Which characteristic is not of living things? movement, adaptation, photosynthesis, or metabolism?

Question

Which characteristic is not of living things? movement, adaptation, photosynthesis, or metabolism?

Answer 1

movement

Answer 2

Movement would be the only characteristic that is not only for living things.

Answer 3

Given the following choices, my best bet would be "movement". I'll explain this using the "elimination method".

(1.) Adaptation is a key characteristic of living things since all living things strive to survive. Adapting to the environment and evolution allows them to do so. (ie. the mitochondria used to be a free living bacteria-but a symbiotic relationship with a cell allowed them to adapt to more complex environments)

(2.) Photosynthesis, although largely used by plants, is another process used for survival. A non-living thing would have no use for photosynthesis

(3.) Metabolism is used to balance chemicals in the body. Its also used to build certain enzymes, break apart substances, etc. It is an important process once again used for survival. A non living thing would once again have no use for such process.

(4.) This leaves movement. Although a living thing organism may not necessarily move, it can still survive if given the right amount of nutrients and the processes described above. It'll be a stupid organism though. Something that is non-living, on the other hand...can move. (ie. skateboards, the S2000, androids, a rolling barrel, etc.)

-The question can be a bit debatable though, when technology grants permission for say...robots to use the processes above in a quest for evolution in cybertechnology.

Or we can even move the question to virtual characters. But then of course, they are all programmed to do what they are told...so it can still be argued.

Answer 4

movement--plants are alive, but do not move on their own.

Adaptation is more commonly referred to as homeostasis; other characteristics include respiration, and reproduction.  Metabolism is to animals as photosynthesis is to plants.

Answer 5

Photosynthesis.

Humans do not photosynthesise for example.