Final answer:
The statement is false as microtubule-guided transport is more efficient for moving materials over longer distances within cells than free diffusion. Facilitated transport is crucial for polar molecules that cannot passively diffuse through the membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Movement of materials in polarized cells by free diffusion is faster and more efficient than that guided by microtubules' is false. While diffusion is an important process for the movement of substances across the plasma membrane, it is relatively slow and only effective over short distances. In contrast, microtubule-guided transport is essential for efficiently moving materials over longer distances within cells, particularly in larger and more complex cells. This type of transport involves motor proteins that use energy to move cargo along the microtubules, effectively ensuring the proper distribution of cellular components.
Facilitated transport also plays a crucial role in moving polar molecules across cell membranes, which cannot occur by simple diffusion due to the hydrophobic properties of the membrane. Such polar molecules require the assistance of membrane proteins to shield them from the hydrophobic part of the membrane, allowing them to diffuse into the cell. This process does not consume cellular energy and works down the concentration gradient, like passive diffusion, but with the aid of transport proteins.