Key Concept: Living organisms show a common set of characteristics: nutrition, respiration, excretion, response, movement, control of internal conditions (homeostasis), reproduction, and growth and development.
Section A: Core Knowledge
1. List the eight characteristics of living organisms. [8]
2. Match each description to the correct characteristic. [8]
Characteristics: nutrition, respiration, excretion, response, movement, homeostasis, reproduction, growth and development
a) Removal of waste products such as carbon dioxide and urea
b) Increase in size or complexity over time
c) Keeping internal conditions stable (e.g., temperature, water balance)
d) Producing offspring
e) Releasing energy from food in cells
f) Detecting and reacting to changes in the environment
g) Taking in materials for energy or growth
h) Changing position or moving parts of the body
Section B: Examples
3. Give one example for each characteristic listed below. [8]
a) Nutrition (plant or animal)
b) Respiration
c) Excretion
d) Response
e) Movement
f) Homeostasis
g) Reproduction
h) Growth and development
Section C: Application
4. Identify the characteristic shown in each scenario. [6]
a) A runner breathes faster and breaks down glucose to release energy
b) A plant bends towards a light source
c) A fish removes excess water through its kidneys
d) A lizard lays eggs
e) A baby grows into an adult
f) A person sweats on a hot day
Total: [30 marks]
Mark Scheme
1. Nutrition, respiration, excretion, response, movement, homeostasis (control of internal conditions), reproduction, growth and development [8]
2. a) Excretion b) Growth and development c) Homeostasis d) Reproduction e) Respiration f) Response g) Nutrition h) Movement [8]
3. Accept any correct examples linked to each characteristic [8]
4. a) Respiration b) Response c) Excretion d) Reproduction e) Growth and development f) Homeostasis [6]