1. Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms

Question 1

What are the seven characteristics of a living organism?

Answer 1

1) Movement
2) Respiration
3) Sensitivity
4) Growth
5) Reproduction
6) Excretion
7) Nutrition

Question 2

Define the term ‘movement’

Answer 2

An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place

Question 3

Define the term ‘respiration’

Answer 3

The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.

Question 4

Define the term ‘sensitivity’

Answer 4

The ability to detect to and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.

Question 5

Define the term ‘growth’

Answer 5

A permanent increase in size or dry mass.

Question 6

Define the term ‘reproduction’

Answer 6

The process that makes more of the same kind of an organism.

Question 7

Define the term ‘excretion’

Answer 7

The removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements.

Question 8

Define the term ‘nutrition’

Answer 8

The taking in of materials for energy, growth and development.

Question 9

What does metabolism mean?

Answer 9

The set of chemical reactions that take place in the body’s cells that can change food into energy.

Question 10

What is the main difference between egestion and excretion

Answer 10

Egestion is the discharge of undigested matter leftover from the process of digestion.

Excretion is the discharge of metabolic waste products.

Question 11

Define the term ‘species’

Answer 11

A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

Question 12

What are the seven groups under the Linnaen system

Answer 12

1) Kingdom
2) Phylum
3) Class
4) Order
5) Family
6) Genus
7) Species

Question 13

What are organisms grouped on to reflect evolutionary relationships?

Answer 13

Common ancestors

Question 14

What are the five main features of the Kingdom ‘Animalia’

Answer 14

1) Multicellular
2) No cell walls
3) Heterotrophic nutrition
4) Complex movement
5) They are eukaryotic (cells have a nucleus)

Question 15

What are the six main features of the Kingdom ‘Plantae’

Answer 15

1) Multicellular
2) Cell walls made of cellulose
3) Autotrophic nutrition
4) Chloroplasts
5) No complex movement
6) They are eukaryotic (cells have a nucleus)

Question 16

What are the five main groups under vertebrates

Answer 16

1) Mammals
2) Birds
3) Reptiles
4) Amphibians
5) Fish

Question 17

Explain the distinguishing features of mammals. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.

Answer 17

1) Skin covering: Hair or fur
2) Reproduction: Mostly sexual, give birth to live young
3) Breathing: Lungs
4) Body temperature: Warm- blooded

Question 18

Explain the distinguishing features of birds. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.

Answer 18

1) Skin covering: Feathers
2) Reproduction: Lay eggs
3) Breathing: Lungs
4) Body temperature: Warm- blooded

Question 19

Explain the distinguishing features of reptiles. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.

Answer 19

1) Skin covering: Dry, scaly skin
2) Reproduction: Most lay eggs with leathery shells.
3) Breathing: Lungs
4) Body- temperature - Cold-blooded

Question 20

Explain the distinguishing features of amphibians. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.

Answer 20

1) Skin covering: Moist, permeable skin
2) Lay eggs in water
3) Young (larvae) have gills; adults usually have lungs
4) Body temperature- Cold-blooded

Question 21

Explain the distinguishing features of fish. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.

Answer 21

Skin covering: Scales
Reproduction: Lay eggs
Breathing: Gills
Body temperature: Cold-blooded

Question 22

What are the four main groups under invertebrates

Answer 22

1) Annelids
2) Molluscs
3) Nematodes
4) Arthropods

Question 23

What are the distinguishing features of annelids (Talk about body structure, movement, body covering and examples)

Answer 23

1) Body structure: Long, segmented bodies
2) Movement: Use muscles and bristles known as setae
3) Body covering- No exoskeleton, soft bodies.
4) Examples: Earthworms, leeches.

Question 24

What are the distinguishing features of nematodes (Talk about body structure, movement, body covering and examples)

Answer 24

1) Body structure: Long, unsegmented bodies.
2) Movement: Use longitudinal muscles
3) Body covering: Have a tough outer cuticle, but no true exoskeleton
4) Examples: Parisitic worms (e.g; hookworms)

Question 25

What are the distinguishing features of molluscs (Talk about body structure, body covering and examples)

Answer 25

1) Body structure: Soft, unsegmented bodies.
2) Body covering: Most have a hard shell
3) Examples: Snails, clams, octopuses

Question 26

What are the distinguishing features of arthropods (what are the three common features)

Answer 26

1) Hard exoskeleton
2) Segmented body
3) Jointed appendages/limbs

Question 27

What are the four sub-groups of arthropods

Answer 27

1) Crustaceans
2) Insects
3) Arachnids
4) Myriapods

Question 28

What are the distinguishing features of crustaceans (talk about body segments, number of legs, antennae, examples)

Answer 28

1) Body segments: Two main body regions (head and cephalothorax)
2) Number of legs: Typically 10 or more legs
3) Antennae: Two pairs of antennae
4) Examples: Crabs, lobsters, shrimp

Question 29

What are the distinguishing features of myriapods (talk about body segments, number of legs, antennae, examples)

Answer 29

1) Body segments: Long, segmented body
2) Number of legs: Many legs
3) Antennae: One pair of antennae
4) Examples: Centipedes, millipedes

Question 30

What are the distinguishing features of arachnids (talk about body segments, number of legs, antennae, examples)

Answer 30

1) Body segments: Two main body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen)
2) Number of legs: Four pairs of legs
3) Antennae: No antennae
Examples: Spiders, scorpions, ticks

Question 31

What are the distinguishing features of insects (talk about body segments, number of legs, antennae)

Answer 31

1) Body segments: Divided into three parts (head, thorax, abdomen)
2) Number of legs: Three pairs of legs
3) Antennae: One pair of antennae
Examples: Butterflies, ants, beetles

Question 32

What are the distinguishing features of organisms under the kingdom ‘Fungi’

Answer 32

1) Eukaryotic (cells have a nucleus)
2) Cell wall: Present (made of chitin)

Question 33

What is the mycellium in a organism under the kingdom ‘Fungi’

Answer 33

The vegetative part made up of loads of thread like structures called “hyphae”

Question 34

What are the differences between monocotyledon and dicotyledon (4)

Answer 34

1) Monocotyledons have one seed leaf while dicotyledons have two.
2) The leaves of monocotyledons have branching veins while those of dicotyledons have parallel veins
3) Monocotyledons usually have a taproot system while dicotyledons have a fibrous root system.

Question 35

What are the two main parts of viruses

Answer 35

1) Capsid (protein coat)
2) Genetic material

Question 36

Define warm-blooded

Answer 36

The ability to regulate their body temperature independently.

Question 37

Define cold- blooded

Answer 37

Organisms whose body temperature varies with that of the environment.