The Cell

27 Grade 8 Integrated Science questions on The Cell, with worked marking schemes. 27 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   5 marks

   A learner observes a typical animal cell (cheek cell) under a microscope.

   (a) Name three structures that would be seen in this animal cell. (3 marks)

   (b) Give two reasons why the animal cell has no definite shape. (2 marks)

   (5 marks)

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2. Question 2

   1 mark

   The ability of a microscope to make an object appear larger than its actual size is known as:

   A. Magnification

   B. Resolution loss

   C. Illumination

   D. Focusing

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   1 mark

   The basic unit of life is the

   A. organism

   B. cell

   C. organ

   D. tissue

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   1 mark

   Before viewing a specimen under the light microscope, a learner should first use the:

   A. High power objective lens

   B. Mirror turned away from light

   C. Fine adjustment knob only

   D. Low power objective lens

   (1 mark)

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5. Question 5

   6 marks

   Explain three reasons why the microscope is an important tool in the study of the cell.

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Any three (2 marks each: 1 for point, 1 for explanation): It magnifies the specimen so that very small cells/structures too small for the naked eye can be seen; it allows learners to observe and identify different cell structures/organelles; it enables comparison between plant and animal cells; it helps in studying the arrangement of cells in tissues.

6. Question 6

   4 marks

   (a) State the function of each of the following parts of a cell:

   (i) cell membrane; (ii) nucleus. (2 marks)

   (b) Name two parts found in a plant cell but absent in an animal cell. (2 marks)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) (i) Cell membrane - controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell (selectively permeable). (ii) Nucleus - controls all the activities of the cell and contains the genetic material (DNA). (b) Cell wall and chloroplast (also acceptable: large/permanent vacuole).

7. Question 7

   4 marks

   State the functions of the following cell structures:

   (a) Nucleus (1 mark)

   (b) Cell membrane (1 mark)

   (c) Vacuole (1 mark)

   (d) Cytoplasm (1 mark)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Nucleus - controls all activities of the cell / contains genetic material (1 mark). (b) Cell membrane - controls movement of substances into and out of the cell (1 mark). (c) Vacuole - stores cell sap / water and dissolved substances / keeps cell turgid (1 mark). (d) Cytoplasm - site where cell activities/chemical reactions take place / holds the organelles (1 mark).

8. Question 8

   1 mark

   Which cell structure controls all the activities of the cell?

   A. Cell membrane

   B. Cytoplasm

   C. Nucleus

   D. Cell wall

   (1 mark)

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9. Question 9

   3 marks

   Answer the following questions about a plant cell.

   (a) Name the part that controls all activities of the cell. (1 mark)

   (b) Name the part that gives the plant cell its rigid shape. (1 mark)

   (c) State the function of chloroplasts. (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    3 marks

    Answer the following questions about a plant cell.

    (a) Name TWO structures found in a plant cell but absent in an animal cell. (2 marks)

    (b) State the function of the cell membrane. (1 mark)

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Any TWO of: cell wall; chloroplast(s); large/permanent (central) vacuole. (1 mark each) (b) The cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell (it is selectively/semi-permeable). (1 mark)

11. Question 11

    1 mark

    Which cell structure is responsible for controlling the movement of substances into and out of the cell?

    A. Chloroplast

    B. Cell membrane

    C. Vacuole

    D. Nucleus

    (1 mark)

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12. Question 12

    1 mark

    Which part of the microscope is used to increase or decrease the amount of light passing through the specimen?

    A. Objective lens

    B. Eyepiece

    C. Diaphragm

    D. Coarse adjustment knob

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    1 mark

    A plant cell contains green structures where photosynthesis takes place. These structures are:

    A. Mitochondria

    B. Ribosomes

    C. Vacuoles

    D. Chloroplasts

    (1 mark)

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    Which of the following is a function of the vacuole in a plant cell?

    A. Producing energy

    B. Controlling cell activities

    C. Storing cell sap and maintaining cell shape

    D. Making proteins

    (1 mark)

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15. Question 15

    1 mark

    The jelly-like substance that fills the cell and where chemical reactions occur is the

    A. vacuole

    B. cell wall

    C. cytoplasm

    D. nucleus

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    1 mark

    Which structure is found in plant cells but NOT in animal cells?

    A. Cell membrane

    B. Cytoplasm

    C. Cell wall

    D. Nucleus

    (1 mark)

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17. Question 17

    1 mark

    The cell membrane is responsible for

    A. making food for the cell

    B. storing genetic information

    C. controlling what enters and leaves the cell

    D. providing energy for the cell

    (1 mark)

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18. Question 18

    1 mark

    Which of the following features is found in a plant cell but NOT in an animal cell?

    A. Cytoplasm

    B. A large permanent vacuole

    C. A nucleus

    D. A cell membrane

    (1 mark)

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19. Question 19

    4 marks

    Answer the following questions about a plant cell.

    (a) Name two parts that are found in a plant cell but absent in an animal cell. (2 marks)

    (b) State the function of the cell membrane. (1 mark)

    (c) State the function of the nucleus. (1 mark)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Any two of: cell wall; chloroplast(s); large/permanent vacuole. (b) The cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell (it is selectively/semi-permeable). (c) The nucleus controls the activities of the cell (and contains the genetic/hereditary material that controls inheritance and cell division).

20. Question 20

    1 mark

    The part of the cell that controls all the activities of the cell is the:

    A. Cell wall

    B. Cell membrane

    C. Vacuole

    D. Nucleus

    (1 mark)

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21. Question 21

    1 mark

    The jelly-like substance in which the cell organelles are suspended is called the:

    A. Nucleus

    B. Vacuole

    C. Cell wall

    D. Cytoplasm

    (1 mark)

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22. Question 22

    3 marks

    State three differences between a plant cell and an animal cell.

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme

    1. Plant cells have a cell wall; animal cells do not.

    2. Plant cells have chloroplasts for photosynthesis; animal cells do not.

    3. Plant cells have a large central vacuole; animal cells have small or no vacuoles.

23. Question 23

    1 mark

    An organism that is made up of only one cell is called

    A. unicellular

    B. multicellular

    C. colonial

    D. bilateral

    (1 mark)

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24. Question 24

    1 mark

    A learner observes an onion cell and a cheek cell under a light microscope. Which structure will be present in the onion cell but ABSENT in the cheek cell?

    A. Nucleus

    B. Cytoplasm

    C. Cell wall

    D. Cell membrane

    (1 mark)

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25. Question 25

    3 marks

    A Grade 8 learner prepared a slide of onion epidermal cells and observed them under a light microscope.

    (a) Name two structures the learner would see that are characteristic of plant cells. (2 marks)

    (b) State the function of the cell wall. (1 mark)

    (3 marks)

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26. Question 26

    4 marks

    The diagram of a plant cell shows the cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm and chloroplast.

    (a) State the function of the cell membrane. (1 mark)

    (b) State the function of the chloroplast. (1 mark)

    (c) Give two structural differences between a plant cell and an animal cell. (2 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) The cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell (it is selectively permeable). (b) The chloroplast contains chlorophyll which traps light energy for photosynthesis (manufacture of food). (c) Any two of the following: - A plant cell has a cell wall while an animal cell does not. - A plant cell has chloroplasts while an animal cell does not. - A plant cell has a large permanent (central) vacuole while an animal cell has small or no vacuoles. - A plant cell is usually regular/rectangular in shape while an animal cell is usually irregular/rounded.

27. Question 27

    1 mark

    Chloroplasts are found in plant cells and are responsible for

    A. reproduction

    B. respiration

    C. excretion

    D. photosynthesis

    (1 mark)

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