A highly successful parasite
A Can feed without killing its host
B Kills the host rapidly
C Benefits its host
D Does not harm its host at all
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: A. Can feed without killing its host
A highly successful parasite is one that is able to sustain its life and reproduce effectively without causing the death of its host, at least not quickly. This is why the correct answer is A. Can feed without killing its host.
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship in which one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of another organism, the host. However, if a parasite kills its host too quickly, it loses its source of nourishment and a place to live, which negatively impacts its own survival and ability to reproduce. Successful parasites tend to evolve mechanisms that allow them to exploit their host over a long period without causing immediate death. This balance allows them to multiply, spread to new hosts, and continue their life cycle effectively.
For example, tapeworms can live for years in the intestines of their hosts, absorbing nutrients without immediately threatening the host’s life. Similarly, malaria parasites live within human red blood cells and liver cells for some time before severe symptoms develop, providing the parasite time to multiply and transfer to another host through mosquito bites.
In contrast, a parasite that kills its host rapidly (option B) may be effective in the short term but is not considered highly successful from an evolutionary perspective. Option C is incorrect because benefiting the host describes mutualism, not parasitism. Option D is also incorrect because parasites do harm their hosts by drawing nutrients, damaging tissues, or triggering immune responses.
In conclusion, the defining trait of a highly successful parasite is its ability to live off the host without immediately killing it, allowing for a prolonged and efficient reproductive cycle.