Hey there, future biologists and trivia buffs! In our living organisms quiz, you'll discover because they are living organisms which one of the following truly goes through growth, reproduction, and metabolism. This organisms MCQ quiz doubles as a fun science trivia challenge designed to test your knowledge and unlock surprising insights about life. You'll gain confidence in fundamental concepts as you explore the process of grouping things based on their common characteristics and tackle questions about the 4 characteristics of living things . Ready to prove your mastery with engaging biology trivia questions? Dive in now and take the quiz today!
Which of the following is considered a living organism?
Bacterium
Virus
Prion
Diamond
Bacteria are single-celled prokaryotes that carry out metabolic processes, reproduce independently, and respond to stimuli, meeting the criteria for living organisms. Viruses and prions lack cellular structures and cannot metabolize or reproduce without a host. Diamonds are inert mineral forms of carbon and do not exhibit any life processes. Learn more at Wikipedia.
Which of these is a living plant?
Mountain
Oak tree
Granite
Smartphone
An oak tree is a multicellular vascular plant capable of photosynthesis, growth, and reproduction through seeds. Granite, smartphones, and mountains are non-living, inanimate objects that do not carry out life processes. Living organisms like trees have cells and complex biological systems. See Wikipedia for more information.
Which of these microorganisms is a single-celled animal-like organism?
Amoeba
Water droplet
Gas
Salt crystal
An amoeba is a single-celled eukaryotic organism that feeds, moves using pseudopodia, and reproduces by binary fission. Water droplets, gases, and salt crystals are non-living and lack cellular structure or metabolism. Amoebae display key characteristics of life, including response to stimuli. Read more at Wikipedia.
Which of these exhibits metabolism, growth, and response to stimuli, hallmarks of living organisms?
Rock
Fire
River
Human
Humans are living organisms that exhibit metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli as part of their biological processes. Rocks, fire, and rivers are non-living; they do not have cellular structures or life processes. The defining traits of life include cellular organization and metabolism. Learn more at Wikipedia.
Which of these organisms has a prokaryotic cell structure?
Yeast
Paramecium
Escherichia coli
Mushroom
Escherichia coli is a typical prokaryotic bacterium without a membrane-bound nucleus. Mushrooms, paramecia, and yeasts are eukaryotes with distinct nuclei. Prokaryotes like E. coli have simpler cell structures but still meet all criteria for life. For details, see Wikipedia.
Which of these is composed of a symbiotic association between fungi and photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria?
Moss
Lichen
Coral
Granite
Lichens are composite organisms formed by a symbiosis of fungi with algae or cyanobacteria, functioning together as a single biological entity. Moss are plants, coral are animal colonies, and granite is an inert rock. Lichens perform metabolism and reproduce, qualifying as living. Read more at Wikipedia.
Which of the following is a multicellular eukaryote that obtains nutrients by absorption?
Mushroom
Bacterium
Amoeba
Oak tree
A mushroom is a multicellular fungus that obtains nutrients through absorption of organic material. Oak trees are plants that photosynthesize, amoebae are single-celled protozoa, and bacteria are single-celled prokaryotes. Fungi like mushrooms meet the criteria for life, including growth and reproduction. See Wikipedia.
Which of these is not considered a living organism by most scientists?
Virus
Yeast
Bacterium
Plant
Most scientists do not consider viruses living because they cannot carry out independent metabolism or reproduce without a host cell. Bacteria, yeasts, and plants all have cellular structures and complete metabolic systems. Viruses are acellular and lack many characteristics of life. Learn more at Wikipedia.
Which of these organisms performs photosynthesis?
Amoeba
Mushroom
Virus
Green algae
Green algae are photosynthetic organisms that use sunlight to produce energy and biomass. Mushrooms are fungi and do not photosynthesize, amoebae are heterotrophic protozoa, and viruses lack chloroplasts and cells. Photosynthesis is a defining trait of certain autotrophic living organisms. More at Wikipedia.
Which of these is an example of fungi?
Paramecium
Penicillium
Oak tree
Escherichia coli
Penicillium is a genus of fungi known for antibiotic production and has chitinous cell walls. Oak trees are plants, paramecia are protists, and E. coli are bacteria. Fungi are eukaryotic and distinct from plants, animals, and protists. Read about it at Wikipedia.
