Which of the following describes organisms that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen?

The correct answer is anaerobic, which refers to organisms that thrive in environments without oxygen. These organisms have adapted to utilize energy through processes that do not require oxygen, such as fermentation or anaerobic respiration. In environments with oxygen, anaerobic organisms may be unable to survive due to the toxic effects of oxygen on their metabolic processes.

Aerobic organisms, in contrast, require oxygen for their growth and metabolic functioning, so they cannot be the correct answer in this context. Facultative organisms can grow in both the presence and absence of oxygen, while microaerophilic organisms need low levels of oxygen for growth but are not inhibited by its presence. Therefore, the defining characteristic of anaerobic organisms being unable to survive in oxygen-rich environments makes it the correct answer.