Part 1 – Characteristics of Living Organisms (25 MCQs)

Q1. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of living organisms?

A. Growth
B. Metabolism
C. Consciousness
D. Crystallization

Answer: D. Crystallization

• A. Growth → Incorrect: Growth is a fundamental feature of living organisms (increase in mass and number of cells).
• B. Metabolism → Incorrect: All living organisms perform metabolic reactions (anabolism + catabolism).
• C. Consciousness → Incorrect: Living beings respond to stimuli due to consciousness.
• D. Crystallization → Correct: Crystals may grow in size but are non-living; their growth is not a living characteristic.

Q2. Which feature is considered the most distinctive property of living organisms?

A. Growth
B. Metabolism
C. Reproduction
D. Consciousness

Answer: D. Consciousness

• A. Growth → Incorrect: Growth also occurs in non-living objects like crystals.
• B. Metabolism → Incorrect: Some non-living systems in labs can show enzymatic reactions.
• C. Reproduction → Incorrect: Some organisms (mules, sterile hybrids) cannot reproduce but are still living.
• D. Consciousness → Correct: Only living organisms respond to stimuli—this is the defining property.

Q3. Which among the following organisms does NOT reproduce?

A. Amoeba
B. Mule
C. Hydra
D. Bacteria

Answer: B. Mule

• A. Amoeba → Incorrect: Reproduces by binary fission.
• B. Mule → Correct: A mule is sterile; cannot reproduce sexually or asexually.
• C. Hydra → Incorrect: Reproduces by budding.
• D. Bacteria → Incorrect: Reproduce rapidly by binary fission.

Q4. The term “metabolism” refers to:

A. The process of respiration only
B. All biochemical reactions occurring inside a living organism
C. Only anabolic reactions
D. Only catabolic reactions

Answer: B. All biochemical reactions occurring inside a living organism

• A. Respiration only → Incorrect: Respiration is just one catabolic process.
• B. All biochemical reactions → Correct: Metabolism = Anabolism (building up) + Catabolism (breaking down).
• C. Anabolic reactions → Incorrect: Only partial aspect of metabolism.
• D. Catabolic reactions → Incorrect: Only breakdown, not the complete picture.

Q5. Which statement about growth in living organisms is correct?

A. Growth occurs only in multicellular organisms.
B. Growth in living organisms occurs from inside.
C. Non-living things never grow.
D. Growth and reproduction always occur together.

Answer: B. Growth in living organisms occurs from inside.

• A. Only multicellular → Incorrect: Unicellular organisms also grow before cell division.
• B. From inside → Correct: Living growth is due to cell division and differentiation.
• C. Non-living never grow → Incorrect: Crystals can grow externally.
• D. Always together → Incorrect: Mules grow but do not reproduce.

Q6. Which of the following is an example of a living being showing consciousness?

A. A sunflower turning towards sunlight
B. Growth of crystals in a saturated solution
C. Rust formation on iron
D. Expansion of water on freezing

Answer: A. A sunflower turning towards sunlight

• A. Sunflower movement → Correct: Response to light stimulus = consciousness.
• B. Crystals → Incorrect: Non-living process.
• C. Rust → Incorrect: Purely chemical process.
• D. Expansion → Incorrect: Physical property of water, not consciousness.

Q7. Which of the following is true about reproduction?

A. It is an essential defining feature of all living organisms.
B. All living organisms reproduce only sexually.
C. Reproduction can be both sexual and asexual.
D. Reproduction is absent in all unicellular organisms.

Answer: C. Reproduction can be both sexual and asexual.

• A. Defining feature → Incorrect: Mules, sterile organisms don’t reproduce but are still living.
• B. Only sexual → Incorrect: Bacteria, amoeba, yeast reproduce asexually.
• C. Both types → Correct: Many organisms reproduce by both methods (plants, algae, fungi).
• D. Absent in unicellular → Incorrect: Amoeba, Paramecium reproduce asexually.

Q8. Which characteristic differentiates living from non-living most reliably?

