Science & STEM

Organelle Function Quiz: Test Cell Parts and Their Jobs

Moderate2-5mins

This organelle function quiz helps you match each cell part to its job and check your understanding with instant feedback. For more practice, try the cell organelles quiz, build identification skills with an organelle labeling quiz, or focus on plants in a plant cell labeling quiz.

Paper art illustration for cell organelles and their functions quiz on a golden yellow background.
25Questions
InstantResults
FreeAlways
DetailedExplanations
Take the Quiz
1Which organelle is primarily responsible for producing ATP during cellular respiration?
2Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the main site of protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells.
3Which structure is the direct site of mRNA translation into polypeptides?
4Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that break down macromolecules and cellular debris.
5Which organelle modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion or delivery to other organelles?
6Which organelles contain catalase to detoxify hydrogen peroxide?
7Rough endoplasmic reticulum is studded with ribosomes and produces many secretory and membrane proteins.
8Which sequence best describes the secretory pathway for a typical exported protein?
9Gap junctions are the primary intercellular channels connecting plant cells.
10What are microtubules made of?
11Which coat protein complex mediates anterograde transport from the ER to the Golgi?
12Which proteins ensure vesicle fusion occurs with the correct target membrane by pairing vesicle and target factors?
13Lysosomal hydrolases fun<wbr>ction optimally at approximately neutral pH (around 7.4).
14Which cytoskeletal component provides tensile strength and includes keratin as a member?
15The Calvin cycle reactions occur in the chloroplast stroma.
16Mitochondria and chloroplasts contain 70S-type ribosomes resembling those of bacteria.
17Which receptor-cycling pathway delivers acid hydrolases from the trans-Golgi network to endosomes?
18COPI primarily mediates retrograde vesicle transport from the Golgi to the ER and within the Golgi stack.
19Which complexes translocate precursor proteins across the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes, respectively?
20The nuclear lamina underlying the inner nuclear membrane is composed of type V intermediate filaments called lamins.
Learning Goals

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Organelles -

    Learn to recognize and name major cell organelles - mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes - when encountering them in diagrams or descriptions.

  2. Match Organelles to Functions -

    Develop the ability to match each organelle with its primary role, reinforcing your understanding through the cell organelles and their functions quiz format.

  3. Describe Organelle Roles -

    Explain the essential functions of each cellular structure, from energy production in mitochondria to waste breakdown in lysosomes.

  4. Apply Knowledge in Trivia -

    Use the organelle function trivia questions to test and solidify your recall of which organelle is labeled a mitochondrion, ribosome, Golgi apparatus, or lysosome.

  5. Analyze Cellular Processes -

    Examine how organelles interact within the cell, gaining insight into processes like protein synthesis, transport, and energy metabolism.

  6. Assess Your Mastery -

    Track your score on the cell organelles quiz to identify strengths and areas for review, helping you prepare more effectively for exams or discussions.

Study Guide

Cheat Sheet

  1. Mitochondria: The Powerhouse of the Cell -

    Mitochondria convert glucose and oxygen into ATP via the equation C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ~36 ATP (Alberts et al., 2015). A handy mnemonic is "Most Important To Activate Tiny Hydrolysis," to recall mitochondria's role in energy release. When you see "which organelle is labeled a mitochondrion" in your cell organelles quiz, think of its double membrane and cristae.

  2. Ribosomes: Protein Assembly Lines -

    Ribosomes are made of a small (40S) and large (60S) subunit in eukaryotes, catalyzing peptide bond formation (Lodish et al., 2016). Recall "RIBose + SOMe" to link the name to protein synthesis. In organelle function trivia, free versus bound ribosomes help you predict whether a protein stays in the cytosol or heads to the ER.

  3. Golgi Apparatus: The Cellular Post Office -

    The Golgi apparatus sorts, modifies, and ships proteins and lipids in cisternae stacks (Santangelo et al., 2017). Use the phrase "Cis to Receive, Trans to Send" to remember the cis face receives vesicles, while the trans face dispatches them. Questions like "which organelle is labeled a Golgi apparatus" often hinge on spotting its flattened sacs.

  4. Lysosomes: Digestive Enzymes Unleashed -

    Lysosomes contain over 50 acid hydrolases that break down macromolecules at pH ~5 (Marty, 2019). Think "Lyso-" for "lysis" or breaking apart, and picture them as the cell's recycling center. In a cell organelles and their functions quiz, look for membrane-bound vesicles full of debris - those are your lysosomes.

  5. Endoplasmic Reticulum: The Cellular Highway -

    The rough ER is studded with ribosomes for protein synthesis, while the smooth ER handles lipid metabolism and detoxification (Voet & Voet, 2012). Envision a "highway" network where RER lanes carry proteins and SER lanes refine lipids. This tip is gold for acing any organelle function trivia question about ER subtypes.

AI-DraftedHuman-Reviewed
Reviewed by
Michael HodgeEdTech Product Lead & Assessment Design SpecialistQuiz Maker
Updated Feb 23, 2026