Characteristics of Life

How can you tell this plant is a living thing?

• It doesn't move.
• It is made up of different parts.
• It responds to a change in its environment.
• It needs shelter.

Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why birds fly south for the winter?

• Living things respond to their environment.

• Living things maintain internal balance.

• Living things are made up of units called cells.

• Living things are based on a universal genetic code.

The combination of chemical reactions through

which an organism builds up or breaks down

materials as it carries out its life processes is called ...

• absorption

• metabolism

• digestion

• consumption

A camel has eyelashes that work to keep the dust and sand out of its eyes. Which characteristic of life does this represent?

• All living things adapt to their environment

• All living things grow

• All living things have cells

• All living things use energy

The ability of a living thing to get bigger is known as _______________.

• Development
• Growth
• Adaptation
• Response

A/An ____________is the smallest unit of life.

• atom
• stimulus
• cell
• DNA

The ability of an organism to create offspring is ___________________________________.  

• reproduction
• evolution
• development
• growth

All living things are composed of cells. 

• True
• False

In order for something to be considered a living organism, it must display _____ of the eight characteristics of living things.

• one
• some
• all
• more than half

Living things are based on a universal genetic

code. What molecule is responsible for that code?

• RNA

• Lipid

• Protein

• DNA