Cell: The Unit of Life
Solutions for Biology, Class 9, ICSE
Assertion Reason Type
5 questionsAssertion (A): Ribosomes are considered as the 'delivery system of the cell'.
Reason (R): Delivery system is concerned with the secretions of the cell including enzymes, hormones, etc.
- A is True and R is False.
- A is False and R is True.
- Both A and R are True.
- Both A and R are False.
Answer:
Both A and R are False.
Reason — Ribosomes are not the delivery system, they are the site of protein synthesis in the cell. Golgi apparatus is concerned with the secretions of the cell including enzymes, hormones, etc.
Answer:
Both A and R are True.
Reason — Leukoplasts are colourless plastids because they lack pigments. Their function is to store starch, oils, or proteins and they are not involved in photosynthesis.
Assertion (A): Cisternae are the finger-like projections arising from the inner walls of mitochondria.
Reason (R): These projections increase the surface area of the inner membrane and help in the production of ATP.
- A is True and R is False.
- A is False and R is True.
- Both A and R are True.
- Both A and R are False.
Answer:
A is False and R is True.
Reason — The finger-like projections inside mitochondria are called cristae, not cisternae. Cristae increase the surface area of the inner mitochondrial membrane, which helps in ATP production.
Answer:
Both A and R are False.
Reason — Euglena is a unicellular eukaryotic organism because it has a well-defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Prokaryotes (like bacteria) do not have a well-defined nucleus.
Assertion (A): Chromosomes carry hereditary information from parents to offspring.
Reason (R): Chromosomes are suspended in the cytoplasm of each cell whether its a plant cell or an animal cell. Chromosomes are composed of RNA threads.
- A is True and R is False.
- A is False and R is True.
- Both A and R are True.
- Both A and R are False.
Answer:
A is True and R is False.
Reason — Chromosomes carry hereditary information in the form of genes, which are passed from parents to offspring. Chromosomes are located in the nucleus, not suspended in the cytoplasm. They are made up of DNA and proteins not RNA.
Descriptive Answer Type
10 questionsAnswer:
The Cell Theory states three major points -
- The cell is the smallest unit of structure of all living thing
- The cell is the unit of function of all living things
- All cells arise from pre-existing cells.
The theory was propounded in 1839 by Schwann and Schleiden. Rudolf Virchow in 1858 made an addition to the cell theory by saying that all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
Answer:
Protoplasm | Cytoplasm |
---|---|
Protoplasm is the living matter of the cell. The total substance of a living cell-nucleus and cytoplasm | Mixture of insoluble and soluble organic compounds and water wherein different cell organelles are implanted. |
Answer:
Centrosome | Chromosome |
---|---|
Centrosome contains two centrioles. Spindle fibres develop from centrosome during cell division. | Chromosome contain genes or hereditary data that transfer genetic traits from parents to offspring. |
Found in animal cell only. | They are found in the nucleus of both plant and animal cell. |
Answer:
Prokaryotes | Eukaryotes |
---|---|
Cells contain primitive and undefined nucleus. | Have a well-defined nucleus along with a nuclear membrane. |
Other than ribosomes, they do not contain any other cell organelle. | Possess other cell organelles. |
Possess smaller ribosomes. | Larger ribosomes. |
Example – Blue-green algae | Example – Humans |
Answer:
The major functions are as follows-
Plasma membrane —
- Separates contents of cell from its surroundings.
- Regulates the entry of certain solutes and ions.
- Maintains shape of the cell in animal cells.
Ribosome —
- Protein synthesis
Lysosome —
- Intracellular digestion.
- Destroy foreign substances.
- They are referred to as 'suicidal bags' as they destroy cell organelles when they turn old or are damaged.
- Digest cartilages during formation of bones.
Mitochondria —
- Controls the cell functions.
- Referred to as ‘power house of the cell’, as energy is stored in the form of ATP.
- Involved in cellular respiration to release energy.
- Bearers of genes.
Golgi apparatus(in animal cells) —
- Synthesis and secretion of enzymes, hormones,etc.
- Acrosomes of sperms are formed.
Cytoplasm —
- Contains organelles perform multitude of functions.
- Performs all metabolic activities.
Asters of centrosome —
- Cell division – regulation and initiation.
- Spindle fibre formation.
Chromosomes —
- Passes genetic characteristics from parents to offspring.
Glycogen granule —
- Food for cells.
Vacuoles —
- Stores food, water, pigments and waste products.
- Renders turgidity to the plant cell.
Answer:
Following are the differences between a living cell and a brick in a wall-
Living cell | Brick |
---|---|
The living structure is non-rigid | Living structure is rigid |
Contains cellulose chiefly | Contains soil primarily |
Is functional in nature, performs critical functions pertaining to life processes | Non-functional |
Generously permeable | Impermeable |
Answer:
Given below are the following six features found both in plant and animal cells
- Cell membrane is present.
- Golgi body is present.
