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Unit 1: Cellular Structures Review - Printable Science Worksheets 9th Grade - Wayground

Unit 1: Cellular Structures Review

Reynaldo Martinez

Created by Reynaldo Martinez

40 questions

9th Grade

Science

Updated Aug 2026

Unit 1: Cellular Structures Review is a free printable Grade 9 Biology worksheet that helps students identify cell structures, explain organelle functions, and classify cells and viruses. Across 40 questions, students work with dropdowns, drag-and-drop items, multiple-choice and multiple-select questions, a fill-in-the-blank item, hotspots, matching, and an image drag-and-drop task. The review focuses on distinctions such as prokaryotic versus eukaryotic cells, membrane-bound organelles, plant-cell structures, and virus components. Students connect structures to their roles—for example, chloroplasts with capturing light, flagella with movement, lysosomes with waste breakdown, and capsids with protein coats—while identifying DNA and RNA as viral genetic information. It is suitable for Grade 9 biology review, independent practice, or a formative check of understanding, and includes a complete answer key for efficient scoring.

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Unit 1: Cellular Structures Review

Total questions: 40

Name
Class
Date
1.

If a cell has a nucleus it must have a (a)   .

Choose from the below words
nuclear membrane
capsid
cell wall
central vacuole
2.

Flagella are whip like structures used for (a)  

Choose from the below words
Movement
Provide Energy
Protection
Make Proteins
3.

The plant organelle that captures light to make energy is the (a)   .

Choose from the below words
Cell Wall
Mitochondria
Chloroplast
Ribosome
4.

Lysosomes contain enzymes that break down material.

If lysosomes were a part of a city, they would be the:

a)

Mayor - controls the cell

b)

Waste management - digests cell waste and cleans up

c)

Farms- synthesizes proteins

d)

Water tower - stores water

5.

The (a)   provides structure for plant cells and bacteria.

6.
Euglena is an example of a cell.

Euglena is an example of a (a)   cell.

Choose from the below words
Virus
Bacteria
Prokaryotic cell
Eukaryotic cell
7.

Organelles in cells are called membrane-bound because (a)  

Choose from the below words
They are attached to the cell membrane
They are surrounded by their own membrane
8.

Prokaryotic cells are also known as... (select two answers)

a)

multicellular

b)

single celled

c)

unicellular

d)

colonial

9.
What kind of cell?

What kind of cell?

a)

Prokaryote

b)

Both

c)

Neither

d)

Eukaryote

10.
This is a picture of:

This is a picture of:

a)

Prokaryotic Cell

b)

Eukaryotic Cell

11.

Which type of genetic information can viruses contain?

a)

DNA

b)

viruses do not contain genetic information

c)

Viral proteins

d)

RNA

12.

The capsid of a virus is made up of (a)   .

Choose from the below words
Nucleic Acids
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
13.

A typical virus consists of

a)

a protein coat and a cytoplasm core

b)

a carbohydrate coat and a nucleic acid core

c)

a protein coat and a nucleic acid core

d)

a polysaccharide coat and a nucleic acid core

14.
A protein coat surrounding a virus is called a 
a)
prophage.
b)
virus.
c)
capsid.
d)
bacteria.
15.
What do viruses have in common with living cells? They both...
a)
store genetic information
b)
have chloroplasts
c)
use glucose for cellular respiration
d)
have endoplasmic reticulum
16.

Select the location where DNA stored within a eukaryotic cell?

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
17.

Match the following virus reproduction cycles.

Lytic Cycle

Destroys host cell within minutes.

Lysogenic Cycle

Does not immediately destroy host cell.

N/A

N/A

18.

Match the following virus reproduction cycles.

Lytic Cycle

Days - 1 1/2 weeks

Lysogenic Cycle

Months - Years

N/A

N/A

19.

Match the following terms.

Eukaryote

Cells contain a nucleus & organelles

Prokaryote

No nucleus or organelles

Virus

Contains a protein shell & DNA/RNA

Nucleus

Organelle and location of DNA in cells.

Ribosomes

Organelle & site of protein synthesis

20.

Match the following terms

Capsid

Protein coat found in viruses

Cell membrane

Surrounds all cells

Cell wall

Provides structure for plants & bacteria

Chloroplast

Site of photosynthesis in plant cells

Mitochondrion

Provides energy in eukaryotic cells

21.

Match the following

  • Cilia

Hairlike projections on cells

Flagella

Whip like structure. Helps w/ movement

Cytoplasm

Gel like fluid found in all cells

22.

