Question

responding to the environment is a characteristic of life best shown by which example?
a human shivers on a cold day
a horse trots in a field
a dog swims in a pond
a cat licks its paws

Explanation:

To determine which example best shows responding to the environment, we analyze each option:

• A human shivering on a cold day: Shivering is a response to the cold environment to generate heat and maintain body temperature. This is a direct response to an environmental stimulus (cold).
• A horse trotting in a field: Trotting is normal movement, not a response to a specific environmental change.
• A dog swimming in a pond: Swimming is an activity, not a response to an environmental stimulus (unless the pond is a new or changing environment, but this is less direct than shivering).
• A cat licking its paws: Licking paws is usually for grooming, not a response to the environment.

So the human shivering on a cold day is the best example of responding to the environment.

Answer:

a human shivers on a cold day