GCSE AQA BIOLOGY HIGHER - COMPLETE EXAM QUESTION
BANK
1. Are animal cells eukaryotic or prokaryotic?
A) Prokaryotic
B) Eukaryotic
C) Neither
D) Both
Correct Answer: B) Eukaryotic
Rationale: Animal cells are eukaryotic because they contain a nucleus
and other membrane-bound organelles. Prokaryotic cells lack these
structures.
2. What is the main function of mitochondria?
A) Protein synthesis
B) Cellular respiration
C) Photosynthesis
D) DNA replication
Correct Answer: B) Cellular respiration
Rationale: Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration where
glucose is broken down to release energy in the form of ATP for cellular
processes.
3. Which structures are found in plant cells but not in animal cells?
A) Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus
B) Cell wall, chloroplasts, permanent vacuole
,C) Mitochondria, ribosomes, cell membrane
D) Nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria
Correct Answer: B) Cell wall, chloroplasts, permanent vacuole
Rationale: Plant cells have a cellulose cell wall for support, chloroplasts
for photosynthesis, and a large permanent vacuole filled with cell sap.
These structures are absent in animal cells.
4. What is the function of the cell membrane?
A) Contains genetic material
B) Regulates what enters and leaves the cell
C) Provides support and protection
D) Site of protein synthesis
Correct Answer: B) Regulates what enters and leaves the cell
Rationale: The cell membrane is selectively permeable, controlling the
movement of substances into and out of the cell through processes like
diffusion, osmosis, and active transport.
5. What are prokaryotic cells compared to eukaryotic cells?
A) Much larger
B) Slightly larger
C) Much smaller
D) The same size
Correct Answer: C) Much smaller
Rationale: Prokaryotic cells are typically 0.2-2.0 μm in diameter, while
eukaryotic cells are typically 10-100 μm, making prokaryotes
significantly smaller.
,6. What is the function of chloroplasts?
A) Cellular respiration
B) Protein synthesis
C) Contains chlorophyll which absorbs light energy for photosynthesis
D) Storage of cell sap
Correct Answer: C) Contains chlorophyll which absorbs light energy for
photosynthesis
Rationale: Chloroplasts contain the green pigment chlorophyll that
captures light energy, which is then used to convert carbon dioxide and
water into glucose and oxygen during photosynthesis.
7. What are plant cell walls made of?
A) Starch
B) Glycogen
C) Cellulose
D) Chitin
Correct Answer: C) Cellulose
Rationale: Plant cell walls are composed of cellulose, a structural
polysaccharide made of β-glucose units that provides strength and
rigidity to the cell.
8. Which of the following is found in bacterial cells but not in animal
cells?
A) Nucleus
B) Mitochondria
C) Plasmids
D) Cell membrane
Correct Answer: C) Plasmids
, Rationale: Plasmids are small circular DNA molecules found in bacteria
that carry extra genes, often providing advantages like antibiotic
resistance. Animal cells do not contain plasmids.
9. What is the function of plasmids in bacteria?
A) Cellular respiration
B) Contains extra genetic material that can help the bacteria cell survive
C) Protein synthesis
D) Photosynthesis
Correct Answer: B) Contains extra genetic material that can help the
bacteria cell survive
Rationale: Plasmids carry genes that may provide survival advantages
such as antibiotic resistance, toxin production, or ability to metabolize
unusual substances.
10. What happens when cells differentiate?
A) They die
B) They divide rapidly
C) They develop different sub-cellular structures that make them carry
out certain functions
D) They become prokaryotic
Correct Answer: C) They develop different sub-cellular structures that
make them carry out certain functions
Rationale: Differentiation is the process where cells become specialized
for particular functions by expressing specific genes and developing
unique structures to perform their role efficiently.
11. What is the permanent vacuole in plant cells filled with?
A) Water
BANK
1. Are animal cells eukaryotic or prokaryotic?
A) Prokaryotic
B) Eukaryotic
C) Neither
D) Both
Correct Answer: B) Eukaryotic
Rationale: Animal cells are eukaryotic because they contain a nucleus
and other membrane-bound organelles. Prokaryotic cells lack these
structures.
2. What is the main function of mitochondria?
A) Protein synthesis
B) Cellular respiration
C) Photosynthesis
D) DNA replication
Correct Answer: B) Cellular respiration
Rationale: Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration where
glucose is broken down to release energy in the form of ATP for cellular
processes.
3. Which structures are found in plant cells but not in animal cells?
A) Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus
B) Cell wall, chloroplasts, permanent vacuole
,C) Mitochondria, ribosomes, cell membrane
D) Nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria
Correct Answer: B) Cell wall, chloroplasts, permanent vacuole
Rationale: Plant cells have a cellulose cell wall for support, chloroplasts
for photosynthesis, and a large permanent vacuole filled with cell sap.
These structures are absent in animal cells.
4. What is the function of the cell membrane?
A) Contains genetic material
B) Regulates what enters and leaves the cell
C) Provides support and protection
D) Site of protein synthesis
Correct Answer: B) Regulates what enters and leaves the cell
Rationale: The cell membrane is selectively permeable, controlling the
movement of substances into and out of the cell through processes like
diffusion, osmosis, and active transport.
5. What are prokaryotic cells compared to eukaryotic cells?
A) Much larger
B) Slightly larger
C) Much smaller
D) The same size
Correct Answer: C) Much smaller
Rationale: Prokaryotic cells are typically 0.2-2.0 μm in diameter, while
eukaryotic cells are typically 10-100 μm, making prokaryotes
significantly smaller.
,6. What is the function of chloroplasts?
A) Cellular respiration
B) Protein synthesis
C) Contains chlorophyll which absorbs light energy for photosynthesis
D) Storage of cell sap
Correct Answer: C) Contains chlorophyll which absorbs light energy for
photosynthesis
Rationale: Chloroplasts contain the green pigment chlorophyll that
captures light energy, which is then used to convert carbon dioxide and
water into glucose and oxygen during photosynthesis.
7. What are plant cell walls made of?
A) Starch
B) Glycogen
C) Cellulose
D) Chitin
Correct Answer: C) Cellulose
Rationale: Plant cell walls are composed of cellulose, a structural
polysaccharide made of β-glucose units that provides strength and
rigidity to the cell.
8. Which of the following is found in bacterial cells but not in animal
cells?
A) Nucleus
B) Mitochondria
C) Plasmids
D) Cell membrane
Correct Answer: C) Plasmids
, Rationale: Plasmids are small circular DNA molecules found in bacteria
that carry extra genes, often providing advantages like antibiotic
resistance. Animal cells do not contain plasmids.
9. What is the function of plasmids in bacteria?
A) Cellular respiration
B) Contains extra genetic material that can help the bacteria cell survive
C) Protein synthesis
D) Photosynthesis
Correct Answer: B) Contains extra genetic material that can help the
bacteria cell survive
Rationale: Plasmids carry genes that may provide survival advantages
such as antibiotic resistance, toxin production, or ability to metabolize
unusual substances.
10. What happens when cells differentiate?
A) They die
B) They divide rapidly
C) They develop different sub-cellular structures that make them carry
out certain functions
D) They become prokaryotic
Correct Answer: C) They develop different sub-cellular structures that
make them carry out certain functions
Rationale: Differentiation is the process where cells become specialized
for particular functions by expressing specific genes and developing
unique structures to perform their role efficiently.
11. What is the permanent vacuole in plant cells filled with?
A) Water
