Questions on Characteristics of Life
20 multiple choice questions on the Characteristics of Life, designed for middle or high school students learning biology. The correct answers are listed at the end.
Multiple Choice Questions: Characteristics of Life
1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of life?
A) Reproduction
B) Growth and development
C) Movement only
D) Response to stimuli
2. All living things are made of:
A) Atoms
B) Organs
C) Cells
D) Tissues
3. Which characteristic of life involves creating offspring?
A) Metabolism
B) Evolution
C) Reproduction
D) Homeostasis
4. The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment is called:
A) Digestion
B) Homeostasis
C) Respiration
D) Excretion
5. Which of the following shows a response to a stimulus?
A) A rock rolling down a hill
B) A leaf bending toward sunlight
C) Water freezing
D) Metal rusting
6. Which is an example of growth in living things?
A) A puddle evaporating
B) A child gaining height over time
C) Ice melting
D) Sugar dissolving in water
7. The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism is known as:
A) Digestion
B) Metabolism
C) Circulation
D) Respiration
8. Which of the following organisms is unicellular?
A) Dog
B) Bacterium
C) Tree
D) Mushroom
9. Which characteristic of life ensures survival of a species?
A) Reproduction
B) Growth
C) Movement
D) Excretion
10. Organisms must obtain and use energy to:
A) Sleep
B) Perform basic life processes
C) Evaporate
D) Dissolve materials
11. Which of the following is an example of development?
A) A baby turning into an adult
B) A rock changing shape
C) A glass breaking
D) A balloon popping
12. Which level of organization is the most basic in living things?
A) Cell
B) Organ
C) Organ system
D) Tissue
13. Which characteristic of life is being demonstrated when your body temperature rises and you begin to sweat?
A) Metabolism
B) Reproduction
C) Homeostasis
D) Growth
14. What do all living things need to survive?
A) Metal
B) Plastic
C) Energy
D) Technology
15. What does it mean when we say all living things evolve?
A) They gain superpowers
B) They stay the same
C) They change over time as a species
D) They never reproduce
16. Which of the following is true about living organisms?
A) They are not made of cells
B) They do not require energy
C) They grow, reproduce, and respond to stimuli
D) They never die
17. Which of the following is a multicellular organism?
A) Amoeba
B) E. coli
C) Human
D) Bacterium
18. Which term describes an organism’s ability to react to its surroundings?
A) Movement
B) Response to stimuli
C) Growth
D) Development
19. Why is metabolism important for living things?
A) It provides structure
B) It breaks cells down
C) It provides the energy needed for life
D) It prevents reproduction
20. Living things can change during their lives. This is called:
A) Development
B) Reproduction
C) Homeostasis
D) Adaptation
Answer Key
1. C) Movement only
2. C) Cells
3. C) Reproduction
4. B) Homeostasis
5. B) A leaf bending toward sunlight
6. B) A child gaining height over time
7. B) Metabolism
8. B) Bacterium
9. A) Reproduction
10. B) Perform basic life processes
11. A) A baby turning into an adult
12. A) Cell
13. C) Homeostasis
14. C) Energy
15. C) They change over time as a species
16. C) They grow, reproduce, and respond to stimuli
17. C) Human
18. B) Response to stimuli
19. C) It provides the energy needed for life
20. A) Development
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