What basic functions must animals do to stay alive?
a. gather and respond to stimuli
b. take in and distribute wastes
c. collect and rid of oxygen and nutrients
d. reproduce

a.) gather and respond to stimuli this is the correct answer! took the exam and read the answer in the

The correct answer is A) Gather and respond to stimuli.

Stimulus is any detectable change in the internal or external environment of an organism that makes the organism respond towards it. Organisms give appropriate response to any stimulus ( that is accompanied by central nervous system) and it helps in maintaining the homeostatsis ( stable environment) of the body.

Example of stimulus- Hunger is an internal stimulus that causes an organism to take food, which is essential for survival.

Thus, Gather and response to stimuli is basic function of any organism to stay alive.

the oldest known insects are believed to live around 400 millions ago as suggested by the fossil records.   some plants having woody stems also evolved during this time.

after the evolution of insects the first four legged species or the tetrapods evolved in shallow freshwater habitats from the intermediate species approximately 397 million years ago. the tetrapods went on conquering the land giving rise to amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.

the major split in tetrapods first occurred 340 million years ago branching off from amphibians.

363 million years ago when the carboniferous period began the insects started roaming on land and taking flights, following which the four limbed tetrapods adapted in the terrestrial habitat.