alleryStart learning →How does the central vacuole let a plant cell enlarge cheaply?
ABy making extra cytoplasm quickly
BBy thickening the cellulose wall
CBy taking up more water, not cytoplasm
DBy adding more chloroplasts inside
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. By taking up more water, not cytoplasm
1. Growth normally costs energy because new cytoplasm has to be synthesized.
2. The central vacuole offers a cheaper route, since it can simply hold more water.
3. When it holds more water the cell gets larger without that energy investment.
4. Making extra cytoplasm quickly is the expensive route the vacuole avoids, so that answer inverts the point.
5. Expansion comes from taking up water rather than building cytoplasm.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Cell Structure", section 4.3 Eukaryotic Cells_
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