Science 13+ Common Entrance Worksheets, Questions and Revision

A student says that a mushroom (a fungus) is not a living thing because it does not move around like an animal. Explain why this statement is incorrect, referring to the life processes.

1. Recall that a living organism must carry out all seven life processes, not just movement.
2. Movement does not have to mean moving the whole organism from place to place; it can mean movement of parts, or growth in a particular direction.
3. A mushroom carries out nutrition (absorbing nutrients), respiration (releasing energy), growth, reproduction (spores), excretion and sensitivity (responding to light or moisture), so it meets the definition of a living organism.
4. Final answer: the student is incorrect, because a mushroom carries out all seven life processes, even though it does not move its whole body from place to place like most animals do.