Final answer:
The correct answer is 'a. Living, non-living' for the 8 characteristics of life, differentiating between living organisms and inanimate objects based on attributes like homeostasis and cellular structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 8 characteristics of life, it states whether something is living or non-living. Therefore, the correct answer to fill in the blanks would be 'a. Living, non-living'. These characteristics help us to distinguish between what is biologically considered alive and what is not. To be classified as a living thing, an organism must respond to the environment, grow and develop, produce offspring, maintain homeostasis, harness and utilize energy, and consist of one or more cells. Biotic factors refer to the living components of an environment, while abiotic factors are the nonliving aspects.