A. Metabolism
B. Growth
C. Movement
D. Size increase

Answer: A. Metabolism

• A. Metabolism → Correct: Exclusive to living organisms; non-living cannot metabolize.
• B. Growth → Incorrect: Also occurs in crystals.
• C. Movement → Incorrect: Can be seen in machines as well.
• D. Size increase → Incorrect: Non-living matter can increase in size externally.

Q9. Cellular organization is found in:

A. Only multicellular organisms
B. All living organisms
C. Only animals
D. Only plants

Answer: B. All living organisms

• A. Only multicellular → Incorrect: Even unicellular organisms have cellular organization.
• B. All living → Correct: Cells are the basic unit of life.
• C. Only animals → Incorrect: Plants, fungi, protists also made of cells.
• D. Only plants → Incorrect: Not exclusive to plants.

Q10. Viruses are considered living when:

A. They show cellular structure
B. They reproduce outside a host
C. They metabolize on their own
D. They replicate inside host cells

Answer: D. They replicate inside host cells

• A. Cellular structure → Incorrect: Viruses are acellular.
• B. Reproduce outside host → Incorrect: Inert outside host.
• C. Metabolize on their own → Incorrect: No independent metabolism.
• D. Replicate inside host → Correct: Considered living only inside a host.

Q11. Which of the following statements about reproduction is false?

A. It is a biological process producing progeny.
B. All living organisms reproduce.
C. Reproduction may be sexual or asexual.
D. It ensures continuity of species.

Answer: B. All living organisms reproduce.

• A. Biological process → Correct.
• B. All reproduce → Incorrect: Mules, sterile worker bees, infertile humans don’t reproduce.
• C. Sexual or asexual → Correct.
• D. Continuity of species → Correct.

Q12. Which property distinguishes living organisms from non-living things most effectively?

A. Growth
B. Reproduction
C. Metabolism
D. Consciousness

Answer: D. Consciousness

• A. Growth → Incorrect: Also in crystals.
• B. Reproduction → Incorrect: Some living beings don’t reproduce.
• C. Metabolism → Incorrect: Biochemical reactions can occur in isolated conditions.
• D. Consciousness → Correct: Response to stimuli is exclusive to life.

Q13. Which statement is true regarding metabolism?

A. It occurs in both living and non-living systems.
B. It is the sum of all anabolic and catabolic reactions.
C. It is a property of molecules.
D. It is absent in viruses even inside host.

Answer: B. It is the sum of all anabolic and catabolic reactions.

• A. Both living and non-living → Incorrect: Only in living systems.
• **B. Sum total → Correct definition of metabolism.
• C. Property of molecules → Incorrect: Property of living organisms, not molecules.
• D. Absent in viruses → Incorrect: Inside host, viruses can utilize host metabolism.

Q14. Which of the following is an example of anabolic metabolism?

A. Respiration
B. Digestion
C. Photosynthesis
D. Fermentation

Answer: C. Photosynthesis

• A. Respiration → Incorrect: Catabolic (breaking down glucose).
• B. Digestion → Incorrect: Catabolic (breaking down food).
• C. Photosynthesis → Correct: Builds glucose molecules from CO₂ and H₂O.
• D. Fermentation → Incorrect: Catabolic.

Q15. Which of the following is NOT considered a defining property of life?

A. Metabolism
B. Growth
C. Cellular organization
D. Reproduction

Answer: B. Growth

• A. Metabolism → Correct: Defining property.
• B. Growth → Correct answer: Non-living things (crystals) can also grow.
• C. Cellular organization → Correct: Defining property.
• D. Reproduction → Correct: Important, though not universal.

Q16. Which of the following shows extrinsic growth?

A. Banyan tree
B. Crystals
C. Human embryo
D. Hydra

Answer: B. Crystals

• A. Banyan tree → Incorrect: Grows due to cell division (intrinsic).
• B. Crystals → Correct: Increase in size by external deposition.
• C. Human embryo → Incorrect: Intrinsic cell division.
• D. Hydra → Incorrect: Growth by budding = intrinsic.

Q17. Which of the following is true for non-living things?

