Question 1

Which of the following would be most appropriate method to observe the three-dimensional structure and organisation of microvilli on an intestinal cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  a hand lens (magnifying glass) 
B)  standard light microscopy 
C)  scanning electron microscopy 
D)  transmission electron microscopy

Question 2

A cell with a predominance of rough endoplasmic reticulum is most likely ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  producing large quantities of proteins for secretion 
B)  producing large quantities of proteins in the cytosol 
C)  producing large quantities of carbohydrates to assemble an extensive cell wall matrix 
D)  producing large quantities of carbohydrates for storage in the vacuole

Question 3

Amoebae move by crawling over a surface (cell crawling), which involves ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  growth of actin filaments to form bulges in the plasma membrane 
B)  assembly of microtubule extensions that vesicles can follow in the direction of movement 
C)  reinforcement of the pseudopod with intermediate filaments 
D)  localised contractions driven by myosin and microtubules

Question 4

Which cell would be best for studying lysosomes?

Accepted Answer

A)  muscle cell 
B)  nerve cell 
C)  bacterial cell 
D)  phagocytic white blood cell

Question 5

Cyanide binds to at least one molecule involved in producing ATP. If a cell is exposed to cyanide, most of the cyanide will be found within the

Accepted Answer

A)  mitochondria. 
B)  ribosomes. 
C)  peroxisomes. 
D)  lysosomes.

Question 6

Vinblastine, a drug that inhibits microtubule polymerisation, is used to treat some forms of cancer. Cancer cells given vinblastine would be unable to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  form cleavage furrows during cell division 
B)  migrate by amoeboid movement 
C)  separate chromosomes during cell division 
D)  maintain the shape of the nucleus

Question 7

In plant cells, the middle lamella ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  glues adjacent cells together 
B)  prevents dehydration of adjacent cells 
C)  connects the cytoplasm of adjacent cells 
D)  prevents excessive uptake of water by plant cells

Question 8

Which of the following are found in plant, animal, and bacterial cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  mitochondria 
B)  ribosomes 
C)  chloroplasts 
D)  endoplasmic reticulum

Question 9

What is the function of the nuclear pore complex found in eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

A)  It regulates the movement of proteins and RNAs into and out of the nucleus. 
B)  It synthesises the proteins required to copy DNA and make mRNA. 
C)  It synthesises secreted proteins. 
D)  It assembles ribosomes from raw materials that are synthesised in the nucleus.

Question 10

Asbestos is a material that was once used extensively in construction. One risk from working in a building that contains asbestos is the development of asbestosis caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres. Cells will take up asbestos by phagocytosis, but are not able to degrade it. As a result, asbestos fibres accumulate in ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Golgi apparatus 
B)  nuclei 
C)  peroxisomes 
D)  lysosomes

Question 11

Suppose a young boy is always tired and fatigued, suffering from a metabolic disease. Which of the following organelles is most likely malfunctioning in this disease?

Accepted Answer

A)  lysosomes 
B)  Golgi apparatus 
C)  mitochondria 
D)  smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Question 12

The cell walls of bacteria, fungi, and plant cells, and the extracellular matrix of animal cells are all external to the plasma membrane. Which of the following characteristics are common to all of these extracellular structures?

Accepted Answer

A)  They must block water and small molecules to regulate the exchange of matter and energy with their environment. 
B)  They must provide a rigid structure that maintains an appropriate ratio of cell surface area to volume. 
C)  They are constructed of materials that are synthesised in the cytoplasm and then transported out of the cell for assembly. 
D)  They are composed of a mixture of lipids and nucleotides.

Question 13

Which of the following is the most common pathway taken by a newly synthesised protein that will be secreted by a cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  rough ER → Golgi → transport vesicle → nucleus 
B)  Golgi → rough ER → lysosome → transport vesicle → plasma membrane 
C)  rough ER → Golgi → transport vesicle → plasma membrane 
D)  rough ER → lysosome → transport vesicle → plasma membrane

Question 14

The nuclear lamina is an array of intermediate filaments that line the inner side of the nuclear membrane. If a chemical treatment caused the lamina to disassemble, what would you expect to be the most likely immediate consequence?

Accepted Answer

A)  closing of nuclear pores 
B)  the inability of the nucleus to divide during cell division 
C)  a loss of genetic information from chromosomes 
D)  a change in the shape of the nucleus

Question 15

What is the explanation for how a modern transmission electron microscope (TEM) can achieve a resolution of about 0.2 nanometres, whereas a standard light microscope has a maximum resolution of about 200 nanometres?

Accepted Answer

A)  Glass lenses in light microscopes refract light, which reduces resolution. 
B)  Contrast is enhanced by staining with atoms of heavy metal. 
C)  Electron beams have much shorter wavelengths than visible light. 
D)  The electron microscope has a much greater ratio of image size to real size.

Question 16

Cyanide binds with at least one molecule involved in producing ATP. If a cell is exposed to cyanide, most of the bound cyanide is likely to be localised within the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  mitochondria 
B)  peroxisomes 
C)  lysosomes 
D)  smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Question 17

Which organelle often takes up much of the volume of a plant cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  lysosome 
B)  central vacuole 
C)  Golgi apparatus 
D)  chloroplast

Question 18

Both the volume and the surface area for three different cells were measured. These values are listed in the following table:
$$\begin{array} { | l | l | l | } 
\hline & \text { Volume } & \text { Surface Area } \
\hline \text { Cell 1 } & 0.3 \mathrm {~mm} ^ { 3 } & 26.5 \mathrm {~mm} ^ { 2 } \
\hline \text { Cell } 2 & 12.2 \mu \mathrm { m } ^ { 3 } & 37.1 \mathrm {~m} ^ { 2 } \
\hline \text { Cell } 3 & 17.6 \mathrm {~mm} ^ { 3 } & 40.6 \mathrm {~mm} ^ { 2 } \
\hline
\end{array}$$
Using data from the table above, select the best explanation for why that cell will be able to eliminate waste most efficiently.

Accepted Answer

A)  Cell 1, since it has the smallest volume and will not produce as much waste as the other cells. 
B)  Cell 2, since it has the highest ratio of surface area to volume, which facilitates the exchange of materials between a cell and its environment. 
C)  Cell 3, since it has the largest surface area, which will enable it to eliminate all of its wastes efficiently. 
D)  Cell 3, because it is big enough to allow wastes to easily diffuse through the plasma membrane.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the cytoskeleton is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cytoskeleton of eukaryotes is a static structure most resembling scaffolding used at construction sites. 
B)  Although microtubules are common within a cell, actin filaments are rarely found outside of the nucleus. 
C)  Movement of cilia and flagella is the result of motor proteins causing microtubules to move relative to each other. 
D)  Chemicals that block the assembly of the cytoskeleton would have little effect on a cell's response to external stimuli.

Question 20

Which structure is not part of the endomembrane system?

Accepted Answer

A)  nuclear envelope 
B)  chloroplast 
C)  Golgi apparatus 
D)  plasma membrane

Exam 6: A Tour of the Cell