Question

plants produce the polysaccharide cellulose, which provides structural support for cell walls. cellulose is made from many glucose monosaccharides linked side by side in a long chain. these long chains pack together in parallel rows.

cellulose’s structure gives it strength and rigidity and makes it difficult to break down. in fact, while animals consume cellulose whenever they eat plants, most animals cannot actually digest cellulose. in humans, cellulose helps push food through the digestive tract and supports gut health. people call cellulose in foods dietary fiber.

image: cellulose structure (chemical formula diagram) and cellulose fibers (green grid)

describe the structure and function of cellulose. select the true statements.

• cellulose is easily digested by most animals.
• cellulose is made from many units of the monosaccharide glucose.
• cellulose contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
• the long, parallel polymer chains in cellulose provide structure for cell walls.

Explanation:

1. For "Cellulose is easily digested by most animals": The text says "most animals cannot actually digest cellulose", so this is false.
2. For "Cellulose is made from many units of the monosaccharide glucose": The text states "Cellulose is made from many glucose monosaccharides linked side by side", so this is true.
3. For "Cellulose contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen": Glucose (the monomer of cellulose) has the formula \(C_6H_{12}O_6\), so cellulose (a polymer of glucose) must contain C, H, O. This is true.
4. For "The long, parallel polymer chains in cellulose provide structure for cell walls": The text says "cellulose... provides structural support for cell walls" and "these long chains pack together in parallel rows", so this is true.

Answer:

• False: Cellulose is easily digested by most animals.
• True: Cellulose is made from many units of the monosaccharide glucose.
• True: Cellulose contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
• True: The long, parallel polymer chains in cellulose provide structure for cell walls.