10 Questions
What is the author's main point in the passage?
Determining whether something is alive is not straightforward.
Why do some people think plants are alive?
Because they grow over time.
What is the controversy surrounding viruses' status as living organisms?
They do not show any molecular movement until they infect some cell.
Why is using visible movement as the defining characteristic of life considered inadequate?
Some animals can breathe without visible movement.
What do many people tend to think of as evidence for being alive?
Visible movement
What is the primary reason for molecular movements in living organisms?
To maintain the structure of living organisms
Why are maintenance processes required to continue even when the organisms are not actively doing anything?
To ensure the organism remains alive
What is the function of nutrition in living organisms?
To supply energy for cellular activities
Why do many organisms use oxygen in the process of break-down of food sources?
To facilitate oxidizing-reducing reactions
What is the purpose of respiration in living organisms?
To acquire oxygen for break-down of food sources
Study Notes
- Living beings can be identified by their movement, growth, or breath, but these are not definitive characteristics of life.
- Molecular movements are necessary for life, as all living structures are made up of molecules and need constant maintenance to prevent breakdown.
- Maintenance processes in living organisms include nutrition, growth, and metabolism.
- Nutrition is the process of obtaining energy from external sources, which is then converted to a uniform source of energy for cellular use.
- Respiration is the process of acquiring oxygen from the external environment and using it in the breakdown of food sources for cellular needs.
- Single-celled organisms do not have specific organs for respiration, and they rely on diffusion to acquire oxygen.
- Living organisms need energy to maintain their structures and undergo growth, and this energy comes from external sources.
- Organisms use various nutritional processes depending on the complexity of their food sources.
- Oxygen is a common source of energy for many organisms, and respiration is the process of using oxygen in the breakdown of food sources.
Explore the fundamental characteristics and processes of living organisms, including molecular movements, nutrition, respiration, growth, and metabolism. Learn about the importance of energy acquisition and maintenance processes in living structures.
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