Question

a student collects several plants and pebbles from a riverbank, places them in an aquarium, and records observations for 15 days. the student classifies the pebbles as nonliving things. which criterion does the student use as the basis for the classification?

• ability to grow
• ability to move
• ability to reproduce
• ability to respond to stimuli

Explanation:

All the listed options are characteristics of living things. Pebbles cannot grow, sense, reproduce, or respond to stimuli, but the most fundamental and observable distinction here that directly separates non-living pebbles from living plants is the ability to grow, as plants will visibly increase in size over the 15 weeks while pebbles will not.

Answer:

ability to grow