Question

antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria tend to first be found in hospitals. which factor explains why this is the case? sick people are more likely to provide an environment where resistant strains are favored. a hospital has more bacteria than would be found in other places. antibiotics are more likely to be present in hospitals, thus selecting for resistant strains. bacteria can reproduce more easily in a hospital environment than in other places. bacteria cannot survive as successfully in areas outside of hospitals.

Explanation:

Antibiotics are used frequently in hospitals. When antibiotics are present, bacteria that are resistant to them have a survival advantage (natural selection). Over time, these resistant strains become more common. Sick people's environments (option 1) don't directly favor resistance as much as the presence of antibiotics. Hospitals may not have more bacteria (option 2) in a general sense compared to some other environments like soil. Bacteria can reproduce in many places (option 4) and can survive outside hospitals (option 5).

Answer:

Antibiotics are more likely to be present in hospitals, thus selecting for resistant strains.