Question

Which of these choices provides a direct refutation of an argument found in this passage, that viruses are not living organisms?
a.since living things reproduce, and viruses reproduce, they must be alive.
b.many bacteria become spores, highly protected inanimate forms, during times of stress.
c.a baby can't survive without help, just like a virus needs a host in order to reproduce.
d.before changing into a butterfly, caterpillars go through a cocoon stage where they appear dormant?

Answer 1

The Answer is Many bacteria become spores, highly protected inanimate forms, during times of stress.

Answer 2

Answer:

C. A baby can't survive without help, just like a virus needs a host in order to reproduce.

Explanation:

Viruses are not considered living beings because they are obligate intracellular parasites, composed primarily of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA or both, in some cases).

In other words, viruses have no metabolism of their own, so they cannot survive without infecting a host cell, in which the virus sets in and modifies its metabolism in order to produce more viruses.

It is during these processes that viruses cause disease in parasitized organisms.