space travel and health ielts reading

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A. Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and in Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identifying the most critical medical problems, and finding solutions to those problems. Space biomedicine centers are receiving increasing direct support from NASA and/or the European Space Agency (ESA).

B. This involvement of NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets, and beyond, is no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can actually withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.

C. The most obvious physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are essentially harmless; in some cases, they are even amusing. The blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called ‘fat face`, together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

D. Much more serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space. With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, with the result that the bones weaken, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This extra calcium can overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Muscles too lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all parts of the body, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully. The digestive system becomes less efficient, a weakened immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases and the high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer.

E. To make matters worse, a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or serious illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth. There is simply not enough room available inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit, some of which would not work properly in space anyway. Even basic things such as a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied. The only solution seems to be to create extremely small medical tools and ‘smart` devices that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. The cost of designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be, well, astronomical.

F. Such considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing huge sums of money to help a handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their own health in outer space, when so much needs to be done a lot closer to home. It is now clear, however, that every problem of space travel has a parallel problem on Earth that will benefit from the knowledge gained and the skills developed from space biomedical research. For instance, the very difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in the field of telemedicine, which in turn has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world. To take another example, systems invented to sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft could be used by emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. In the same way, miniature monitoring equipment, developed to save weight in space capsules, will eventually become tiny monitors that patients on Earth can wear without discomfort wherever they go.

G. Nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space. To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas. In one experiment, researchers study the weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity. This would involve volunteers staying in bed for three months, but the center concerned is confident there should be no great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down.AII in the name of science, of course.

Questions 1-5

Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below. Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 1—5 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i. The problem of dealing with emergencies in space ii. How space biomedicine can help patients on Earth iii. Why accidents are so common in outer space iv. What is space biomedicine? v. The psychological problems of astronauts vi. Conducting space biomedical research on Earth vii. The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel viii. How space biomedicine First began ix. The visible effects of space travel on the human body x. Why space biomedicine is now necessary

Example Paragraph A Answer iv 1 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph B Answer: x 2 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph C Answer: ix 3 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph D Answer: vii 4 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph E Answer: i Example Paragraph F Answer ii 5 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph G Answer: vi

Questions 6-7

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. 6. Where, apart from Earth, can space travelers find water?  6 Answer: (ON/FROM) MARS 7. What happens to human legs during space travel?  7 Answer: THEY BECOME THINNER

Questions 8-12

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in Reading Passage?  Write YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer NO, if the state does not agree with the views of the writer NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

8 YES NO NOT GIVEN The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological. Answer: YES 9 YES NO NOT GIVEN Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space. Answer: NOT GIVEN 10 YES NO NOT GIVEN It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine. Answer: NO 11 YES NO NOT GIVEN Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space. Answer: NOT GIVEN 12 YES NO NOT GIVEN Space biomedical research can only be done in space. Answer: NO

Questions 13-14

Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer

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Space travel and health Answers and Questions

The Blog post contains the following IELTS Reading Questions :

• IELTS Reading Yes/No/Not given
• IELTS Reading Matching headings
• IELTS Reading Sentence completion

Stay informed and prepared for success – Explore our comprehensive Reading Test Info page to get valuable insights, exam format details, and expert tips for mastering the IELTS Reading section .

IELTS Reading Passage: Space travel and health

Space travel and health

A. Both in the United States and Europe, space biomedicine is a relatively new field of study. Its primary goals are to investigate how space travel affects the human body, pinpoint the most pressing medical issues, and come up with solutions for those issues. NASA and/or the European Space Agency are providing more direct funding to space biomedicine centres. (ESA).

B. NASA and the ESA’s involvement reflects a growing concern that human endurance limits rather than engineering limitations are limiting the viability of travel to other planets and beyond. For example, the discovery of ice on Mars eliminates the need to design and build a spacecraft that is both large and powerful enough to transport the enormous quantities of water required to keep the crew alive during journeys that could last for many years. However, without the proper safeguards and medical care, the relentlessly hostile environment of space would wreak havoc on their bodies.

C. In many cases, the most noticeable physical changes people experience in zero gravity are harmless or even amusing. Because Earth’s gravity no longer pulls blood and other bodily fluids downward toward the feet, they accumulate higher up in the body, resulting in what is sometimes referred to as a “fat face” and the contrasting “chicken legs” syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

D. The unobserved effects following months or years in space are much more severe. Without gravity, the body doesn’t need a strong skeleton to support it, which causes the bones to deteriorate and release calcium into the bloodstream. The kidneys may become overloaded by the extra calcium, which ultimately results in renal failure. Muscles also lose strength from inactivity. The lungs lose their ability to fully expand while the heart gets smaller, losing the ability to pump oxygenated blood to every part of the body. The immune system weakens, the digestive system becomes less effective, and high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can result in different types of cancer.

E. To make matters worse, in the event of an accident or serious illness, a variety of medical challenges may present themselves to the patient while they are millions of kilometres away from Earth. Simply put, the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit cannot be transported inside a spacecraft because there is not enough room for it, and some of it would not function properly in space anyway. Even simple things like a drip rely on gravity to work, whereas standard resuscitation techniques fail if enough weight is not applied. The only option appears to be to develop incredibly tiny medical tools and “smart” gadgets that can, for instance, use ultrasound to identify and treat internal injuries. The price of creating and manufacturing this type of equipment is inevitably astronomical.

F. Given these factors, some have questioned the morality of spending enormous sums of money to aid a small group of individuals who are willingly risking their health in space when there is a great need for assistance much closer to home. However, it is now obvious that every issue with space travel has an equivalent issue on Earth that will gain from the knowledge amassed and the expertise honed through space biomedical research. For instance, the difficulty of treating astronauts in space has accelerated the field of telemedicine’s development, allowing surgeons to communicate with patients in inhospitable locations around the world. Another illustration: Systems developed to purify waste water on spacecraft could be used by rescue personnel to filter contaminated water at the scene of earthquakes and floods. Similar to how tiny monitoring devices that However, there is still a significant barrier to conducting studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without incurring the astronomical costs of working in space. Working underwater is a tried-and-true method to simulate conditions in zero gravity, but the space biomedicine centres are also considering other approaches. In one experiment, scientists look at the deterioration of bones brought on by extended inactivity. This would require volunteers to spend three months in bed, but the centre in question is confident that it shouldn’t be too difficult to find volunteers willing to spend a month lying down.Of course, AII was done in the name of science.were created to reduce weight in spacecraft will eventually become monitors that patients on Earth can wear comfortably wherever they go.

G. However, there is still a significant barrier to conducting studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without incurring the astronomical costs of working in space. Working underwater is a tried-and-true method to simulate conditions in zero gravity, but the space biomedicine centres are also considering other approaches. In one experiment, scientists look at the deterioration of bones brought on by extended inactivity. This would require volunteers to spend three months in bed, but the centre in question is confident that it shouldn’t be too difficult to find volunteers willing to spend a month lying down. Of course, AII was done in the name of science.

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Space travel and health IELTS Reading Questions

Questions 1 – 3

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in the Reading Passage? Write:

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer NO, if the state does not agree with the views of the writer NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

1. The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological. 2.  Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space. 3.  It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine. 4.  Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space. 5.  Space biomedical research can only be done in space.

Want to excel in identifying the writer’s views and claims? Click here to explore our in-depth guide on how to accurately determine Yes, No, or Not Given in the IELTS Reading section .

Questions     6-10

Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below. Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 6 —10 on your answer sheet. 

List of Headings

i. The issue of handling emergencies in space ii. How space biomedicine can benefit patients here on Earth (ii) iii. The reason accidents happen so frequently in space iv. What is biomedicine in space? v. Astronauts’ mental health issues vi. conducting on-planet biomedical research in space vii. The internal harm that space travel does to the human body viii. The history of space medicine ix. The physical repercussions of space travel on the human body, item x. The current need for space biomedicine

Example:  Paragraph A Answer iv

6.   Paragraph B 7.   Paragraph C 8.   Paragraph D 9.   Paragraph E 10.   Paragraph G

Example: Paragraph F Answer ii

Ready to conquer Matching Headings questions? Click here to learn essential tips and techniques for matching headings accurately to paragraphs or sections in the IELTS Reading section.

