Which of the following is a difference between plant and animal cells?

1. Analyze the question You are asked to pick a true difference between plant cells and animal cells. Check each option against what we know.

2. Concept Plant and animal cells are both eukaryotic. They share a nucleus, cell membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria and ribosomes. The main differences are:

• Plant cells have a cell wall (made of cellulose) outside the cell membrane. Animal cells do not.
• Plant cells have chloroplasts for photosynthesis. Animal cells do not.
• Mature plant cells usually have one large central vacuole. Animal cells have small, temporary vacuoles, if any.

3. Step-by-step evaluation

• A. Wrong. Both plant and animal cells have a nucleus. Both are eukaryotic.
• B. Wrong. This is reversed and misleading. Both cell types have a cell membrane, but only plant cells have a cell wall.
• C. Correct. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis. They are found in plant cells (the green parts) and absent from animal cells.
• D. Partly true, but not the best answer. Mature plant cells do have a large central vacuole, and animal cells tend to have smaller vacuoles. However, the statement is loosely worded, and "multiple small vacuoles" is not a defining feature of animal cells. Many textbooks and examiners treat chloroplasts as the clear-cut difference.

4. Answer The best and most clearly correct option is C.

5. Exam tip Remember the plant-only structures: "CCC", which stands for Cell wall, Chloroplasts and Central vacuole. If an option says plants have chloroplasts and animals don't, it is almost always the safest choice. Always watch for options that swap the facts around, like option B.