True or False: Viruses have their own cellular structure and are considered living organisms.
False
True
Viruses are acellular particles that require host machinery for replication and do not possess cellular components. They cannot carry out metabolic processes or reproduce independently. Scientific consensus views them as non-living without hosts. Reference: Wikipedia.
Which of these domains includes organisms that can live in extreme environments like hot springs and salt lakes?
Bacteria
Archaea
Protista
Eukarya
Archaea are a separate domain of life containing many extremophiles found in hot springs, salt lakes, and deep-sea vents. Bacteria and Eukarya include many common organisms, and Protista is not a domain but often treated as a kingdom. Archaea have unique membrane lipids and genetics distinguishing them from other domains. See Wikipedia.
Which of the following organisms fix atmospheric nitrogen in a symbiotic relationship with plant roots?
Escherichia coli
Rhizobium bacteria
Penicillium
Algae
Rhizobium species are bacteria that form symbiotic relationships with leguminous plant roots to fix atmospheric nitrogen. E. coli is gut bacteria, Penicillium is a fungus, and algae photosynthesize rather than fix nitrogen. Biological nitrogen fixation is vital for soil fertility. Details at Wikipedia.
Which of these is a unicellular eukaryotic organism often found in freshwater environments?
Lichen
Streptococcus
Fern
Paramecium
Paramecium is a unicellular eukaryote (protist) common in freshwater environments, using cilia for movement. Streptococcus is a bacterium, lichens are symbiotic fungi and algae, and ferns are multicellular plants. Single-celled eukaryotic protists comprise diverse living organisms. Learn more at Wikipedia.
Which of the following reproduces through the release of spores?
Bee
Human
Amoeba
Fern
Ferns reproduce via spores produced on the undersides of their fronds, rather than seeds or live birth. Humans reproduce through live birth, bees lay eggs, and amoebae divide by binary fission. Spore formation is a characteristic reproductive strategy in non-flowering plants. See Wikipedia.
Which of the following is classified under Kingdom Protista?
Mushrooms
Trypanosoma
Salmonella
Sponges
Trypanosoma is a genus of protozoan parasites classified under Kingdom Protista. Salmonella are bacteria, mushrooms are fungi, and sponges are animals. Protists are a diverse group of mostly unicellular eukaryotes. More info at Wikipedia.
Which of the following best explains why viruses are not classified as living organisms by most scientists?
They lack cellular structure
They reproduce quickly
They cause disease
They have DNA
Viruses lack a true cellular structure, possessing only a protein coat and nucleic acid, and cannot carry out metabolic processes on their own. This absence of cells is a primary reason they are not considered alive by most definitions. They require host cells to replicate and maintain functions. Read more at Wikipedia.
Which of these structures is found in all known living cells but absent in viruses?
Cell membrane
Ribosome
Capsid
Flagellum
All living cells are bounded by a cell membrane that regulates the passage of substances in and out of the cell. Capsids are virus protein shells, and ribosomes and flagella are cellular components viruses do not possess. The cell membrane is a fundamental feature of cellular life. See Wikipedia.
Which classification rank comes directly above genus in the taxonomic hierarchy?
Family
Class
Species
Order
In biological taxonomy, family is the rank directly above genus, grouping together related genera. Species is below genus, order is above family, and class is higher still. The hierarchy helps organize organisms by relatedness. More at Wikipedia.
Which of the following statements best describes a characteristic unique to living organisms?
Capable of homeostasis
Contain carbon
React with water
Exist in liquid form
Homeostasis, or the regulation of internal conditions, is a hallmark of living organisms. While carbon presence and reactions with water are common, they are not unique indicators of life. Existence in liquid form does not define living status either. Homeostasis is fundamental, learn more at Wikipedia.
Which of the following describes an organism that uses organic compounds as both energy and carbon sources?
Photoheterotroph
Photoautotroph
Chemoheterotroph
Chemoautotroph
Chemoheterotrophs obtain energy by oxidizing organic compounds and use organic carbon sources for growth. Photoautotrophs use light and fix CO2, chemoautotrophs use inorganic compounds for energy, and photoheterotrophs use light but require organic carbon. Chemoheterotrophy is common among animals, fungi, and many bacteria. See Wikipedia.
