Final answer:
Living things respond to external changes in their environment to maintain internal stability, such as temperature regulation. Failing to adapt to external changes may lead to physiological complications or death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Living things respond to external changes in their environment in order to maintain internal stability, a process known as homeostasis. This is important because fluctuations in the internal environment can disrupt biological processes and lead to dysfunction or death. One example of an environmental change that an animal must respond to is temperature. If an organism is exposed to extreme cold without the ability to adapt, its body temperature may drop to a dangerous level, potentially causing hypothermia and other physiological complications.
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