Students were given various animal pictures. They were told to work in pairs, observe the animal pictures, and list some characteristics they could use to classify the animals into groups such as vertebrates and invertebrates. What characteristics do all animals have in common?

Question

Responses
A ability to move and eat, and are single-celledability to move and eat, and are single-celled
B ability to move and eat, and are multi-cellularability to move and eat, and are multi-cellular
C ability to move and fly, and are multi-cellularability to move and fly, and are multi-cellular
D ability to stand on four legs and eat, and are multi-cellularability to stand on four legs and eat, and are multi-cellular

Answer 1

The correct response is:

B: ability to move and eat, and are multi-cellular.

All animals share certain characteristics, including being multi-cellular organisms and having the ability to move (at some stage in their life cycle) and consume food (heterotrophy). The other options contain inaccuracies, such as "single-celled" which is not true for animals, or specific characteristics like "standing on four legs" and "flying" that do not apply universally to all animal species.