Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, the cell wall. The cell wall is the structure in plant cells that provides rigidity and support. It is a tough, rigid structure located outside the cell membrane. Composed primarily of cellulose, the cell wall offers structural support to the cell, helping it maintain its shape and protect it from damage. The other choices, such as the cell membrane (choice A), Golgi apparatus (choice B), and plastid (choice C) do not provide rigidity and support to plant cells. The cell membrane is a selectively permeable barrier, the Golgi apparatus is involved in processing and packaging proteins, and plastids are organelles responsible for functions like photosynthesis and storage, but they do not provide the structural support that the cell wall does.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Carbon dioxide is the correct answer. It is used in fire extinguishers because it displaces oxygen, which is necessary for combustion. When carbon dioxide is released onto a fire, it reduces the oxygen concentration around the flames, effectively smothering the fire. This disruption of oxygen availability interrupts the chemical reaction that sustains the fire. Nitrogen (Choice A), helium (Choice C), and argon (Choice D) are not typically used in fire extinguishers for smothering flames by displacing oxygen. Nitrogen is an inert gas that can displace oxygen but is not as effective as carbon dioxide in fire suppression.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Mycology is the correct answer. Mycology is the branch of biology that specifically deals with the study of fungi. Fungi constitute a separate kingdom of organisms that include various forms such as yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Virology (A) is the study of viruses, while Bacteriology (C) focuses on bacteria. Parasitology (D) is the study of parasites, which may include protozoa, helminths, and some fungi, but it is not solely dedicated to fungi.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Interference. Interference is the term used to describe the phenomenon when two waves combine to form a new wave. When waves interact constructively or destructively, they interfere with each other, resulting in a new wave pattern. Choice A, Diffraction, refers to the bending of waves around obstacles, not the combination of waves. Choice C, Refraction, is the bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another, not the combination of waves. Choice D, Dispersion, is the separation of light into its different colors, not the combination of waves.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a network of membranes within the cell that plays a crucial role in protein and lipid synthesis. It consists of two types: rough ER, which is studded with ribosomes and involved in protein synthesis, and smooth ER, which is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification. The ER's main function is to synthesize proteins and lipids, not just package and transport them. While the ER is involved in transporting these synthesized proteins and lipids to other parts of the cell or outside the cell, its primary role is in their synthesis. Breaking down macromolecules is primarily the function of lysosomes, which are membrane-bound organelles containing enzymes for digestion. Storing genetic material is the function of the nucleus, which houses the cell's DNA. The ER is not involved in storing genetic material.