GED Science Practice

What is the torpid or resting state in which some animals pass the winter?

1. Homeostasis

2. Hetrotroph

3. Halflife

4. Hibernation

The correct answer is: Hibernation

The term that refers to the torpid or resting state in which some animals pass the winter is hibernation. During this period, animals undergo physiological changes that help them conserve energy and survive when food is scarce and conditions are harsh. This includes a significant drop in their metabolic rate, lowering of body temperature, and cessation of regular activity, allowing them to remain inactive for long periods. In contrast, homeostasis refers to the process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain stable, constant conditions, regardless of external changes. Heterotroph describes organisms that cannot produce their own food and instead rely on consuming other organisms for energy. Halflife is a term used in the fields of chemistry and physics to describe the time taken for half of a substance to decay or be eliminated, which is not applicable to the concept of seasonal rest in animals.