Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Characteristics of Living things

Total questions: 90

Worksheet time: 1hrs 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
All living organisms are made up of ____.
a)
Cells
b)
Bacteria
c)
Organs
d)
Tissue
2.

Which of the following is a term used to describe all the chemical reactions that take place in a living thing?

a)
respiration
b)
mutations
c)
homeostasis
d)
metabolism
3.

A plant growing towards a light source is an example of which of the following?

a)

attracting a mate

b)

destroying infectious germs

c)

responding to a stimuli

d)

obtaining moisture from the air

4.

Infants will often smile when they hear a parent’s voice. In this situation, the parent’s voice is considered

a)

stimulus

b)

response

c)

adaptation

d)

resource

5.

Identify all of the following that are living.

a)

Volcano

b)

Tree

c)

Sun

d)

Fungus

6.

Identify all of the following that are nonliving.

a)

Rock

b)

Oxygen

c)

Bacteria

d)

Battery

7.
The basic unit of life is called a (n)
a)
atom
b)
compound
c)
cell
d)
energy
8.
Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why your legs and arms get longer and stronger as you get older? 
a)
living things respond to their environment
b)
living things maintain internal balance
c)
living things are made of cells
d)
living things grow and develop
9.
In all of our cells there is DNA. Which characteristic of life does this fact best describe?
a)
living things respond
b)
living things maintain internal balance
c)
living things are based on a universal genetic code
d)
living things grow and develop
10.
When you step out into the cold, your body shivers in order to keep its temperature at 98.6F.
a)
All living things use energy
b)
All living things contain cells
c)
All living things maintain homeostasis
d)
All living things grow
11.
A camel has eyelashes that work to keep the dust and sand out of its eyes.
a)
All living things adapt to their environment
b)
All living things grow
c)
All living things have cells
d)
All living things use energy
12.
YOU are a multi-celled organism but an amoeba is a single celled organism.
a)
All living things have cells
b)
All living things grow
c)
All living things use energy
d)
All living things respond to their environment
13.

Which of the following is an example of homeostasis?

a)

adapting to your environment

b)

maintaining an appropriate respiration rate

c)

the sum of all of your chemical reactions

d)

being composed of more than one cell

14.

Which characteristic of living things is represented in the picture?

a)

Share similar chemicals

b)

Grows and develops

c)

Responds to stimuli

d)

Evolves (as a population)

15.

Which characteristic of living things is represented in the picture?

a)

Respond to stimuli

b)

Grow and develop

c)

Evolution

d)

Made of cells

16.
Which one of the following is a characteristic of life?
a)
Growth
b)
Breathing
c)
Expelling toxins
d)
Photosynthesis
17.
The basic unit of life is called a (n)
a)
atom
b)
compound
c)
cell
d)
energy
18.
In order to be considered living an organism must have
a)
blood
b)
cells
c)
brains
d)
hair
19.
A worm turns away from light is an example of a worm
a)
reproducing
b)
doing cellular respiration
c)
having cells
d)
responding to its environment
20.
Which of the following characteristics of living things best explain a cat having a litter of kittens?
a)
living things respond to their environment
b)
living things maintain homeostasis
c)
living things reproduce
d)
living things are based on a genetic code
21.
Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why humans sweat when they get hot?
a)
maintaining a stable internal enviornment
b)
growth and development
c)
using energy
d)
ability to reproduce
22.
Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why your legs and arms get longer and stronger as you get older? 
a)
living things respond to their environment
b)
living things maintain internal balance
c)
living things are made of cells
d)
living things grow and develop
23.
Before a soccer game Charlie always eats a big dinner. Which characteristic of life does this face best describe? 
a)
living things use energy
b)
living things reproduce
c)
living things grow and develop
d)
living things are based on a universal genetic code
24.
All living organisms are made up of ____.
a)
Cells
b)
Bacteria
c)
Organs
d)
Tissue
25.
In the word BIOLOGY, the prefix BIO means
a)
the study of...
b)
life, living
c)
organism
d)
biology
26.
All living organisms are made up of ____.
a)
Cells
b)
Bacteria
c)
Organs
d)
Tissue
27.
Rocks, water, air, sun, and soil are...
a)
living
b)
nonliving
28.
An example of a unicellular organism includes
a)
Humans
b)
Lobsters
c)
Eagles
d)
Bacteria
29.
Any living thing is called an
a)
organ
b)
organization
c)
organism
30.

Which characteristic is shown in the image?

a)

Organisms grow and develop

b)

Organisms react to stimuli

c)

Organisms can adapt

d)

Organisms use and obtain energy

e)

Organisms are made up of cells

31.

