Why is it that bacterial ribosomes can begin translation before mrna synthesis is completed, but eukaryotic ribosomes cannot? see section 17.3 (page 356) .

mrna splicing occurs very quickly in prokaryotic cells.

prokaryotic mrnas are elongated differently from eukaryotic mrnas.

in prokaryotes, transcription and translation take place in the cytoplasm.

prokaryotic mrnas are synthesized with ribosomes attached.

The correct answer is: In prokaryotes, transcription and translation take place in the cytoplasm.  

Since there is no nucleus in prokaryotic cell (e.g. bacteria cell) transcription and translation are coupled processes that occur in the cytoplasm meaning that they occur simultaneously. Genetic material of the prokaryotes s called nucleoid and it is not located inside the membrane-bound organelle, thus it is in direct contact with ribosomes in the cytoplasm. Translation of messenger RNA by the ribosomes might occurred while mRNA is still being transcribed from DNA.