The science of life is referred to as

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the name of the science that deals with life, meaning the study of living things.

Step 2: Explain the concept The word biology comes from two Greek words:

• bios = life
• logos = study or science

So biology literally means "the study (science) of life."

Step 3: Check each option

• A. Anatomy: the study of the structure of organisms (for example, the parts of the body). It is only one branch of biology.
• B. Biology: the science of life, covering all living things, including their structure, functions, growth, origin, and distribution.
• C. Ecology: the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment. It is also a branch of biology.
• D. Phylogeny: the evolutionary history and relationships of groups of organisms. It is also a specialized area within biology.

Step 4: Identify the answer The general term that covers the whole science of life is biology, which is option B.

Exam tip: Break the word into its roots. Words ending in -logy mean "study of" (bio-logy = study of life, eco-logy = study of the home or environment). Anatomy, ecology, and phylogeny are all narrower branches of biology, so when a question asks for the general science of life, choose biology.