Cell Wall MCQs Quiz | Class 9

Class IX Science (Code 086), Unit II: Organization in the Living World. This quiz focuses on the Plant cell wall, covering its composition, functions like structural support and protection, and phenomena like plasmolysis. Attempt these 10 MCQs to test your understanding, view your score, and download the solutions PDF.

Overview of the Cell Wall

In plant cells, there is a rigid outer covering called the cell wall that lies outside the plasma membrane. The cell wall is a non-living, rigid structure that distinguishes plant cells from animal cells. It provides shape, protection, and structural support to the cell.

Key Characteristics and Functions

  • Composition: The plant cell wall is mainly composed of cellulose. Cellulose is a complex substance that provides structural strength to plants.
  • Permeability: Unlike the plasma membrane which is selectively permeable, the cell wall is freely permeable, allowing water and dissolved substances to pass through easily.
  • Protection: It protects the delicate inner parts of the cell and allows plant cells to withstand changes in the surrounding medium (like hypotonic solutions) without bursting.
  • Plasmolysis: When a living plant cell loses water through osmosis, the contents of the cell shrink or contract away from the cell wall. This phenomenon is known as plasmolysis.

Comparison: Cell Wall vs. Plasma Membrane

Feature Cell Wall Plasma Membrane
Location Outermost layer in plants Inner to cell wall in plants; outermost in animals
Nature Non-living, rigid Living, flexible
Permeability Freely permeable Selectively permeable

Extra Practice Questions

  1. Why do plant cells not burst in hypotonic solutions?
  2. What is the chemical nature of the cell wall in fungi?
  3. Define turgor pressure in the context of the cell wall.
  4. How does the cell wall help in transport within plants?
  5. Differentiate between primary and secondary cell walls.