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1.1.2Animal and plant cells

AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Higher tier · Cell biology › Cell structure

Practise Animal and plant cells. 14 exam-style questions plus unlimited generated ones on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.

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Name the sub-cellular structure where protein synthesis happens.
ribosome

Sample questions

Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.

Question 1Easy5 marks
Animal and plant cells contain sub-cellular structures.
(a) Which structure controls the movement of substances into and out of a cell?
Tick (✓) one box.[1]
  • Cell membrane
  • Cell wall
  • Nucleus
  • Permanent vacuole
(b) Name the sub-cellular structure where protein synthesis happens.[1]
(c) Name the sub-cellular structure where aerobic respiration happens.[1]
(d) Plant cells have a cell wall.
Name the substance that plant cell walls are made of.[1]
(e) Give the function of the cell wall.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a) Answer: Cell membrane
(b) Answer: ribosome
  • ribosome(s)
(c) Answer: mitochondria
  • mitochondria / mitochondrion
(d) Answer: cellulose
  • cellulose
(e)
  • strengthens / supports the cell
Question 2Medium5 marks
Different types of cell contain different numbers of each sub-cellular structure.
(a) Cells in the salivary glands make large amounts of the enzyme amylase.
Explain why these cells contain many ribosomes.[2]
(b) Cells in the root of a carrot plant do not contain chloroplasts.
Suggest why.[2]
(c) Give the function of the permanent vacuole in a plant cell.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
  • amylase / enzymes are proteins
  • ribosomes are where proteins are made / are the site of protein synthesis
(b)
  • roots are underground / receive no light
  • so the cells cannot photosynthesise / chloroplasts would have no use
(c)
  • contains / stores cell sap (a solution of sugars and salts)
Question 3Hard7 marks
Euglena is a single-celled organism that lives in ponds. Each Euglena cell has:
  • a nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts
  • a cell membrane but no cell wall
  • a long, whip-like tail that it uses to swim.
In the dark, Euglena can take in food particles from its surroundings.
(a) Scientists once disagreed about whether Euglena should be classified as a plant or as an animal.
Use the information to explain why.[3]
(b) Euglena cells have many mitochondria close to the base of the tail.
Suggest why.[2]
(c) A student said:
'Euglena must be a prokaryote because it is single-celled.'
Explain why the student is wrong.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
  • it has chloroplasts / can photosynthesise, like a plant
  • it has no (cellulose) cell wall, like an animal cell
  • it can move / swim / take in food, like an animal
(b)
  • the tail needs (a lot of) energy to move / for swimming
  • mitochondria release / transfer energy by (aerobic) respiration
(c)
  • Euglena has a nucleus / its genetic material is enclosed in a nucleus
  • prokaryotes do not have a nucleus / prokaryotes do not have mitochondria or chloroplasts

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