Finding the Synonym for 'Unique' in the Passage

The question asks us to identify a word within the provided passage that has the same meaning as 'unique'. To find this word, we need to carefully read the passage and look for terms that describe the special or particular features of living organisms, as the concept of 'unique' is used in relation to these features in the text.

Let's look at the relevant sentences in the passage:

• "When we try to define ‘living’, we conventionally look for distinctive characteristics exhibited by living organisms."
• "Growth, reproduction, ability to sense the environment and mount a suitable response come to our mind immediately as unique features of living organisms."

In the second sentence, the passage explicitly uses the phrase "unique features". We need to find a word elsewhere in the passage that means the same thing as 'unique'. The first sentence mentions "distinctive characteristics". Both sentences are talking about the special qualities of living organisms.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine the given options:

1. common

   The word 'common' means usual or shared by many. This is the opposite of 'unique', which means one of a kind or special. So, 'common' is not the correct synonym.

2. characteristics

   'Characteristics' means features or qualities. While the passage talks about 'characteristics' and 'features', the question asks for a synonym of 'unique', not 'features' or 'characteristics' themselves. So, this word describes what is unique, but it is not the synonym for 'unique'.

3. distinctive

   The word 'distinctive' means characteristic of one thing or person and so distinguishing it from others; easily recognizable. This word is used in the passage to describe the 'characteristics' of living organisms. 'Distinctive' implies being different, special, or unique. This meaning aligns perfectly with 'unique'.

4. general

   'General' means affecting or concerning all or most people, places, or things; not specific. This is also the opposite of 'unique', which refers to something specific and one-of-a-kind. So, 'general' is not the correct synonym.

Identifying the Synonym

Comparing the options with the word 'unique' as used in the passage and its common meaning, the word 'distinctive' is the closest synonym found in the text. The passage uses both "distinctive characteristics" and "unique features" to refer to the same idea – special qualities that set living organisms apart.

Therefore, the word in the passage that means 'unique' is 'distinctive'.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the passage and the options, the word 'distinctive' is used with a meaning that is equivalent to 'unique' in the context of describing the features of living organisms.

Revision Table: Understanding Synonyms

When looking for a synonym in a passage, it's important to understand the context in which the word is used. A word can have multiple meanings, but only the meaning relevant to the passage helps find the correct synonym.

• Unique: Special, one-of-a-kind, different from others.
• Distinctive: Characteristic of one thing, setting it apart, recognizable as different.

These two words share a core meaning of being special or different from the norm.

Additional Information: Characteristics of Living Organisms

The passage touches upon the defining characteristics of living organisms, which are often used to differentiate them from non-living things. While there can be exceptions and nuances, some commonly discussed characteristics include:

• Growth (increase in mass and size)
• Reproduction (producing offspring)
• Metabolism (sum of all chemical reactions)
• Ability to sense and respond to the environment (irritability)
• Cellular organization
• Ability to self-replicate
• Self-organize
• Interact
• Emergence (properties at a higher level arising from interactions at a lower level)

Scientists use these distinctive, or unique, features to help define what constitutes life.