Answer:
Living things engage in respiration to obtain the energy they need for various life processes. Respiration is a fundamental metabolic process that allows organisms to extract energy from organic molecules, typically glucose, through a series of chemical reactions.
During respiration, glucose and oxygen are combined to produce energy, carbon dioxide, and water. This energy, in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), is used for essential cellular functions such as growth, repair, movement, and reproduction. It's essentially the "fuel" that powers the activities of living organisms.
So, respiration is crucial for sustaining life because it provides the energy necessary to carry out all the processes that keep an organism alive and functioning.