Which of the things in the following list are non-living? Plough, Mushrooms, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat, Water Hyacinth, Earthworms

• Living things are organisms that can move, breathe, grow, reproduce, and respond to their surroundings. Examples include humans, animals, birds, fish, insects, and plants.
• Non-living things do not perform these life processes. They cannot breathe, reproduce, or grow. Examples include soil, water, air, buildings, and vehicles.

Even though non-living things cannot perform life activities, they are essential because they form the habitat where living organisms survive. For instance:

• Fish live in water.
• Animals and humans live on land.
• The air we breathe, though non-living, is vital for life.

Importance in the Environment

Both living and non-living things together make up our environment.

• The house we live in, the bus we travel in, or any machine are non-living.
• Vehicles may move, but since they cannot breathe, grow, or reproduce, they are still non-living things.

Example from the Given List

From the items listed — Plough, Mushrooms, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat, Water Hyacinth, Earthworm:

• Non-living things: Plough, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat
• Living things: Mushrooms, Water Hyacinth, Earthworm

Note:

Plants do not move from one place to another, but they are living organisms because they can breathe and reproduce. Plants also produce oxygen, which humans and animals need for respiration, while they use the carbon dioxide we exhale.