Question

Living organisms can be unexceptionally distinguished from non-living things on the basis of their ability for:

• A. Growth and movement
• B. Responsiveness to touch
• C. Interaction with the environment and progressive evolution
• D. Reproduction

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Explanation of the correct answer:

1. The living beings continuously interact with the environment.
2. Living beings also show continuous progressive evolution to become more advanced.
3. Example, in the continuous exposure to the antibiotics, bacteria develop antibiotic resistance and become more evolved.
4. Non living things do not interact with the environment and they do not evolve.

Explanation of the incorrect answers:

Option A:

1. Growth and movement are not exclusive properties of the living beings only.
2. Even non-living things like sand dunes and mountains show growth, i.e. increase in size due to deposition of sand or ice.
3. Car is a non-living but shows movement.

Option B:

1. Responsiveness to touch can also be not considered exclusive property of all living organisms.
2. The patient in coma do not react to the touch.

Option D:

1. Reproduction is also not exclusive property of all living organisms.
2. Because intergenic hybrids like mule, male drone honeybees, infertile couple, etc can not reproduce.

Final answer: The living organisms can be unexceptionally distinguished from non-living things on the basis of their ability for interaction with the environment and progressive evolution.