[2026] PTE Academic Reading - Multiple Choice, Single Answer

The advent of high-throughput genomic sequencing has undeniably transformed biological classification, allowing scientists to uncover evolutionary relationships that were previously hidden. However, this shift toward a purely molecular phylogeny risks sidelining the venerable discipline of morphological taxonomy. Proponents of a "sequence-first" approach argue that DNA provides an objective, immutable record of ancestry, free from the subjective interpretations of physical traits. Yet, relying solely on genetic codes creates a sterile understanding of life that ignores the functional reality of how organisms interact with their environments. Morphology—the study of form and structure—offers vital insights into adaptation and ecological niches that a genome alone cannot convey. Furthermore, the vast majority of historical records and fossil data are physical; to discard morphological expertise is to sever our link with the biological past. A truly robust biological science must integrate both genetic precision and structural context. Without this synthesis, we may find ourselves with a perfect map of life's blueprints but no understanding of the buildings they were intended to create.