The passage most strongly suggests that the author would agree with which one of the following statements?

BenMingov November 30, 2019

Hi Tomgbean, thanks for the question.

Answer choice E is incorrect because it states the following:

That the author believes that if a hypothesis cannot be proven by direct observation, then it is speculation.

We should note that the author clearly states in line 46 that "evolutionary mechanisms are never observed directly". Having said this and then combining answer choice E would mean that the author would think that any hypothesis related to evolutionary mechanisms is speculation. This would include the theory under question, which the author allows the use of circumstantial evidence in an attempt to elucidate Steele's hypothetical mechanism. Why would the author consider this hypothesis at all if there was no way to observe evolutionary mechanisms directly. It would mean that the hypothesis is mere speculation. This answer choice would even go as far as to say that Darwin's theory is pure speculation as well.

I hope this has helped, please let me know if you have any other questions.

tomgbean December 2, 2019

What about lines 30-35 that states that reverse transcription has been observed frequently? Doesn't that disqualify B as being the correct answer?

BenMingov December 3, 2019

Hi Tomgbean,

Answer choice B states that Steele and his colleagues have not directly seen the process of reverse transcription in immune cells.

This is actually supported by lines 30-35, not contradicted. Lines 30-35 discuss how Steele and his colleagues "hypothesize" this reverse transcription process in immune cells. If they had seen it, then it would no longer be a hypothesis, it would become an observation. As for the reverse transcription being observed frequently in other contexts, this is not about Steele and colleagues, nor within immune cells.

Please let me know if this was clear and feel free to ask any other questions you may have.