Name: ________________________________________ Block: ____________ DOK DATE: ____________
Unit 1 study guide
1. Define abiotic. List 3 examples. Something that has NEVER been alive.
A rock, the sun, and water.
2. Define biotic. List 3 examples. A living environmental component. In other words,
something that demonstrates all 7 characteristics of life. A tree, a bunny rabbit,
and a butterfly.
3. List the seven characteristics that all living things share and their role.
Characteristic
Role (How does it help? Why is it necessary?
All living things are made of Cells help an organism carry out functions necessary for
cells
survival.
Grow and repair
They grow and develop in order to get big enough and
mature enough to reproduce.
Reproduce
They reproduce in order to create offspring so that the
species does not die off.
Ingest
They ingest in order to take in necessary nutrients to
survive.
Digest
They digest in order to change the nutrients into a usable
form.
Excrete
They excrete in order eliminate unnecessary substances
(some may be harmful.)
Sense and Re
They sense and respond to stimuli in order to maintain
homeostasis.
4. The stimulus is an event that that generates a response. The response is what a
living organism does after a stimulus. You do this to maintain homeostasis.
5. When you run a mile your body starts to sweat. Why does your body do this?
You can overheat when you run, so your body tries to cool you off by sweating.
Your body is trying to maintain homeostasis (trying to keep your temperature at
98.6 degrees.)
Name: ________________________________________ Block: ____________ DOK DATE: ____________
6. If you put moss in a glass dish with a lid it will steam up the lid. In this lab, the
characteristic of life that is demonstrated is:
a. Living things sense and respond to stimuli
b. Living things are made of cells
c. Living things excrete waste
d. Living things grow and develop
7. Over time, a maple seed turns into a maple tree. This is an example of
a. Reproduction
b. Excretion
c. Homeostasis
d. Growth
8. A sunflower produces sunflower seeds. This is an example of:
a. Reproduction
b. Digestion
c. Homeostasis
d. Ingestion
9. Explain why a computer is an abiotic. Hint: List the seven characteristics of living
things, and explain if the computer performs each or not.
It can excrete files as waste. It does not grow, although they can repair
themselves internally. It does respond to stimuli; I push the buttons and it will
respond to my commands. It ingests electricity to make energy for itself. It does
not reproduce or pass on DNA. It is not made of cells. It does not digest to get nutrients.
This item only performs 3 of the 7 characteristics of life and is there ABIOTIC because it
must perform ALL 7 to be biotic.
10. Pick one of the following (circle):
a. me, dog, strep throat bacteria, mushroom, palm tree, (my biotic choice).
11. Using all seven characteristics of living things, explain why the item you picked in
question 10 IS a living thing.
Answers will vary, but you are an expert at this type of question by now!! Do well!