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Quizzes > Science

Selective Permeability Quiz: Cell Transport Basics

Quick cell transport basics quiz with instant results and clear explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Umarul FitriUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art cells molecules on sky blue background quiz on selective permeability endocytosis exocytosis carb lipid synthesis

This quiz helps you check your understanding of selective permeability and how molecules move via endocytosis and exocytosis. You will also review where carbs and lipids are made. For more practice, try our cell membrane transport quiz, explore pumps in the active transport mechanisms quiz, or review organelles in the organelle functions quiz.

What term best describes a membrane that allows only certain molecules to pass through?
Permeable
Semi-permeable
Ultrafiltration
Impermeable
A semi-permeable membrane permits some substances to cross while blocking others. It is the most precise phrase to capture selective permeability. For more detail, see .
Which phrase describes movement of molecules from high to low concentration without energy?
Facilitated diffusion
Active transport
Endocytosis
Simple diffusion
Simple diffusion is the passive movement of molecules down their concentration gradient. It does not require cellular energy or transport proteins. For more, see .
Which component of the phospholipid bilayer faces the aqueous interior of a cell?
Cholesterol core
Hydrophilic heads
Fatty acid tails
Peripheral proteins
Phospholipid molecules have hydrophilic heads that orient towards aqueous environments both inside and outside the cell. The hydrophobic tails face inward, forming the membrane core. See .
Which phrase best describes the driving force for osmosis?
Concentration gradient
Electric potential
Temperature difference
Pressure gradient
Osmosis is driven by a water concentration gradient across a semipermeable membrane. Water moves toward the region of lower water concentration (higher solute concentration). Details at .
Which protein channel facilitates rapid water movement in cells?
ATPase pump
Ion channel
Carrier protein
Aquaporin
Aquaporins are specialized channel proteins that allow water molecules to cross the membrane rapidly. They are central to osmoregulation in many cell types. Read more at .
Which term describes transport that requires ATP to move substances against their gradient?
Active transport
Facilitated diffusion
Passive transport
Osmosis
Active transport uses ATP energy to move molecules from low to high concentration. This is essential for maintaining cellular ion gradients. For reference see .
Which phrase describes the membrane's interior region?
Aqueous channel
Hydrophilic core
Hydrophobic core
Polar interior
The interior of the phospholipid bilayer is hydrophobic due to fatty-acid tails. This region repels water-soluble molecules. More at .
Which transport process involves solutes moving through a carrier protein down their gradient?
Endocytosis
Simple diffusion
Facilitated diffusion
Exocytosis
Facilitated diffusion uses carrier or channel proteins to allow specific molecules to cross membranes down their concentration gradient. It does not require ATP. See .
Which lipid component stabilizes membrane fluidity?
Steroid hormone
Phosphatidylcholine
Cholesterol
Triglyceride
Cholesterol intercalates between phospholipids to modulate membrane fluidity at different temperatures. It prevents excessive rigidity or fluidity. Details at .
Which phrase describes a cell engulfing solid particles?
Exocytosis
Receptor recycling
Phagocytosis
Pinocytosis
Phagocytosis is a form of endocytosis where cells ingest large particles like bacteria. It is critical for immune responses. For more, see .
Which monosaccharide is a direct product of photosynthesis and enters glycolysis?
Ribose
Galactose
Glucose
Fructose
Glucose is the primary output of photosynthesis in plants and the main substrate for glycolysis. It is a hexose sugar that fuels cellular respiration. Further reading at .
Which process links monosaccharides into polysaccharides by removing water?
Phosphorylation
Oxidation
Condensation (Dehydration synthesis)
Hydrolysis
Dehydration synthesis, or condensation, joins sugar monomers by removing water molecules. It forms glycosidic bonds during polysaccharide assembly. See .
Which enzyme initiates fatty acid synthesis by carboxylating acetyl-CoA?
Citrate synthase
Fatty acid synthase
Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
HMG-CoA reductase
Acetyl-CoA carboxylase adds a carboxyl group to acetyl-CoA, creating malonyl-CoA. This is the committed step in fatty acid synthesis. More at .
Which structure forms vesicles during receptor-mediated endocytosis?
COPII coat
Caveolin pit
SNARE complex
