The discovery of telomerase, the enzyme responsible for maintaining the length of chromosome ends, was a pivotal moment in molecular biology. By adding repetitive nucleotide sequences to the telomeres, telomerase counteracts the gradual shortening that occurs during cellular division. This mechanism is crucial for the longevity of stem cells and is aberrantly reactivated in the vast majority of cancer cells, allowing for their immortal proliferation. The elegant solution nature devised to solve the end-replication problem offers a profound insight into cellular aging and disease.
The author's attitude toward the discovery of telomerase is best described as...
- deeply skeptical, questioning its purported biological function.
- analytically appreciative, recognizing its significance and elegance. (correct answer)
- mildly indifferent, presenting it as a routine scientific finding.
- overtly critical, focusing on its negative role in cancer proliferation.
Explanation: Author attitude questions require you to identify the tone and perspective conveyed through word choice and framing. Look for descriptive language, evaluative terms, and the overall way the author presents the topic. The author uses distinctly positive and appreciative language throughout this passage. Key phrases like "pivotal moment," "elegant solution," and "profound insight" reveal admiration for both the discovery and the biological mechanism itself. The author doesn't just report facts—they frame telomerase as an important breakthrough that provides valuable understanding of fundamental biological processes. This appreciative tone combined with analytical depth (explaining the mechanism and its implications) points clearly to choice B. Choice A is wrong because the author shows no skepticism—they present telomerase's function as established fact using confident, positive language. Choice C misreads the tone entirely; words like "pivotal," "elegant," and "profound" are far from indifferent or routine. Choice D focuses too narrowly on one detail. While the author mentions cancer, they present it as part of a broader, fascinating biological story rather than criticizing telomerase itself. The cancer connection actually reinforces the enzyme's significance. For DAT reading comprehension attitude questions, pay close attention to adjectives and descriptive phrases—they're your biggest clues to the author's perspective. Words like "elegant," "pivotal," and "profound" signal appreciation and admiration, while terms like "merely," "simply," or "unfortunately" would suggest different attitudes. The author's word choices always reveal more than just the facts they're presenting.