Cambridge OCR A Level · Biology A - H420

Cell structure: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Cell structure.

10 questions26 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

Which organelle is responsible for the synthesis of lipids and the detoxification of drugs and poisons within a eukaryotic cell?

Question 2

1 mark

A scientist identifies a new unicellular organism. Which combination of features would confirm that this organism is a prokaryote and not a eukaryote?

Question 3

1 mark

Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes between the images produced by a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)?

Question 4

1 mark

Which of the following sequences correctly describes the interrelationship between organelles in the production and secretion of a protein, such as an enzyme?

Question 5

1 mark

The cytoskeleton is a complex network of protein fibers within eukaryotic cells. Which of the following is not a primary function of the cytoskeleton?

Question 6

3 marks

Explain why a transmission electron microscope (TEM) can achieve a significantly higher resolution than a standard light microscope, with reference to the type of radiation used.

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Question 7

5 marks

Discuss the importance of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells, explaining how it provides mechanical strength while simultaneously enabling the intracellular transport of vesicles.

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Question 8

3 marks

Describe the functional relationship between the nucleolus and ribosomes in the context of protein synthesis within a eukaryotic cell.

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Question 9

4 marks

A student is using a light microscope to observe a slide of plant cells. To measure the size of a cell, they must first calibrate the eyepiece graticule using a stage micrometer.

(a) Explain why the eyepiece graticule must be calibrated every time the objective lens is changed. (1)

(b) At a magnification of \(\times 400\), the student finds that 20 divisions of the eyepiece graticule correspond to 5 divisions of the stage micrometer. Each division on the stage micrometer is \(0.01\text{ mm}\).
Calculate the actual length of a cell that measures 12 eyepiece graticule divisions. Show your working. (2)

(c) The student then observes the same cells using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). State one advantage of using a TEM over a light microscope for studying cell ultrastructure. (1)

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Question 10

6 marks

The ultrastructure of cells varies significantly between different domains of life and different specialized tissues.

(a) Contrast the structure of the cell wall in a prokaryotic cell with that of a plant cell. (2)

(b) Describe two differences between the ribosomes found in a bacterial cell and those found in the cytoplasm of a human liver cell. (2)

(c) A researcher wishes to visualize the three-dimensional arrangement of cilia on the surface of a tracheal epithelial cell.
Evaluate whether a scanning electron microscope (SEM) or a transmission electron microscope (TEM) would be more appropriate for this task. (2)

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