IGCSE Biology Topic 2: Organisation of the Organism MCQs – 30 Practice Questions with Answers (Cambridge 0610)

Free practice for Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 on the organisation of the organism, covering cell structure, specialised cells, levels of organisation and magnification, with every question followed by a worked explanation.

Plant, animal and bacterial cells

Q1. Which structure is present in a plant cell but not in a typical animal cell?

  • (A) Nucleus
  • (B) Mitochondrion
  • (C) Cell membrane
  • (D) Cell wall
Show Answer

Answer: D – Plant cells have a cell wall, while animal cells do not; both have a nucleus, mitochondria and a cell membrane.

Q2. Which cell structure controls the activities of the cell and contains genetic material?

  • (A) Nucleus
  • (B) Cytoplasm
  • (C) Ribosome
  • (D) Vacuole
Show Answer

Answer: A – The nucleus holds genetic material and controls cell activities.

Q3. Where in the cell do most of the reactions that release energy take place?

  • (A) In the chloroplasts
  • (B) In the vacuole
  • (C) In the cell wall
  • (D) In the mitochondria
Show Answer

Answer: D – Mitochondria are the sites where energy is released from nutrient molecules in respiration.

Q4. Which structure is the site of protein synthesis in plant, animal and bacterial cells?

  • (A) The vacuole
  • (B) The chloroplast
  • (C) The ribosome
  • (D) The nucleus
Show Answer

Answer: C – Ribosomes build proteins, and they are present in plant, animal and bacterial cells.

Q5. What is the main function of chloroplasts in a plant cell?

  • (A) To store cell sap
  • (B) To control the movement of substances in and out
  • (C) To release energy from glucose
  • (D) To trap light energy for photosynthesis
Show Answer

Answer: D – Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and trap light energy for photosynthesis.

Q6. Which statement correctly compares the vacuole in plant and animal cells?

  • (A) Plant cells have a large permanent vacuole, while animal cells have only small temporary vacuoles if any
  • (B) Both have a large permanent vacuole
  • (C) Animal cells have a large permanent vacuole and plant cells do not
  • (D) Neither type of cell has a vacuole
Show Answer

Answer: A – A large permanent vacuole filled with cell sap is a feature of plant cells, whereas animal cells lack this large permanent structure.

Q7. What is the function of the cell membrane?

  • (A) To give the cell its rigid shape
  • (B) To control the movement of substances into and out of the cell
  • (C) To carry out photosynthesis
  • (D) To store genetic material
Show Answer

Answer: B – The cell membrane is partially permeable and controls which substances enter and leave the cell.

Q8. Which feature is found in a bacterial cell but not in a plant or animal cell?

  • (A) A nucleus surrounded by a membrane
  • (B) Chloroplasts
  • (C) Circular DNA free in the cytoplasm
  • (D) A large permanent vacuole
Show Answer

Answer: C – Bacterial cells have circular DNA in the cytoplasm and no true nucleus, unlike plant and animal cells.

Q9. In addition to circular DNA, what small extra loops of DNA may a bacterial cell contain?

  • (A) Chromosomes in a nucleus
  • (B) Plasmids
  • (C) Mitochondria
  • (D) Vacuoles
Show Answer

Answer: B – Bacterial cells may contain plasmids, which are small loops of DNA in addition to the main circular DNA.

Q10. A bacterial cell has a cell wall, a cell membrane, cytoplasm and ribosomes. Which structure does it lack that plant and animal cells possess?

  • (A) A cell membrane
  • (B) Ribosomes
  • (C) Cytoplasm
  • (D) A true nucleus
Show Answer

Answer: D – Bacterial cells have no true nucleus; their DNA lies free in the cytoplasm.

Specialised cells

Q11. New cells in a living organism are produced by which process?

  • (A) Formation from non-living material
  • (B) Growth of the cell wall alone
  • (C) Division of existing cells
  • (D) Fusion of vacuoles
Show Answer

Answer: C – New cells are produced by division of existing cells.

Q12. Ciliated cells in the trachea and bronchi are specialised for which function?

  • (A) Absorption of water
  • (B) Conduction of electrical impulses
  • (C) Transport of oxygen
  • (D) Movement of mucus
Show Answer

Answer: D – Ciliated cells move mucus along the trachea and bronchi.

Q13. Root hair cells are specialised for absorption. Which feature of their shape best suits this job?

  • (A) A disc shape with no nucleus
  • (B) A long thin extension that increases surface area
  • (C) A large chloroplast
  • (D) A thick cell wall with no membrane
Show Answer

Answer: B – Root hair cells have a long extension that gives a large surface area for absorption.

Q14. Palisade mesophyll cells are specialised for photosynthesis. Which feature best explains this specialisation?

  • (A) They contain many chloroplasts
  • (B) They contain haemoglobin
  • (C) They have cilia on their surface
  • (D) They lack a cell wall
Show Answer

Answer: A – Palisade mesophyll cells are packed with chloroplasts, which trap light energy for photosynthesis.

Q15. Which specialised cell is adapted to carry electrical impulses around the body?

  • (A) A red blood cell
  • (B) A root hair cell
  • (C) A palisade mesophyll cell
  • (D) A neurone
Show Answer

Answer: D – Neurones are specialised for the conduction of electrical impulses.


