Reading Comprehension — Set 5
Questions 41–50 of 105
One of the most iconic discoveries of twentieth-century science was the elucidation of DNA's three-dimensional architecture. The molecule takes the form of a double helix—two long, complementary strands wound around a common axis in the manner of a twisted ladder. The outer framework of each strand is formed by alternating sugar and phosphate groups, while the rungs of the ladder consist of paired nitrogen bases that hold the two strands together through hydrogen bonds. This elegant double helix structure, determined by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, explains how genetic information can be copied and passed from cell to cell. What is the shape of a DNA molecule as described in the passage?
Correct Answer: C. Double helix
The passage describes DNA's characteristic double helix structure. This structure, discovered by Watson and Crick, consists of two complementary strands twisted around each other. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
The genetic information stored in DNA is written in an alphabet of just four chemical bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine, conventionally abbreviated A, T, G, and C respectively. The two strands of the double helix are held together because each base on one strand pairs exclusively with a specific partner on the other—adenine always pairs with thymine, and guanine always pairs with cytosine. This strict base-pairing rule ensures that when a cell divides and its DNA is copied, both daughter cells receive an accurate replica of the parent's genetic instructions. The precise order of the bases along the molecule determines every heritable characteristic of the organism. What are the four bases that make up DNA according to the passage?
Correct Answer: A. A, T, G, C
The passage lists the four DNA bases as adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). These bases pair specifically: A with T and G with C, maintaining the DNA structure. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
DNA performs a role in living cells that can be likened to a master blueprint stored in a central archive. Its primary function is to store the genetic information needed to build proteins and to transmit that information reliably from one generation of cells to the next. Every time a cell divides, the DNA is duplicated so that each new cell inherits a complete copy of the organism's genetic instructions. During protein synthesis, specific regions of the DNA are transcribed into messenger RNA, which then serves as a template for assembling amino acids into functional proteins. What is the primary function of DNA as explained in the passage?
Correct Answer: B. Storing and transmitting genetic information
The passage explains that DNA's primary function is to store and transmit genetic information. It acts as a biological blueprint containing instructions for building and maintaining living organisms. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Along each DNA molecule are thousands of discrete functional units called genes, each occupying a defined region of the strand. A gene is a segment of DNA that contains the coded instructions for producing a particular protein or carrying out a specific biological function, and it is through the action of these proteins that observable traits—such as eye color, blood type, or disease susceptibility—are expressed. Different organisms carry different versions, or alleles, of the same genes, which accounts for the variation seen within species. The total collection of genes in an organism's DNA constitutes its genome. According to the passage, what is the relationship between genes and DNA?
Correct Answer: B. Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific traits
The passage explains that genes are specific segments of DNA that code for particular proteins and traits. Each gene contains the instructions for producing a specific characteristic or function in an organism. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
The natural environment faces pressures from multiple directions: industrial pollution, deforestation, over-extraction of freshwater, and the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are all documented and worsening trends. Ecosystems that took millennia to evolve are being disrupted at a pace that outstrips the capacity of species to adapt. Scientific evidence consistently shows that without deliberate corrective action—whether through technology, policy, or changes in individual behavior—environmental degradation will continue to accelerate rather than self-correct. The consequences, ranging from biodiversity loss to more frequent extreme weather events, are projected to become increasingly severe over coming decades. What does the passage imply about future environmental challenges?
Correct Answer: B. Without intervention, environmental degradation will continue worsening
The passage describes ongoing environmental problems and their consequences. The tone and content imply that without corrective action, these problems will intensify rather than resolve themselves naturally. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Air and water pollution, climate change, and the decline of migratory species do not halt at national borders, making environmental degradation an inherently global challenge. A factory releasing greenhouse gases in one hemisphere contributes to temperature rises felt on every continent, while plastics discarded in one river system may eventually wash up on distant coastlines. For this reason, effective responses require coordinated international agreements, shared scientific monitoring, and equitable sharing of both the costs and the benefits of clean technology. Unilateral action by individual nations, while worthwhile, cannot substitute for the collective commitment that global environmental governance demands. Why might the passage emphasize the global nature of environmental problems?
Correct Answer: B. To demonstrate that these issues require coordinated international responses
By emphasizing environmental problems' global scope, the passage implies the need for international cooperation. Pollution doesn't respect borders, so coordinated worldwide action is necessary for effective solutions. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Addressing environmental degradation calls for action at every level of society, from international treaty bodies down to individual households. Governments bear responsibility for setting enforceable standards for emissions, waste disposal, and land use, as well as for investing in clean infrastructure. At the same time, the cumulative impact of individual choices—what people buy, how they travel, and how much energy they consume—plays a significant role in determining overall environmental outcomes. Meaningful progress therefore depends on both strong regulatory frameworks and an informed, engaged citizenry willing to modify its own behavior. What does the passage suggest about the responsibility of individuals versus governments?
Correct Answer: C. Both individual actions and government policies are necessary
The passage implies that addressing environmental problems requires multiple levels of action. While discussing policy and industry regulation, it also emphasizes individual choices and consumer responsibility. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, offering capabilities that range from diagnosing medical conditions to driving vehicles and composing text. These capabilities bring genuine benefits, but they also raise questions that engineers and ethicists are only beginning to address: Who is accountable when an AI system makes a harmful decision? How should bias encoded in training data be identified and corrected? What safeguards prevent the misuse of surveillance or autonomous weapons systems? Highlighting these ethical concerns is essential for ensuring that AI is developed and deployed responsibly, with appropriate governance frameworks to protect individuals and society. Why does the passage likely discuss ethical concerns related to AI?
Correct Answer: C. To highlight important considerations for responsible AI deployment
By discussing ethical concerns, the passage implies that careful consideration of AI's societal impact is important. This suggests the need for responsible development practices and regulatory frameworks. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being explored as a tool to enhance the quality and efficiency of medical care. AI systems trained on millions of clinical records, imaging scans, and laboratory results can detect subtle patterns that human clinicians might overlook, supporting earlier and more accurate diagnosis of conditions such as cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease. By analyzing a patient's genetic profile alongside treatment outcomes from comparable cases, AI can also help physicians select therapies most likely to be effective for that individual. Researchers and healthcare providers see these analytical capabilities as a foundation for transforming both diagnosis and treatment in coming decades. What does the passage suggest about AI's potential in healthcare?
Correct Answer: B. AI can improve diagnosis and treatment through pattern recognition and data analysis
The passage's discussion of AI's analytical capabilities implies significant potential for healthcare. AI can process vast medical data to identify patterns, assist in diagnosis, and personalize treatment plans. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Artificial intelligence has already moved well beyond research laboratories and into everyday products and services—powering the recommendation engines of streaming platforms, the fraud-detection systems of banks, and the navigation tools that millions of people use daily. As computing power continues to grow and training datasets expand, AI capabilities are expected to deepen further, enabling applications in manufacturing, agriculture, education, and public administration that are currently only in early development. Analysts and technologists broadly agree that AI will likely become increasingly integrated into various aspects of society over the coming years. The central questions are not whether this integration will occur, but how quickly and under what conditions it will unfold. What does the passage imply about the future prevalence of AI?
Correct Answer: C. AI will likely become increasingly integrated into various aspects of society
The passage's emphasis on AI's growing capabilities and applications implies that AI will become increasingly prevalent. Its integration into business, healthcare, and daily life is likely to expand significantly. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.