A. Consciousness
B. Intrinsic growth
C. Extrinsic growth
D. Reproduction

Answer: C. Extrinsic growth

• A. Consciousness → Incorrect: Absent in non-living.
• B. Intrinsic growth → Incorrect: Seen in living.
• C. Extrinsic growth → Correct: Crystals, mountains grow externally.
• D. Reproduction → Incorrect: Non-living cannot reproduce.

Q18. Which property of living organisms ensures survival of species?

A. Growth
B. Reproduction
C. Metabolism
D. Consciousness

Answer: B. Reproduction

• A. Growth → Incorrect: Individual growth doesn’t ensure species survival.
• B. Reproduction → Correct: Produces new progeny ensuring continuity.
• C. Metabolism → Incorrect: Maintains individual, not species.
• D. Consciousness → Incorrect: Helps survival but not continuity.

Q19. Which one is true about mule?

A. Shows metabolism and growth but no reproduction.
B. Shows growth and reproduction but no metabolism.
C. Shows reproduction but no metabolism.
D. Shows only consciousness.

Answer: A. Shows metabolism and growth but no reproduction.

• A. Correct: Mule is sterile but metabolically active.
• **B. Growth + reproduction but no metabolism → Incorrect.
• **C. Reproduction but no metabolism → Incorrect.
• **D. Only consciousness → Incorrect, mule shows all features except reproduction.

Q20. Which of the following is NOT an example of response to stimuli?

A. Withdrawal of hand on touching hot object
B. Leaves of Mimosa pudica folding on touch
C. Sunflower facing the sun
D. Rusting of iron

Answer: D. Rusting of iron

• **A. Hand withdrawal → Correct, reflex action.
• **B. Mimosa movement → Correct.
• **C. Sunflower movement → Correct.
• **D. Rusting → Correct answer, chemical process, not consciousness.

Q21. Which is NOT a living property of viruses?

A. Genetic material (DNA/RNA)
B. Replication inside host
C. Ability to metabolize independently
D. Ability to infect host

Answer: C. Ability to metabolize independently

• **A. Genetic material → Correct, viruses have nucleic acid.
• **B. Replicate inside host → Correct, living trait.
• **C. Metabolize independently → Correct answer, absent in viruses.
• **D. Infect host → Correct, viruses infect organisms.

Q22. Which is common in all living organisms?

A. Cellular organization
B. Presence of consciousness
C. Sexual reproduction
D. Locomotion

Answer: A. Cellular organization

• A. Correct: Fundamental feature, all organisms have cells.
• B. Consciousness → Incorrect: Not evident in all (plants).
• C. Sexual reproduction → Incorrect: Many reproduce asexually.
• D. Locomotion → Incorrect: Plants do not show locomotion.

Q23. Match the following correctly:

1. Anabolism – a. Breakdown of glucose
2. Catabolism – b. Photosynthesis
3. Consciousness – c. Response to stimuli

A. 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
B. 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
C. 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
D. 1-b, 2-c, 3-a

Answer: B. 1-b, 2-a, 3-c

• 1. Anabolism = Photosynthesis → Correct.
• 2. Catabolism = Breakdown of glucose → Correct.
• 3. Consciousness = Response to stimuli → Correct.

Q24. Which of the following statements about growth is false?

A. Plants show indefinite growth.
B. Animals have definite growth.
C. Growth in living beings is intrinsic.
D. All living beings show growth throughout life.

Answer: D. All living beings show growth throughout life.

• A. Plants indefinite → Correct.
• B. Animals definite → Correct.
• C. Intrinsic → Correct.
• **D. All throughout life → Incorrect, animals stop growing after certain age.

Q25. The most appropriate defining feature of life is:

A. Growth and reproduction
B. Metabolism and reproduction
C. Consciousness and metabolism
D. Metabolism, consciousness, and cellular organization

Answer: D. Metabolism, consciousness, and cellular organization

• A. Growth & reproduction → Incorrect, not universal.
• B. Metabolism & reproduction → Incorrect, reproduction not in all.
• C. Consciousness & metabolism → Incomplete.
• D. Correct → These three together define life comprehensively.

✅ Part 1 Completed – 25 MCQs
These questions cover fundamental concepts of characteristics of living organisms—perfect for CBSE Class 11 Boards and NEET UG revision.

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