Clathrin coat
Receptor-mediated endocytosis often uses clathrin-coated pits to internalize ligands. Clathrin triskelions assemble on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. See .
Which phrase best describes differential permeability of membranes?
Allows no solutes
Allows some solutes
Allows only water
Allows all solutes
Differential permeability means some substances cross while others are excluded. It underlies selective transport functions. For context, see .
Which molecule flips between leaflets to help maintain membrane fluidity?
Translocon
Phosphatidylserine
Flippase
Protease
Flippase enzymes catalyze translocation of phospholipids between bilayer leaflets. This maintains asymmetry and fluidity. Details at .
Which term describes coupling of glucose transport to sodium ion gradient?
Facilitated diffusion
Symport
Uniport
Antiport
A symporter co-transports two substances in the same direction, here glucose with Na+. This uses the Na+ gradient to drive glucose uptake. See .
Which organelle is the main site of lipid synthesis in eukaryotic cells?
Mitochondrion
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Rough endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi apparatus
The smooth ER houses enzymes for phospholipid and steroid synthesis. It lacks ribosomes, distinguishing it from rough ER. More at .
What phrase describes vesicle fusion that releases cellular products outside?
Autophagy
Transcytosis
Exocytosis
Endocytosis
Exocytosis merges vesicles with the plasma membrane, expelling contents. It is key for secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters. See .
Which enzyme releases glucose-1-phosphate from glycogen during glycogenolysis?
Glycogen synthase
Debranching enzyme
Hexokinase
Glycogen phosphorylase
Glycogen phosphorylase cleaves ?-1,4 glycosidic bonds to yield glucose-1-phosphate. This is the rate-limiting step of glycogenolysis. Reference .
Which phrase best describes the movement of ions through selective channels driven by voltage difference?
Facilitated transport
Voltage-gated diffusion
Electrochemical gradient
Chemiosmosis
Ion movement is directed by electrochemical gradients, combining concentration and charge differences. Voltage-gated channels open in response to membrane potential changes. More at .
Which pathway synthesizes glucose from noncarbohydrate precursors?
Glycogenesis
Pentose phosphate pathway
Glycolysis
Gluconeogenesis
Gluconeogenesis generates glucose using substrates like lactate and amino acids. It largely occurs in the liver and kidney. For details see .
Which transport mechanism requires vesicle coat proteins COPI or COPII?
Caveolin-mediated endocytosis
Clathrin-mediated endocytosis
Phagocytosis
ER - Golgi transport
COPII coats mediate anterograde vesicles from ER to Golgi, while COPI handles retrograde transport. These coats drive vesicle formation and cargo selection. More at .
Which phrase describes lipid?anchored proteins on the cell surface?
Transmembrane proteins
Integral proteins
GPI-anchored proteins
Peripheral proteins
GPI anchors tether proteins to the extracellular leaflet via glycolipid linkages. They allow lateral mobility in the membrane. See .
Which enzyme in fatty acid synthesis catalyzes chain elongation by adding two-carbon units?
Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase
Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
Carnitine acyltransferase I
Fatty acid synthase
Fatty acid synthase performs sequential condensations, reductions, and dehydrations to lengthen the acyl chain. It uses malonyl-CoA as the two-carbon donor. More at .
Which phrase describes the principle that a membrane's permeability varies by molecule size and polarity?
Osmotic balance
Bulk flow
Universal permeability
Selective permeability
Selective permeability reflects that small, nonpolar molecules cross membranes more readily. Charged and large polar substances often require transporters. See .
Which transporter exchanges intracellular Ca2+ for extracellular Na+?
SERCA pump
Na+/K+ ATPase
Na+/Ca2+ exchanger
Ca2+ ATPase
The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger uses the Na+ gradient to export Ca2+ from cells. It operates independently of ATP hydrolysis. Read more at .
Which glycolytic intermediate is the direct precursor for ribose-5-phosphate in the pentose phosphate pathway?
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
Fructose-6-phosphate
3-Phosphoglycerate
Glucose-6-phosphate
Glucose-6-phosphate enters the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway to yield ribose-5-phosphate. It is the committed substrate for nucleotide synthesis. Details at .
Which phrase best describes the role of clathrin in vesicular transport?
Selects cargo via receptors
Uncoats vesicles after fusion
Coats vesicles for budding
