Plant vs Animal Cell Practice Questions
20 free Plant vs Animal Cell practice questions for the NCERT Biology. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which of the following structures is characteristically present in plant cells but absent in almost all animal cells?
- A Nucleus
- B Cell wall
- C Mitochondria
- D Ribosomes
Correct answer: Cell wall
Plant cells are distinguished by a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, which provides structural support. Animal cells lack a cell wall and are enclosed only by a plasma membrane.
The large central vacuole, which can occupy up to 90% of the cell volume, is a feature of:
- A Mature animal cells
- B Mature plant cells
- C Bacterial cells
- D All eukaryotic cells
Correct answer: Mature plant cells
In mature plant cells, the central vacuole is a prominent feature that maintains turgor pressure. Animal cells may have vacuoles, but they are much smaller and usually temporary.
Centrioles, which form the basal body of cilia or flagella and facilitate cell division, are typically found in:
- A Higher plant cells
- B Animal cells
- C Most plant and animal cells
- D Fungal cells only
Correct answer: Animal cells
Centrioles are non-membrane bound organelles present in almost all animal cells to help in spindle formation. They are notably absent in the cells of higher plants.
Which organelle is responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells and contains chlorophyll pigments?
- A Leucoplast
- B Chromoplast
- C Chloroplast
- D Amyloplast
Correct answer: Chloroplast
Chloroplasts are specialized plastids found in plant and algal cells. They capture light energy to synthesize carbohydrates, a process absent in animal cells.
In terms of cytokinesis, how do plant cells differ from animal cells?
- A By forming a contractile furrow inward
- B By the formation of a cell plate
- C By budding off membrane vesicles
- D By binary fission of the cytoplasm
Correct answer: By the formation of a cell plate
Due to the rigid cell wall, plant cells cannot form a contractile ring; instead, they synthesize a cell plate from the center outwards. Animal cells divide via inward furrowing of the plasma membrane.
Identify the storage plastid found in plant cells that is specialized for storing oils and fats.
- A Amyloplast
- B Elaioplast
- C Aleuroplast
- D Etioplast
Correct answer: Elaioplast
Elaioplasts are a type of leucoplast specifically modified for the storage of lipids (fats and oils). Amyloplasts store starch, while aleuroplasts store proteins.
The middle lamella, a layer mainly composed of calcium pectinate, is found in:
- A Animal cell junctions
- B Adjoining plant cell walls
- C Bacterial capsules
- D Nuclear envelopes
Correct answer: Adjoining plant cell walls
The middle lamella is the outermost layer of the plant cell wall that cements neighboring cells together. It is composed mainly of calcium pectinate and is not found in animal tissues.
Animal cells store glucose in the form of __________, whereas plant cells primarily store it as __________.
- A Starch, Glycogen
- B Glycogen, Starch
- C Cellulose, Glycogen
- D Starch, Cellulose
Correct answer: Glycogen, Starch
Glycogen is the primary reserve polysaccharide in animals and fungi. Plants utilize starch (amylose and amylopectin) as their main energy storage molecule.
Which of the following is true regarding the position of the nucleus in a mature plant cell compared to an animal cell?
- A Centric in plants, Peripheral in animals
- B Peripheral in plants, Centric in animals
- C Both are always centric
- D Both are always peripheral
Correct answer: Peripheral in plants, Centric in animals
In mature plant cells, the large central vacuole pushes the nucleus and cytoplasm to the periphery. In animal cells, the nucleus is typically located in the center of the cell.
Which organelle is often referred to as 'suicide bags' and is more common and prominent in animal cells than in plant cells?
- A Ribosomes
- B Lysosomes
- C Glyoxysomes
- D Peroxisomes
Correct answer: Lysosomes
Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes for intracellular digestion and are abundant in animal cells. While some plants have lysosome-like vacuoles, true lysosomes are less common in the plant kingdom.
Plasmodesmata are cytoplasmic connections found in:
- A Animal cells only
- B Plant cells, not animal cells
- C Both animal and plant cells
- D Prokaryotic cells only
Correct answer: Plant cells, not animal cells
Plasmodesmata are microscopic channels traversing plant cell walls, enabling transport and communication between adjacent cells. Animal cells use gap junctions for an analogous purpose.
Regarding shape, which statement is generally correct?
- A Plant cells are irregular; Animal cells are fixed
- B Plant cells are rectangular; Animal cells are round
- C Both are always perfectly spherical
- D Both are always rectangular
Correct answer: Plant cells are rectangular; Animal cells are round
The rigid cellulose cell wall gives plant cells a regular, often rectangular or cubic shape. Animal cells lack this wall and tend to be round or irregular in form.
Which of these organelles involved in the glyoxylate cycle is typically found in germinating fatty seeds (plants) but absent in animals?
- A Peroxisomes
- B Glyoxysomes
- C Centrosomes
- D Lomasomes
Correct answer: Glyoxysomes
Glyoxysomes are specialized peroxisomes found in plants that convert stored fats into carbohydrates. This pathway is essential for seedling growth before photosynthesis begins.
The plasma membrane is present in:
- A Only animal cells
- B Only plant cells
- C All eukaryotic cells
- D Only prokaryotic cells
Correct answer: All eukaryotic cells
The plasma membrane is a universal feature of all living cells, including both plant and animal cells. In plants it lies just inside the cell wall; in animals it is the outermost boundary.
Which component of the plant cell wall provides tensile strength and is a polymer of glucose?
- A Pectin
- B Hemicellulose
- C Cellulose
- D Lipids
Correct answer: Cellulose
Cellulose is the structural carbohydrate that forms the microfibrils of the plant cell wall. It is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth and is absent in animal cells.
Plastids that contain carotenoid pigments and give flowers and fruits their yellow, orange, or red colors are:
- A Chloroplasts
- B Leucoplasts
- C Chromoplasts
- D Amyloplasts
Correct answer: Chromoplasts
Chromoplasts are plastids responsible for pigment synthesis and storage other than chlorophyll. They are found in specific plant tissues like flower petals and ripening fruits.
Cilia are more commonly found in ________ cells for movement or sensing, while they are rare in ________ cells.
- A Plant, Animal
- B Animal, Plant
- C Bacterial, Animal
- D Fungal, Plant
Correct answer: Animal, Plant
Many animal cells possess cilia for locomotion or moving fluids over the cell surface. In plants, cilia are generally absent, except in some motile sperm cells of lower plants.
Which of the following describes the nature of the vacuolar membrane in plant cells?
- A Tonoplast
- B Cristae
- C Cisterna
- D Thylakoid
Correct answer: Tonoplast
The tonoplast is the single membrane that bounds the central vacuole in plant cells. It facilitates the transport of a number of ions and other materials against concentration gradients.
Desmosomes and Tight Junctions are characteristic of:
- A Plant tissues
- B Animal tissues
- C Bacterial colonies
- D Plasmids
Correct answer: Animal tissues
Desmosomes and tight junctions are specialized cell-to-cell adhesion complexes found in animal tissues. Plants rely on the middle lamella and plasmodesmata for structural integrity and communication.
Which organelle is found in both plant and animal cells and is known as the 'powerhouse of the cell'?
- A Chloroplast
- B Mitochondria
- C Golgi apparatus
- D Endoplasmic reticulum
Correct answer: Mitochondria
Mitochondria are present in all eukaryotic cells (both plant and animal). They are the primary sites of aerobic respiration and ATP production.