MYP 1 Sciences · Living Things

Characteristics of living things

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  1. Question 1

    Which acronym helps students remember all seven criteria for life in science?
    No clue? Show me the answer
    Correct answerCorrect!Incorrect
    AMRSGREN

    Step-by-step walkthrough

    Choose a solution method

    Method #1Direct Approach

    Step 1: Identify what is being asked

    The question asks for the acronym used by scientists to remember the seven criteria for life.

    Step 2: Recall the acronym

    Scientists use MRSGREN, where each letter stands for one criterion: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition.

    Step 3: Select the correct answer

    The correct acronym is MRSGREN. The other options (SCIENCE, BIOMRS, LIFEOK) do not correspond to any recognised scientific checklist for life.

    Method #2Process of Elimination

    Step 1: Identify the question focus

    We need the acronym used to remember the seven criteria for life in biology.

    Step 2: Eliminate 'SCIENCE'

    SCIENCE has seven letters but does not stand for the life criteria — its letters do not match Movement, Respiration, etc.

    Step 3: Eliminate 'BIOMRS' and 'LIFEOK'

    BIOMRS and LIFEOK are not recognised scientific acronyms for life criteria. Neither matches the seven MRSGREN criteria.

    Step 4: Select the correct answer

    MRSGREN is the standard biology acronym covering all seven criteria: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition.

  2. Question 2

    A sunflower slowly turns its stem and leaves to face the sun throughout the day. Which criterion for life does this BEST demonstrate?
    No clue? Show me the answer
    Correct answerCorrect!Incorrect
    ASensitivity

    Step-by-step walkthrough

    Choose a solution method

    Method #1Direct Approach

    Step 1: Identify the behaviour described

    The sunflower is detecting a change in its environment (the direction of sunlight) and responding to it by turning its stem and leaves.

    Step 2: Match the behaviour to a criterion

    Sensitivity is the criterion that describes a living thing's ability to detect and respond to changes in its environment, called stimuli. Sunlight is the stimulus here.

    Step 3: Confirm the answer

    The sunflower turning towards light is a classic example of Sensitivity. Growth would involve increasing in size, Nutrition involves taking in energy, and Excretion involves removing waste.

    Method #2Process of Elimination

    Step 1: Identify the key action

    The sunflower is reacting to sunlight by changing its position. We need to match this to the correct life criterion.

    Step 2: Eliminate 'Nutrition'

    Nutrition relates to taking in an energy source such as food or making food via photosynthesis — not turning to face the sun.

    Step 3: Eliminate 'Growth'

    Growth means getting bigger or developing over time — the sunflower turning in a single day is not growth.

    Step 4: Eliminate 'Excretion'

    Excretion means removing waste products from internal chemical processes — completely unrelated to turning towards light.

    Step 5: Select the correct answer

    Sensitivity is correct — it describes detecting and responding to a stimulus (sunlight) in the environment.

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