Which organelle stores materials inside the cell and is often large in plants?

Which organelle stores materials inside the cell and is often large in plants?

• A. Nucleus
• B. Mitochondrion
• C. Ribosome
• D. Vacuole

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is where a cell stores materials. The vacuole acts like a storage sac inside the cell, holding water, nutrients, and waste. In plant cells, the central vacuole is often very large, sometimes taking up most of the cell’s interior. This large vacuole helps maintain turgor pressure, pushing the cell membrane against the cell wall to keep the plant upright. Other organelles have different roles—the nucleus stores genetic material, mitochondria release energy, and ribosomes build proteins—so they aren’t primarily about storing materials inside the cell.

The main idea here is where a cell stores materials. The vacuole acts like a storage sac inside the cell, holding water, nutrients, and waste. In plant cells, the central vacuole is often very large, sometimes taking up most of the cell’s interior. This large vacuole helps maintain turgor pressure, pushing the cell membrane against the cell wall to keep the plant upright. Other organelles have different roles—the nucleus stores genetic material, mitochondria release energy, and ribosomes build proteins—so they aren’t primarily about storing materials inside the cell.