The Fundamental Unit of Life — Class 9 MCQs with Answers
Class 9 CBSE Science · Chapter 1
90 practice questions · 30 Easy · 30 Medium · 30 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 9 CBSE Science questions from Chapter 1, "The Fundamental Unit of Life". You get 9 timed quizzes made from 90 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 30 Easy, 30 Medium and 30 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that set top scorers in CBSE Board exams and the JEE & NEET foundation years apart.
To score well in "The Fundamental Unit of Life", focus on clear concepts in physics, chemistry and biology basics. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This trains you to stay accurate under time pressure, as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on The Fundamental Unit of Life, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 9 Science mastery score. 14 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Key concepts: The Fundamental Unit of Life (Class 9 Science)
Every living thing is built from cells, and a cell is a working compartment with specialised organelles. This chapter compares prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, walks through the organelles and their jobs, and explains how substances cross the plasma membrane.
- Cell
- The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms; every organism is either one cell or many working together.
- Discovery of the cell
- Robert Hooke first saw and named cells in cork in 1665; Leeuwenhoek later observed the first living cells.
- Cell theory
- All living organisms are made of cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and every cell arises from a pre-existing cell.
- Prokaryotic cell
- A cell without a true nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, its genetic material lying free in the cytoplasm, as in bacteria.
The Fundamental Unit of Life — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 9 Science)
14 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. The other 76 are timed and scored when you sign in.
- Q1Easy
Cells were first discovered by:
A.SchwannB.Anton van LeeuwenhoekC.SchleidenD.Robert Hooke✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Robert Hooke
Explanation: Robert Hooke examined cork under a compound microscope in 1665 and named the box-like compartments he saw 'cells' — the first recorded cell observation, distinct from Leeuwenhoek's later discovery of live cells in pond water.
- Q2Easy
Which organelle is called the "powerhouse of the cell"?
A.Mitochondrion✓ CorrectB.RibosomeC.NucleusD.LysosomeAnswer: A. Mitochondrion
Explanation: Mitochondria carry out aerobic respiration, breaking down glucose to release energy stored as ATP, earning them the nickname 'powerhouse of the cell' — unlike ribosomes, which build proteins rather than energy.
- Q3Easy
Which structure is found in plant cells but NOT in animal cells?
A.Cell membraneB.Cell wall✓ CorrectC.CytoplasmD.MitochondriaAnswer: B. Cell wall
Explanation: The cellulose cell wall surrounds the plasma membrane in plant cells and gives rigid mechanical support; animal cells lack it and rely only on the flexible plasma membrane, which both cell types share.
- Q4Easy
The plasma membrane is composed mainly of:
A.Carbohydrates and DNAB.CelluloseC.Lipids and proteins✓ CorrectD.ChitinAnswer: C. Lipids and proteins
Explanation: The plasma membrane is a bilayer of phospholipids with proteins embedded in it, giving it flexibility and selective permeability; it is not made of cellulose or chitin, which form rigid walls instead.
- Q5Easy
The cell theory was proposed by:
A.Hooke and BrownB.Mendel and DarwinC.Schleiden and Schwann✓ CorrectD.Virchow and PasteurAnswer: C. Schleiden and Schwann
Explanation: Matthias Schleiden (1838) studied plant cells and Theodor Schwann (1839) studied animal cells; together they proposed that all living things are made of cells, forming the cell theory.
- Q6Easy
The plant cell wall is made up of:
A.ChitinB.Cellulose✓ CorrectC.PeptidoglycanD.ProteinAnswer: B. Cellulose
Explanation: Cellulose fibres give the plant cell wall its rigidity and shape; chitin instead forms fungal cell walls and insect exoskeletons, while peptidoglycan is found in bacterial walls.
- Q7Medium
Prokaryotic cells lack:
A.Cell membraneB.CytoplasmC.A true (membrane-bound) nucleus✓ CorrectD.DNAAnswer: C. A true (membrane-bound) nucleus
Explanation: Prokaryotes such as bacteria keep their DNA loose in the cytoplasm rather than enclosed in a membrane-bound nucleus, even though they still possess a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and DNA.