Questions 11-13

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

11. The space travellers can find water in ________ apart from Earth. 12. The legs become ___________ while in space travel. 13. Telemedicine treating astronauts _________ in remote areas.

Enhance your sentence completion skills in the IELTS Reading section. Click here to access our comprehensive guide and learn effective strategies for filling in missing words or phrases in sentences.

Space travel and health Reading answers

Solution for 1: YesSolution for 2: Not given Solution for 3: No Solution for 4: Not given Solution for 5: No Solution for 6: x Solution for 7: ix Solution for 8: vii Solution for 9:  i Solution for 10: vi Solution for 11: Mars Solution for 12: They become thinner Solution for 13: Communication with patients

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Reading Practice: Space Travel and Health

A. Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and in Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identifying the most critical medical problems, and finding solutions to those problems. Space biomedicine centers are receiving increasing direct support from NASA and/or the European Space Agency (ESA).

B. This involvement of NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets, and beyond, is no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can actually withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space. 

C. The most obvious physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are essentially harmless; in some cases, they are even amusing. The blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called ‘fat face’, together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner. 

D. Much more serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space. With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, with the result that the bones weaken, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This extra calcium can overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Muscles too lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all parts of the body, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully. The digestive system becomes less efficient, a weakened immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases and the high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer. 

E. To make matters worse, a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or serious illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth. There is simply not enough room available inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit, some of which would not work properly in space anyway. Even basic things such as a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied. The only solution seems to be to create extremely small medical tools and ‘smart` devices that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. The cost of designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be, well, astronomical.

F. Such considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing huge sums of money to help a handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their own health in outer space, when so much needs to be done a lot closer to home. It is now clear, however , that every problem of space travel has a parallel problem on Earth that will benefit from the knowledge gained and the skills developed from space biomedical research. For instance, the very difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in the field of telemedicine, which in turn has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world. To take another example, systems invented to sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft could be used by emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. In the same way, miniature monitoring equipment, developed to save weight in space capsules, will eventually become tiny monitors that patients on Earth can wear without discomfort wherever they go.

G. Nevertheless , there is still one major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space. To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas. In one experiment, researchers study the weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity. This would involve volunteers staying in bed for three months, but the center concerned is confident there should be no great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down.AII in the name of science, of course.

Xem thêm:  Khóa học IELTS 1 kèm 1 – Chỉ 1 thầy và 1 trò chắc chắn đạt điểm đầu ra

Nội dung chính

Questions 1-5

Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below. Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 1—5 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i. The problem of dealing with emergencies in space

ii. How space biomedicine can help patients on Earth

iii. Why accidents are so common in outer space

iv. What is space biomedicine?

v. The psychological problems of astronauts

vi. Conducting space biomedical research on Earth

vii. The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel

viii. How space biomedicine First began

ix. The visible effects of space travel on the human body

x. Why space biomedicine is now necessary

Example Paragraph A Answer iv

               Paragraph B Answer ii 

1 Paragraph B

2 Paragraph C

3 Paragraph D

4 Paragraph E

5 Paragraph G

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Questions 6-7

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

6. Where, apart from Earth, can space travelers find water? 6 ….

7. What happens to human legs during space travel? 7…

Tham khảo thêm chương trình  học IELTS  tại  Vietop

Questions 8-12

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in Reading Passage? Write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO, if the state does not agree with the views of the writer

NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

8 The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological.

9 Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space.

10 It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine.

11 Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space.

12 Space biomedical research can only be done in space.

Tham khảo: Reading Practice: Communication in science Reading Practice: Orientation of birds Reading Practice: Mungo Man

Questions 13-14

Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer

1. x (Đoạn B, “Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.”)

2. ix (Đoạn C, “The most obvious physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity…”

3. vii (Đoạn D, “ With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, with the result that the bones weaken, releasing calcium into the bloodstream.”)

4. i (Đoạn E, “a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or serious illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth.”)

5. vi (Đoạn G, “To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas.)

6. (ON/FROM) MARS (Đoạn B, “The discovery of ice on Mars,…)

7. THEY BECOME THINNER (Đoạn C, “together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.”)

8. YES (Đoạn B, “…there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water …Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space. → Không còn là vấn đề về kỹ thuật, mà quan trọng là phải có hỗ trợ y tế)

9. NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin)

11. NOT GIVEN (Không có thông tin)

12. NO (Đoạn G, “To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater ”)

13. COMMUNICATE WITH PATIENTS (Đoạn F, “which in turn has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world.”)

14. FILTER CONTAMINATED WATER (Đoạn F, “To take another example, …emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.”)

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Science in Space- IELTS Reading Answers

13 min read

Updated On Jul 21, 2023

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The Academic passage, ‘ Science in Space  Reading Answers’ , is a reading passage that consists of 14 questions.

With diligent practice, the  Reading Module  can be the top-scoring category for IELTS aspirants. To score well, you must understand how to approach and answer the different question types in the Reading Module.

By solving and reviewing Sample Reading Questions from past IELTS papers, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark. Take the practice test  Science in Space  below and try more  IELTS reading practice tests  from IELTSMaterial.com.

The question types found in this passage are:

• Multiple Choice Question  (Q. 27-30) & (Q. 40)
• Matching Features  (Q. 31-35)
• Summary Completion  (Q. 36-39)

Reading Passage 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on the Reading Passage below.

Science in Space

A  premier, world-class laboratory in low Earth orbit. That was how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration agency (NASA) sold the International Space Station (ISS) to the US Congress in 2001. Today no one can doubt the agency’s technological ambition. The most complex engineering project ever attempted has created an enormous set of interlinked modules that orbits the planet at more than 27,000 kilometres per hour. It might be travelling fast but, say critics, as a lab it is going nowhere. So far, it has gone through $150 billion.

B So where should its future priorities lie? This question was addressed at the recent 1st annual ISS research and development conference in Colorado. Among the presenters was Satoshi Iwase of Aichi Medical University in Japan who has spent several years developing an experiment that could help solve one of the key problems that humans will face in space: keeping our bodies healthy in weightlessness. One thing that physiologists have learned is that without gravity our bodies begin to lose strength, leaving astronauts with weakened bones, muscles and cardiovascular systems. To counter these effects on a long- duration mission to, say, Mars, astronauts will almost certainly need to create their own artificial gravity. This is

where Iwase comes in. He leads a team designing a centrifuge for humans. In their preliminary design, an astronaut is strapped into the seat of a machine that resembles an exercise bike. Pedalling provides a workout for the astronauts muscles and cardiovascular system, but it also causes the seat to rotate vertically around a central axis so the rider experiences artificial gravity while exercising.

C The centrifuge project highlights the station’s potential as a research lab. Similar machines have flown in space aboard NASA’s shuttles, but they couldn’t be tested for long enough to prove whether they were effective. It’s been calculated that to properly assess a centrifuge’s impact on human physiology, astronauts would have to ride it for 30 minutes a day for at least two months. The only way to test this is in weightlessness, and the only time we have to do that is on the space station,’ says Laurence Young, a space medicine expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

D There are certainly plenty of ideas for other experiments: but many projects have yet to fly. Even if the centrifuge project gets the green light, it will have to wait another five years before the station’s crew can take a spin. Lengthy delays like this are one of the key challenges for NASA, according to an April 2011 report from the US National Academy of Sciences. Its authors said they were ‘deeply concerned’ about the state of NASAs science research, and made a number of recommendations. Besides suggesting that the agency reduces the time between approving experiments and sending them into space, it also recommended setting clearer research priorities.

