Answer
Option a: A small cell has a larger plasma membrane surface area than
does a large cell.
A greater surface area allows for quicker transmission between cells, be it the disposal of waste or for receiving nutrients.
Work Step by Step
To understand surface area, think of a cube. It's surface area is equal to the area of its sides. If each side has a a surface area of 5cm squared, then its surface area will be:
5 (surface area of a side) x 6 (number of sides a cube has) = 30 cm squared.
Now, if you cut the cube in the middle, with a knife, you are adding two news sides, one on either side of the knife. The new surface area is increased to 40cm squared.
Thus, by making it smaller, we were able to increase the surface area. the same applies to cells. A smaller surface area makes communication between the cells easier.
