Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect Bookmarked
Loading…
Q57 (IAS/2018) Geography › World Physical Geography › Atmosphere composition Official Key

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? 1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not. 2. Plant cells do not have 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:

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C (statements 1 and 3 only).

**Statement 1 is correct:** Only plant cell walls are made from cellulose.[1] This is a key distinguishing feature between plant and animal cells, as animal cells lack cell walls entirely.

**Statement 2 is incorrect:** Both plant and animal cells possess plasma membranes. The cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus are the basic parts of a cell, and like animal[2] and plant[3] cells, the cells of microorganisms are also surrounded by a cell membrane. The claim that plant cells lack plasma membranes is fundamentally wrong.

**Statement 3 is correct:** Plant cells have a large, empty-looking space called a vacuole, while in animal cells, vacuoles are usually not present, if present, they are usually small.[4] This structural difference is significant, as the large central vacuole in mature plant cells helps with storage, waste removal, and maintaining cell shape, whereas animal cells typically have multiple small vacuoles if any at all.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct, making option C the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zg9mk2p/revision/3
  2. [2] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
  3. [3] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
  4. [4] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
85%
got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest preview
Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? 1. Plant cells have cellul…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 6.7/10 · 3.3/10
You're seeing a guest preview. The Verdict and first statement analysis are open. Login with Google to unlock all tabs.
Statement 1
For the general difference between plant and animal cells, do plant cells have cell walls composed primarily of cellulose?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Only plant cell walls are made from cellulose."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that plant cell walls are made from cellulose, directly answering the question.
  • Compares plant cell features with other cell types, placing the cellulose cell wall as a distinguishing plant trait.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Only plant cell walls are made from cellulose."
Why this source?
  • Clearly identifies the composition of plant cell walls as cellulose.
  • Links the cellulose cell wall to the function of providing structure and protection in plant cells.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Only plant cell walls are made from cellulose."
Why this source?
  • Reiterates that plant cell walls (distinct from animal cells) are made from cellulose.
  • Places the cellulose cell wall among other plant-specific structures, supporting the general difference between plant and animal cells.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
Strength: 5/5
“These three—cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus — are the basic parts of a cell. Some cells, like onion peel cells, have an extra outer layer called the cell wall. What is the importance of these structures in a cell? What functions do they perform? Are these functions important for the maintenance of life? The cell membrane encloses the cytoplasm and nucleus. The cell membrane separates one cell from another. It is porous and allows the entry of materials essential for life processes and the exit of waste material. Cytoplasm contains other components of the cell and compounds, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and mineral salts.”
Why relevant

States that some cells, like onion peel cells, have an extra outer layer called the cell wall — giving an explicit example of plant cells with cell walls.

How to extend

A student could take this rule (plant cells often have a cell wall) and combine it with outside knowledge about common plant tissues (e.g., onion epidermis) to investigate the chemical nature of that wall (test for polysaccharides typical of cellulose).

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Keep the curiosity alive > p. 25
Strength: 4/5
“1. Various parts of a cell are given below. Write them in the appropriate places in the following diagram. • Nucleus: Chloroplast; Cytoplasm: Cell wall • Nucleus: Cell membrane; Cytoplasm: Nucleoid • Only in Bacterial Cell Only in Plant Cell 2. Aanandi took two test tubes and marked them A and B. She put two spoonfuls of sugar solution in each of the test tubes. In test tube B, she added a spoonful of yeast. Then she attached two incompletely inflated balloons to the mouth of each test tube. She kept the set-up in a warm place, away from sunlight. • (i) What do you predict will happen after 3–4 days?”
Why relevant

Provides a schematic/list distinguishing cell parts and implies 'Cell wall' is an identifiable component associated with plant cells.

How to extend

Use this list to justify focusing on the cell wall as a defining plant feature, then consult standard biochemical tests or reference texts to check whether that wall is primarily cellulose.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.2: Let us study a cell (Teacher demonstration activity) > p. 11
Strength: 4/5
“Compare it with Fig. 2.3c.• z What similarities do you find in Fig. 2.3c and Fig. 2.3d? You will observe nearly rectangular structures under the microscope. These are the cells of the onion peel, which are closely arranged without any space between them. Try to observe the peels of the leaves of different plants around you. You will find that all plants are made up of cells. What do you think the body of an animal is made of?”
Why relevant

Describes onion peel cells as nearly rectangular and closely arranged — a morphological example supporting that plant cells have rigid outer layers (consistent with presence of a wall).

How to extend

A student could link rigidity/regular shape to the presence of a polysaccharide-rich wall and then look up which polysaccharide (cellulose) gives rigidity in common plant epidermal cells.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
Strength: 4/5
“Like animal and plant cells, the cells of microorganisms are also surrounded by a cell membrane. Cells of fungi additionally have a cell wall, but they do not have chloroplasts, so they cannot make their own food through photosynthesis. Bacteria do not have a well-defined nucleus and a nuclear membrane. Instead they have a nucleoid. This feature distinguishes them from cells of yeast, protozoa, algae, fungi, plants, and animals. We have only looked at a few basic cell structures here. The cell has other components about which you will learn in higher classes. For observing subcellular components, we need microscopes with high magnification.”
Why relevant

Notes that fungi additionally have a cell wall but lack chloroplasts, showing that having a cell wall is not unique to plants and that different organisms can have cell walls of possibly different composition.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern to reason that since multiple groups have walls, one should check composition differences (e.g., fungal walls vs plant walls) to test whether plant walls are specifically cellulose-based.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
Strength: 3/5
“So, a cell is not just a simple bag of liquid—it is a complex structure made up of many different parts, each with its own special function to allow the cell, and in turn the entire organism to work. (The colours are to show different parts of the cell) We have now understood the basic structure of cell. And we now also understand that plant and animal cells differ in shape and structure. Do different animal cells also vary in their shape and structure?”
Why relevant

States plant and animal cells differ in shape and structure, underscoring that structural features like walls are key distinguishing traits to investigate.

How to extend

Use this general rule to prioritize examining structural components (cell wall) and then consult biochemical sources or simple stains to determine if cellulose is the primary constituent.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

How to study

This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.

Login with Google to unlock study guidance.

Micro-concepts

Discover the small, exam-centric ideas hidden in this question and where they appear in your books and notes.

Login with Google to unlock micro-concepts.

The Vault

Access hidden traps, elimination shortcuts, and Mains connections that give you an edge on every question.

Login with Google to unlock The Vault.

✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2020 · Q57 Relevance score: 9.05

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? 1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not. 2. Plant cells do not have 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:

CDS-I · 2003 · Q107 Relevance score: 5.22

Consider the following statements: I. Plant cells have fewer mitochondria than animal cells. II. Plastids in a plant cell are the organelles enclosed by a single membrane. III. The Golgi complex in a cell participates in the recycling of plasma membrane. Which of these statements are correct?

CDS-I · 2015 · Q8 Relevance score: 3.97

Which one among the following statements is correct ?

CDS-I · 2022 · Q16 Relevance score: 3.80

Which one of the following statements is correct about the cell membrane ?

NDA-I · 2022 · Q23 Relevance score: 3.74

Which one of the following statements about Vacuoles’ is not correct?