Question

practice it!
select the statement(s) that accurately describe a viral infection.
a virus is only able to infect you one time, then humans are immune.
a virus is responsible for the common cold.
a virus is a living organism with dna.
viral infections are the cause of many common and severe diseases.
viruses can make changes to the dna inside cells.

Explanation:

• Many viruses mutate frequently, so humans can be reinfected (e.g., influenza, common cold), so the first statement is false.
• Rhinoviruses (a type of virus) cause the common cold, so this statement is true.
• Viruses are not classified as living organisms; they lack cellular structure and cannot reproduce independently, so this statement is false.
• Viral infections cause numerous illnesses, from mild (cold) to severe (HIV, COVID-19), so this statement is true.
• Some viruses (like retroviruses) insert their genetic material into host cell DNA, altering it, so this statement is true.

Answer:

• A virus is responsible for the common cold.
• Viral infections are the cause of many common and severe diseases.
• Viruses can make changes to the DNA inside cells.