Question

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells?

1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls while animal cells do not.

2. Plant cells do not have a plasma membrane, unlike animal cells which do.

3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : 1 and 3 only

The correct answer is 1 and 3 only.

• The cell wall is the outer covering of a cell. It surrounds the plasma membrane of plant cells and provides tensile strength and protection against mechanical and osmotic stress.
• The cell wall is present in plant cells and absent in animal cells. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The plasma membrane (also called the cell membrane) is the membrane found in all cells that separate the interior of the cell from the outside environment.
• In bacterial and plant cells, a cell wall is attached to the plasma membrane on its outside surface.
• The plasma membrane is present in both plant cells and animal cells. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• A vacuole is a membrane-bound cell organelle.
  • In animal cells, vacuoles are generally small and help sequester waste products.
  • In-plant cells, vacuoles help maintain water balance.
• Hence statement 3 is correct.
• Since we know that statement 2 is not correct, option 1, option 2 and option 4 can be eliminated.
• Statement 1 is correct. Hence, we do not even need to see if statement 3 is true or not. The third option is correct.