of the two cells represented in the figure, which would likely be more efficient at exchanging substances with the surrounding environment?

Cell A is more efficient at exchanging substances due to larger surface area to volume ratio.

Cell A is more efficient at exchanging substances with the surrounding environment than cell B because it has the larger surface-area-to-volume ratio. Larger surface area of the cell exchanges more substances with the surrounding environment while on the other hand, lower surface area of the cell exchanges less materials with the environment so we can conclude that cell A is more efficient at exchanging substances due to larger surface area to volume ratio.

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essentially, one bacterial cell splits into two daugurer cells. bacterial offspring don't need or get care from their parents because they are in a sense their own parents. that said, some bacteria can and do depend on other bacteria especially in harsh environments such as bacterial microfilms in hot water tanks.