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Correct Answer: movement.
the question asks which of the provided options is not a requirement for living things. to address this question, it is necessary to understand what characteristics are generally considered essential for defining life. biologists typically agree on several basic characteristics that living things possess. these include the ability to reproduce, metabolize, react to stimuli, maintain homeostasis, and grow. each of these characteristics is crucial for an organism's survival and continuation as a species.
let's consider each option provided in the question:
1. **movement**: while many organisms exhibit movement as part of their survival strategy, it is not universally required for an entity to be considered alive. for example, many plants are sessile (non-moving) but are clearly living organisms. they do not move from place to place but can grow and respond to their environment in other ways, such as growing towards light or opening and closing flowers or leaves.
2. **metabolism**: metabolism is a fundamental characteristic of all living organisms. it involves the chemical processes that maintain life, allowing for the conversion of energy from the environment into forms usable by the organism. this is essential for growth, reproduction, and maintaining the organism's internal environment.
3. **reproduction**: the ability to reproduce is another core characteristic of life. reproduction can be sexual or asexual, but all living organisms have some mechanism by which they can produce new individuals. this is critical for the survival of a species over time.
4. **reaction to stimuli**: all living organisms have the capacity to react to changes in their environment. this can involve moving towards resources or away from threats, changing color, releasing chemicals, or altering their physiological states. this responsiveness is crucial for the survival and adaptation of living organisms.
given these considerations, the answer to the question is "movement." although many living organisms move and it is often an important aspect of their interaction with the environment, movement is not a universal requirement for all living things. this distinguishes it from metabolism, reproduction, and reacting to stimuli, which are essential characteristics of all known life forms. hence, movement is the correct choice as it is not a requirement for an organism to be classified as living in the broadest biological sense.
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