E NASA has already begun to take action, hiring management consultants Pro-Orbis to develop a plan to cut through the bureaucracy. And Congress also directed NASA to hire an independent organisation, the Centre for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), to help manage the station’s US lab facilities. One of CASIS’s roles is to convince public and private investors that science on the station is worth the spend because judged solely by the number of papers published, the ISS certainly seems poor value: research on the station has generated about 3,100 papers since 1998.The Hubble Space Telescope, meanwhile, has produced more than 1,300 papers in just over 20 years, yet it cost less than one-tenth of the price of the space station.

F Yet Mark Uhran, assistant associate administrator for the ISS, refutes the criticism that the station hasn’t done any useful research. He points to progress made on a salmonella vaccine, for example. To get the ISS research back on track, CASIS has examined more than 100 previous microgravity experiments to identify promising research themes. From this, it has opted to focus on life science and medical research, and recently called for proposals for experiments on muscle wasting, osteoporosis and the immune system. The organisation also maintains that the ISS should be used to develop products with commercial application and to test those that are either close to or already on the market. Investment from outside organisations is vital, says Uhran, and a balance between academic and commercial research will help attract this.

G The station needs to attract cutting-edge research, yet many scientists seem to have little idea what goes on aboard it. Jeanne Di Francesco at ProOrbis conducted more than 200 interviews with people from organisations with potential interests in low gravity studies. Some were aware of the ISS but they didn’t know what’s going on up there, she says. ‘Others know there’s science, but they don’t know what kind.’

H According to Alan Stern, planetary scientist, the biggest public relations boost for the ISS may come from the privately funded space flight industry. Companies like SpaceX could help NASA and its partners when it comes to resupplying the ISS, as it suggests it can reduce launch costs by two-thirds. Virgin Atlantic’s Space Ship Two or ZeroUnfinity’s high- altitude balloon could also boost the space station’s fortunes. They might not come close to the ISS’s orbit, yet Stern believes they will revolutionise the way we, the public, see space. Soon everyone will be dreaming of interplanetary travel again, he predicts. More importantly, scientists are already

queuing for seats on these low-gravity space-flight services so they can collect data during a few minutes of weightlessness. This demand for low-cost space flight could eventually lead to a service running on a more frequent basis, giving researchers the chance to test their ideas before submitting a proposal for experiments on the ISS. Getting flight experience should help them win a slot on the station, says Stern.

Questions 27-30

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

27 What does the writer state about the ISS in the first paragraph?

A  Its manufacture has remained within the proposed budget.

B  It is a great example of technological achievement.

C  There are doubts about the speed it has attained.

D  NASA should have described its purpose more accurately.

28 What are we told about Satoshi Iwase’s experimental machine?

A  It is based on conventional exercise equipment.

B  It was originally commissioned by NASA.

C  It is designed only to work in low-gravity environments.

D  It has benefits that Iwase did not anticipate.

29 The writer refers to the Hubble Space Telescope in order to

A  show why investment in space technology has decreased.

B  highlight the need to promote the ISS in a positive way.

C  explain which kind of projects are more likely to receive funding.

D  justify the time required for a space project to produce results.

30 In the sixth paragraph, we are told that CASIS has

A  rejected certain applications for experiments on the ISS.

B  expressed concern about testing products used for profit.

C  questioned the benefits of some of the projects currently on the ISS.

D  invited researchers to suggest certain health-based projects.

Questions 31-35

Look at the following opinions (Questions 31-35) and the list of people below. Match each opinion with the correct person, A, B,C or D. Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

31 The ISS should be available for business-related ventures.

32 There is general ignorance about what kinds of projects are possible on the ISS.

33 The process of getting accepted projects onto the ISS should be speeded up.

34 Some achievements of the ISS are underrated.

35 To properly assess new space technology, there has to be an absence of gravity.

List of people

A  Laurence Young

B  Authors of the US National Academy of Sciences report

C  Mark Uhran

D  Jeanne Di Francesco

Questions 36-39

Complete the summary using the lists of words, A-H, below.

The influence of commercial space flight on the ISS

According to Alan Stern, private space companies could affect the future of the ISS.

He believes they could change its image; firstly because sending food and equipment there would be more (36) …………………….. if a commercial craft were used, and secondly, because commercial flights might make the whole idea of space exploration seem (37)…………………… to ordinary people. Another point is that as the demand for space flights increases, there is a chance of them becoming more (38)…………………… And by working on a commercial flight first, scientists would be more (39) ……………………. if an ISS position came up.

B  competitive

C  flexible

H economical

Question 40

40 The writer’s purpose in writing this article is to

A  promote the advantages of space flight in general.

B  illustrate how the ISS could become more effective.

C  criticise the ISS for its narrow-minded attitude.

D  contrast useful and worthless space projects.

Reading Answers 

27 Answer:  B

Question type:  Multiple choice Question

Answer location:  Paragraph A, line 1 – line 3

Answer explanation:  In the introductory lines of Paragraph A, it is given that  “A premier, world-class laboratory in low Earth orbit. That was how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration agency (NASA) sold the International Space Station (ISS) to the US Congress in 2001.Today no one can doubt the agency’s technological ambition.”.  From these statements it can be concluded that the International Space Station (ISS) was sold as it was a world-class laboratory and no one has any doubt about its technological advancements. Hence, the answer is B.

28 Answer:  A

Answer location:  Paragraph B, line 7 – line 8

Answer explanation:  In the quoted lines, it is noted that “ He leads a team designing a centrifuge for humans. In their preliminary design, an astronaut is strapped into the seat of a machine that resembles an exercise bike.” . It is clear that Satoshi Iwase’s experimental machine is based on conventional exercise equipment, which is an exercise bike. Hence, the answer is A.

29 Answer:  B

Answer location:  Paragraph E, line 3 – line 4

Answer explanation:  In the noted lines of Paragraph E, it is said that “ One of CASIS’s roles is to convince public and private investors that science on the station is worth the spend because judged solely by the number of papers published, the ISS certainly seems poor value: research on the station has generated about 3,100 papers since 1998.The Hubble Space Telescope, meanwhile, has produced more than 1,300 papers in just over 20 years, yet it cost less than one-tenth of the price of the space station. ”. It can be pointed out that initially the ISS seemed to have poor value and produced less number of papers. But, with the Hubble Space Telescope, it was stressed on the increasing number of research papers at a lower cost. Hence, the answer is B.

30 Answer:  D

Answer location:  Paragraph F, line 3 – line 4

Answer explanation:  In Paragraph F, it is said that  “To get the ISS research back on track, CASIS has examined more than 100 previous microgravity experiments to identify promising research themes. From this, it has opted to focus on life science and medical research, and recently called for proposals for experiments on muscle wasting, osteoporosis and the immune system.”.  This points to the fact that CASIS has called promising research themes by various researchers to conduct experiments on muscle wasting, osteoporosis and the immune system. Hence, the answer is D.

31 Answer:  C

Question type:  Matching Features

Answer location:  Paragraph F, line 5 – line 6

Answer explanation:  In the lines of Paragraph F, it is said that  “The organisation also maintains that the ISS should be used to develop products with commercial application and to test those that are either close to or already on the market. Investment from outside organisations is vital, says Uhran…”  This proves the fact that Mark Uhran is of the opinion that the ISS should be available for business-related ventures (commercial application) as investment from outside the organization is essential. Hence, the answer is C.

32 Answer:  D

Answer location:  Paragraph G, line 3 – line 4

Answer explanation:  In the mentioned lines, it is stated  “Some were aware of the ISS but they didn’t know what’s going on up there, she says. ‘Others know there’s science, but they don’t know what kind.’” . It can be concluded that Jeanne Di Francesco points out that some are aware of the ISS but do not know about what kinds of projects are possible on the ISS. Hence, the answer is D.

33 Answer:  B

Answer location:  Paragraph D, line 4 – line 5

Answer explanation:  In Paragraph D, it is said that  “Its authors said they were ‘deeply concerned’ about the state of NASAs science research, and made a number of recommendations. Besides suggesting that the agency reduces the time between approving experiments and sending them into space, it also recommended setting clearer research priorities.”.  This points out that the authors of the US National Academy of Sciences report suggested that the process of getting accepted projects onto the ISS should be speeded up. Hence, the answer is B.