- Liquid matrix known as cytoplasm is observed in the cell.
- Mitochondria generates energy, is found in the cells.
- Ribosomes are found. They are responsible for protein synthesis.
- A prominent nucleus is observed.
Multiple Choice Type
11 questionsAnswer:
cell membrane
Reason — Cell membrane is found in both animal and plant cell. The plant cell also has a cell wall, additional to cell membrane.
Answer:
Ribosomes — Synthesis of proteins
Reason — The function of the ribosomes is synthesis of proteins.
The invention of the microscope was a great boon for people to study smaller objects or micro-organisms. Scientists made different microscopes by using different types of lenses for magnification.
Gaurav made a table of two scientists and the kind of microscope they invented.
The kind of microscope | Scientist |
---|---|
P | Robert Hooke |
Q | Antony Van Leeuwenhoek |
Identify P and Q
- P — Simple microscope, Q — Compound microscope.
- P — Electron microscope, Q — Simple microscope.
- P — Compound microscope, Q — Electron microscope.
- P — Compound microscope, Q — Simple microscope.
Answer:
P — Compound microscope, Q — Simple microscope.
Reason — Compound microscope was invented by Robert Hooke and simple microscope was invented by Antony Van Leeuwenhoek.
Progress Check 1
2 questionsProgress Check 2
2 questionsProgress Check 3
5 questionsAnswer:
- Difference between an organ and an organelle:
An organ | An organelle |
---|---|
It is bigger in size and visible to naked eyes. | It is microscopic |
Carries out specialized functions in the body. | Carries out specialized functions in the cell. |
Example: Heart, Lungs | Example: Mitochondria, Ribosomes. |
- A plant cell has plastids while an animal cell does not have plastids.
Answer:
- False
Corrected Statement— Prokaryotic cells have smaller ribosomes. - True
- False
Corrected Statement— Amoeba is an example of Eukaryotes. - False
Corrected Statement— Nuclear membrane is absent in bacteria.
Progress Check 4
5 questionsColumn I lists a few activities of living organisms and column II the activity of cells related to them. Match the items in the two columns.
Column I (Activity of Organism) | Column II (Activity of cells) |
---|---|
1. Repair | Contractility of cell |
2. Cooling of Body | Cells devour germs |
3. Movement | Cell division |
4. Protection from disease | Gland cells give out sweat for evaporation |
Answer:
Column I (Activity of Organism) | Column II (Activity of cells) |
---|---|
1. Repair | Cell division |
2. Cooling of Body | Gland cells give out sweat for evaporation |
3. Movement | Contractility of cell |
4. Protection from disease | Cells devour germs |
Answer:
The cells behave like an organism. They carry out all the processes like an organism viz. respiration and elimination of wastes. They also have a life span like an organism. They grow, age, deteriorate and finally die. The dying cells are dissolved or destroyed by their own lysosomes. For example, Red blood cells of our body die after 120 days. These cells are continuously replaced by new cells in our body
Answer:
Yes, an individual cell also excretes like an organism. Most of the waste substances are digested by the Lysosomes. Some cells may also release the waste product out through their cell membrane.
Short Answer Type
7 questionsAnswer:
- The part of cell having a definite structure and a definite function is called Cell organelle.
- Various non-living substances like nutrients or pigments present in the cell are called Cell inclusions.
- The liquid found inside the cell in which various organelles are found, is called Cytosol.
- The watery solution present in the vacuoles is called Cell sap.
- The semi-liquid substance that fills most of the part of cell (except nucleus) within the cell membrane is called Cytoplasm.
Answer:
- Centrosome - near nucleus (only in animal cells)
- Chromosome - in nucleus
- Genes - on chromosomes
- Mesosome - Plasma membrane of bacterial cells
- Plasmid - Cytoplasm of bacterial cells
Answer:
Cells are generally so little so that they can maximize their ratio of area to volume. They have to be ready to get the nutrients in and therefore the waste out quickly.The important point is that the area to the volume ratio gets smaller as the cell gets larger. Thus, if the cell grows beyond a particular limit, not enough material is going to be ready to cross the membrane fast enough to accommodate the increased cellular volume. That's why cells are so small.
Answer:
The protoplasm cannot be analysed chemically because it has complex organic and living cell organelles which can disintegrate if chemicals are added to analyse. Also due to complexity of physical and chemical properties the ultimate chemical nature of protoplasm cannot be determined.
Answer:
Attributes | Organ | Organelle |
---|---|---|
Size | Visible to the naked eyes, larger in size | Microscopic |
Location | They are present throughout the body | Known as little organs, are found within the cell. |
Function | Carry out functions of the entire body | Carry out functions within the cell |
Example | Heart, Lungs, Liver | Ribosomes, Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex. |
Answer:
Cell is the basic unit of life. Cells aggregates to form tissue, organ, organ system and ultimately organism. Elephant has more cells compared to rat. The cell size is independent of the size of the entity. The cell size of a rat and that of an elephant are the same. Within the entity, the cell size is the same, it does not differ. However, what varies is the number of cells. Number of cells in a large entity such as elephant is much more compared to a smaller entity such as a rat.
