Basic Characteristics of Living Things
Explore the 7 characteristics of living things—growth, reproduction, energy use, and more. Easy science guide designed for primary and middle school learners.

Set 1.1 Basic Characteristics of Living Things

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1. Which of the following is a living thing?

a) Sun

b) River

c) Mushroom

d) Rock

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2. What is the main process plants use to make their own food?

a) Respiration

b) Digestion

c) Photosynthesis

d) Excretion

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3. All living things are made of tiny units called:

a) Atoms

b) Tissues

c) Organs

d) Cells

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4. When a seed grows into a big tree, what life process is this?

a) Reproduction

b) Growth

c) Movement

d) Sensitivity

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5. Getting rid of waste from the body is called:

a) Digestion

b) Excretion

c) Respiration

d) Reproduction

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6. A plant bending its stem towards sunlight is an example of:

a) Reproduction

b) Growth

c) Response

d) Excretion

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7. What do animals do to get energy from food?

a) Photosynthesis

b) Respiration

c) Excretion

d) Digestion

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8. Which of these is NOT a characteristic of all living things?

a) They can breathe.

b) They can make their own food.

c) They can grow.

d) They can reproduce.

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9. The process of breaking down food into smaller parts is called:

a) Respiration

b) Digestion

c) Circulation

d) Excretion

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10. Which life process ensures there are more of the same kind of organism?

a) Growth

b) Nutrition

c) Reproduction

d) Movement

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Basic Characteristics of Living Things – Easy Science for Students

Living things are all around us—plants, animals, and even tiny organisms we cannot see. All living things share some basic characteristics. These help us know what is living and what is non-living.

🌱 1. Living Things Grow

All living things get bigger as they grow.
Examples: A seed grows into a plant. A baby grows into an adult.

🍎 2. Living Things Need Food and Energy

Living things need energy to move, grow, and stay alive.

• Plants make their own food from sunlight.
• Animals eat plants or other animals.

💨 3. Living Things Breathe

All living things take in gases from the air.

• Humans and animals breathe oxygen.
• Plants take in carbon dioxide.

👶 4. Living Things Reproduce

Living things can make more of their own kind.

• Animals have babies.
• Plants make seeds.

🧠 5. Living Things Respond to Their Environment

Living things react to what happens around them.
Examples:

• Humans move away from danger.
• Plants grow toward the sunlight.

🧽 6. Living Things Get Rid of Waste

Living things remove waste from their bodies to stay healthy.

🔁 7. Living Things Change and Move

Animals move from place to place.
Plants cannot move, but they can change direction to get more sunlight.

Examples

Living: humans, dogs, fish, trees, flowers
Non-Living: rocks, water, toys, tables

⭐ Why It Matters

Knowing these characteristics helps us understand what makes something alive and how living things survive.

Author: nopquiz