GCSE Biology 2026 — Complete Revision
Guide & Original Prac ce Ques ons
1. Which structure controls the movement of substances into and out of an
animal cell?
A. Nucleus
B. Cell membrane
C. Cytoplasm
D. Ribosome
Answer: B. Cell membrane
Rationale: The cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell. The
nucleus contains genetic material, the cytoplasm is where many chemical reactions occur, and
ribosomes make proteins.
2. Which organelle is the main site of aerobic respiration?
A. Chloroplast
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion
D. Vacuole
Answer: C. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Aerobic respiration occurs mainly in mitochondria, where energy is released from
glucose using oxygen.
3. Which structure is present in a typical plant cell but not a typical animal cell?
A. Cell membrane
B. Cytoplasm
C. Chloroplast
D. Ribosome
Answer: C. Chloroplast
,Rationale: Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and are the site of photosynthesis. Animal cells do
not normally contain chloroplasts.
4. What is the function of ribosomes?
A. Releasing energy
B. Making proteins
C. Controlling water content
D. Containing chlorophyll
Answer: B. Making proteins
Rationale: Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis.
5. Which feature distinguishes a bacterial cell from a typical animal cell?
A. It contains cytoplasm
B. It has a cell membrane
C. Its DNA is not enclosed in a nucleus
D. It contains ribosomes
Answer: C. Its DNA is not enclosed in a nucleus
Rationale: Bacteria are prokaryotes. Their DNA is not enclosed within a nucleus.
6. What is the function of the cellulose cell wall in plant cells?
A. Protein synthesis
B. Strengthening the cell
C. Controlling cell division
D. Releasing energy
Answer: B. Strengthening the cell
Rationale: Cellulose provides structural support and helps the plant cell maintain its shape.
7. Which process involves the movement of particles from a region of higher
concentration to a region of lower concentration?
,A. Osmosis
B. Active transport
C. Diffusion
D. Filtration
Answer: C. Diffusion
Rationale: Diffusion is the net movement of particles down a concentration gradient.
8. Which substance can move into a cell by diffusion?
A. Oxygen
B. Starch granules
C. Large proteins
D. Whole cells
Answer: A. Oxygen
Rationale: Oxygen is a small molecule that can diffuse across cell membranes.
9. Osmosis is the movement of:
A. Solute particles from low to high concentration
B. Water molecules through a partially permeable membrane
C. Glucose using energy
D. Proteins through a cell wall
Answer: B. Water molecules through a partially permeable membrane
Rationale: Osmosis is the net movement of water through a partially permeable membrane from
a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution.
10. Which process requires energy from respiration?
A. Diffusion
B. Osmosis
C. Active transport
D. Simple filtration
Answer: C. Active transport
, Rationale: Active transport moves substances against their concentration gradient and requires
energy.
11. Why do root hair cells have a large surface area?
A. To reduce water uptake
B. To increase absorption of water and mineral ions
C. To prevent respiration
D. To increase photosynthesis
Answer: B. To increase absorption of water and mineral ions
Rationale: The long projection of a root hair cell increases its surface area for absorption.
12. Which structure carries water from roots to leaves?
A. Phloem
B. Xylem
C. Epidermis
D. Stoma
Answer: B. Xylem
Rationale: Xylem vessels transport water and mineral ions from the roots upward through the
plant.
13. What is transported through phloem?
A. Oxygen only
B. Water only
C. Dissolved sugars
D. Mineral ions only
Answer: C. Dissolved sugars
Rationale: Phloem transports dissolved sugars, particularly sucrose, around the plant.
14. Which tissue contains tubes strengthened with lignin?
Guide & Original Prac ce Ques ons
1. Which structure controls the movement of substances into and out of an
animal cell?
A. Nucleus
B. Cell membrane
C. Cytoplasm
D. Ribosome
Answer: B. Cell membrane
Rationale: The cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell. The
nucleus contains genetic material, the cytoplasm is where many chemical reactions occur, and
ribosomes make proteins.
2. Which organelle is the main site of aerobic respiration?
A. Chloroplast
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion
D. Vacuole
Answer: C. Mitochondrion
Rationale: Aerobic respiration occurs mainly in mitochondria, where energy is released from
glucose using oxygen.
3. Which structure is present in a typical plant cell but not a typical animal cell?
A. Cell membrane
B. Cytoplasm
C. Chloroplast
D. Ribosome
Answer: C. Chloroplast
,Rationale: Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and are the site of photosynthesis. Animal cells do
not normally contain chloroplasts.
4. What is the function of ribosomes?
A. Releasing energy
B. Making proteins
C. Controlling water content
D. Containing chlorophyll
Answer: B. Making proteins
Rationale: Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis.
5. Which feature distinguishes a bacterial cell from a typical animal cell?
A. It contains cytoplasm
B. It has a cell membrane
C. Its DNA is not enclosed in a nucleus
D. It contains ribosomes
Answer: C. Its DNA is not enclosed in a nucleus
Rationale: Bacteria are prokaryotes. Their DNA is not enclosed within a nucleus.
6. What is the function of the cellulose cell wall in plant cells?
A. Protein synthesis
B. Strengthening the cell
C. Controlling cell division
D. Releasing energy
Answer: B. Strengthening the cell
Rationale: Cellulose provides structural support and helps the plant cell maintain its shape.
7. Which process involves the movement of particles from a region of higher
concentration to a region of lower concentration?
,A. Osmosis
B. Active transport
C. Diffusion
D. Filtration
Answer: C. Diffusion
Rationale: Diffusion is the net movement of particles down a concentration gradient.
8. Which substance can move into a cell by diffusion?
A. Oxygen
B. Starch granules
C. Large proteins
D. Whole cells
Answer: A. Oxygen
Rationale: Oxygen is a small molecule that can diffuse across cell membranes.
9. Osmosis is the movement of:
A. Solute particles from low to high concentration
B. Water molecules through a partially permeable membrane
C. Glucose using energy
D. Proteins through a cell wall
Answer: B. Water molecules through a partially permeable membrane
Rationale: Osmosis is the net movement of water through a partially permeable membrane from
a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution.
10. Which process requires energy from respiration?
A. Diffusion
B. Osmosis
C. Active transport
D. Simple filtration
Answer: C. Active transport
, Rationale: Active transport moves substances against their concentration gradient and requires
energy.
11. Why do root hair cells have a large surface area?
A. To reduce water uptake
B. To increase absorption of water and mineral ions
C. To prevent respiration
D. To increase photosynthesis
Answer: B. To increase absorption of water and mineral ions
Rationale: The long projection of a root hair cell increases its surface area for absorption.
12. Which structure carries water from roots to leaves?
A. Phloem
B. Xylem
C. Epidermis
D. Stoma
Answer: B. Xylem
Rationale: Xylem vessels transport water and mineral ions from the roots upward through the
plant.
13. What is transported through phloem?
A. Oxygen only
B. Water only
C. Dissolved sugars
D. Mineral ions only
Answer: C. Dissolved sugars
Rationale: Phloem transports dissolved sugars, particularly sucrose, around the plant.
14. Which tissue contains tubes strengthened with lignin?
