“the swimming contest” ends with the word “losers.” what do you think the author means for readers to understand was lost? how does this relate to the historical conflict between the two people groups represented in this story?

"Loser" is a word that decribes many things but mostly its a  noun

a person or thing that loses or has lost something, especially a game or contest.

synonyms:defeated person, also-ran, the defeated, the vanquished; runner-up

"candidates compete against each other, so there are winners and losers"

a person who accepts defeat with good or bad grace, as specified.

"we won fair and square—they should concede that and be good losers"

a person or thing that is put at a disadvantage by a particular situation or course of action.

"children are the losers when politicians keep fiddling around with education"

answer: b (host)

viruses use the cells of living organisms to reproduce. the cell which is used by virus is called as "host cell". it is a living cell in which virus multiplies, example bacteria, plant or an animal cell.

in this, the virus is a parasite, which uses host cell for its benefit (reproduction) by using the cell machinary of host cell.