Question

multiple choice question

an association where a parasite spends all or most of its life cycle gaining nutrients and support within a host cell is called ______ parasitism.

• facultative intracellular
• obligate intracellular
• obligate extracellular
• facultative extracellular

Explanation:

Analyze the definition of the parasitic association

The question describes an association where a parasite spends all or most of its life cycle gaining nutrients and support "within a host cell". The term "within a host cell" corresponds to "intracellular".

Determine the dependency level

Because the parasite must spend "all or most of its life cycle" inside the host cell to survive and reproduce, this dependency is mandatory, which corresponds to "obligate".

Match with the correct option

Combining "obligate" (mandatory dependency) and "intracellular" (inside the cell) yields "obligate intracellular" parasitism.

Answer:

• facultative intracellular
• obligate intracellular (Correct answer)
• obligate extracellular
• facultative extracellular