Chapter 10 of the Class 6 Science textbook Curiosity is Living Creatures – Exploring their Characteristics. It looks at the common features that define living things, and how plants and animals, despite looking very different, share these same basic characteristics. These Class 6 Science Chapter 10 solutions are also useful as quick revision notes before exams.
Characteristics of Living Things
Q: State two common characteristics of living things.
A: (1) Living things respire — they break down food to release energy. (2) Living things grow, and reproduce to produce offspring similar to themselves.
Plants and Animals Are Both Living
Q: How are plants and animals both living, even though they look very different?
A: Even though plants and animals look very different, both show the basic characteristics of living things — such as respiration, growth, taking in nutrition, excretion, and reproduction — which is why both are classified as living things.
- Chapter 1: The Wonderful World of Science - Curiosity
- Chapter 2: Diversity in the Living World NCERT Solutions
- Chapter 3: Mindful Eating: A Path to a Healthy Body NCERT Solutions
- Chapter 4: Exploring Magnets NCERT Solutions
- Chapter 5: Measurement of Length and Motion NCERT Solutions
- Chapter 6: Materials Around Us NCERT Solutions
- Chapter 7: Temperature and its Measurement NCERT Solutions
- Chapter 8: A Journey through States of Water NCERT Solutions
- Chapter 9: Methods of Separation in Everyday Life – Free PDF Download
- Chapter 11: Nature's Treasures – Free PDF Download
- Chapter 12: Beyond Earth – Free PDF Download
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a car considered living because it moves?
No. Movement alone doesn’t make something living — a car cannot grow, respire, excrete waste, respond to stimuli, or reproduce, so it is non-living.
What is the difference between breathing and respiration?
Breathing (inhaling and exhaling air) is part of the larger process called respiration.
Why is a dried wooden log non-living even though it came from a tree?
Because it no longer performs any life processes — it doesn’t grow, respond to stimuli, or reproduce, even though it originated from a living organism.

