Cytoplasm is the

• A. production department of the cell; contains nucleus
• B. outer surface of the cell; semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm
• C. colorless gel-like substance containing water, salt and nutrients
• D. the basic unit of living matter

Answer: (A)

Cytoplasm is the gel-like interior of the cell that fills the space between the plasma membrane and the nucleus. It’s primarily water with dissolved salts and nutrients, and it houses organelles where many metabolic processes occur. This description matches the idea of a colorless gel-like substance containing water, salt and nutrients, making it the best fit.

Think of the other phrases as describing broader parts of the cell: the “production department” phrasing wrongly implies the nucleus is part of the cytoplasm; in reality, the nucleus sits within the cell but is encased by its own membrane and is not part of the cytoplasm. The outer surface of the cell refers to the plasma membrane, not the cytoplasm, and “the basic unit of living matter” defines the cell itself, not the cytoplasm.