Which term describes organisms or processes that do not require oxygen?

• A. Aerobic
• B. Fermentation
• C. Anaerobic
• D. Metabolism

Answer: (C)

The concept here is describing life forms or metabolic processes that do not need oxygen. The right term is anaerobic, meaning “without oxygen.” This applies to organisms that can live and grow in oxygen-free environments and to metabolic pathways that occur without oxygen, such as certain forms of respiration or fermentation. While aerobic means requiring oxygen, and metabolism is the broad set of chemical reactions in a cell, anaerobic specifically targets the absence of oxygen. Fermentation is a type of anaerobic process, but it’s a particular pathway within anaerobic metabolism, not the general descriptor for all non-oxygen-requiring life or processes.