Which of the following statements best describes a characteristic of all living organisms?

The statement that all living things require energy from their environment is a fundamental characteristic of all living organisms. Every living organism needs energy to carry out essential functions such as growth, metabolism, movement, and reproduction. This energy can come from different sources; for example, plants utilize sunlight through photosynthesis, while animals acquire energy by consuming other organisms. This requirement for energy is a unifying theme across the diverse forms of life, highlighting the interconnectedness of all organisms and their reliance on their surroundings for survival.

In contrast, the other options do not apply universally to all living organisms. Not all organisms are capable of flight, since many, such as plants and certain terrestrial animals, do not have this ability. Similarly, while some organisms can thrive in extreme conditions, such as extremophiles, many cannot survive such environments. Lastly, while some organisms do reproduce asexually, others reproduce sexually, and many have different reproductive strategies, making the claim that all living things reproduce asexually inaccurate. This distinction allows us to understand the essential nature of energy requirements as a critical characteristic of all life forms.