a) What criteria can be used to decide whether something is alive? (b) What is meant by life processes? Name the basic life processes common to all living organisms which are essential for maintaining life.

(a)The criteria which can be used to decide whether something is alive is any basic movement like breathing, growing or walking. Some movements are not visible to the naked eye like the beating of the heart. This also decides if the person is alive or not.

(b) The basic essential activities performed by a living organism to sustain its life on this planet earth is called life processes. The basic life processes common to all living organisms which are essential for maintaining life are nutrition, respiration, digestion, excretion, growth and reproduction.