Characteristics of Living Things: What Makes Something Alive? - CBSE Class 10 Biology

- Dr. Sanjaykumar Pawar

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which of the following is the most important criterion to decide whether something is alive or not?

a) Ability to grow
b) Ability to reproduce
c) Movement
d) Presence of cells

Answer: c) Movement

2. Plants move towards light. This movement is called:

a) Geotropism
b) Hydrotropism
c) Phototropism
d) Thermotropism

Answer: c) Phototropism

3. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of living things?

a) Reproduction
b) Growth
c) Lack of response to stimuli
d) Respiration

Answer: c) Lack of response to stimuli

4. Which of the following shows movement by bending towards the light?

a) Human beings
b) Animals
c) Sunflower
d) Bacteria

Answer: c) Sunflower

Very Short Answer Questions (VSAQs)

1. What is meant by "living things"?

Answer: Living things are organisms that have life, such as plants, animals, and humans. They can grow, move, reproduce, and respond to stimuli.

2. What is the significance of movement in living organisms?

Answer: Movement is one of the key signs of life. It indicates that an organism is alive and can respond to its environment.

3. Give an example of a plant that shows movement.

Answer: A sunflower bends towards the sunlight, showing movement in response to light (phototropism).

4. Name a plant that moves when touched.

Answer: The Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant) folds its leaves when touched.

Short Answer Questions (SAQs)

Type I (Answer in 1-2 sentences)

1. What is respiration?

Answer: Respiration is the process by which living organisms release energy from food, usually by using oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.

2. What do you mean by excretion in living organisms?

Answer: Excretion is the process of getting rid of waste materials produced during metabolic activities in the body.

3. Why do plants bend towards light?

Answer: Plants bend towards light in a process called phototropism to maximize sunlight absorption for photosynthesis.

4. How do animals differ from plants in terms of movement?

Answer: Animals can move from one place to another or move their body parts, while plants show slower, subtle movements such as bending towards light or growing roots.

Type II (Answer in 3-4 sentences)

1. How do we know that a frog is alive?

Answer: A frog is alive because it shows movement, such as jumping into water or moving its limbs. Additionally, it needs food, water, and air to survive, and it grows throughout its life. These characteristics of movement, growth, and survival are clear signs that the frog is alive.

2. Explain why viruses are considered controversial when it comes to being alive.

Answer: Viruses are considered controversial because they don’t show typical signs of life on their own. They do not move or carry out respiration, excretion, or growth. They only show signs of life when they infect a host cell and use the cell’s machinery to reproduce. This has led to debates about whether viruses are truly living or not.

3. How do plants and animals differ in terms of movement?

Answer: Animals can move freely from one place to another and can move their body parts like legs, wings, or fins. In contrast, plants are fixed in the soil and cannot move from place to place, but they show movement in response to environmental stimuli, such as bending towards light (phototropism) or growing roots towards water (hydrotropism).

Long Answer Questions

1. Describe the various characteristics that define living organisms.

Answer: Living organisms share several key characteristics that set them apart from non-living things:

  • Movement: Living organisms can move, either by changing their location or by moving parts of their bodies. For example, animals can run, fly, or swim, while plants move parts of their bodies, like leaves and flowers, in response to light or gravity.

  • Growth: All living things grow. Animals grow larger, and plants grow in height or produce more leaves and flowers over time.

  • Sensitivity to Stimuli: Living organisms can respond to changes in their surroundings. For instance, animals react to stimuli like light, sound, or touch, while plants respond to light and gravity.

  • Respiration: Living organisms breathe or respire to release energy from food. Animals take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide, while plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

  • Excretion: Living organisms get rid of waste produced during metabolism. For example, animals excrete urine and feces, while plants release excess water and oxygen.

  • Reproduction: Living organisms reproduce to create offspring, either sexually or asexually, ensuring the continuation of the species.

These characteristics are essential for the survival and functioning of living things, distinguishing them from non-living things like rocks or water.

2. Explain the difference between living and non-living things with examples.

Answer: The primary difference between living and non-living things lies in their ability to perform certain life processes:

  • Movement: Living things move on their own. Animals can run, fly, or swim, while plants may bend towards light or grow towards water. Non-living things, such as stones or chairs, cannot move on their own and require external force.

  • Growth: Living things grow by increasing in size or developing new parts. For example, a plant grows in height, and a human grows from a baby to an adult. Non-living things do not grow on their own; they may change in size or shape due to external factors (e.g., erosion or weathering).

  • Reproduction: Living things reproduce to create offspring. Humans give birth to babies, animals give birth to young ones, and plants reproduce through seeds. Non-living things do not reproduce.

  • Respiration and Sensitivity: Living things breathe and respond to stimuli from their environment. For example, animals breathe oxygen and plants respond to light. Non-living things do not have respiration or sensitivity.

In conclusion, living things exhibit various characteristics that enable them to function and sustain life, while non-living things lack these capabilities.


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