Which characteristic of life is most directly demonstrated when different forms of exercise improve various aspects of health-related fitness in humans?

• A. Adaptation through evolution
• B. Response to stimuli
• C. Homeostasis
• D. Growth and development

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the characteristics of life: Begin by reviewing the key characteristics of life, which include adaptation through evolution, response to stimuli, homeostasis, and growth and development. Each characteristic describes a fundamental property of living organisms.
2. Define 'growth and development': Growth refers to an increase in size or number of cells, while development involves changes in the organism's structure and function over time. These processes are influenced by genetic instructions and environmental factors.
3. Analyze the context of the problem: The problem mentions that different forms of exercise improve various aspects of health-related fitness in humans. This implies changes in the body over time, such as muscle strengthening, cardiovascular improvements, and enhanced physical capabilities.
4. Connect the concept to the scenario: Improvements in health-related fitness due to exercise are examples of growth and development because they involve structural and functional changes in the body, such as increased muscle mass, improved endurance, and better coordination.
5. Eliminate other options: Adaptation through evolution refers to changes in populations over generations, response to stimuli involves immediate reactions to environmental changes, and homeostasis is the maintenance of internal balance. None of these directly describe the long-term improvements in fitness due to exercise, making 'growth and development' the most appropriate answer.