This document provides an overview of the key characteristics that define living things. It discusses the five traits of life - response, movement, organization, reproduction, and growth/development. It also outlines the basic needs of living things like energy, water, oxygen, and minerals. Furthermore, it describes how living things are classified into six kingdoms - Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protists, Fungi, Plants, and Animals. Finally, it discusses viruses and how they differ from living things by being unable to grow or reproduce without a host cell.