Lesson T1.1.2

T1.1.2 Cell parts and their functions Quiz: KS3 Biology, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T1.1.2, Cell parts and their functions: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Biology (National Curriculum), Unit 1: Structure and function of living organisms, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which cell part controls what substances enter and leave the cell?

    • The large vacuole, which holds cell sap and keeps the plant cell firm
    • The cell membrane
    • The chloroplast, which contains chlorophyll and absorbs light energy
    • The cell wall, which is made of cellulose and gives plant cells support

  2. Which cell part is made mainly of cellulose and gives plant cells extra support?

    • The cell membrane
    • The cell wall
    • The nucleus
    • The mitochondrion

  3. Where do most of the chemical reactions of a cell take place?

    • The cell wall
    • The nucleus
    • The cytoplasm
    • The vacuole

  4. Which part of the cell contains the DNA that carries instructions for the cell's activities?

    • The nucleus
    • The cell membrane
    • The vacuole
    • The cytoplasm

  5. What is the main job of the large vacuole in a plant cell?

    • To release energy from glucose by aerobic respiration inside the cell
    • To make food by photosynthesis using light energy from the sun
    • To hold cell sap and help keep the cell firm
    • To control what enters and leaves the cell through its outer boundary

  6. Which cell part is the site of aerobic respiration, where energy is released from glucose?

    • The vacuole
    • The mitochondria
    • The cell wall
    • The chloroplasts

  7. Which cell part contains the green pigment chlorophyll?

    • The cell membrane
    • The mitochondrion
    • The nucleus
    • The chloroplast

  8. A cell has a nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane, but no cell wall or chloroplasts. What type of cell is it most likely to be?

    • A plant cell
    • An animal cell
    • A cell from a green alga
    • A leaf cell from a tree

  9. Which pair of cell parts is found in both plant and animal cells?

    • Cell wall and large vacuole
    • Chloroplasts and large vacuole
    • Cell wall and chloroplasts
    • Nucleus and mitochondria

  10. Why is the cell membrane described as partially permeable?

    • It lets some substances through but not others
    • It stops all substances from passing across it in either direction
    • It allows only gases through and blocks every liquid and solid particle
    • It lets every substance pass through freely without any control at all

  11. Which of these lists contains only parts found in plant cells and not in animal cells?

    • Chloroplasts, mitochondria and nucleus, which are found in plant cells
    • Cytoplasm, cell membrane and vacuole, which are found in animal cells
    • Cell wall, nucleus and cell membrane, which are found in every type of cell
    • Cell wall, chloroplasts and large vacuole

  12. Which cell structure is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?

    • Mitochondria
    • Nucleus
    • Cell membrane
    • Chloroplasts

  13. Why do muscle cells contain many mitochondria?

    • They store large amounts of starch that can be used later as food
    • They make the cell wall thicker so the muscle cell is stronger
    • They release a lot of energy by aerobic respiration
    • They absorb sunlight directly to make food for the muscle cell

  14. A scientist stains a cell and sees a dark round region near its centre. Which structure is most likely?

    • The chloroplast
    • The nucleus
    • The cell wall
    • The vacuole

  15. A plant root cell is found underground where no light reaches it. Which cell part is it least likely to contain?

    • Mitochondria
    • Chloroplasts
    • A cell membrane
    • A nucleus

  16. Which structure is usually the largest in a mature plant cell and fills most of its centre?

    • The cell membrane
    • The mitochondrion
    • The nucleus
    • The large vacuole

  17. Why does a plant need cells with cell walls and large vacuoles?

    • To stay upright and firm without a skeleton
    • To produce energy without oxygen when the plant is kept in the dark
    • To divide more often than animal cells so that the plant grows quickly
    • To move around freely like an animal in search of new food sources

  18. A student says mitochondria are where photosynthesis happens. Which correction is right?

    • Photosynthesis happens in the vacuole of the cell, while mitochondria make cellulose for the cell wall
    • Mitochondria absorb light energy and photosynthesis happens in the cell wall of the plant cell
    • Photosynthesis happens in the nucleus of the cell, while mitochondria store water and minerals for later use
    • Photosynthesis happens in chloroplasts, while mitochondria release energy by respiration

  19. What is the most likely reason an animal cell has no cell wall?

    • Animal cells make their own food by photosynthesis and do not need much light
    • Animal cells can take in water without any limit, so a wall would burst
    • Animals are supported by skeletons, so they do not need a rigid wall
    • Animal cells move by using a cell wall that contracts and pulls them along

  20. Why does a plant leaf cell usually contain more chloroplasts than a root cell?

    • Leaves need more nuclei than roots in order to control their own growth rate
    • Roots need more cell walls than leaves in order to hold water in the soil
    • Roots need more chlorophyll than leaves so they can absorb sunlight underground
    • Leaves receive light for photosynthesis, which chloroplasts carry out

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