While plant and animal cells have structural similarities, they also differ in a few ways, including in shape. Plant cells tend
to be rectangular and have distinct edges, while animal cells vary widely in shape and tend to have rounder, more fluid edges. Which statement BEST elaborates on the reason for this difference? A) Animal cells have rounded edges because they contain cell walls, while rigid plant cells do not need cell walls.
B) Rectangular shapes help plants absorb sunlight during photosynthesis, and round shapes help animal cells absorb oxygen.
C) Animal cells vary in shape because they have different functions, while plant cells are rigid to help plants grow upright.
D) Plant cells are rectangular because they are all connected within a plant, while animal cells never come in contact with each other.
C) Animal cells vary in shape because they have different functions, while plant cells are rigid to help plants grow upright.
Explanation:
Because the animal organism is more complex and has more functioning mechanisms than the plant organism, animal cells have a great diversity in size, shape and function. The size and shape of animal cells is directly related to the function it exhibits. On the other hand, plant cells usually have the rectangular shape bounded by the cell wall, which is a thick, unyielding layer that surrounds the cell. This shape is important to allow the inflexibility of cells and their vertical growth.
For this reason, we can say that the correct answer to your question is the letter C.
