Question

Both a fast-moving stream and a dog respond to the environment and grow and develop. What characteristic of life best explains why a dog is considered alive and a stream is not? a) Responsiveness b)Growth and Development c)Environment d)Adaptability

Answer 1

Responsiveness is the characteristic of life that differentiates a dog from a stream (A).

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristic of life that best explains why a dog is considered alive and a stream is not is responsiveness. Responsiveness is the ability of an organism to adjust to changes in its internal and external environments. While both a fast-moving stream and a dog can respond to their environment, the dog has the ability to detect and respond to environmental stimuli in a way that is essential for survival and growth.

This adaptive response to both internal and external stimuli is a key characteristic of living organisms. Additionally, living things carry out other vital processes such as growth and development, reproduction, and maintaining homeostasis, which are not characteristics of inanimate objects like streams.

So, the answer is A.