Final answer:
The statement is false; smaller cells generally have an easier time moving nutrients and wastes across their cell membrane due to a higher surface area-to-volume ratio, which facilitates diffusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the SMALLER a cell is, the more difficult it is for the cell to move enough nutrients and wastes across its cell membrane to maintain its normal functions is False. In fact, the opposite is true. As a cell decreases in size, its surface area-to-volume ratio actually increases, which makes it easier for the cell to exchange nutrients and wastes with its environment through the process of diffusion. This is due to the fact that the distance substances must travel to reach the center of the cell is smaller, facilitating a quicker rate of diffusion. Diffusion is effective over a specific distance and becomes less efficient as the size of the cell increases. For exceedingly large cells, adaptations must be made to ensure sufficient nutrient and waste exchange, such as the development of flattened shapes or the presence of specialized structures like transport mechanisms. However, for most prokaryotic cells and small eukaryotic cells, their compact size aids in maintaining efficient exchange processes. Therefore, it is typically easier for smaller cells to manage the movement of nutrients and wastes compared to larger cells.