Exam General Study

Q 1. Which of the following is not a defining characteristic of living organisms? (a) Growth (b) Ability to make sound (c) Reproduction (d) Response to external stimuli

Ans. Here's the breakdown of why the correct answer is (b) Ability to make sound:

Growth: Living things increase in size and complexity over time.

Reproduction: Living things produce offspring to continue their species.

Response to external stimuli: Living things react to changes in their environment in order to survive.

Sound production, while common in many animal species, isn't essential for the fundamental processes that define life.  Many organisms, such as plants, bacteria, and fungi, are living but don't make sounds as we typically understand them.