Here are the answers to the questions on your worksheet, broken down by section.
Comparing a Cell to a Factory
1. What is an organelle?
An organelle is a tiny structure inside a cell that performs a specific job to keep the cell alive (like the heart or lungs do for a body).
2. Label the structures on the illustration of the plant cell.
*(Note: Since I cannot see the letters A–H clearly on your specific diagram, here is a guide to help you label them based on what the shapes look like):*
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Cell Wall: The thick, outermost rigid layer (looks like a box).
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Cell Membrane: The thin line just inside the cell wall.
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Cytoplasm: The jelly-like space filling the cell.
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Nucleus: The large round circle in the center (often has a darker dot inside).
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Vacuole: The very large empty-looking sack (usually takes up most of the space in a plant cell).
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Chloroplasts: Oval shapes with stacks of coins inside (these make the plant green).
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Mitochondria: Bean-shaped structures with wavy lines inside.
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Golgi Apparatus: A stack of flattened pancakes or sacs.
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Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER): Maze-like folded sheets usually attached to the nucleus.
3. Circle the letter of each structure that animal cells contain.
*
Correct Answers: b. lysosomes,
c. mitochondria,
d. ER
* *(Reasoning: Animal cells do not have chloroplasts because they do not make their own food from sunlight.)*
4. Circle the letter of each structure that plant cells contain.
*
Correct Answers: a. cell wall,
b. ER,
c. lysosomes,
d. chloroplast
* *(Reasoning: Plant cells have all of these. They need the cell wall for support and chloroplasts for photosynthesis.)*
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Nucleus
5. What is the function of the nucleus?
The nucleus acts as the "control center" of the cell. It directs all cell activities and contains the instructions for making new cells.
6. What important molecules does the nucleus contain?
It contains
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), which holds the genetic code.
7. The granular, uncoiled genetic material visible within the nucleus is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
chromatin
8. What does chromatin consist of?
Chromatin consists of
DNA wrapped around proteins.
9. What are chromosomes?
Chromosomes are tightly coiled bundles of DNA and protein that become visible when the cell is getting ready to divide.
10. Most nuclei contain a small, dense region known as the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
nucleolus
11. What occurs in the nucleolus?
This is where
ribosomes are made (specifically, ribosomal RNA is synthesized and assembled).
12. What is the nuclear envelope?
It is the double membrane (a barrier with two layers) that surrounds the nucleus and separates it from the rest of the cytoplasm.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of school as a cell worksheet.
