Viruses: Alive or Not?
BE SURE TO ANSWER ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTIONS!!!
1. Watch the video and respond to the following questions using complete sentences (label your
responses).
a. What is the definition of a virus?
b. How do viruses work?
c. Viruses need a “host”. What does this mean?
2. Do an image search (Tools → Explore) for a virus and paste a picture of one in the box below (Ctrl + C
then Ctrl + V).
3. Do a Google search for different types of viruses. Identify 2 types of viruses and describe them (what
they do, symptoms of, etc.).
4. Watch this video and read this article. Then, identify what characteristics of living things viruses DO and
DO NOT have.
5. A friend of yours is claiming that viruses are alive, yet your friend has never taken Biology before and has
no evidence to support their stance. Based on what you know about the characteristics of living things
and the characteristics of viruses, support OR refute (argue against) your friend’s claim and use evidence
(what you have learned this week) to support your stance. In other words, write your REASONING (be
sure to include ALL 4 Steps and change the font color for each step!). (75-100 words Tools -> Word
count)
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4