Fuses vesicle to target
Clathrin assembles into a lattice on the cytosolic membrane surface to form coated pits. This drives vesicle budding during endocytosis. See .
Which term describes transport of solutes via a transporter that moves one substance in and another out?
Uniport
Symport
Facilitated diffusion
Antiport
An antiporter swaps one molecule for another in opposite directions. The Na+/K+ ATPase is a classic antiport mechanism. Learn more at .
Which enzyme is the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis?
HMG-CoA reductase
Squalene synthase
Lanosterol demethylase
Mevalonate kinase
HMG-CoA reductase reduces HMG-CoA to mevalonate in the ER membrane. It is the key regulatory point in cholesterol synthesis. More at .
Which phospholipid is enriched in the inner leaflet and carries a net negative charge?
Sphingomyelin
Phosphatidylethanolamine
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylcholine
Phosphatidylserine carries a negative charge and is normally confined to the inner leaflet by flippases. Its externalization signals apoptosis. See .
Which organelle uses proton gradients to drive ATP synthesis across its inner membrane?
Chloroplast thylakoid
Golgi cisterna
Mitochondrial inner membrane
Endoplasmic reticulum
The mitochondrial inner membrane hosts the electron transport chain and ATP synthase. Proton gradients across it power oxidative phosphorylation. Details at .
Which lipid transport particle carries dietary triglycerides from the intestine?
HDL
Chylomicron
LDL
VLDL
Chylomicrons transport triglycerides from intestinal enterocytes through lymphatics to the bloodstream. They are the largest and least dense lipoproteins. See .
Which glycolytic enzyme produces ATP by substrate-level phosphorylation?
Aldolase
Hexokinase
Phosphofructokinase-1
Pyruvate kinase
Pyruvate kinase catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate from PEP to ADP, forming ATP. It is one of two substrate-level phosphorylation steps in glycolysis. More at .
Which phrase describes the lipid bilayer's barrier to charged molecules?
Osmotic gradient
Electrical insulation
Hydrophilic barrier
Chemical resistance
The hydrophobic core creates an electrical insulation barrier, preventing free movement of ions. This is critical for membrane potential. See .
Which protein complex mediates vesicle docking and fusion at the target membrane?
COPI
Clathrin
Dynamin
SNARE
SNARE complexes on vesicle (v-SNAREs) and target membranes (t-SNAREs) zipper together to drive membrane fusion. They ensure specificity of vesicular trafficking. Details at .
Which process describes the oxidation of NADPH to generate superoxide in phagocytes?
Respiratory chain
Oxidative phosphorylation
Oxidative burst
Glycolytic flux
During the respiratory burst, NADPH oxidase produces superoxide radicals to kill pathogens. This rapid activation occurs in phagocytes. See .
Which carbohydrate is a branched glucose polymer stored in liver and muscle?
Chitin
Cellulose
Starch
Glycogen
Glycogen is a highly branched alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 linked polymer of glucose. It serves as the primary storage form in animals. More at .
Which enzyme complex transfers activated fatty acids into mitochondria for ?-oxidation?
Carnitine acyltransferase I
Fatty acid synthase
Acyl-CoA synthetase
Carnitine acyltransferase II
Carnitine acyltransferase I on the outer mitochondrial membrane conjugates fatty acyl-CoA to carnitine. This allows transport across the inner membrane. See .
Which lipid microdomain is enriched in sphingolipids and cholesterol?
Phagosome
Lipid raft
Endosome
Caveolae
Lipid rafts are ordered membrane microdomains rich in cholesterol and sphingolipids. They compartmentalize cellular processes like signaling. Learn more at .
Which ATPase is responsible for maintaining Golgi pH by pumping protons into its lumen?
V-ATPase
F-ATPase
P-ATPase
Na+/H+ exchanger
V-ATPases acidify intracellular compartments like the Golgi by translocating protons using ATP. This pH gradient is critical for enzyme function. See .
Which mechanism ensures unidirectional vesicle transport between ER and Golgi?
Rab GTPases
COPII coat alone
SNARE pairing
Clathrin code
Rab GTPases provide specificity and directionality for vesicle docking and fusion. They cycle between GTP- and GDP-bound forms to regulate trafficking. More at .
Which regulatory step in gluconeogenesis bypasses phosphofructokinase-1 of glycolysis?
Pyruvate carboxylase + PEP carboxykinase
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase
Hexokinase
Glucose-6-phosphatase
The combined actions of pyruvate carboxylase and PEP carboxykinase convert pyruvate to PEP, bypassing PFK-1. This is critical for making glucose from pyruvate. See .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Definitions -

