Question

read the passage and then answer the question. symbiotic relationships, which occur when one organism is dependent on another organism for survival, are typically categorized into three different types of relationships: parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism. in each of these relationships, the organisms involved are benefited or harmed in different ways. parasitic relationships are often the most familiar types of symbiotic relationships. a common example is a flea living on a dog. in cases like these, the parasite gains a viable habitat to support its life cycle, while the host is harmed. in a mutualistic relationship, on the other hand, both organisms in the relationship are better off because of their arrangement; that is, they benefit mutually from their interactions. for example, lichen is composed of two organisms, an alga and a fungus. the fungus acts like a sponge, holding on to water that the alga needs. at the same time, the alga is constantly converting sunlight into energy, so the fungus, which cannot perform this function for itself, benefits from a reliable energy source. lichen is, in turn, engaged in a commensalistic relationship with the tree that it grows on. in a commensalistic relationship, one organism benefits and the other organism neither benefits nor suffers. the tree provides lichen with a place to grow, but the tree is unaffected. what is the meaning of host as used in the passage? an organism that is not native to a particular area an organism that relies on the sun for food an organism that another organism lives on an organism that lives in or on another organism

Explanation:

The passage describes symbiotic relationships, specifically parasitism where it gives the example of a flea living on a dog. The flea (parasite) gains from the dog, and the dog is identified as the host. So, the host is the organism that another organism (the parasite) lives on.

Answer:

an organism that another organism lives on