Question

Which of the things in the following list are non-living?

Plough, Mushroom, Sewing Machine, Radio, Boat, Water Hyacinth, Earthworm

Answer 1

Living things:

1. These are the things, which prevail in life and are formed of microscopic compositions known as cells.
2. They possess the tendency to grow and exhibit locomotion or movement.
3. They experience anabolic and catabolic reactions, that is, metabolism.
4. These things possess the tendency to give rise to a new life through the process called reproduction.
5. Examples of living things are humans, insects, animals, birds, fungi, plants, etc.
6. Therefore, in the given question, water hyacinth, mushrooms, and earthworms are living things.
7. Water hyacinth is an aquatic plant, the mushroom is an edible fungus, and earthworms are creatures, which come under the animal kingdom, under the phylum Annelida.

Non-living things:

1. These things do not possess any life, that is, they are not alive.
2. They do not grow and they do not possess cells or show movement or locomotion.
3. They do not go through the process of metabolism, that is, anabolism or catabolism.
4. They do not reproduce.
5. Some examples of non-living things are pens, stones, books, etc.
6. Therefore, in the given question, the non-living things are sewing machines, ploughs, radios, and boats.