34 Answer:  C

Answer location:  Paragraph F, line 1 – line 2

Answer explanation:  The following lines – Yet Mark Uhran, assistant associate administrator for the ISS, refutes the criticism that the station hasn’t done any useful research. He points to progress made on a salmonella vaccine, for example. – proves the fact that Uhran pointed out the progress made on a salmonella vaccine and stated that people underrated the achievements of the ISS. Hence, the answer is C.

35 Answer:  A

Answer location:  Paragraph C, line 4

Answer explanation:  The specified line states that  “The only way to test this is in weightlessness, and the only time we have to do that is on the space station,’ says Laurence Young, a space medicine expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.” . From this reference, it can be said that according to Laurence Young, to assess new space technology, there has to be an absence of gravity (weightlessness), otherwise the experiments might fail. Hence, the answer is A.

36 Answer:  H

Question type:  Summary Completion

Answer location:  Paragraph H, line 1 – line 2

Answer explanation:  The indicated lines of Paragraph H mention that  “According to Alan Stern, planetary scientist, the biggest public relations boost for the ISS may come from the privately funded space flight industry. Companies like SpaceX could help NASA and its partners when it comes to resupplying the ISS, as it suggests it can reduce launch costs by two-thirds.”.  This statement indicates that Alan Stern said that the private space companies would be beneficial as resupplying food and equipment would cost less (economical). Hence, the answer is H (economical).

37 Answer:  D

Answer location:  Paragraph H, line 4 – line 5

Answer explanation:  The given lines of Paragraph H say that  “They might not come close to the ISS’s orbit, yet Stern believes they will revolutionise the way we, the public, see space.”.  It is clear that Virgin Atlantic’s SpaceShipTwo or ZeroUnfinity would make the whole idea of space exploration seem real, as the public (ordinary people) will be able to see it in front of their own eyes. Hence, the answer is D (real).

38 Answer:  F

Answer location:  Paragraph H, line 7

Answer explanation:  The given line of Paragraph H says that  “This demand for low-cost space flight could eventually lead to a service running on a more frequent basis…”.  It is clear that as the demand for space flights increases, there is a chance of them becoming more regular (running on a more frequent basis). Hence, the answer is F (regular).

39 Answer:  G

Answer location:  Paragraph H, line 7 – line 8

Answer explanation:  The given lines in Paragraph H say that  “…giving researchers the chance to test their ideas before submitting a proposal for experiments on the ISS. Getting flight experience should help them win a slot on the station, says Stern.”  In light of the fact that by working on a commercial flight first, scientists would be more suitable to get chosen if an ISS position came up (win a slot on the station), the answer is G (suitable).

40 Answer:  B

Question type:  Multiple Choice Question

Answer location:  Whole Passage

Answer explanation:  Throughout the passage, the writer points out various ways in which the ISS can be improved upon or highlights its contribution. In the first paragraph, the space station is mentioned as a ‘premier, world-class laboratory in low Earth orbit’. Next, in Paragraph C, it is stated that “The only way to test this is in weightlessness, and the only time we have to do that is on the space station…”, which proves that the ISS is an important place to conduct various researches as there is no gravity. Finally, the writer describes ways to boost the prospects of the ISS for the future in Paragraph E and H. Hence, the answer is B.

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Janice Thompson

Soon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.

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IELTS Topics: Space

Posted by David S. Wills | Mar 16, 2020 | IELTS Tips | 1

In the past, I have talked often about the importance of learning IELTS in terms of topics . This is because you can learn material organically in a way that your brain can effectively process. It is useful to do this because you can practice reading and writing together, for example, with each skill informing the other. This sort of method will result in higher retention of information than other methods, such as memorising lists of vocabulary and sample answers.

In today’s lesson, I want to introduce you to another IELTS topic. This time, we are looking at the topic of space . You might be wondering why we are looking at this topic. It is not as common as some other ones, like family or technology. However, space is still an important topic that may arise in your test.

What do you mean by “space”?

First of all, let’s clarify what “space” is and what may occur in the IELTS test. By space, we mean basically anything not on this planet. For IELTS, you may be asked about space in a limited capacity because, honestly, it’s a really difficult topic and even native speakers would struggle to speak about it in depth.

Some things that occur in this topic are:

• The value of space travel
• The importance of studying space
• Life on other planets

There really isn’t much more than that, but you should be aware that they could ask you something else. It is impossible to predict IELTS questions.

IELTS Vocabulary: Space

It’s important to note that you don’t need to be an expert on space to answer any IELTS questions. Indeed, IELTS is a very general exam and so you only need a broad and general set of knowledge and vocabulary. As such, I have made the following PPT that contains some useful vocabulary for IELTS students on the topic of space.

Those words are some quite general ones about space, but in the next PPT I have a few words that relate more specifically to space travel :

Now let’s do a short test. Using the words from those PPT files, you should fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

Vocabulary Test

• Space travel has become more practical since the invention of the reusable _________.
• The sun is located at the centre of the ___________.
• Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were the first men to walk on the surface of the _________.
• At NASA, highly skilled people are trained intensively to become _____________.
• When a rocket or space shuttle leaves the ground and heads towards space, the process is referred to as a __________.
• Some people believe that _________ have visited earth and made contact with humans.
• There are teams of scientists around the world searching for life on other __________.

(You can find the answers at the bottom of the page.)

IELTS Speaking Questions: Space

The topic of space is not a common one for IELTS speaking because most ideas are too difficult to expect a candidate to answer fully and the vocabulary required for a discussion about space is beyond a reasonable level expected for most IELTS candidates. However, you could encounter questions like these for part one:

• Do you want to travel into space?
• Do you like movies about space?
• If space travel became affordable for everyone, would you want to visit another planet?

To be honest, questions that are more specific than these are unlikely. You can answer any of these without a vast knowledge of space terminology, and that’s what is required for IELTS. Being able to give a basic answer with just a few topic-specific words is fine.

For example, I would give the following sample answer:

Do you want to travel into space? Yes, I would definitely choose to visit space if I had the chance. I’ve always wanted to see what the Earth looks like from faraway, and very few people have ever actually been able to witness it. Although it might be a bit dangerous, it would truly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As for part three, the questions would be a little more advanced. Due to the nature of the topic, then, it is unlikely that you would really encounter many space questions here. However, if you did, they would look like this:

• Do you think it’s worthwhile looking for life on other planets?
• Is too much money spent sending people into space?
• Do you think that space travel will become as common as air travel in future?

For each of these questions, you would need to offer a more detailed reply, giving a three-part answer:

• State your answer.
• Explain your answer.
• Give evidence, example, or recommendation.

For example, to the first question, I might reply:

No, I really don’t think that it’s worthwhile looking for life on other planets. Lots of time, energy, and money is spent on this pointless project, when there are clearly many issues on Earth that need resolved first. There may well be aliens in another galaxy, but we have nothing to gain from contacting them because we have no hope of ever reaching them. Even reaching the edge of our own solar system would take thousands of years. Instead, we ought to reverse climate change and end poverty, both of which are ultimately far more achievable goals than communicating with extra-terrestrials.

You can look at my answer in three distinct parts:

• No, I really don’t think that it’s worthwhile looking for life on other planets.
• Lots of time, energy, and money is spent on this pointless project, when there are clearly many issues on Earth that need resolved first. There may well be aliens in another galaxy, but we have nothing to gain from contacting them because we have no hope of ever reaching them. Even reaching the edge of our own solar system would take thousands of years.
• Instead, we ought to reverse climate change and end poverty, both of which are ultimately far more achievable goals than communicating with extra-terrestrials.

This basic structure has allowed me to present a fully-developed answer that is logical and appropriate. Note that I haven’t used much advanced vocabulary, although I did use the following space-related terms:

• extra-terrestrials

I could have replaced them with other words from this lesson – solar system and aliens. These are synonyms. Instead, I wanted to add some variety and avoid repetition.

IELTS Writing Questions: Space

It is more common to encounter the topic of space in IELTS writing, where the issues presented tend to be a little more complex and require answers of about 250+ word in order to really cover them sufficiently. The issue of spending money on space travel, for example, is a little too vast to sufficiently describe in just a short, spoken answer.