Viruses are considered non living because they lack key attributes that living organisms poses.

Select all the reasons why a virus is considered to be non living.

a)

No mechanisms for metabolism

b)

Need a host to reproduce

c)

Do not have cell membranes or ribosomes

d)

No mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis

e)

Contain a nucleus

23.

Match the function to the biomolecule.

Short term energy

Carbohydrates

Long term energy storage

Lipids

Muscle repair and gene function

Proteins

Genetic Material (DNA/RNA)

Nucleic Acids

24.

Match the monomer to the correct biomolecule.

Monosaccharide

Carbohydrates

Glycerol & Fatty Acids

Lipids

Amino Acids

Proteins

Nucleotides

Nucleic Acids

25.

Select the elements found in carbohydrates.

a)

Carbon

b)

Hydrogen

c)

Oxygen

d)

Nitrogen

26.

Select the elements found in lipids.

a)

Carbon

b)

Hydrogen

c)

Oxygen

d)

Nitrogen

27.

Select the elements found in proteins.

a)

Carbon

b)

Hydrogen

c)

Oxygen

d)

Nitrogen

28.

Select the elements found in nucleic acids.

a)

Carbon

b)

Hydrogen

c)

Oxygen

d)

Nitrogen

29.

Which structure in the cell is responsible for protein synthesis?

a)

Nucleus

b)

Ribosome

c)

Golgi Apparatus

d)

Lysosome

30.

Which part of the cell is responsible for controlling cell activities and contains DNA?

a)

Cytoplasm

b)

Nucleus

c)

Cell Membrane

d)

Mitochondria

31.

Which part of the cell is responsible for packaging and distributing proteins?

a)

Nucleus

b)

Ribosome

c)

Golgi Apparatus

d)

Lysosome

32.

What is the basic unit of life in all living organisms?

a)

Atom

b)

Molecule

c)

Cell

d)

Tissue

33.
Structure A is ....

Structure A is ....

a)

nucleus

b)

cell membrane

c)

cytoplasm

d)

mitochondria

e)

ribosome

34.

Which organelle supports and protects the cell?

A
B
C
D
35.

All cells have four things in common identify them in the correct spot.

a)cell membrane
b)ribosomes
c)genetic material
d)cytoplasms
1
2
3
4
1)
2)
3)
4)
36.

What is something that Prokaryotes and Eukaryote both have in common?

a)

nucleus

b)

bacteria

c)

have DNA

d)

complex cells

37.
See how much you remember! Match the following characteristics that belong to Eukaryotes, Prokaryotes, or BOTH!

See how much you remember! Match the following characteristics that belong to Eukaryotes, Prokaryotes, or BOTH!

- No nucleus

- No membrane-bound organelles

- DNA in the cytoplasm

- Single Celled

Prokaryote

- Nucleus

- Membrane bound organelles

- DNA in the nucleus

- Single & Multi celled

Eukaryote

- Ribosomes

- DNA

- Cell Division

- Plasma Membrane

Prokaryote and Eukaryote

38.

Cells that do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles are called ​ (a)   . Cells that contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles are ​ (b)   .

Choose from the below words
prokaryotic
eukaryotic
39.
The most likely function of the structure labeled X in the above figure is -

The most likely function of the structure labeled X in the above figure is -

a)

A. anchoring the virus to a cell

b)

B. injecting viral DNA into a cell

c)

C. assembling the parts of a virus

d)

D. storing and protecting viral DNA

40.

Which statement best explains why viruses are considered to be nonliving?

a)

They are only able to be viewed with a microscope.

b)

They are unable to reproduce independently.

c)

They lack genetic material.

d)

They have different types of proteins.

WaygroundAnswer Key

Unit 1: Cellular Structures Review

Total questions: 40

1.
nuclear membrane
2.
Movement
3.
Chloroplast
4.
b)

Waste management - digests cell waste and cleans up

5.
cell wall
6.
Eukaryotic cell
7.
They are surrounded by their own membrane
8.
b)

single celled

, c)

unicellular

9.
a)

Prokaryote

10.
b)

Eukaryotic Cell

11.
a)

DNA

, d)

RNA

12.
Proteins
13.
c)

a protein coat and a nucleic acid core

14.
c) capsid.
15.
a) store genetic information
16.
17.

Lytic Cycle

 - 

Destroys host cell within minutes.

, 

Lysogenic Cycle

 - 

Does not immediately destroy host cell.

, 

N/A

 - 

N/A

18.

Lytic Cycle

 - 

Days - 1 1/2 weeks

, 

Lysogenic Cycle

 - 

Months - Years

, 

N/A

 - 

N/A

19.

