AP Biology : Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures
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Example Question #1 : Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures
What is the main structural component of a plant cell wall?
Chitin
Actin and myosin
Cellulose
Collagen
Peptidoglycan
Cellulose
Cellulose, a polymer of glucose, is the main component of plant cell walls.
Collagen is found in the connective tissues of animals. Chitin is found in the cell walls of fungi. Actin and myosin are the proteins responsible for contraction in muscle cells; actin is also a microfilament in the cytoskeleton. Peptidoglycan is found in the cell walls of bacteria.
Example Question #1 : Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures
What is not one of the functions of the plant cell wall?
Maintains fixed cell shape
Allows for the passage of 
Prevents permeability
Offers structural support
Prevents permeability
The plant cell wall is made of cellulose, which makes it rigid. The cell wall offers structural support and protection to the cell and it’s rigid nature maintains the regular shape of the cell. The cell wall is also permeable and allows small molecules, proteins, and nutrients to pass, including water and carbon dioxide.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures
What is the role of the vacuole in plant cells?
Stores water only
Stores waste only
Stores water and wastes, and maintains turgidity
Stores water and waste only
Maintains turgidity only
Stores water and wastes, and maintains turgidity
Plant cells contain one very large vacuole that occupies a large percentage of the cell space. The central function of this vacuole is to maintain the turgor pressure of the cell through the continual transport of water and ions in and out of the cell, as needed. Vacuoles store and transport water, waste, and ions too.
Example Question #3 : Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures
Which of the following structures can be found in a plant cell?
Endoplasmic reticulum only
Golgi apparatus only
Chloroplast only
Endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, Golgi apparatus, and cell membrane
Endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, Golgi apparatus, and cell membrane
Plant cells contain most of the membrane-bound organelles that animal cells do; they do not have cilia, and only some plant cells contain centrioles. Plant cells have additional organelles that animal cells do not, namely chloroplasts and cell walls, for photosynthesis and support, respectively. Virtually all cells have cell membranes.
Example Question #4 : Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures
Which of the following best describes the function of stomata?
They allow carbon dioxide into the leaf only
They allow carbon dioxide in and oxygen out of the leaves
They allow oxygen to be released from the leaf only
They allow for the uptake of water on the leaves
They allow carbon dioxide in and oxygen out of the leaves
Stomata are the microscopic pores on the surface of leaves. Their function is to allow carbon dioxide into the plant while also allowing oxygen to leave the plant.
Example Question #5 : Understanding Other Plant Cell Structures
Plant and animal cells mostly differ in which way?
Only plant cells have plasma membranes with cholesterol
Only plant cells have ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum
Only plant cells have a flagella
Only plant cells have plasma membranes with cholesterol
Only plant cells have cell walls
Only plant cells have cell walls
The correct answer to this question is Only plant cells have cell walls
Animals notably do not have cell walls. Animal cells, not plant cells, have plasma membranes that contain cholesterol. Both animals and plants have cells with mitochondria and have ribosomes attached to the endoplasmic reticulum. Also only animal cells contain flagella and plant cells do not contain flagella at all.
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