Lesson 4.1.1.3

4.1.1.3 Cell specialisation Quiz: AQA Combined Science, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.1.1.3, Cell specialisation: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464), Unit 1: Cell biology, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which cell is specialised to carry electrical signals around the body?

    • Phloem cell
    • Root hair cell
    • Nerve cell
    • Xylem cell

  2. Which plant cell type is specialised to transport water and mineral ions?

    • Muscle cell
    • Xylem cell
    • Phloem cell
    • Sperm cell

  3. Which animal cell is specialised to fertilise an egg?

    • Sperm cell
    • Muscle cell
    • Root hair cell
    • Nerve cell

  4. Which plant cell has a long projection that increases its surface area for absorbing water?

    • Xylem cell
    • Palisade cell
    • Phloem cell
    • Root hair cell

  5. Which plant cells transport dissolved sugars?

    • Phloem cells
    • Xylem cells
    • Guard cells
    • Root hair cells

  6. What is the term for a cell adapted to carry out a particular function?

    • Dormant
    • Undifferentiated
    • Specialised
    • Cloned

  7. Which sub-cellular structure is abundant in muscle cells?

    • Cellulose walls
    • Chloroplasts
    • Mitochondria
    • Plasmids

  8. What process allows a cell to acquire specific structures for a role?

    • Osmosis
    • Respiration
    • Diffusion
    • Differentiation

  9. Why are nerve cells exceptionally long in animals?

    • Absorb mineral ions
    • Carry signals far
    • Store extra water
    • Increase surface area

  10. Why do root hair cells have projections with a large surface area?

    • Absorb water quickly
    • Catch more sunlight
    • Transport sugars fast
    • Provide rigid support

  11. What is the main function of mitochondria in a sperm cell?

    • Release energy
    • Direct cell division
    • Store genetic code
    • Synthesise enzymes

  12. Why are xylem vessels hollow tubes?

    • Allow water flow
    • Block pathogens
    • Capture sunlight
    • Store cell sap

  13. What feature of phloem end walls allows sugars to move between cells?

    • Pores
    • Chloroplasts
    • Stomata
    • Waxy cuticles

  14. What is the primary function of a specialised muscle cell?

    • Signal transmission
    • Contraction
    • Water absorption
    • Photosynthesis

  15. A cell has a long tail and a head containing genetic material. Which cell is it?

    • A nerve cell
    • A sperm cell
    • A phloem cell
    • A root hair cell

  16. Why do mature red blood cells lack a nucleus?

    • Produce more energy
    • More haemoglobin space
    • Prevent infection
    • To divide faster

  17. How does a cell's structure relate to its function in a tissue?

    • Determined by age
    • Always identical
    • Randomly formed
    • Matched to job

  18. Which human cell type lacks a nucleus when mature?

    • Nerve cell
    • Sperm cell
    • Muscle cell
    • Red blood cell

  19. What do groups of similar cells working together form?

    • An organelle
    • An organism
    • A tissue
    • An organ

  20. Which sub-cellular structure is abundant in cells needing high energy?

    • Chloroplast
    • Ribosome
    • Vacuole
    • Mitochondria

All AQA Combined Science quizzes