Here is how that same topic may be presented for IELTS writing task 2:

Some people think that space exploration is a waste of resources while others think that it is essential for mankind to continue to explore the universe in which we live. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Sample Answer

I have written a sample band 9 answer that includes some useful vocabulary. I have highlighted those phrases in bold:

Some governments and private companies spend vast amounts of money on  space programmes , but this is often criticised as wasteful when there are clearly issues  here on Earth  that need to be solved. This essay will look at both viewpoints, and then decide that some limited  space exploration  should be undertaken. First of all, it is true that there are issues plaguing  this planet  that need our attention more than  space travel . Around the world, millions of people are starving to death or dying from preventable diseases. It seems unjust that governments are devoting billions of dollars to  send people into space  when these fundamental problems still exist. There are also existential threats such as extinction due to climate change, and yet we are devoting the best minds to  explore other planets  rather than saving this one. If it is just a matter of exploration, then there are even parts of this world that are not yet explored, such as the bottom of the ocean. Despite those valid concerns, space exploration is still important. The  astronauts  who  go up into orbit  are not just “exploring space” in the sense that explorers used to travel the world, but rather they are scientists  conducting experiments  that may prove beneficial to the future of humanity. The work that they do in space could be instrumental in stopping the next pandemic or ending hunger. Certainly, money spent on Earth would appear to be a more direct resolution, but perhaps these  space experiments  will have a greater ultimate benefit. In conclusion, this is a difficult issue because, while space travel is important, it seems hard to justify the vast amounts of money spent on it. However, this money will probably yield important long-term results and so it is important to continue.

(Note: This sample answer was originally posted here in November, 2019.)

IELTS Listening: Space

I really doubt that you would encounter the topic of space in IELTS listening unless it occurred in the lecture portion. In that case, the language used would not actually be about space but rather you would be listening to someone talking about space and you would be asked more general questions. Phrases like “solar system” would not really be necessary.

If this topic did arise, you might be presented with a basic discussion of an idea like space tourism or a human community on Mars. Any difficult concepts would be explained slowly and clearly, but ultimately it would be your general English that is tested, and not your knowledge of space.

If you want some listening practice on the topic of space, you can try these listening exercises that I made last year or look at this exercise from Breaking News English. For more general practice, you may want to look up videos about space on YouTube and see how much you can understand.

IELTS Reading: Space

It is very possible that you could encounter a reading passage about space in your IELTS test. This could cover almost any aspect of space because the reading test allows for difficult ideas. There may be questions about space travel, science, life on other planets, the history of space travel, and so on. It’s hard to predict because honestly there are so many options.

Again, you don’t need to be an expert on space to answer these correctly and you don’t have to know lots of space vocabulary, either. If there are any difficult words or phrases, they will be defined in the text or in a footnote. You can find a pretty useful reading practice exercise here from a university in Hong Kong.

• space shuttle
• solar system

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Such a great sample. I really enjoyed that. thank you

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Academic Reading Practice Test 56 Space Travel and Health

Academic Reading Test 56 SPACE TRAVEL AND HEALTH, VANISHED, DOGS – A LOVE STORY

we prefer you to work offline, download the test paper and blank answer sheet

IELTSFever-academic-reading-practice-test-56-pdf

Academic Reading Test 56 Answers

SPACE TRAVEL AND HEALTH

Reading Passage 1 Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below. Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 1—5 on your answer sheet. List of Headings

i. The problem of dealing with emergencies in space ii. How space biomedicine can help patients on Earth iii. Why accidents are so common in outer space iv. What is space biomedicine? v. The psychological problems of astronauts vi. Conducting space biomedical research on Earth vii. The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel viii. How space biomedicine First began ix. The visible effects of space travel on the human body x. Why space biomedicine is now necessary

Example Paragraph A Answer iv 1 . Paragraph B 2 . Paragraph C 3 . Paragraph D 4 . Paragraph E Example Paragraph F Answer ii 5 . Paragraph G

A. Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and in Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identifying the most critical medical problems, and finding solutions to those problems. Space biomedicine centers are receiving increasing direct support from NASA and/or the European Space Agency (ESA).

B. This involvement of NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets, and beyond, is no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can actually withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.

C. The most obvious physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are essentially harmless; in some cases, they are even amusing. The blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called ‘fat face`, together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

D. Much more serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space. With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, with the result that the bones weaken, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This extra calcium can overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Muscles too lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all parts of the body, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully. The digestive system becomes less efficient, a weakened immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases and the high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer.

E. To make matters worse, a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or serious illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth. There is simply not enough room available inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit, some of which would not work properly in space anyway. Even basic things such as a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied. The only solution seems to be to create extremely small medical tools and ‘smart` devices that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. The cost of designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be, well, astronomical.

F. Such considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing huge sums of money to help a handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their own health in outer space, when so much needs to be done a lot closer to home. It is now clear, however, that every problem of space travel has a parallel problem on Earth that will benefit from the knowledge gained and the skills developed from space biomedical research. For instance, the very difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in the field of telemedicine, which in turn has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world. To take another example, systems invented to sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft could be used by emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. In the same way, miniature monitoring equipment, developed to save weight in space capsules, will eventually become tiny monitors that patients on Earth can wear without discomfort wherever they go.

G. Nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space. To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas. In one experiment, researchers study the weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity. This would involve volunteers staying in bed for three months, but the center concerned is confident there should be no great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down. AII in the name of science, of course.

Questions 6 and 7 Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

6. Where, apart from Earth, can space travelers find water? …………. 7. What happens to human legs during space travel? ……………..

Questions 8-12

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in Reading Passage 1? Write YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer NO if the statement does not agree with the views of the writer NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

8. The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological. 9. Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space. 10. It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine. 11. Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space. 12. Space biomedical research can only be done in space.

Questions 13-14 Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer

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15 thoughts on “academic reading practice test 56 space travel and health”.

Where is the answer of space travel and health?

Thank you very much…..you are doing a great job in providing useful materials for free especially for reading. keep going -:)

Mam reading ka answers ton visible nhi ho rhe bhi tk

http://ieltsfever.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/answers-ieltsfever-academic-reading-practice-test-56-pdf.pdf

plz provide answers of this reading

Answers in PDF are inaccessible.

It doesn’t appear.

Kudos…good job. Your website is a timely guide and mentor

Hello, thank you for all of your efforts Your website is truly helpful Please I’m looking for the key answers of academic reading test number 64

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Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS; Academic Test 5 Reading passage 3; Science in Space; with best solutions and detailed explanations

This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to  IELTS Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 5 Reading Passage 3 which is titled ‘ Science in Space’ . This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding and understanding Reading answers in the Academic module. This post can guide you properly to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 5: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 3: Questions 27-40

The headline of the passage: Science in Space

Questions 27-30: Multiple-choice questions

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. This question type generally follows a sequence. So, scanning skill is effective here.]

Question no. 27: What does the writer state about the ISS in the first paragraph?

Keywords for the question: ISS, first paragraph,     

In the first paragraph, have a close look at the first six lines, “A premier, world-class laboratory in low Earth orbit. That was how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration agency (NASA) sold the International Space Station (ISS) to the US Congress in 2001. Today no one can doubt the agency’s technological ambition . . . .. .. .”

Here, no one can doubt the agency’s technological ambition = a great example of technological achievement,

So, the answer is: B (It is a great example of technological achievement.)

Question no. 28: What are we told about Satoshi Iwase’s experimental machine?

Keywords for the question: Satoshi Iwase’s experimental machine,

If you look at paragraph no. 2, the writer describes the design of the experimental machine designed by Satoshi Iwase in the final few lines. Here in lines 16-19 the writer mentions, “ . .. . .. .. This is where Iwase comes in. He leads a team designing a centrifuge for humans. In their preliminary design, an astronaut is strapped into the seat of a machine that resembles an exercise bike . . .. . . .. . ..” 