- Q8Medium
The control centre of a eukaryotic cell is the:
A.RibosomeB.Nucleus✓ CorrectC.GolgiD.VacuoleAnswer: B. Nucleus
Explanation: The nucleus stores the cell's DNA and directs which proteins get made, acting as its control centre; organelles like the Golgi and vacuole carry out its instructions but don't originate them.
- Q9Medium
Which feature distinguishes eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells?
A.Presence of DNAB.Presence of plasma membraneC.Membrane-bound organelles✓ CorrectD.Presence of ribosomesAnswer: C. Membrane-bound organelles
Explanation: Eukaryotic cells enclose DNA and machinery inside membrane-bound organelles such as the nucleus and mitochondria; prokaryotic cells lack these compartments, though both types share DNA, a plasma membrane, and ribosomes.
- Q10Medium
Chloroplasts are responsible for:
A.RespirationB.StorageC.Protein synthesisD.Photosynthesis✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Photosynthesis
Explanation: Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll that traps light energy and uses it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose — photosynthesis; mitochondria, not chloroplasts, handle cellular respiration.
- Q11Medium
An animal cell placed in a hypotonic solution will:
A.Swell and may burst✓ CorrectB.Remain unchangedC.ShrinkD.PlasmolyseAnswer: A. Swell and may burst
Explanation: In a hypotonic solution water enters an animal cell by osmosis; lacking a rigid cell wall to resist the pressure, the cell keeps swelling and may eventually burst, unlike a plant cell that a wall would protect.
- Q12Hard
When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, it will:
A.Swell upB.BurstC.Shrink (plasmolyse)✓ CorrectD.Stay the sameAnswer: C. Shrink (plasmolyse)
Explanation: In a hypertonic solution the surrounding fluid has a higher solute concentration than the cell's cytoplasm, so water leaves the cell by osmosis and it shrinks — the opposite of swelling, which happens in a hypotonic solution.
- Q13Hard
Lysosomes are sometimes called "suicide bags" because they:
A.Store foodB.Release enzymes that can digest the cell✓ CorrectC.Make proteinsD.PhotosynthesiseAnswer: B. Release enzymes that can digest the cell
Explanation: If a lysosome's membrane ruptures, its hydrolytic enzymes spill into the cytoplasm and digest the cell's own components — why lysosomes are nicknamed 'suicide bags' rather than linked to protein synthesis or photosynthesis.
- Q14Hard
Red blood cells placed in distilled water will:
A.PlasmolyseB.ShrinkC.Swell and burst (haemolysis)✓ CorrectD.Remain unchangedAnswer: C. Swell and burst (haemolysis)
Explanation: Distilled water is strongly hypotonic to a red blood cell's cytoplasm, so water rushes in by osmosis; lacking a cell wall to resist the pressure, the membrane ruptures — haemolysis, distinct from plasmolysis in plant cells.
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Start this chapter free →The Fundamental Unit of Life — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 9 Science The Fundamental Unit of Life?+
Every living thing is built from cells, and a cell is a working compartment with specialised organelles. This chapter compares prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, walks through the organelles and their jobs, and explains how substances cross the plasma membrane. Key ideas include Cell, Discovery of the cell, Cell theory, Prokaryotic cell.
What does Class 9 Science Chapter 1 (The Fundamental Unit of Life) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 90 NCERT-based MCQs on "The Fundamental Unit of Life": 30 Easy, 30 Medium and 30 Hard. Together they make 9 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams and the JEE & NEET foundation years.
Are these "The Fundamental Unit of Life" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "The Fundamental Unit of Life" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year on a launch offer until 1 December 2026. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "The Fundamental Unit of Life" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 9 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "The Fundamental Unit of Life" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 14 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "The Fundamental Unit of Life" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from The Fundamental Unit of Life (Class 9 Science)?+
The questions that matter most test Cell, Discovery of the cell, Cell theory, Prokaryotic cell. This page shows 14 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations; all 90 questions on the chapter are available as timed quizzes once you sign in.
Is there an online quiz for The Fundamental Unit of Life?+
Yes — Class 9 Science The Fundamental Unit of Life has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.