By what other criteria can a rock be distinguished from living things?

There are main 7 characteristics of the life. In case, any material is able to perform these features, then they are considered as a living being:

1.Movement

2.Respiration

3.Reproduction

4.Sensitivity  

5.Growth

6.Excretion

7.Nutrition.

All the living things perform the above function necessarily.  

The rocks are the stone bodies; they do not perform any kind of metabolic activity such as digestion, respiration, excretion etc. The rocks are unable to move, they do not grow. Also, the rocks do not respond to the stimuli, hence, sensitivity is also absent. There is no need to obtain nutrition in the case of rock, hence, the rocks are considered to be non living things.  

The answer is the option c. fact. Indeed facts are the events such as they occur, without interpretations or opinions. Facts happens and they can be observed by different means: you can get them through sense organs (eye, ear, mouth, skin, nose) or with instruments. When you report facts you must clearly state them appart of your interpretation or opinion.