What is the primary reason prions are not considered living organisms?
They are too small
They mutate quickly
They lack nucleic acids
They cause disease
Prions are infectious agents composed solely of misfolded proteins and lack any nucleic acid. Their structure cannot carry genetic information, distinguishing them from viruses and bacteria. They induce misfolding in normal proteins but are not alive. Read more at Wikipedia.
Which of these correctly describes extremophiles in the domain Archaea?
They are all photosynthetic
They thrive in extreme conditions
They are viruses
They only live in moderate environments
Extremophiles in Archaea thrive in extreme conditions like high salinity or temperature, distinguishing them from most bacteria and eukaryotes. They have unique biochemistry allowing survival in harsh habitats. They include thermophiles and halophiles. See Wikipedia.
Which component found in eukaryotic cells is always absent in prokaryotic cells?
Ribosome
Nucleus
Cell wall
Cytoplasm
A membrane-bound nucleus is present in eukaryotic cells but absent in prokaryotic cells such as bacteria and archaea. Cell walls can be present in prokaryotes and some eukaryotes, cytoplasm is in all cells, and ribosomes are in all cells. The defining distinction is the nucleus. Learn more at Wikipedia.
Which of the following infectious agents is composed solely of misfolded proteins and is not considered a living organism?
Bacteriophage
Prion
Viroid
Virus
Prions are misfolded proteins without nucleic acids or cellular structure, distinguishing them from viruses, viroids, and bacteriophages. They cannot replicate without host proteins and do not meet any criteria for life. Prions are responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in animals. More at Wikipedia.
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Study Outcomes
Analyze Life Criteria -
Understand fundamental traits such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction that define living organisms in this living organisms quiz.
Differentiate Entities -
Distinguish between living and non-living items by evaluating key biological features in biology trivia questions.
Apply Quiz Logic -
Use the prompt "because they are living organisms which one of the following" to accurately select correct answers in the organisms MCQ quiz.
Recall Organism Traits -
Identify unique characteristics across domains - animals, plants, and bacteria - to reinforce knowledge of diverse life forms.
Evaluate Misconceptions -
Spot and correct common misunderstandings in a science trivia challenge, improving critical thinking and accuracy.
Enhance Quiz Skills -
Build confidence and speed in answering biology trivia questions and similar science trivia challenges for future learning.
Cheat Sheet
Characteristics of Life: MRS GREN Mnemonic -
To recall the seven core traits of living organisms - Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition - use the easy mnemonic "MRS GREN." This framework, taught in biology departments at universities like Oxford and Harvard, helps you decide because they are living organisms which one of the following qualifies. For instance, while fire grows and consumes fuel, it lacks reproduction and sensitivity, so it isn't truly living.
Cell Theory and Organization -
All living organisms are composed of one or more cells, making the cell the basic unit of life (University of California, Berkeley). Learn to differentiate prokaryotic cells (no nucleus) like bacteria from eukaryotic cells (nucleus present) such as plant or animal cells. Remember: "All Cells Come from Cells" (Virchow's axiom) to anchor this principle in any organisms MCQ quiz.
Metabolism and Energy Flow -
Living organisms maintain metabolism - a balance of catabolic and anabolic reactions - to harness energy and build biomolecules (refer to biochemistry texts at MIT). A classic example is cellular respiration: C₆H₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy (ATP). Knowing this reaction helps answer questions about why mitochondria-rich cells spotlight living traits.
Genetic Information and Reproduction -
All living organisms contain heritable DNA (or RNA in some viruses), which guides development and reproduction (National Human Genome Research Institute). Bacteria employ binary fission - copying circular DNA before splitting - while multicellular organisms rely on more complex mitosis and meiosis. Remember "DNA duplicates for descendants" to tackle biology trivia questions on inheritance.
Viruses: Living or Non-living Boundary Case -
Viruses carry genetic material and evolve, yet they lack independent metabolism and cannot reproduce without a host cell, placing them in a gray area (World Health Organization). In an organisms MCQ quiz, always check if the prompt emphasizes autonomous metabolism or host dependence. A useful tip: if it can't generate ATP on its own, it's not fully living by classical criteria.
