HESI A2 BIOLOGY EXAM PREP 2026/2027 – CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY: 200 VERIFIED QUESTIONS & RATIONALES FOR
GUARANTEED SUCCESS
1. Which organelle is responsible for producing the majority of ATP
during cellular respiration?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion
D. Nucleus
Correct Answer: C - Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the
cell because they generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. The
Golgi apparatus modifies proteins, ribosomes synthesize proteins, and
the nucleus houses genetic material.
2. A cell viewed under a microscope lacks a nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles. How should this cell be classified?
A. Eukaryotic cell
B. Prokaryotic cell
C. Plant cell
D. Animal cell
Correct Answer: B - Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, lack a true
nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotic cells (plant and
animal) contain a nucleus and organelles.
3. What is the primary function of the plasma membrane?
A. Store genetic material
,B. Produce energy
C. Control the movement of substances into and out of the cell
D. Synthesize proteins
Correct Answer: C - The plasma membrane is selectively permeable,
regulating what enters and leaves the cell. The nucleus stores genetic
material, mitochondria produce energy, and ribosomes synthesize
proteins.
4. Which structure is present in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
A. Nucleus
B. Mitochondria
C. Cell membrane
D. Chloroplast
Correct Answer: C - The cell membrane is found in all cell types.
Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
5. Which organelle contains hydrolytic enzymes and is often called the
"suicide bag" of the cell?
A. Peroxisome
B. Lysosome
C. Vacuole
D. Ribosome
Correct Answer: B - Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes that break
down waste and cellular debris. If ruptured, they can digest the cell
itself, hence the name "suicide bag."
6. Plant cells differ from animal cells because plant cells have:
A. A cell membrane
B. Mitochondria
C. A cell wall and chloroplasts
,D. A nucleus
Correct Answer: C - Plant cells have a rigid cell wall and chloroplasts for
photosynthesis, which animal cells lack. Both cell types have a cell
membrane, mitochondria, and a nucleus.
7. Which term describes the movement of molecules from an area of
higher concentration to an area of lower concentration?
A. Active transport
B. Osmosis
C. Diffusion
D. Endocytosis
Correct Answer: C - Diffusion is the passive movement of molecules
down their concentration gradient. Osmosis is specifically the diffusion
of water, while active transport moves molecules against the gradient
and requires energy.
8. What type of transport requires a carrier protein but does not
directly use cellular energy?
A. Active transport
B. Facilitated diffusion
C. Osmosis
D. Phagocytosis
Correct Answer: B - Facilitated diffusion uses carrier proteins to move
substances down their concentration gradient without energy. Active
transport requires energy, and osmosis does not use carrier proteins.
9. The movement of substances from an area of lower concentration
to an area of higher concentration is called:
A. Diffusion
B. Osmosis
, C. Active transport
D. Facilitated diffusion
Correct Answer: C - Active transport moves substances against their
concentration gradient and requires energy (ATP).
10. Which organelle is the site of protein synthesis?
A. Nucleus
B. Mitochondria
C. Ribosome
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: C - Ribosomes are the cellular structures responsible
for synthesizing proteins. The nucleus stores DNA, mitochondria
produce energy, and the Golgi modifies proteins.
11. What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
A. Produce ATP
B. Synthesize lipids
C. Modify, sort, and package proteins
D. Digest cellular waste
Correct Answer: C - The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages
proteins for secretion or delivery to other organelles. Mitochondria
produce ATP, the smooth ER synthesizes lipids, and lysosomes digest
waste.
12. Which structure is responsible for maintaining cell shape and
providing support in cells that lack a cell wall?
A. Cell membrane
B. Nucleus
C. Microtubules and microfilaments
D. Ribosomes
UNIVERSITY: 200 VERIFIED QUESTIONS & RATIONALES FOR
GUARANTEED SUCCESS
1. Which organelle is responsible for producing the majority of ATP
during cellular respiration?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondrion
D. Nucleus
Correct Answer: C - Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the
cell because they generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. The
Golgi apparatus modifies proteins, ribosomes synthesize proteins, and
the nucleus houses genetic material.
2. A cell viewed under a microscope lacks a nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles. How should this cell be classified?
A. Eukaryotic cell
B. Prokaryotic cell
C. Plant cell
D. Animal cell
Correct Answer: B - Prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, lack a true
nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotic cells (plant and
animal) contain a nucleus and organelles.
3. What is the primary function of the plasma membrane?
A. Store genetic material
,B. Produce energy
C. Control the movement of substances into and out of the cell
D. Synthesize proteins
Correct Answer: C - The plasma membrane is selectively permeable,
regulating what enters and leaves the cell. The nucleus stores genetic
material, mitochondria produce energy, and ribosomes synthesize
proteins.
4. Which structure is present in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
A. Nucleus
B. Mitochondria
C. Cell membrane
D. Chloroplast
Correct Answer: C - The cell membrane is found in all cell types.
Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts.
5. Which organelle contains hydrolytic enzymes and is often called the
"suicide bag" of the cell?
A. Peroxisome
B. Lysosome
C. Vacuole
D. Ribosome
Correct Answer: B - Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes that break
down waste and cellular debris. If ruptured, they can digest the cell
itself, hence the name "suicide bag."
6. Plant cells differ from animal cells because plant cells have:
A. A cell membrane
B. Mitochondria
C. A cell wall and chloroplasts
,D. A nucleus
Correct Answer: C - Plant cells have a rigid cell wall and chloroplasts for
photosynthesis, which animal cells lack. Both cell types have a cell
membrane, mitochondria, and a nucleus.
7. Which term describes the movement of molecules from an area of
higher concentration to an area of lower concentration?
A. Active transport
B. Osmosis
C. Diffusion
D. Endocytosis
Correct Answer: C - Diffusion is the passive movement of molecules
down their concentration gradient. Osmosis is specifically the diffusion
of water, while active transport moves molecules against the gradient
and requires energy.
8. What type of transport requires a carrier protein but does not
directly use cellular energy?
A. Active transport
B. Facilitated diffusion
C. Osmosis
D. Phagocytosis
Correct Answer: B - Facilitated diffusion uses carrier proteins to move
substances down their concentration gradient without energy. Active
transport requires energy, and osmosis does not use carrier proteins.
9. The movement of substances from an area of lower concentration
to an area of higher concentration is called:
A. Diffusion
B. Osmosis
, C. Active transport
D. Facilitated diffusion
Correct Answer: C - Active transport moves substances against their
concentration gradient and requires energy (ATP).
10. Which organelle is the site of protein synthesis?
A. Nucleus
B. Mitochondria
C. Ribosome
D. Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer: C - Ribosomes are the cellular structures responsible
for synthesizing proteins. The nucleus stores DNA, mitochondria
produce energy, and the Golgi modifies proteins.
11. What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
A. Produce ATP
B. Synthesize lipids
C. Modify, sort, and package proteins
D. Digest cellular waste
Correct Answer: C - The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages
proteins for secretion or delivery to other organelles. Mitochondria
produce ATP, the smooth ER synthesizes lipids, and lysosomes digest
waste.
12. Which structure is responsible for maintaining cell shape and
providing support in cells that lack a cell wall?
A. Cell membrane
B. Nucleus
C. Microtubules and microfilaments
D. Ribosomes
