Which statement about spores is true?

• A. A hard, thick-walled capsule formed by some bacteria that contains only the essential parts of the protoplasm of the bacterial cell
• B. Spores are the reproductive stage of bacteria
• C. Spores are viruses
• D. Spores are a type of immune cell

Answer: (A)

Spore formation in some bacteria is a survival mechanism, not a form of reproduction. The endospore is a highly resistant, dormant structure with a thick protective coat that encloses only the essential genetic material and a minimal amount of cytoplasm. This design lets the bacterium survive harsh conditions such as heat, desiccation, chemicals, and radiation, and when conditions improve, the spore can germinate back into a normal, active cell. That idea matches the statement describing a hard, thick-walled capsule formed by some bacteria that contains only the essential parts of the protoplasm.

The other ideas don’t fit: spores are not the reproductive stage of bacteria, they are not viruses, and they are not immune cells.