Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is the reason plants wilt on a hot summer day?
A) loss of water
B) lack of turgor pressure
C) heat weakens the plant cell walls
D) both loss of water and therefore lack of turgor pressure.
E) reduced photosynthetic activity

Answer: D

2. If a living plant were moved from a freshwater aquarium to a saltwater aquarium,

which of the following would occur?
A) Nothing. The plant would be fine in either aquarium.
B) The plant's cells would take on ions.
C) The plant's cells would take on water.
D) The plant's cells will lose water.
E) The plant's cells will lose sodium.

Answer: D

3. Having similar ____________ would allow tissues and organs to be transplanted

easily.
A) cell recognition proteins
B) major histocompatibility complex proteins
C) carbohydrate chains in the cell membrane
D) all of the choices are involved in tissue transplantation
E) none of these factors are important for transplantation

Answer: D

4. The major functions of the plasma membrane do NOT include

A) separation of the fluid environments inside and outside the cell.
B) regulation of molecules and ions that pass into and out of the cell.
C) recognition and communication between different cells and tissues.
D) maintaining connections between adjacent cells.
E) production of proteins used in construction of the cell wall.

Answer: E

59
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

5. Which of the following functions does the lipid bilayer component of the cell
membrane NOT provide for the cell?
A) controls the exchange of matter and chemical information between one cell and
adjacent cells or environment
B) provides an impermeable, self-sealing membrane capable of dividing or fusing the
cell without breaking
C) provides the matrix into which are inserted proteins that facilitate the exchange of
matter between the inside and outside of the cell
D) clearly defines a boundary preventing an equilibrium between the outside and
inside of the cell
E) provides a fluid and flexible boundary that insulates the interior from the
variations in humidity, food, and other external conditions

Answer: A

6. The current theory of the structure of the plasma membrane is best described by
the____ model.
A) sandwich
B) fluid-mosaic
C) unit membrane
D) electrochemical
E) unipermeable

Answer: B

7. In a phospholipid bilayer, the

A) phosphate groups are hydrophobic.
B) fatty acid tails are ionized.
C) fatty acid tails are hydrophilic.
D) proteins are located only between the two layers.
E) phosphate heads are oriented toward the exterior of the cell or toward the
cytoplasm.

Answer: E

60
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

8. Which statement is NOT true about the proteins in the plasma membrane?
A) Proteins may be attached to the inner surface of the plasma membrane.
B) The hydrophobic portion of a protein is embedded within the membrane.
C) Some peripheral proteins are connected to cytoskeletal filaments.
D) Integral proteins are responsible for membrane functions.
E) Glycoproteins contain carbohydrate chains that are oriented toward the inner
surface of the membrane.

Answer: E

9. Which phrase does NOT describe one of the functions of proteins of the plasma
membrane?
A) forming a channel through the membrane
B) initiating the replication of the genetic material
C) binding to a substance to carry it through the membrane
D) acting as a receptor for substances external to the cell
E) increasing the rate of a chemical reaction

Answer: B

10. Red blood cells come in many "blood types" including type A, type B, type AB, type
O [lacking proteins A and B], Rh positive, and Rh negative [lacking Rh factor] and
many others. If blood is transfused, the recipient detects any new or "foreign" proteins.
These blood type proteins are
A) in the plasma where they have been secreted by the red blood cells.
B) inside the red blood cell cytoplasm.
C) on the outer surface of the red blood cell membrane.
D) evenly distributed throughout the cell contents and plasma.
E) in the red blood cell nucleus.

Answer: C

11. Whether a molecule can cross the plasma membrane depends upon
A) the size of the molecule.
B) the shape of the molecule.
C) the chemical properties of the molecule.
D) the charge of the molecule.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Answer: E

61
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

12. Which is the best definition of diffusion?

A) movement of molecules from an area of their higher concentration to an area of
their lower concentration
B) movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water
concentration to an area of lower water concentration
C) movement of molecules from an area of their lower concentration to an area of
their higher concentration
D) movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low water
concentration to an area of higher water concentration
E) movement of a substance against its concentration through the release of energy
from ATP