Here, designing a centrifuge = designing the experimental machine, resembles an exercise bike = based on conventional exercise equipment,

So, the answer is: A (It is based on conventional exercise equipment.)

Question no. 29: The writer refers to the Hubble Space Telescope in order to –

Keywords for the question: the Hubble Space Telescope,

The answer to this question can be found in paragraph no. 5, in lines 7-15, where the writer mentions the Hubble Space Telescope. Let’s read there, “ .. . .. . . One of CASIS’s roles is to convince public and private investors that science on the station is worth the spend because judged solely by the number of papers published, the ISS certainly seems poor value : research on the station has generated about 3,100 papers since 1998 . The Hubble Space Telescope , meanwhile, has produced more than 11,300 papers in just over 20 years, yet it cost less than one-tenth of the price of the space station .”

Here, the ISS certainly seems poor value = the ISS is not given proper value that it deserves,

research on the station has generated about 3,100 papers since 1998 = the ISS has generated a good number of papers on space research,

These lines suggest that the Hubble Space Telescope is just a telescope and it produced more than 11,300 papers in just over 20 years; whereas the ISS or the International Space Station should be given bigger priority as it has already produced about 3100 papers. 

So, the answer is: B (highlight the need to promote the ISS in a positive way.)  

Question no. 30: In the sixth paragraph, we are told that CASIS has –

Keywords for the question: comparison, construction of Homer’s poems, another art form,   

In paragraph no. 6, the writer says in lines 5-11, “ . . .. . . . . CASIS has examined more than 100 previous microgravity experiments to identify promising research themes. From this, it has opted to focus on life science and medical research, and recently called for proposals for experiments on muscle wasting, osteoporosis and the immune system . .. . . .. .”

Here, recently called for proposals for experiments on muscle wasting, osteoporosis and the immune system = invited researchers to suggest certain health-based projects,

So, the answer is: D (invited researchers to suggest certain health-based projects.)   

Questions 31-35: Matching statements with the correct researchers

[In this type of question, candidates need to relate statements that are given by or link to some researchers in the passage. The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the researchers and read it carefully. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same researchers in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions may not follow any sequential order.]

Question no. 31: The ISS should be available for business-related ventures.

Keywords for the question: ISS, should be available for, business-related ventures,  

In lines 15-17 of paragraph no. 6, the writer mentions the comment made by Mark Uhran, “ . . . . .. . Investment from outside organisations is vital , says Uhran , and a balance between academic and commercial research will help attract this.”

Here, Investment from outside organisations is vital = the ISS should be encouraged to accept business-related ventures,

So, the answer is: C (Mark Uhran)   

Question no. 32: There is general ignorance about what kinds of projects are possible on the ISS.

Keywords for the question: general ignorance, what kinds of projects are possible, ISS,   

In paragraph no. 7, the writer of the text says, “ . . … .. . The station needs to attract cutting-edge research, yet many scientists seem to have little idea what goes on aboard it. Jeanne DiFrancesco at ProOrbis conducted more than 200 interviews with people from organisations with potential interests in low gravity studies. Some were aware of the ISS but they didn’t know what’s going on up there, she says . ‘ Others know there’s science, but they don’t know what kind .”

Here, Others know there’s science, but they don’t know what kind = general ignorance about the kinds of projects that are possible on the ISS,

So, the answer is: D (Jeanne DiFrancesco)

Question no. 33: The process of getting accepted projects onto the ISS should be speeded up.

Keywords for the question: process, getting accepted projects, onto the ISS, should be speeded up,    

The answer to this question is found in paragraph no. 4. Here, the writer says in lines 5-14, “ . . .. . . . Lengthy delays like this are one of the key challenges for NASA, according to an April 2011   report from the US National Academy of Sciences . Its authors said they were ‘deeply concerned’ about the state of NASA’s science research, and made a number of recommendations. Besides suggesting that the agency reduces the time between approving experiments and sending them into space , it also recommended setting clearer research priorities..”

Here, Lengthy delays = it takes too much time for the projects to get accepted,

suggesting that the agency reduces the time between approving experiments and sending them into space = the process of getting accepted projects should be speeded up,

So, the answer is: B (Authors of the US National Academy of Sciences report)

Question no. 34: Some achievements of the ISS are underrated.

Keywords for the question: some achievements, ISS, underrated,    

Have a look at the first few lines of paragraph no. 6. Here, the writer says, “ . . .. . . . Yet Mark Uhran , assistant associate administrator for the ISS, refutes the criticism that the station hasn’t done any useful research . . .. . . . . . ”

Here, refutes the criticism that the station hasn’t done any useful research = Uhran doesn’t think it is correct to criticize the ISS because he believes that the ISS is doing better research, but it doesn’t get the proper appreciation. This means it’s achievement is underrated.  

So, the answer is: C (Mark Uhran)

Question no. 35: To properly assess new space technology, there has to be an absence of gravity.

Keywords for the question: properly assess, new space technology, has to be, absence of gravity,

Paragraph no. 3 gives us the answer to this question. Here, the writer talks about the issue of gravity. Take a look at the final few lines, “ . . . . .. The only way to test this is in weightlessness , and the only time we have to do that is on the space station,’ says Laurence Young , a space medicine expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.”

Here, The only way to test this = To properly assess new space technology, weightlessness = absence of gravity,

So, the answer is: A (Laurence Young)

Questions 37-39: Completing summary with a list of words

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete a summary with a list of words taken from the passage. Candidates must write the correct letter (not the words) as the answers. Keywords and synonyms are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

The headline of the summary: The influence of commercial space flight on the ISS

We find a discussion about commercial space flight on the International Space Station in the final Paragraph. So, all the answers have to be in this paragraph.

Question no. 36: According to Alan Stern, private space companies could affect the future of ISS. He believes they could change its image; firstly because sending food and equipment there would be more ________ if a commercial craft were used, . . … .. .. .

Keywords for the question: Alan Stern, private space companies, could affect the future of ISS,  they could change its image, firstly, because, sending food and equipment there, would be more, if, a commercial craft were used,      

Let’s take a look at the first few lines of paragraph no. 8. The writer says here, “According to Alan Stern , planetary scientist, the biggest public relations boost for the ISS may come from the privately funded space flight industry . Companies like SpaceX could help NASA and its partners when it comes to resupplying the ISS, as it suggests it can reduce launch costs by two-thirds . .. . . .”

Here, privately funded space flight industry = sending food and equipment there . .. . . . commercial craft,

reduce launch costs by two-thirds = economical,

So, the answer is: H  (economical)

Question no. 37: and secondly, because commercial flights might make the whole idea of space exploration seem ________ to ordinary people.      

Keywords for the question: secondly, because, commercial flights, might make, whole idea of space exploration, seem, ordinary people,  

The answer can be found in lines 9-12 of paragraph 8, where the writer says, “ . . .. . . .They might not come close to the ISS’s orbit, yet Stern believes they will revolutionise the way we, the public , see space. Soon everyone will be dreaming of interplanetary travel again , he predicts. .. .. .. .. .”

Here, the public = ordinary people, Soon everyone will be dreaming of interplanetary travel again = space exploration seem real to ordinary people,

So, the answer is: D (real)

Question no. 38: Another point is that as the demand for space flight increases, there is a chance of them becoming more __________.

Keywords for the question: another point, demand for space flight, increases, chance of them becoming more,

The answer can be found in lines 16-18 of paragraph no. 8, “ .. . .. This demand for low-cost space flight could eventually lead to a service running on a more frequent basis , . . . .. .”

Here, This demand for low-cost space flight = as the demand for space flight increases, could eventually lead to = there is a chance, on a more frequent basis = regular,

So, the answer is: F (regular)   

Question no. 39: And by working on a commercial flight first, scientists would be more __________ if an ISS position came up.     

