Answer:
Claim: Viruses are not considered alive.
Evidence: Viruses lack key characteristics of living organisms. They do not possess cellular structure, cannot replicate independently, and do not undergo metabolic processes. They also lack the ability to respond to stimuli or adapt to their environment.
Reasoning: Living organisms are typically defined by their ability to grow, reproduce, and carry out metabolic functions. Viruses, on the other hand, are essentially genetic material enclosed in a protein coat and can only reproduce by infecting a host cell and hijacking its machinery. Therefore, based on their distinct characteristics, it is widely accepted in the scientific community that viruses are not classified as living organisms.