Answer: A

13. Which is the best definition of osmosis?

A) movement of molecules from an area of their higher concentration to an area of
their lower concentration
B) movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water
concentration to an area of lower water concentration
C) movement of molecules from an area of their lower concentration to an area of
their higher concentration
D) movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low water
concentration to an area of higher water concentration
E) movement of a substance against its concentration through the release of energy
from ATP

Answer: B

14. Turgor pressure in plants results when

A) cells lose water from their water vacuoles.
B) cells contain water vacuoles that are full of water.
C) water is being used up in photosynthesis.
D) water is being evaporated from the leaves.
E) All of these create turgor pressure

Answer: B

62
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

15. If a cell is placed in a hypotonic solution, which will occur?

A) Salts will move into the cell from the surrounding solution.
B) Water will move into the cell from the surrounding solution.
C) Salts will move out of the cell into the surrounding solution.
D) Water will move out of the cell into the surrounding solution.
E) None of the choices will occur.

Answer: B

16. If a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, which will occur?

A) Salts will move into the cell from the surrounding solution.
B) Water will move into the cell from the surrounding solution.
C) Salts will move out of the cell into the surrounding solution.
D) Water will move out of the cell into the surrounding solution.
E) None of the choices will occur.

Answer: D

17. If a cell is placed in an isotonic solution, which will occur?

A) Salts will move into the cell from the surrounding solution.
B) Water will move into the cell from the surrounding solution.
C) Salts will move out of the cell into the surrounding solution.
D) Water will move out of the cell into the surrounding solution.
E) Water will move into and out of the cell at equal rates.

Answer: E

18. Freshwater protozoans react to a/an _____ environment by removing water through
_____.
A) hypertonic, turgor pressure
B) hypotonic, turgor pressure
C) isotonic, a contractile vacuole
D) hypertonic, a contractile vacuole
E) hypotonic, a contractile vacuole

Answer: E

63
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

19. In plants _______ is a shrinking of the cytoplasm due to osmosis.

A) Plasmolysis
B) Endocytosis
C) Crenation
D) Diffusion
E) Turgor

Answer: A

20. Which is the BEST definition of active transport?

A) movement of molecules from an area of their higher concentration to an area of
their lower concentration
B) movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water
concentration to an area of lower water concentration
C) movement of molecules from an area of their lower concentration to an area of
their higher concentration
D) movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low water
concentration to an area of higher water concentration
E) movement of a substance against its concentration through the release of energy
from ATP

Answer: E

21. The sodium-potassium pump moves sodium and potassium ions across the plasma
membrane by
A) facilitated transport.
B) active transport.
C) cotransport.
D) endocytosis.
E) exocytosis.

Answer: B

22. Sugars and amino acids are carried into the cell by means of
A) facilitated transport.
B) active transport.
C) simple diffusion.
D) endocytosis.
E) exocytosis.

Answer: A

64
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

23. The process by which cholesterol is transported into the cell by binding of LDL to its
receptor and the internalization of the receptor-LDL complex is
A) facilitated transport.
B) active transport.
C) cotransport.
D) endocytosis.
E) exocytosis.

Answer: D

24. Cell products are secreted from the cell through

A) facilitated transport.
B) active transport.
C) cotransport.
D) endocytosis.
E) exocytosis.

Answer: E

25. Pinocytosis is an example of

A) facilitated transport.
B) active transport.
C) cotransport.
D) endocytosis.
E) exocytosis.

Answer: D

26. Which is NOT true about plant cell walls?

A) All plant cells have a primary cell wall.
B) Primary cell walls contain cellulose and microfibrils.
C) Secondary cell walls are located just inside the primary cell wall.
D) Lignin, a strengthening substance, is found in secondary cell walls.
E) Cell walls are penetrated by extensions of cytoplasm that connect adjacent cells'
cytoplasms.

Answer: C

65
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

27. In speculating upon the origin of early cells and the cell membrane, which of the
following statements is/are NOT plausible?
A) Due to similarities in basic structure, the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body,
vesicles, and other "cytomembranes" may have arisen as invaginations of the cell
membrane.
B) As long as a phospholipid-production mechanism is present, these molecules
would naturally arrange themselves in two layers with the hydrophobic tails on the
inside away from water.
C) It would be nearly impossible to have a cell without a cell membrane.
D) All of the choices are plausible.
E) None of the choices are plausible.