Keywords for the question: by working on a commercial flight, first, scientists, would be more, if, an ISS position, came up, 

The final lines of paragraph no. 8 says, “ . . … .. . giving researchers the chance to test their ideas before submitting a proposal for experiments on the ISS. Getting flight experience should help them win a slot on the station ,”

Here, researchers = scientists, Getting flight experience should help them win a slot on the station = scientists would be more suitable ,

So, the answer is: G (suitable)  

Question no. 40: Multiple choice questions (Identifying the main purpose/aim/title of the passage)

[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options that shows the main aim/purpose/title using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]

Question no. 40: The writer’s purpose in writing this article is to –

Keywords for the question: writer’s purpose, writing this article,

Solving all the answers in this passage, we get a clear idea about the suggestions made to make the International Space Station more effective . We get suggestions like investing more money in ISS research projects , attracting cutting-edge researches, starting commercial flights etc.  

So, the answer is: B (illustrate how the ISS could become more effective.)

© All the texts with inverted commas used in this post are taken from Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Test 5

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Academic Test 5 Reading passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge Official Guide to IELTS Academic Test 5 Reading passage 2

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Reading Practice Test 68

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READING PASSAGE 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.

BEEN THERE; DONE THAT – IN ZERO GRAVITY

Until recently, only nation-states and their agencies were capable of sending satellites and astronauts into space. We’ve all heard of NASA, ESA, and the ISS (International Space Station), but now some private firms are challenging those institutions. The question is: are these companies merely chasing tourist dollars, or will their space exploration benefit humanity?

Currently, there are at least four big American and two British companies involved in the new space race – the mission to send tourists to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. There they can experience the thrills of weightlessness and the marvellous sight of our planet so far away.

One such company, Blue Origin, was founded by Jeff Bezos. The billionaire Bezos was the man behind Amazon, America’s largest online retailer. The main project of Blue Origin is a vertical take-off and landing rocket, designed exclusively for tourism.

Armadillo Aerospace was also set up by a well-known American: John Carmack. He gave the world the video games Doom and Quake. Armadillo is developing a similar spacecraft to that of Blue Origin. Fares for suborbital trips will start at around $100,000. Although the spacecraft is still in the testing stage, a travel agency, Space Adventures, has signed a deal with Armadillo to sell seats.

A cheaper alternative to Armadillo’s trip may be a ride on a Lynx spacecraft. This is the brainchild of Jeff Greason, of XCOR Aerospace. This company subcontracts for NASA and is well known for producing reliable craft. Its new tourist spacecraft can take off and land on a runway at a civilian airport. It may be able to make four daily suborbital flights but will carry only one passenger each time.

Richard Branson, a British entrepreneur, is planning to start space-tourist flights on his Virgin Galactic craft. These will carry six passengers, paying up to $200,000 for their space thrill. Once thrust upwards, the craft will head for the edge of the atmosphere. The whole journey will last just a few minutes.

Starchaser, a company headed by Briton, Steve Bennet, hopes its rockets will offer a more enduring experience – a 20-minute flight, several minutes of which will be spent in zero gravity.

But probably the most impressive private space company is SpaceX. This was set up by Elon Musk, an internet entrepreneur born in South Africa. Musk made his fortune creating PayPal, which eBay bought from him for $1.5bn. While anyone else with that kind of money may well have retired, Musk works 100 hours a week at his Los Angeles rocket factory, intent on realising his dream.

For Musk, space travel is not just about ticking things off in a Lonely Planet guidebook. He believes the future of humanity lies in its ability to colonise other planets. Since his days as a student at Penn State University, he has been passionate about the future. He is certainly living on other planets is the only way humans can prevent self-destruction or save themselves from a catastrophic event like the impact of a large meteorite.

Musk established SpaceX in 2002. Yet within only seven years, it had launched a satellite from its rocket, Falcon 1. By contrast, agencies like NASA and ESA take decades to achieve similar feats. In 2010, SpaceX sent its much larger Falcon 9 rocket into space. The next venture is to provide a taxi service to the ISS with Dragon, a small shuttle that Falcon 9 launches. This will deliver cargo and astronauts to the station. Dragon is radically different in design from the existing Shuttle, and far less costly.

In fact, before building Falcon and Dragon, Musk thoroughly researched the costs of building and launching rockets. He could not understand why government agencies spent so much money on these activities, and he concluded, quite simply, that they were inefficient. To prove his theory, SpaceX has produced the Merlin engine, which is elegantly designed, extremely powerful, and relatively cheap. It runs on highly refined kerosene that costs half the price of other rocket fuel. In most of SpaceX’s spacecraft, parts are re-usable, an innovation in the industry. There are also fewer stages in rocket transformation. That is: there are fewer times a rocket separates into smaller parts. All of this means spacecraft can be produced at a fraction of the cost of competitors while maintaining the same high safety standards.

Musk maintains that the Falcon 9, a rocket that carries astronauts, is so powerful it could already reach Mars if it were assembled in Earth’s orbit. He believes this technological advance will occur within 20 years – something most experts consider unlikely. Moreover, he firmly believes living on Mars is possible within the lifetime of his children. For him, the new space race is not only about selling tickets for a mind-blowing ride, but also about securing the future of our species.

For other private companies, however, there is no urge to invest heavily in missions to distant planets. Making a profit at the high end of the tourist market here on Earth is their only goal.

Questions 1-4

Reading Passage 1 has five sections: A-E .

Choose the correct heading for sections B-E from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i-vii , in boxes 1-4 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i            To colonise or generate revenue?

ii           The big six

iii         NASA spends too much

iv          It’s not rocket science

v           Public or private spacecraft?

vi          Why Americans dominate

vii         An idealist and a realist  

Example          Answer

Section A        v  

1    Section B

2    Section C

3    Section D

4    Section E

Questions 5-9

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND / OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 5-9 on your answer sheet.

5   A ticket on one of Armadillo Aerospace’s trips into space is likely to cost …………………… .

6   A single passenger will journey on a(n) ………………….. spacecraft.

7   A ride on Virgin Galactic will take only …………………… minutes.

8   On a Starchaser spacecraft, a passenger will experience ……………………… minutes of weightlessness.

9   Elon Musk sold ………………….. , and set up SpaceX, which builds rockets.

Questions 10-13

Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 23-27 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE                if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE               if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN      if there is no information on this

10    Musk is a keen supporter of human settlement in space.

11    Overall, SpaceX’s rockets are faster than its competitors.

12    Musk believes a manned spacecraft will reach Mars within 20 years.

13    Most private space companies share Musk’s enthusiasm for distant space travel.

READING PASSAGE 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26  which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.  

BRAND LOYALTY RUNS DEEP

At almost any supermarket in Sydney, Australia, food from all over the world fills the shelves. Perhaps you fancy some Tick Tock Rooibos tea made in South Africa, or some Maharaja’s Choice Rogan Josh sauce from India. Alongside local Foster’s beer, Chinese Tsingtao and Indonesian Bintang are both to be found. For homesick Britons, the confectionary aisle is stocked with Mars Bars and Bountys, while for pining Poles sweets manufactured by firms like Wawel or Solidarposc are available. Restaurants in Sydney range from Afghan to Zambian, catering for different ethnic groups as well as the rest of the curious general public.

All of this variety is a result of population movement and changes in global trade, and, to a lesser extent, reduced production and transportation costs. While Australia can claim around 40% of its population as the first generation, other countries, like Switzerland, may have fewer international migrants, but still, have people who move from city to city in search of work. Even since the 1990s, taxes or tariffs on imported goods have decreased dramatically. The World Trade Organisation, for example, has promulgated the idea of zero tariffs, which has been adopted into legislation by many member states. It is estimated that within a century, agriculture worldwide has increased its efficiency five-fold. Faster and better-integrated road and rail services, containerisation, and the ubiquitous aeroplane have sped up transport immeasurably.

Even with this rise in the availability of non-local products, recent studies suggest that supermarkets should do more to increase their number to match more closely the proportion of shoppers from those countries or regions. Thus, if 10% of a supermarket’s customers originate in Vietnam, there ought to be 10% Vietnamese products in store. If Americans from southern states dominate in one northern neighbourhood, southern brands should also be conspicuous. Admittedly, there are already specialist shops that cater to minority groups, but minorities do frequent supermarkets.

