Consider the following statements : 1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the boiling point of water. 2. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature below the freezing point of water. 3. Some microorganisms can grow in highly acidic environment with a pH below 3. How many of the above statements are correct?

All three statements are correct because extremophiles, such as hyperthermophiles, psychrophiles, and acidophiles, are specifically adapted to thrive in temperatures exceeding 100°C (e.g., in deep-sea hydrothermal vents), below 0°C (e.g., in permafrost), and in highly acidic conditions with a pH near zero. Option (b) is the most tempting wrong choice for candidates who may assume that biological life is impossible above the boiling point of water, failing to account for how high pressure in certain environments prevents water from boiling at 100°C. The core concept being tested is the biological limits of life and the diversity of extremophilic microorganisms.