Lesson 4.4.2

4.4.2 Starch and cellulose structure Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Biology, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.4.2, Starch and cellulose structure: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Biology (9BI0), Unit 4: Biodiversity and Natural Resources, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which monomer is used to make cellulose?

    • Alpha-glucose
    • Beta-glucose
    • Galactose
    • Fructose

  2. Which glycosidic bonds join the alpha-glucose monomers in amylose?

    • Peptide bonds
    • 1,6-glycosidic bonds
    • Beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds
    • 1,4-glycosidic bonds

  3. Which polysaccharide is the main energy store in plants?

    • Starch
    • Peptidoglycan
    • Cellulose
    • Chitin

  4. Which additional glycosidic bonds create the branches found in amylopectin?

    • Beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds
    • 1,4-glycosidic bonds
    • 1,2-glycosidic bonds
    • 1,6-glycosidic bonds

  5. What shape does an unbranched amylose chain form to become compact?

    • Triple helix
    • Spiral helix
    • Flat sheet
    • Extended rod

  6. How does the structure of glycogen compare to the structure of amylopectin?

    • Forms beta sheets
    • Unbranched chain
    • More highly branched
    • Less highly branched

  7. What structures are formed when hydrogen bonds bind parallel cellulose chains together?

    • Glycogen granules
    • Sieve tubes
    • Microfibrils
    • Amylopectin

  8. Rotating alternate beta-glucose monomers by 180 degrees results in which chain shape?

    • Compact coiled helices
    • Unbranched straight chains
    • Highly branched chains
    • Globular spherical structures

  9. A polymer has only 1,4 glycosidic bonds and forms a helix. Which polysaccharide is most likely?

    • Amylopectin
    • Glycogen
    • Amylose
    • Cellulose

  10. Why does branching in amylopectin allow faster hydrolysis of glucose?

    • More terminal ends
    • Reduced enzyme binding
    • Stronger hydrogen bonding
    • Higher water solubility

  11. Which glycosidic bonds in cellulose cannot be broken by most animal digestive enzymes?

    • Alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds
    • Peptide bonds
    • Alpha-1,6-glycosidic bonds
    • Beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds

  12. What is the main function of cellulose in plant cells?

    • Energy storage
    • Water transport
    • Mineral absorption
    • Cell wall strength

  13. Amylose contains 1000 glucose units joined end to end by 1,4 bonds. How many glycosidic bonds join them?

    • 1000
    • 1001
    • 999
    • 500

  14. Which molecule causes iodine solution to turn from orange-brown to blue-black?

    • Starch
    • Cellulose
    • Sucrose
    • Glucose

  15. Which glucose isomer is the monomer used to form cellulose?

    • Beta-glucose
    • Galactose
    • Alpha-glucose
    • Fructose

  16. Which feature determines whether a glucose polymer forms a coil or straight chain?

    • Monomer carbon count
    • Glucose isomer type
    • Phosphate group position
    • Nitrogen base sequence

  17. Why is starch an ideal storage molecule in plant cells regarding osmosis?

    • It absorbs water
    • It is insoluble
    • It exerts pressure
    • It is soluble

  18. What feature of glycogen allows rapid glucose release during respiration?

    • Beta glycosidic bonds
    • Coiled helical shape
    • Cross-linked microfibrils
    • Many branch ends

  19. Which cross-linking bonds give cellulose microfibrils high tensile strength?

    • Peptide bonds
    • Disulfide bridges
    • Hydrogen bonds
    • Ionic bonds

  20. What shape does amylose adopt to allow compact energy storage?

    • Double helix
    • Spiral helix
    • Straight chain
    • Branched network

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