Final answer:
It is true that small, nonpolar, hydrophobic molecules can pass through the lipid bilayer of a membrane, as they are compatible with its hydrophobic interior which allows for passive transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that small, nonpolar, hydrophobic molecules such as fatty acids can easily pass through a membrane's lipid bilayer. The membrane's structure is composed of a phospholipid bilayer that is selectively permeable, allowing substances that meet certain criteria to pass through it without assistance. Hydrophobic molecules are water-hating and similar to the interior of the lipid bilayer, which allows them to move through more readily than hydrophilic substances, which are water-loving and repelled by the bilayer's hydrophobic interior. The passive transport of molecules like oxygen and carbon dioxide gases, and other lipids across the plasma membrane requires no energy because they are compatible with the membrane's hydrophobic nature.