Science Unit B

Question 1

Basic living things

Answer 1

• are made of cells
• need energy
• grow and develop
• respond to the environment
• reproduce
• have adaptations for their
environment

Question 2

Organisms

Answer 2

All living things, or organisms, have all of these characteristics. Non-living things may have some of these characteristics

Question 3

Cells

Answer 3

The cell is the basic unit of life. A cell can perform all the processes that life depends on. All organisms are made up of at least one cell, and every cell comes from another cell.

Question 4

What size are cells

Answer 4

Cells are usually microscopic in size, so a single-celled organism is almost always tiny. A large organism, such as a tree, can be made of trillions of microscopic cells

Question 5

Non-living things

Answer 5

Non-living things are not made of cells. However, there are exceptions. Cells are found in non-living material if that material was alive at one time.

Question 6

Nutrients

Answer 6

are substances that provide the energy and materials that organisms need to grow, develop, and reproduce.

Question 7

Metabolism

Answer 7

For an organism to stay alive, there has to be a balance between these energy-using processes and the energy-creating processes. The sum of all the different processes that happen in an organism is called the organism’s metabolism.

Question 8

Stimulus

Answer 8

is anything that causes a response in an organism. Jumping out of the way of the car is a reaction, or response, to a stimulus.

Question 9

Adaptions

Answer 9

is a characteristic that allows an organism to live in its environment. Animals and plants have many adaptations.

Question 10

Structures

Answer 10

Organisms have developed many different ways of doing these tasks and have developed different body parts, or structures, to do them.

Question 11

Function

Answer 11

Each structure is used for a specific function, which means it carries out a specific task

Question 12

Organ system

Answer 12

The organs that make up each organ system work together to perform a certain task or function.

Question 13

Capillaries

Answer 13

These blood vessels were later called capillaries, from the Latin is called Hair

Question 14

Cells

Answer 14

are the smallest known functioning units of life. All organisms must be made of at least one cell.

Question 15

Tissues

Answer 15

Tissues that work together for a common purpose form organs

Question 16

Organ system

Answer 16

is a group of organs that work together for a common purpose in order to keep you alive.

Question 17

Organelles

Answer 17

Within each cell, there are a number of specialized structures called organelles that carry out specific functions. One way to think about cells’ organization is to think of them as living factories, making all the things necessary for them to live.

Question 18

Nucleus

Answer 18

a “command center” that directs all cellular activities such as movement, growth, and other life functions

Question 19

mitochondria

Answer 19

the “powerhouses” of the cell where chemical reactions occur that convert the
energy the cell receives into a form it can use

Question 20

Cell membrane

Answer 20

a “controllable gateway” that lets needed materials in and waste materials out

Question 21

Vacuoles

Answer 21

the “storage rooms” where nutrients, water, or other substances can be stored by the cell. Plant cells tend to have just one big vacuole, and animal cells have many small vacuoles

Question 22

Cytoplasm

Answer 22

the “kitchen” of the cell. It contains the nutrients required by the cell to maintain its life processes.

Question 23

cell wall

Answer 23

the “frame” of the cell. Found in plant cells but not in animal cells, it provides strength and support to plants

Question 24

Chloroplasts

Answer 24

the “solar panels” of the cell. They are found in the cells of the green parts of plants. They carry out photosynthesis, converting the sun’s energy into food for the cell

Question 25

mycoplasma

Answer 25

These are so small that they had to be magnified by over 18 000 to make this photo

Question 26

Multicellular

Answer 26

This means that they are made up of two or more cells.

Question 27

Unicellular

Answer 27

They are made up of only a single cell.

Question 28

micro-organisms

Answer 28

Most microscopic organisms, or micro-organisms, such as mycoplasma, are examples of unicellular

Question 29

pseudopods

Answer 29

Amoebas are common unicellular organisms that live in water. They move around using foot-like projections called pseudopods

Question 30

Cilia

Answer 30

They are covered in hair-like structures called cilia, which move back and forth like oars to move them through the water.

Question 31

Diffusion

Answer 31

Many substances move through the cell membrane by a process called diffusion

Question 32

Osmosis

Answer 32

The diffusion of water is vital to the survival and health of cells. For this reason, scientists give it a special name: osmosis.

Question 33

Specialized cells

Answer 33

This means that there are various kinds of cells, and each kind carries out a specific function or functions needed to support life.

Question 34

Red blood cells

Answer 34

is to carry oxygen to all cells of your body. To do this, the red blood cells often must travel through extremely small blood vessels.

Question 35

Marrow

Answer 35

Most bones of the skeletal system contain a type of connective tissue called marrow, with specialized cells that make red blood cells

Question 36

hydrochloric acid

Answer 36

The hydrochloric acid, along with the enzymes, chemically digests proteins into smaller particles.

Question 37

Mucus

Answer 37

The mucus helps to prevent the gastric juice from digesting the stomach itself.

Question 38

Villi

Answer 38

small, finger-like projections. These increase the surface area of the intestine to aid in absorbing nutrients. Each villus (the singular term for villi) is covered with epithelial tissue

Question 39

Microvilli

Answer 39

Microvilli further, increase the surface area of the small intestine to help absorb nutrients

Question 40

Large intestine

Answer 40

By the time the food reaches the large intestine, mechanical and chemical digestion are complete.

Question 41

Peristalsis

Answer 41

Is caused by contractions of muscle tissue that lines the esophagus. Bands of muscle tissue line the remainder of the digestive system to push the food along toward the end.

Question 42

Gastric Juice

Answer 42

Is composed of mucus, hydrochloric acid, water, and digestive enzymes. The mucus helps to prevent the gastric juice from digesting the stomach itself.