    Understand which phrase best describes the property of selective permeability and accurately define this essential membrane characteristic.

  2. Explain Transport Mechanisms -

    Describe how endocytosis and exocytosis involve packaging substances into a membrane-enclosed environment to move materials into and out of the cell.

  3. Locate Biosynthetic Sites -

    Pinpoint where synthesis of carbohydrates and lipids occurs in the structure labeled and explain the role of these organelles in macromolecule production.

  4. Differentiate Transport Processes -

    Compare and contrast passive versus active transport mechanisms to distinguish how cells regulate movement of molecules.

  5. Apply Conceptual Knowledge -

    Use your understanding of selective permeability to predict the movement of different molecules across the cell membrane.

  6. Analyze Membrane Function -

    Evaluate how variations in membrane composition and structure influence selective permeability and overall cell transport efficiency.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Selective Permeability Principle -

    Selective permeability describes a membrane's ability to let specific substances cross preferentially, like a nightclub bouncer choosing VIPs. Which phrase best describes the property of selective permeability? Think "controlled door policy" to lock in that only certain ions or molecules can pass through. This concept is central in cell biology courses at universities such as MIT and UC Berkeley.

  2. Lipid Bilayer Composition -

    The phospholipid bilayer, composed of hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, creates the core barrier that underlies selective permeability. Mnemonic: "Heads love water, tails fear water" helps you recall orientation in the membrane. Studies from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) highlight how cholesterol and proteins modulate fluidity and pore formation.

  3. Endocytosis & Exocytosis Packaging -

    Endocytosis and exocytosis involve packaging substances into a membrane-enclosed environment for import or export, ensuring large molecules bypass the bilayer directly. Imagine cellular mail service: vesicles are the envelopes and the cytoskeleton provides the delivery route. Research from the Journal of Cell Science shows how clathrin-coated pits initiate most endocytic events.

  4. Organelle Sites for Carb & Lipid Synthesis -

    Synthesis of carbohydrates occurs in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and Golgi apparatus, while lipid assembly takes place in the smooth ER. A handy phrase is "RER recipes carbs, smooth ER grips lipids" to remember who does what. These assignments are detailed in cell biology texts published by Nature Education and the NIH.

  5. Factors Affecting Transport Rates -

    Temperature, concentration gradient, and membrane thickness all influence how fast molecules move across via diffusion or facilitated transport. Remember Fick's Law: Rate ∝ (ΔC × Area) / Thickness as featured in biophysics modules at Stanford. Real-world assays from the Journal of Membrane Biology confirm these variables determine nutrient uptake efficiency.

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