Levels of organisation and magnification

Q16. Red blood cells are specialised for transporting oxygen. Which adaptation best suits them for this job?

  • (A) They contain many chloroplasts
  • (B) They have cilia that beat rhythmically
  • (C) They contain haemoglobin, which binds oxygen
  • (D) They have a large permanent vacuole
Show Answer

Answer: C – Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which carries oxygen around the body.

Q17. Sperm cells and egg cells are gametes. What is their shared function?

  • (A) Photosynthesis
  • (B) Absorption of water
  • (C) Movement of mucus
  • (D) Reproduction
Show Answer

Answer: D – Sperm and egg cells are gametes specialised for reproduction.

Q18. Which sequence correctly shows the levels of organisation from smallest to largest?

  • (A) Organism, organ system, organ, tissue, cell
  • (B) Cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
  • (C) Tissue, cell, organ, organism, organ system
  • (D) Organ, tissue, cell, organ system, organism
Show Answer

Answer: B – Organisation builds up from cells to tissues, then organs, organ systems and finally the whole organism.

Q19. A group of similar cells working together to carry out one function is best described as what?

  • (A) A tissue
  • (B) An organ
  • (C) An organ system
  • (D) An organism
Show Answer

Answer: A – A tissue is a group of similar cells working together for a particular function.

Q20. A heart is an example of which level of organisation?

  • (A) A cell
  • (B) A tissue
  • (C) An organ
  • (D) An organ system
Show Answer

Answer: C – An organ is made of different tissues working together, as in the heart.

Q21. The digestive system, made up of several organs working together, is an example of which level of organisation?

  • (A) A tissue
  • (B) An organ system
  • (C) An organ
  • (D) A cell
Show Answer

Answer: B – An organ system is a group of organs working together to carry out a major function.

Q22. A student measures an image as 20 mm long and knows the actual specimen is 0.5 mm long. What is the magnification?

  • (A) 10 times
  • (B) 40 times
  • (C) 20 times
  • (D) 0.025 times
Show Answer

Answer: B – Magnification equals image size divided by actual size, so 20 divided by 0.5 gives 40 times.

Q23. A specimen is viewed at a magnification of 100 times and its image measures 30 mm. What is the actual size of the specimen?

  • (A) 3,000 mm
  • (B) 30 mm
  • (C) 0.3 mm
  • (D) 130 mm
Show Answer

Answer: C – Actual size equals image size divided by magnification, so 30 divided by 100 gives 0.3 mm.

Q24. How many micrometres are there in 2.5 mm?

  • (A) 25 micrometres
  • (B) 250 micrometres
  • (C) 2,500 micrometres
  • (D) 25,000 micrometres
Show Answer

Answer: C – One millimetre equals 1,000 micrometres, so 2.5 mm equals 2,500 micrometres.

Q25. A cell measures 0.02 mm in real life. What is this length in micrometres?

  • (A) 0.2 micrometres
  • (B) 20 micrometres
  • (C) 2 micrometres
  • (D) 200 micrometres
Show Answer

Answer: B – Multiplying 0.02 mm by 1,000 micrometres per millimetre gives 20 micrometres.

Q26. Why must image size and actual size be in the same unit before using the magnification formula?

  • (A) Because dividing lengths in different units gives a meaningless magnification value
  • (B) Because the formula only works for large specimens
  • (C) Because magnification has units of millimetres
  • (D) Because actual size is always larger than image size
Show Answer

Answer: A – Magnification is a ratio, so both lengths must be converted to the same unit before dividing.

Q27. Which statement about specialised cells is correct?

  • (A) All cells in an organism carry out exactly the same job
  • (B) Specialised cells have particular features that suit them to a specific function
  • (C) Specialised cells cannot divide
  • (D) Specialised cells have no nucleus
Show Answer

Answer: B – Specialised cells have specific functions, and their structures suit them to those functions.

Q28. A plant cell is placed under a microscope. Which combination of structures would confirm it is a plant cell rather than an animal cell?

  • (A) A cell wall and chloroplasts
  • (B) A nucleus and mitochondria
  • (C) A cell membrane and ribosomes
  • (D) Cytoplasm and a nucleus
Show Answer

Answer: A – A cell wall and chloroplasts are plant-cell features not found in typical animal cells.

Q29. Which structure is present in plant, animal and bacterial cells alike?

  • (A) Ribosome
  • (B) Chloroplast
  • (C) Large permanent vacuole
  • (D) Circular DNA
Show Answer

Answer: A – Ribosomes are present in plant, animal and bacterial cells, while chloroplasts, large permanent vacuoles and circular DNA are not shared by all three.

Q30. A bacterial cell is drawn with its DNA labelled inside a membrane-bound nucleus. What is wrong with this drawing?

  • (A) Bacterial cells have no ribosomes
  • (B) Bacterial cells have no cell wall
  • (C) Bacterial cells have chloroplasts instead
  • (D) Bacterial DNA is circular and lies free in the cytoplasm, not inside a true nucleus
Show Answer

Answer: D – Bacterial cells lack a true nucleus; their circular DNA lies in the cytoplasm, sometimes with plasmids.

Revisit any cell structures or calculations you missed, practise the magnification formula until the unit conversions feel easy, and then test yourself on the whole set again.