EasyBiologyHigh School (11–12)Diversity of Living Organisms › Characteristics of LifeConceptualBoard Exam
Use the rule: a thing is living if it has metabolism, is made of cells, and senses and responds to…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Use the rule: a thing is living if it has metabolism, is made of cells, and senses and responds to its surroundings. Of these six, which are living? A parrot, a moss, a candle flame, a mushroom, a motion-sensor door, and a hinny. (The flame uses oxygen and grows; the door opens when someone comes near.)
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Growth and reproduction are common features of living things, but not defining ones. Metabolism, a body made of cells, and a response to the surroundings are found in every living organism and in no non-living object.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Living. The parrot, the moss, the mushroom and the hinny have all three features.
Step 2. The flame. It uses oxygen and gets bigger, but it has no cells and no metabolism.
Step 3. The door. It responds to a person, but it has no cells and no metabolism.
Answer: are living: the parrot, the moss, the mushroom and the hinny.
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