Answer: D

28. All life forms currently have a basic cell membrane so we presume that the earliest
forms of life had this "fence" isolating the internal organization from the external
chaos. It is likely that the primordial environment was acidic. In such a case, the cell
membrane would have to include
A) a sodium (Na+) pump.
B) a proton (H+) pump.
C) mitochondria underneath in order to provide energy for active transport.
D) an acid-proof cell wall.
E) a totally nonpermeable membrane.

Answer: B

29. Which of the following is NOT associated with animal cells?

A) an extracellular matrix
B) plasmodesmata
C) gap junctions
D) adhesion junctions (desmosomes)
E) tight junctions

Answer: B

66
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

30. A component of animal cell membranes that functions to stiffen the membrane and
thus regulate its fluidity is
A) cholesterol.
B) cellulose
C) pectin
D) lignin
E) carbohydrates

Answer: A

31. Which of the following protein functions is NOT correctly associated with its correct
integral protein?
A) carrier proteins–passage of molecules through the membrane
B) enzymatic proteins–carry out metabolic reactions directly
C) channel proteins–block the activity of carrier proteins
D) cell recognition proteins–recognize pathogens
E) receptor proteins-bind to signal molecules

Answer: C

32. Active transport

A) requires an input of ATP.
B) is involved in diffusion.
C) occurs in osmosis and facilitated transport.
D) is needed for water to move through cell membranes
E) All of these are true

Answer: A

33. A red blood cell placed in 50% NaCl solution will

A) undergo crenation.
B) swell and eventually burst due to water intake.
C) stay the same size.
D) experience turgor pressure
E) will absorb the salt to maintain equilibrium

Answer: A

67
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

34. Which of the following associations is NOT correct?

A) adhesion junctions---hold cells together to form a flexible sheet of cells in an
organ
B) tight junctions---between cells serving as barriers
C) plasmodesmata---between adjacent plant cells
D) gap junctions---between differing types of plasma membranes
E) All of these are correct

Answer: D

Use the following to answer questions 35-38:

35. Which structure is a steroid that aids in regulating the fluidity of the membrane?

Answer: B

36. Which structure represents the hydrophilic portion of a phosholipid?

Answer: D

37. Which structure is responsible for marking the cell's identity?

Answer: E

68
Chapter 5 Membrane Structure and Function

38. Which statement is NOT true about the structure labeled “A”?
A) Has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.
B) It is a peripheral protein.
C) It allows the passage of certain molecules or ions through the membrane.
D) It can shift its position in the membrane.
E) All of the above statements are true.

Answer: B

Essay Questions

39. Maintaining osmotic balance with the environment poses problems for organisms that
live in either hypotonic or hypertonic surroundings.
a. Explain what happens to plant and animal cells when placed in a hypotonic and
hypertonic environment and why.
b. Give examples of adaptations that animals have developed to cope with living in
each type of osmotic environment.

Answer:
a. animal and plant cells lose water in hypertonic solutions--water moves from high
concentration (inside the cell) to low concentration (outside solution).
Cells gain water in hypotonic solutions--water moves from high (outside) to low
concentration (inside the cell)
b. Numerous possible examples: hypotonic--protozoa use contractile vacuoles
freshwater fish-drink little, produce copious urine hypertonic--Saltwater fish-drink
often, produce little urine, excrete salt.
Sharks, marine invertebrates--osmoconformers Marine birds/reptiles--salt glands

40. In order to maintain homeostasis, cells need to transport numerous substances both
into and out of the cell. Over evolutionary time membranes have developed the
complexity to facilitate movement of a wide variety of compounds essential to life.
Describe the structural adaptations of the cell membrane and explain how its structure
relates to the many different substances the cell must transport into and out of its
cytoplasm.

Answer:
Lipid bilayer allows movement of lipid-soluble substances--nonpolar molecules.
Fluidity (enhanced by cholesterol molecules) allows formation of vesicles through
endocytosis for transport of large molecules
Transmembrane channel proteins allow for movement of polar molecules and ions that
would be normally be repelled by the lipid layer.
Carrier proteins also allow movement of ions and polar molecules.
Spaces between lipid molecules allow passage of small uncharged molecules.

69