(a) (i) List three characteristics of living organisms. (ii) Explain briefly the characteristics listed in (a)(i) above. (b) In a tabular form, state four d...

Answer Details

(a)(i) Three characteristics of living organisms: nutrition, respiration, and movement (growth, reproduction, excretion, irritability/sensitivity are also valid).

(ii) Brief explanation

• Nutrition: the taking in and use of food materials for energy, growth and repair of the body.
• Respiration: the breakdown of food in cells to release energy needed for life activities.
• Movement: the ability of an organism, or parts of it, to change position or place.

(b) Four differences between plants and animals

(c)(i) Organism exhibiting both plant and animal features: Euglena.

(ii) Four animal features: moves using a flagellum; has a contractile vacuole; has an eyespot (stigma) sensitive to light; lacks a cellulose cell wall (has a flexible pellicle) and can feed heterotrophically.

Two plant features: possesses chloroplasts and carries out photosynthesis; contains pyrenoids associated with food (starch) storage.