Structuredapplicationskill Type
2 questionsGiven below are the sketches of two types of cells A and B.

(a) Which one of these is a plant cell? Give reason in support of your answer.
(b) List the cell structures which are common to both the types.
(c) Name the structures found only in plant cells and those found only in animal cells.
Answer:
(a) Figure B is a plant cell because in Figure B, the cell has a cell wall, a large vacuole and the vacuole is seen pushing the nucleus to the periphery.
(b) Cell structures common to both the types in the figure are:
- Nucleus
- Mitochondria
- Ribosome
- Cell membrane
- Lysosome
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- Golgi body
(c) The structures found only in plant cells are Cell wall and Plastid. The structures found only in animal cells are Centrosome.
Gautam observed a plant cell and an animal cell under electron microscope and found one organelle that is present only in animal cells but not in plant cells. The figure of this organelle is shown alongside.

(a) What is this structure called ?
(b) It contains one or two dot-like dense bodies, surrounded by microtubules. Name them.
(c) Write one important role of the above mentioned structure.
Answer:
(a) Centrosome
(b) Centriole
(c) It helps in cell division by forming the spindle fibers that separate chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis.
Very Short Answer Type
10 questionsGiven below is the structure of nucleus of a cell. Read the information below the diagram and fill in the blanks:

Nucleus is the most important part of the cell. It is located in the central area in animal cells but pushed towards the periphery in plant cells due to the presence of a large vacuole in the centre. It regulates and coordinates various life processes of the cell and also plays an important role in cell division.
Nucleus has a delicate, protective surrounding layer (a) ............... which is filled with a relatively dense fluid (b) ............... . There are certain thread-like structures suspended in the fluid called (c) ............... . These thin thread-like fine structures become thick and ribbon-like during the time of cell division. These prominent ribbon-like structures are called (d) ............... .Nucleus contains a spherical, dense body inside it, called as (e) ............... which participates in protein synthesis.
Answer:
Nucleus has a delicate, protective surrounding layer (a) Nuclear membrane which is filled with a relatively dense fluid (b) Nucleoplasm. There are certain thread-like structures suspended in the fluid called (c) Chromatin. These thin thread-like fine structures become thick and ribbon-like during the time of cell division. These prominent ribbon-like structures are called (d) Chromosomes. Nucleus contains a spherical, dense body inside it, called as (e) Nucleolus which participates in protein synthesis.
Answer:
Structure of plant cell | Clues |
---|---|
(a) Cell wall | 5. Composed of cellulose |
(b) Vacuole | 1. Gives turgidity to the cell |
(c) Mitochondria | 4. Production of ATP |
(d) Chloroplast | 3. Prepares food material |
(e) Endoplasmic reticulum | 2. Supportive framework |
(f) Golgi body | 6. Synthesis and secretion of enzymes, hormones, etc. |
Answer:
- Mitochondria
- Ribosomes
- Chromosomes
- Centrosome
- Lysosomes
- Plasma membrane/cell membrane
State whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F):
(a) All animal cells contain a cell wall.
(b) The cell wall is made of protein.
(c) Centrosome occurs in animal cells.
(d) Plant cells contain large vacuoles.
(e) Protoplasm is the part of the cell which surrounds the nucleus.
(f) Genes are located in chromosomes.
(g) Anthocyanin are the pigments of flowers, which are dissolved in cell-sap.
Answer:
(a) False
Corrected statement — All plant cells contain a cell wall.
(b) False
Corrected statement — The cell wall is made of cellulose.
(c) True
(d) True
(e) False
Corrected statement — Cytoplasm is the part of the cell which surrounds the nucleus.
(f) True
(g) False
Corrected statement — Anthocyanin are the pigments of fruits, which are dissolved in cell-sap.
Answer:
Column A | Column B |
---|---|
Vacuoles | Covered by tonoplast |
Nucleolus | Forms RNA |
Lysosomes | Intracellular digestion |
Anthocyanin | Dissolved in the cytoplasm |
Cristae | Respiratory enzymes |
Fill in the blanks
- ............... consists of membranous sacs and secretes 40 types of digestive enzymes.
- ............... is surrounded by microtubules, located near the nucleus.
- Very thin flexible, living membrane which is differently permeable, is called ............... .
- More than 1000 chromosomes are found in the nucleus of certain ...............
- ............... are heredity units.
- ............... is a plastid which stores starch.
Answer:
- Lysosomes consists of membranous sacs and secretes 40 types of digestive enzymes.
- Centriole is surrounded by microtubules, located near the nucleus.
- Very thin flexible, living membrane which is differently permeable, is called Plasma membrane.
- More than 1000 chromosomes are found in the nucleus of certain Insects.
- Genes are heredity units.
- Leucoplast is a plastid which stores starch.