What term means living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria?

• A. Bacteria
• B. Organisms
• C. Microbiome
• D. Population

Answer: (B)

Organisms are living things that carry out life processes, and that includes plants, animals, and bacteria. This term is broad enough to cover every individual life form, no matter what type it is. It’s the best answer because it isn’t limited to a single group or to a natural community. Bacteria refers to one type of living thing, not all living things. A microbiome is the community of microorganisms in a specific environment, not the living things themselves. A population describes how many individuals of a species live in an area, focusing on number rather than the general category of life.