Which of these tell about the characteristics of a living thing?1. A f...
Growth is a characteristic of living things.

Which of these tell about the characteristics of a living thing?1. A f...
Understanding Characteristics of Living Things
To determine the characteristics of living things, we must identify processes that are inherent to life. Let’s analyze the given statements:
1. A football decreases in size when deflated.
- This statement refers to an inanimate object (the football) and its physical change, not a living characteristic.
2. A caterpillar turns into a pupa.
- This illustrates a key characteristic of living organisms: growth and development. The transformation from caterpillar to pupa represents a biological process known as metamorphosis, which is a defining trait of living beings.
3. A flower grows into fruit.
- This statement also reflects a biological process. The growth of a flower into fruit demonstrates reproduction and development in plants, which are essential characteristics of living things.
4. A ship moves in water.
- Similar to the first statement, this describes the movement of an inanimate object (the ship). While movement is a characteristic of living beings, the ship itself is not alive.
Conclusion
By evaluating each statement, we find that only statements 2 and 3 describe characteristics of living things, focusing on growth and development. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'C':
2 and 3 only.
This emphasizes the biological processes that define life, distinguishing them from non-living entities.