Which characteristic is shown in the image?

a)

Organisms reproduce

b)

Organisms react to stimuli

c)

Organisms can adapt

d)

Organisms use and obtain energy

e)

Organisms are made up of cells

32.
A worm turns away from light is an example of a worm
a)
reproducing
b)
doing cellular respiration
c)
having cells
d)
responding to its environment
33.
Which of the following characteristics of living things best explain a cat having a litter of kittens?
a)
living things respond to their environment
b)
living things maintain homeostasis
c)
living things reproduce
d)
living things are based on a genetic code
34.
Which of the following use energy, grow, reproduce, and respond to their environment?
a)
All living things
b)
only animals
c)
only plants
d)
all nonliving things
35.
Any change in an organism's environment
a)
Response
b)
Offspring
c)
Autotroph
d)
Stimulus
36.
A process where an organism becomes more complex
a)
Growth
b)
Development
c)
Stimulus
d)
Response
37.

A process where an organism becomes larger (bigger in size)

a)

Growth

b)

Development

c)

Stimulus

d)

Response

38.

Read the following statement and choose which characteristic of living things it describes. A bear hibernates when it's cold.

a)

Obtain and Use Resources

b)

Respond to a Stimulus

c)

Grow and Develop

d)

Reproduce

39.

Read the following statement and choose which characteristic of living things it describes. A caterpillar eats the leaves of a plant.

a)

Obtain and use energy

b)

Respond to a Stimulus

c)

Grow and Develop

d)

Reproduce

40.
All organisms have this in common.
a)
They are made of cells
b)
They need light 
c)
They cannot live in water
d)
They are nonliving
41.
All cells come from___________ cells.
a)
pregnant
b)
pre-existing
c)
paternal
d)
pin size
42.
______________ are the basic unit of life.
a)
DNA
b)
RNA
c)
Cells
d)
Takis
43.
Which of the following is NOT one of the basic points of Cell Theory?
a)
All living things are made of cells.
b)
The cell is the smallest living thing that can perform all the functions of life.
c)
Cells are too small to see without a microscope.  
d)
All cells must come from pre-existing cells.
44.
Who looked at cork and named the cell?
a)
Robert Hooke
b)
Van Leeuwenhoek
c)
Robert Brown
d)
Francesco Redi
45.

Which statement is a part of the cell theory?

a)

eukaryotic cells are complex

b)

all cells come from preexisting cells

c)

bacteria are prokaryotic cells

d)

humans are multicellular

46.

Rocks are not living because

a)

they never move

b)

they aren't needed for humans

c)

they are not made of cells

d)

they don't break down

47.

What do living things use energy for?

a)

To do things like grow, heal and digest.

b)

To find friends

c)

To succeed in school

d)

To reach their goal

48.

What is an organism whose entire body is only 1 cell known as?

a)

Multicellular

b)

Unicellular

49.
What is the scientific term for maintaining a constant internal environment?
a)
biological balance
b)
homeostasis
c)
internal regulation
d)
xenobiographic balance
50.
A worm turns away from light is an example of a worm
a)
reproducing
b)
doing cellular respiration
c)
having cells
d)
responding to its environment
51.
Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why humans sweat when they get hot?
a)
maintaining a stable internal enviornment
b)
growth and development
c)
using energy
d)
ability to reproduce
52.

Which of the following is a term used to describe all the chemical reactions that take place in a living thing?

a)
respiration
b)
mutations
c)
homeostasis
d)
metabolism
53.

A plant growing towards a light source is an example of which of the following?

a)

attracting a mate

b)

destroying infectious germs

c)

responding to a stimuli

d)

obtaining moisture from the air

54.
The basic unit of life is called a (n)
a)
atom
b)
compound
c)
cell
d)
energy
55.
Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why your legs and arms get longer and stronger as you get older? 
a)
living things respond to their environment
b)
living things maintain internal balance
c)
living things are made of cells
d)
living things grow and develop
56.

this organelle makes ATP.

a)

chloroplast

b)

mitochondria

c)

ribosome

d)

nucleolus

57.
In all of our cells there is DNA. Which characteristic of life does this fact best describe?
a)
living things respond
b)
living things maintain internal balance
c)
living things are based on a universal genetic code
d)
living things grow and develop
58.
When you step out into the cold, your body shivers in order to keep its temperature at 98.6F.
a)
All living things use energy
b)
All living things contain cells
c)
All living things maintain homeostasis
d)
All living things grow
59.
All living organisms are made up of ____.
a)
Cells
b)
Bacteria
c)
Organs
d)
Tissue
60.

Which of the following is an example of homeostasis?

a)

adapting to your environment

b)

maintaining an appropriate respiration rate

c)

the sum of all of your chemical reactions

d)

being composed of more than one cell

61.
Which organelle is a gelatin substance that helps fill out the cell
a)
Chloroplast
b)
Lysosomes
c)
Mitochondria
d)
Cytoplasm
62.
Which organelle releases the energy stored inside food
a)
Chloroplast
b)
Mitochondria
c)
Lysosomes
d)
Nucleus
63.

