1. 1
   A biologist finds an unusual jelly-like organism washed up on a beach. She decides to test it against the characteristics of living organisms before classifying it as living or non-living.

   (a)

   Which characteristic is defined as detecting and responding to changes in the surroundings?

   [1 mark]

   • ASensitivity
   • BExcretion
   • CNutrition
   • DGrowth

   (b)

   Which characteristic of living organisms is defined as a permanent increase in size and dry mass?

   [1 mark]

   • AReproduction
   • BGrowth
   • CMovement
   • DRespiration

   (c)

   The biologist observes that the jelly-like organism appears to release energy from chemical reactions inside its cells. Describe what is meant by respiration as a characteristic of living organisms, and state why every living cell must carry out respiration.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   A teacher shows students a video of a Venus flytrap: an insect lands on the trap, the trap snaps shut within a second, and the plant later absorbs nutrients from the digested insect.

   (a)

   Which characteristic of living organisms is demonstrated by the trap snapping shut in response to the insect landing on it?

   [1 mark]

   • AClassification
   • BExcretion
   • CReproduction
   • DSensitivity

   (b)

   Which characteristic of living organisms is demonstrated by the Venus flytrap absorbing nutrients from the digested insect?

   [1 mark]

   • AMovement
   • BExcretion
   • CNutrition
   • DGrowth

   (c)

   After digesting the insect, the Venus flytrap will eventually need to remove waste products made by its metabolic reactions. Describe what is meant by excretion, and explain why living organisms must excrete waste.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   A group of students collect a sample of pond water and observe, under a microscope, a single-celled amoeba moving and feeding among other small organisms.

   (a)

   State three characteristics of living organisms, other than nutrition and reproduction, and give a one-sentence definition of each.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Explain how the amoeba, despite consisting of only one cell, is able to carry out all seven life processes required for it to be classified as a living organism.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   A farmer notices that a row of tomato plants in his field grows steadily taller over several weeks and turns its leaves towards the sunlight, while ladybirds in the same field crawl over the leaves and fly away when disturbed.

   (a)

   Explain, using named examples from the tomato plant, how each of the seven characteristics of living organisms applies to it.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Explain, using named examples from the ladybirds described, how each of the seven characteristics of living organisms applies to them.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions