Question:easy

Read the passage and answer the question
We know photosynthesis is a feature of plants which absorb sunlight and use the energy to convert atmospheric CO2 into glucose. While sunlight peaks in the 400-700 nm region (of wavelengths), scientists have shone ultraviolet radiation on plants and found that this opens new avenues in enzyme engineering and drugs through photocatalysis-the process of using light to jump-start chemical reactions. Light-activated enzymes turn light energy into chemical action. In some cases, light triggers lightning-fast shape changes that turn on the enzymes. These movements can now be tracked in real-time on a scale of trillionths of a second using ultra-fast imaging. Researchers at Nanjing University, China have used visible light to trigger inherent enzymes as catalysts, paving the way for manufacturing useful products and drugs.
Photocatalysis means

Show Hint

Punctuation marks like dashes (—), colons (:), or parentheses () in reading passages are often used by authors to define complex technical terms.
Always focus on these punctuation cues to find definitions quickly.
Updated On: Jun 30, 2026
  • the process of using ultraviolet rays to absorb sunlight
  • the process of using plants to produce ultraviolet rays
  • the process of using heat to jump-start chemical reactions
  • the process of using light to jump-start chemical reactions
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Break down the word itself.
The word photocatalysis has two parts: photo means light, and catalysis refers to initiating or speeding up a chemical reaction.
Step 2: Eliminate wrong options.
Options 1 and 2 incorrectly mention plants producing or absorbing ultraviolet rays. Option 3 says heat, which contradicts the photo (light) prefix entirely.
Step 3: Select the correct definition.
Option 4 correctly combines both parts of the word: using light to jump-start chemical reactions, which is the definition given in the passage.
\[ \boxed{\text{the process of using light to jump-start chemical reactions}} \]
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