UT Austin BIO 311C Exam 2 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Introductory Biology I
Q&A | Biology
1. A newly discovered single-celled organism has a nucleus, membrane-
bound organelles, and is much larger than most bacteria. This organism is
best classified as a:
A) Prokaryote
B) Eukaryote
C) Virus
D) Archaean
Correct Answer: Eukaryote
Rationale: Eukaryotic cells are characterized by the presence of a nucleus
and other membrane-bound organelles. They are generally much larger than
prokaryotic cells.
2. Which of the following is a key difference between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells?
A) Prokaryotic cells have a nucleus; eukaryotic cells do not
B) Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles; prokaryotic cells do
not
C) Prokaryotic cells are generally larger than eukaryotic cells
D) Eukaryotic cells lack DNA
Correct Answer: Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles;
prokaryotic cells do not
Rationale: Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and all other membrane-bound
organelles. Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum.
3. The organelle that contains the cell's genetic material and controls cellular
activities is the:
A) Ribosome
,B) Nucleus
C) Mitochondrion
D) Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: Nucleus
Rationale: The nucleus contains the cell's DNA and serves as the control
center for cellular activities.
4. Which of the following is NOT found in a prokaryotic cell?
A) Ribosomes
B) Plasma membrane
C) Nucleus
D) DNA
Correct Answer: Nucleus
Rationale: Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus. Their DNA is located in a region
called the nucleoid. They do contain ribosomes, a plasma membrane, and
DNA.
5. Which organelle is responsible for the synthesis of lipids, metabolism of
carbohydrates, and detoxification of drugs?
A) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
B) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Correct Answer: Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Rationale: The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) synthesizes lipids,
metabolizes carbohydrates, detoxifies drugs and poisons, and stores calcium
ions.
6. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is "rough" because it is studded with:
,A) Lysosomes
B) Ribosomes
C) Mitochondria
D) Golgi vesicles
Correct Answer: Ribosomes
Rationale: The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) has ribosomes attached to
its surface, which are involved in protein synthesis and modification.
7. The organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion is
the:
A) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
B) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Correct Answer: Golgi apparatus
Rationale: The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and
lipids for transport to their final destinations.
8. The organelle that contains digestive enzymes and can break down all four
types of macromolecules is the:
A) Peroxisome
B) Lysosome
C) Ribosome
D) Vacuole
Correct Answer: Lysosome
Rationale: Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles containing hydrolytic
enzymes that can break down macromolecules, cellular debris, and foreign
invaders.
, 9. The organelle responsible for generating ATP through cellular respiration is
the:
A) Nucleus
B) Ribosome
C) Mitochondrion
D) Chloroplast
Correct Answer: Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria are the sites of cellular respiration, where ATP is
produced.
10. Which organelle is responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells?
A) Mitochondrion
B) Chloroplast
C) Ribosome
D) Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: Chloroplast
Rationale: Chloroplasts are the organelles where photosynthesis occurs.
11. Plant cells have which of the following that animal cells do not?
A) Mitochondria
B) Cell wall
C) Ribosomes
D) Nucleus
Correct Answer: Cell wall
Rationale: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, while animal
cells do not.
12. The cell wall of plant cells is primarily composed of:
Q&A | Biology
1. A newly discovered single-celled organism has a nucleus, membrane-
bound organelles, and is much larger than most bacteria. This organism is
best classified as a:
A) Prokaryote
B) Eukaryote
C) Virus
D) Archaean
Correct Answer: Eukaryote
Rationale: Eukaryotic cells are characterized by the presence of a nucleus
and other membrane-bound organelles. They are generally much larger than
prokaryotic cells.
2. Which of the following is a key difference between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells?
A) Prokaryotic cells have a nucleus; eukaryotic cells do not
B) Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles; prokaryotic cells do
not
C) Prokaryotic cells are generally larger than eukaryotic cells
D) Eukaryotic cells lack DNA
Correct Answer: Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles;
prokaryotic cells do not
Rationale: Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and all other membrane-bound
organelles. Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum.
3. The organelle that contains the cell's genetic material and controls cellular
activities is the:
A) Ribosome
,B) Nucleus
C) Mitochondrion
D) Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: Nucleus
Rationale: The nucleus contains the cell's DNA and serves as the control
center for cellular activities.
4. Which of the following is NOT found in a prokaryotic cell?
A) Ribosomes
B) Plasma membrane
C) Nucleus
D) DNA
Correct Answer: Nucleus
Rationale: Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus. Their DNA is located in a region
called the nucleoid. They do contain ribosomes, a plasma membrane, and
DNA.
5. Which organelle is responsible for the synthesis of lipids, metabolism of
carbohydrates, and detoxification of drugs?
A) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
B) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Correct Answer: Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Rationale: The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) synthesizes lipids,
metabolizes carbohydrates, detoxifies drugs and poisons, and stores calcium
ions.
6. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is "rough" because it is studded with:
,A) Lysosomes
B) Ribosomes
C) Mitochondria
D) Golgi vesicles
Correct Answer: Ribosomes
Rationale: The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) has ribosomes attached to
its surface, which are involved in protein synthesis and modification.
7. The organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion is
the:
A) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
B) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
C) Golgi apparatus
D) Lysosome
Correct Answer: Golgi apparatus
Rationale: The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and
lipids for transport to their final destinations.
8. The organelle that contains digestive enzymes and can break down all four
types of macromolecules is the:
A) Peroxisome
B) Lysosome
C) Ribosome
D) Vacuole
Correct Answer: Lysosome
Rationale: Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles containing hydrolytic
enzymes that can break down macromolecules, cellular debris, and foreign
invaders.
, 9. The organelle responsible for generating ATP through cellular respiration is
the:
A) Nucleus
B) Ribosome
C) Mitochondrion
D) Chloroplast
Correct Answer: Mitochondrion
Rationale: Mitochondria are the sites of cellular respiration, where ATP is
produced.
10. Which organelle is responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells?
A) Mitochondrion
B) Chloroplast
C) Ribosome
D) Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: Chloroplast
Rationale: Chloroplasts are the organelles where photosynthesis occurs.
11. Plant cells have which of the following that animal cells do not?
A) Mitochondria
B) Cell wall
C) Ribosomes
D) Nucleus
Correct Answer: Cell wall
Rationale: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, while animal
cells do not.
12. The cell wall of plant cells is primarily composed of:
