If the medium surrounding the cell has a higher water concentration than the cell, option 1 states that the cell will gain water. This is because water molecules tend to move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration through a process called osmosis.

Osmosis is the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules (in this case, water) through a selectively permeable membrane (the cell membrane) from a region of lower solute concentration (higher water concentration) to a region of higher solute concentration (lower water concentration).

In this scenario, when the surrounding medium has a higher water concentration than the cell, water molecules will move into the cell through its selectively permeable membrane. The cell will gain water, causing it to expand and potentially become turgid. This can be beneficial for cells, as it helps to maintain their shape and aids in various cellular processes.

Therefore, option 1 is correct in stating that the cell will gain water when the medium surrounding it has a higher water concentration.