What is the correct hierarchy of cells?

a)

tissues-cells-organ systems-organs-organisms

b)

cell-organisms-tissues-organs-organ systems

c)

cells-tissues-organs-organ systems-organisms

d)

organs-tissues-cells-organ systems-organisms

64.
Select the statement that best describes the function of the cell wall.
a)
It gives structural support to plant cells.
b)
Its jelly-like fluid surrounds the nucleus and most of the cell’s internal parts.
c)
It contains the cell’s nuclear material. 
d)
It produces food from sunlight. 
65.
What is the name and function of the organelle displayed above?
a)
Mitochondria: breakdown glucose and produce ATP
b)
Chloroplast: converts solar energy into chemical energy
c)
Vacuole: Stores H2O, salt, food
d)
Nucleus: stores genetic information
66.
What is the definition of  Selective Permeability?
a)
The movement of materials across the cell membrane that requires NO ENERGY from the cell.
b)
The movement of materials through (or across) the cell membrane
c)
The ability of the cell membrane to allow some things to pass through while preventing other things from passing through.
d)
The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to a area of low concentration 
67.

Infants will often smile when they hear a parent’s voice. In this situation, the parent’s voice is considered

a)

stimulus

b)

response

c)

adaptation

d)

resource

68.

Stores food and water like a refrigerator for the cell

a)

Chloroplast

b)

Vacuole

c)

Lysosome

d)

Cytoplasm

69.
Diffusion and Osmosis are examples of...
a)
Active Transport
b)
Passive Transport
70.

What is the function of the mitochondria?

a)

Structure that manufactures ribosomes

b)

Structures that converts nutrients to energy

c)

Stack of membranes that packages chemicals

d)

Structure that contains DNA and directs the cell

71.
The two kinds of cells are Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. How are they different?
a)
Prokaryotes have a nucleus.
b)
Eukaryotes have a nucleus.
c)
Prokaryotes are plant cells.
d)
There is no difference.
72.
What can only be found in plant cells?
a)
Cell membrane
b)
Vacuole
c)
Chloroplast
d)
Mitochondrion
73.
Which part of the cell is often called "the brain of the cell"?
a)
nuclear membrane
b)
endoplasmic reticulum
c)
nucleus
d)
mitochondria
74.

This holds water, food, or waste.

a)

lysosome

b)

vacuole

c)

cell wall

d)

cell membrane

75.

Organelles are suspended in this.

a)

nucleus

b)

cytoplasm

c)

golgi body

d)

ribosome

76.

The cell membrane is located...

a)

underneath the cell wall of a plant cell.

b)

outside of the cell wall of a plant cell.

77.

This is responsible for removing waste and dead parts from the cell.

a)

mitochondria

b)

lysosome

c)

vacuole

d)

cell wall

78.
During osmosis
a)
water moves from high to low concentration
b)
large or oddly shaped molecules move across a cell membrane
c)
water moves when energy is used
d)
proteins are built
79.
In the given scenario what will happen?  An egg is placed in pure water for 48 hours.
a)
The egg will gain water and swell.
b)
Water will move in and out of the cell equally, and the cell with neither shrink nor swell.
c)
The egg will lose water and shrink.
80.
Ideally, your cells should be in a(n) _______ solution
a)
Hypertonic
b)
Hypotonic
c)
Isotonic
d)
Cola
81.
The picture below is an example of _________________.
a)
osmosis
b)
isotonic
c)
diffusion
d)
active transport
82.
_______ regulates what enters and leaves a cell.  
a)
Cell Membrane
b)
Nucleus
c)
Mitochondria
d)
Cytoplasm
83.
Osmosis
a)
diffusion of water molecules through a semi-permeable mebrane from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration
b)
the diffusion of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
c)
diffusion of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
d)
the diffusion of particles from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration
84.
Which cell is placed into a hypotonic environment? 
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
85.
What is diffusion?
a)
when molecules move 
b)
when molecules move from a high concentration to a low.
c)
no movement 
d)
molecules move everywhere
86.
Which diagram best shows the end result of diffusion?
a)
F
b)
G
c)
H
d)
J
87.
 An animal cell placed in a hypertonic (salty) solution will
a)
Stay the same
b)
Shrink- get smaller
c)
Swell- get bigger
88.
What is the diffusion of water only across a cell or semi-permeable membrane?
a)
Osmosis
b)
Diffusion
c)
Active Transport
d)
Passive Transport
89.
A student noticed that placing wilted lettuce in a bowl of cool water caused the lettuce to become more crisp and firm. What is the best explanation for his observation?
a)
Water moved into the lettuce cells by active transport.
b)
Water moved into the lettuce cells by osmosis.
c)
Salt moved into the lettuce cells by diffusion.
d)
Water moved out of the lettuce cells by osmosis.
90.
 If the volume of a cell increases when it is placed in a solution, that solution is said to be __________ to the cell
a)
 hypertonic
b)
subatomic
c)
 isotonic
d)
 hypotonic