What is a major difference between plant and animal cells?

What is a major difference between plant and animal cells?

• A. Animal cells have chloroplasts
• B. Plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts; animal cells do not
• C. Plant cells lack a nucleus
• D. Both plant and animal cells have identical features

Answer: (B)

The main difference to understand is that plant cells have both a cell wall and chloroplasts, while animal cells do not. The cell wall provides rigidity and protection, helping plants maintain structure. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis, allowing plants to make their own food using light energy. Animals lack chloroplasts and typically do not have cell walls, which makes their cells more flexible and suited to different kinds of movement and interaction with their environment. Because of these features, the statement that plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts while animal cells do not is the accurate way to describe a key difference between the two cell types. The other options misstate where chloroplasts are found or whether plants have a nucleus, and they ignore these clear structural distinctions.