Eukaryote

 - 

Cells contain a nucleus & organelles

, 

Prokaryote

 - 

No nucleus or organelles

, 

Virus

 - 

Contains a protein shell & DNA/RNA

, 

Nucleus

 - 

Organelle and location of DNA in cells.

, 

Ribosomes

 - 

Organelle & site of protein synthesis

20.

Capsid

 - 

Protein coat found in viruses

, 

Cell membrane

 - 

Surrounds all cells

, 

Cell wall

 - 

Provides structure for plants & bacteria

, 

Chloroplast

 - 

Site of photosynthesis in plant cells

, 

Mitochondrion

 - 

Provides energy in eukaryotic cells

21.

  • Cilia

 - 

Hairlike projections on cells

, 

Flagella

 - 

Whip like structure. Helps w/ movement

, 

Cytoplasm

 - 

Gel like fluid found in all cells

22.
a)

No mechanisms for metabolism

, b)

Need a host to reproduce

, c)

Do not have cell membranes or ribosomes

, d)

No mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis

23.

Short term energy

 - 

Carbohydrates

, 

Long term energy storage

 - 

Lipids

, 

Muscle repair and gene function

 - 

Proteins

, 

Genetic Material (DNA/RNA)

 - 

Nucleic Acids

24.

Monosaccharide

 - 

Carbohydrates

, 

Glycerol & Fatty Acids

 - 

Lipids

, 

Amino Acids

 - 

Proteins

, 

Nucleotides

 - 

Nucleic Acids

25.
a)

Carbon

, b)

Hydrogen

, c)

Oxygen

26.
a)

Carbon

, b)

Hydrogen

, c)

Oxygen

27.
a)

Carbon

, b)

Hydrogen

, c)

Oxygen

28.
a)

Carbon

, b)

Hydrogen

, c)

Oxygen

, d)

Nitrogen

29.
b)

Ribosome

30.
b)

Nucleus

31.
c)

Golgi Apparatus

32.
c)

Cell

33.
a)

nucleus

34.
35.
a
b
c
d
36.
c)

have DNA

37.

- No nucleus

- No membrane-bound organelles

- DNA in the cytoplasm

- Single Celled

 - 

Prokaryote

, 

- Nucleus

- Membrane bound organelles

- DNA in the nucleus

- Single & Multi celled

 - 

Eukaryote

, 

- Ribosomes

- DNA

- Cell Division

- Plasma Membrane

 - 

Prokaryote and Eukaryote

38.
prokaryotic, eukaryotic
39.
a)

A. anchoring the virus to a cell

40.
b)

They are unable to reproduce independently.

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FAQs

What does the Unit 1: Cellular Structures Review worksheet cover?

This Grade 9 Biology worksheet reviews how to identify cell structures and connect them to their functions, including flagella and movement, chloroplasts and energy capture, lysosomes and waste breakdown, and cell walls and structure. Its 40 items use dropdowns, drag-and-drop, multiple-choice, multiple-select, fill-in-the-blank, hotspot, matching, and image drag-and-drop formats to assess prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells as well as virus structures and genetic information.

How can I use this worksheet to teach cell structures and organelle functions?

Introduce the worksheet by having students build a two-column reference chart: one column for a structure and one for its function or defining feature. Then use the drag-and-drop and dropdown items to model how clues such as “whip-like,” “captures light,” or “surrounded by its own membrane” identify flagella, chloroplasts, or membrane-bound organelles. Finish with the classification and virus items, asking students to justify why a cell is prokaryotic or eukaryotic and how a capsid differs from viral genetic material.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this cellular structures worksheet?

Students may confuse organelle functions, such as choosing mitochondria instead of chloroplasts for capturing light or assigning protein synthesis to lysosomes. In the classification items, watch for treating “single-celled” and “unicellular” as different answers instead of equivalent descriptions of prokaryotic cells. Students may also confuse a virus’s protein capsid with its DNA or RNA genetic information, especially in the multiple-select and matching questions.

How do I assign and grade this cellular structures worksheet?

The Unit 1: Cellular Structures Review is available as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz on Wayground, with a complete answer key for all 40 items. For printable submissions, you can scan student work with the Wayground for Teachers app to support grading. The printable format also gives schools an option for reducing screen time during biology review.

How can I differentiate this cell structures worksheet for my students?

Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing and font size so the varied question formats, including matching and drag-and-drop items, are easier to navigate. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language when students need a more accessible version of the cell-structure and virus review.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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