Which structure provides support to the cell and surrounds the cell membrane?

The option that provides support to the cell and surrounds the cell membrane is the cell wall. The cell wall is a rigid structure found outside the cell membrane in plant cells, fungi, and some prokaryotic cells. Its primary function is to maintain the shape of the cell, provide structural support, and protect the cell from mechanical stress and external environmental factors. In plants, the cell wall is primarily composed of cellulose, which contributes to its strength and rigidity.

In contrast, the cell membrane is more flexible and serves as a barrier that regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell, but it does not provide the same level of structural support that the cell wall does. The nucleus is the control center of the cell, housing genetic material, while the cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance where cellular processes occur, neither of which provide the external support that the cell wall offers.