Lesson 3.1.1

3.1.1 Common features of living cells Quiz: Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield), Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.1, Common features of living cells: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) (9BI0), Unit 3: Voice of the Genome, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which feature is common to all living cells?

    • A cell wall made of cellulose
    • A nucleus enclosed by a double membrane
    • A plasma membrane enclosing cytoplasm and genetic material
    • Chloroplasts for photosynthesis

  2. Which statement is part of the cell theory?

    • Cells can arise spontaneously from non-living matter
    • All living organisms are made of one or more cells
    • Every cell has a nucleus enclosed by a membrane
    • Cells are visible only with an electron microscope

  3. Which type of ribosome is found in prokaryotic cells?

    • 100S ribosomes
    • 60S ribosomes only
    • 80S ribosomes
    • 70S ribosomes

  4. Which molecule carries the genetic information in all cells?

    • Glucose
    • DNA
    • Glycogen
    • Cholesterol

  5. What is the main function of the plasma membrane?

    • To release energy by aerobic respiration
    • To control the movement of substances into and out of the cell
    • To synthesise proteins from amino acids
    • To store genetic information in chromosomes

  6. What is the surface area to volume ratio of a cube of side 2 cm?

    • 1:3
    • 6:1
    • 3:1
    • 12:1

  7. As the size of a cell increases, what happens to its surface area to volume ratio?

    • It decreases, which limits the rate of exchange with the environment
    • It increases only if the cell is spherical
    • It increases, which makes exchange faster
    • It stays the same in all cells regardless of size

  8. Which structure is needed by every cell to make proteins?

    • Chloroplasts
    • Flagella
    • Ribosomes
    • Centrioles

  9. Where is DNA located in a eukaryotic cell?

    • Only in the nucleus, and nowhere else in the cell
    • Only in the cell membrane as a protein complex
    • Only in the cytoplasm as linear chromosomes
    • In the nucleus, and also in mitochondria and chloroplasts where present

  10. What is the cytoplasm?

    • The membrane-bound compartment that holds the DNA
    • The outer boundary of the cell made of phospholipid
    • The rigid wall made from cellulose in plant cells
    • The gel-like contents of the cell outside the nucleus, containing organelles

  11. Why do large multicellular organisms need specialised exchange surfaces?

    • Their cells are always spherical, so diffusion is impossible
    • Large organisms have more cells, so they need less energy overall
    • Their surface area to volume ratio is too small for simple diffusion to supply all their cells
    • Large organisms do not need oxygen or nutrients from the environment

  12. A cell is 25 micrometres (um) across. How many millimetres is this?

    • 0.0025 mm
    • 0.25 mm
    • 0.025 mm
    • 2.5 mm

  13. For a sphere of radius r, which expression gives its surface area to volume ratio?

    • 3r
    • 3/r
    • r/3
    • 1/r^2

  14. Which structure is present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

    • Linear chromosomes
    • Mitochondria
    • Plasma membrane
    • Nucleus

  15. Which level of biological organisation is the cell?

    • A population of one species living in one habitat
    • An organ made of several different tissues
    • The basic unit of structure and function in living organisms
    • A group of similar cells performing one specific function

  16. Which adaptation most increases the surface area available for exchange in a cell?

    • Making the membrane thicker to resist damage
    • Reducing the number of membrane pores
    • Folding the plasma membrane into microvilli
    • Making the cell larger to hold more cytoplasm

  17. Two cubes have sides of 1 cm and 3 cm. What is the ratio of the surface area to volume ratio of the small cube to that of the large cube?

    • 1:3
    • 3:1
    • 9:1
    • 1:1

  18. A cube has a side of 4 cm. What is its surface area to volume ratio?

    • 1.5
    • 3
    • 6
    • 0.75

  19. A researcher finds a structure with 70S ribosomes and no membrane-bound nucleus in an electron micrograph. The cell is most likely:

    • A plant root hair cell
    • A fungal hypha with many nuclei
    • A prokaryote such as a bacterium
    • A mammalian red blood cell

  20. In an electron micrograph of a eukaryotic cell, what is the dense region inside the nucleus?

    • A centriole that organises the spindle fibres
    • The nucleolus, where ribosomal RNA is made and ribosome subunits are assembled
    • The Golgi body that packages proteins
    • A vacuole that stores water

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