of the cell — False
● Osmosis needs a selectively permeable membrane — True
● Diffusion requires a membrane — False
● Robert Hooke used an electron microscope — False
● Chromatin condenses into chromosomes before cell division — True
● Vacuoles store cell sap in plant cells — True
● Leucoplasts contain chlorophyll — False
● PCD is important in normal development — True
Top 20 Diagram-Based Cues

● Microscope parts (8)

● Fig 2.1 — size scale of objects
● Cell membrane structure (lipid bilayer)
● Onion peel cell vs cheek cell
● Cradle lily leaf in water vs sugar solution
● Bacterial cell diagram
● Plant cell diagram
● Animal cell diagram
● Nucleus structure
● Cell to DNA flowchart
● ER + Golgi apparatus pathway
● Mitochondrion structure
● Chloroplast structure
● Isotonic/hypotonic/hypertonic effect diagram
● Growing onion roots in jar
● Onion root tip cell division stages
● Mitosis flow diagram
● Meiosis flow diagram (4 gametes)
● Fig 2.20 — labelled plant cell (exercise Q3)
● Electron micrograph of Colocasia leaf stomata
— End of Question Bank —

Prepared by Sir DEBA (MBBS)

Study this Question Bank thoroughly before the examination to maximize marks with minimum revision time.