Two separate studies by Americans Bart Bronnenberg and David Atkin have found that brand loyalty (choosing Maharaja’s Choice over Patak’s, or Cadbury’s over Nestlé) is not only determined by advertising, but also by a consumer’s past. If a product featured in a person’s early life in one place, then, as a migrant, he or she is likely to buy that same product even though it is more expensive than an otherwise identical locally-produced one.

In the US context, between 2006 and 2008, Bronnenberg analysed data from 38,000 families who had bought 238 different kinds of packaged goods. Although the same brands could be found across America, there were clear differences in what people purchased. In general, there were two leading brands in each kind of packaged good, but there were smaller brands that assumed a greater proportion of consumers’ purchases than was statistically likely. One explanation for this is that 16% of people surveyed came from interstate, and these people preferred products from their home states. Over time, they did buy more products from their adopted state, but, surprisingly, it took two decades for their brand loyalty to halve. Even people who had moved interstate 50 years previously maintained a preference for home-state brands. It seems the habits of food buying change more slowly than we think.

Bronnenberg’s findings were confirmed by Atkin’s in India although there was something more unexpected that Atkin discovered. Firstly, during the period of his survey, the cost of all consumables rose considerably in India. As a result, families reduced their spending on food, and their calorific intake fell accordingly. It is also worth noting that although India is one country, states impose tariffs or taxes on products from other Indian states, ensuring that locally-produced goods remain cheaper. As in the US, internal migrants bought food from their native place even when it was considerably more expensive than local alternatives, and at a time when you might expect families to be economising. This element made the brand-loyalty theory even more convincing.

There is one downside to these findings. In relatively closed economies, such as India’s, people develop tastes that they take with them wherever they go; in a more globalised economy, such as America’s, what people eat may be more varied, but still dependent on early exposure to brands. Therefore, according to both researchers, more advertising may now be directed at minors since brand loyalty is established in childhood and lasts a lifetime. In a media-driven world where children are already bombarded with information, their parents may not consider appropriate yet more advertising is hardly welcome.

For supermarkets, this means that wherever there are large communities of expatriates or immigrants, it is essential to calculate the demographics carefully in order to supply those shoppers with their favourite brands as in light of Atkin and Bronnenberg’s research, advertising and price are not the sole motivating factors for purchase as was previously thought.

Questions 14-18

Choose the correct letter: A , B , C , or D .

Write the correct letter in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.

14    In this article, the writer refers to food products that are sold

A    at markets.

B    wholesale.

C    online.

D    retail.

15    In Sydney, shoppers can buy beer from

A    China and Indonesia.

B    India and South Africa.

C    Poland.

D    Vietnam.

16    The greater variety of goods and brands now available is mainly due to:

A    cheaper production and more migration.

B    changes in migration and international trade.

C    cheaper production and transport.

D    changes in migration and transport.

17    The writer thinks supermarkets ………… should change their products slightly.

A    in Australia

B    in India and the US

C    in Switzerland

D    worldwide

18    The writer suggests that:

A    the quality of products at specialist shops will always be better than at supermarkets.

B    specialist shops will close down because supermarkets will be cheaper.

C    specialist shops already supply minority groups, so supermarkets shouldn’t bother.

D    specialist shops already supply minority groups, yet supermarkets should compete with them.

Question 19

Which chart below – A , B , or C – best describes the relationship between shoppers at one Sydney supermarket, and what research suggests that same supermarket should sell?

Write your answer in box 19 on your answer sheet.

Questions 20-26

Which study/studies do the following statements relate to?

In boxes 20-26 on your answer sheet, write:

A          if the information relates only to Atkin’s study

B          if the information relates only to Bronnenberg’s study

C          if the information relates to both Atkin’s and Bronnenberg’s studies

20    There was a correlation between brands a shopper used in childhood, and his or her

preferences as an adult.

21    One reason for the popularity of smaller brands was that many people surveyed came

from another state where those brands were bigger.

22    Even living in a new state for a very long time did not mean that shoppers chose new

23    In general, food became more expensive during the time of the study. Despite this,

families bought favourite brands and ate less.

24    Taxes on products from other states also increased the cost of food. This did not stop

migrants from buying what they were used to.

25    Children may be the target of more food advertising now.

26    Advertising and price were once thought to be the main reasons for buying products. This

theory has been modified now.

READING PASSAGE 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40 which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.

Diprotodon, human, Pleistocene & modern wombat skeletons

Imagine a bird three times the size of an ostrich, or a burrowing animal as big as an elephant. How about a kangaroo three metres tall? Such creatures were all Australian megafauna, alive during the Pleistocene.1

Fifteen million years ago, 55 species of megafauna were widespread in Australia, the largest of which was the marsupial2 diprotodon, weighing around 2700 kilograms (5952 lb). Giant snakes, crocodiles, and birds were also common. Wombats and kangaroos reached more than 200 kg (440 lb), and even koalas weighed 16 kg (35 lb). Then, rather suddenly, around 46 thousand years ago (46 kyr), all these animals became extinct. Some scientists claim this was due to environmental pressures, like climate change or fire; others favour predation.3

At the end of the Pleistocene, humans reached Australia via Indonesia, and, according to the archaeological record, by 45 kyr their settlement was widespread. One hundred and sixty archaeological sites in Australia and New Guinea have been much surveyed. There is some disagreement about the dates of these sites; meantime, a forceful movement aims to push human settlement back before 45 kyr.

Dating the rare bones of megafauna was highly controversial until 20 years ago when a technique called optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) was developed. With OSL, the age of minerals up to 200 kyr can be established with + / – 10% accuracy.

The largest OSL dating of megafauna was carried out in 2001 by Roberts, who put the extinction date for megafauna at around 46 kyr, very early on in the time of human habitation.

Megafaunal bones are rare enough, but, at archaeological sites with human habitation, they are extremely rare with fewer than 10% of the 160 sites containing them. Bones that show cutting, burning, or deliberate breaking by humans are virtually non-existent, and thus far, not one megafaunal skeleton shows conclusively an animal was killed by humans. There are no ‘kill sites’ either whereas, in New Zealand, where the giant moa bird became extinct in the 18th century due to hunting, there are sites with hundreds of slaughtered creatures. As a result, many scientists still believe that humans were not responsible for megafaunal extinction – especially as the weapons of Australian Aborigines at 45 kyr were only wooden clubs and spears.

There is, perhaps, a cultural record of megafauna in Aboriginal myths. The Adnyamathanha people of South Australia tell of the Yamuti, something like a diprotodon. An ancient rock painting in Arnhem Land shows an extinct giant echidna. But this record is small and open to interpretation.

If the Aborigines were not technologically advanced enough to kill them, what else might have destroyed megafauna? One theory has been climate change – perhaps there was a relatively hot, dry period between 60-40 kyr. Research suggests otherwise. Indeed, at 40 kyr, the climate was moderate, and Lake Eyre, in central Australia, grew. If there was desertification, scientists would expect megafauna to have moved towards the coast, looking for food and water, but instead, the fossil record details an equal distribution of the dead inland and on the coast.

In addition, changes in specific vegetation occurred after the extinction of the megafauna. Trees that relied on large animals to eat their fruit and disperse their seed covered far smaller areas of Australia post 40 kyr. These plants were not threatened by climate change; rather, they died off because their megafaunal partners had already gone.

Typically, climate change affects almost all species in an area. Yet, around 46 kyr, only the megafauna died. Previously, there had been many species of kangaroo, some as heavy as 200 kg (440 lb), but, after, the heaviest weighed only 32 kg (70 lb). This phenomenon is known as dwarfing, and it occurred with many animals in the Pleistocene.

Dwarfing has been studied extensively. In 2001, Law published research related to fish farming. Despite excellent food and no predators, farmed fish become smaller as generations continue. This adaptation may be a response to their being commercially useless at a smaller size, meaning they hope to survive the harvest.

Of the dwarf marsupials, the most notable development over the giants was their longer reproductive lives, which produced more young. They were better runners as well, or, those that were slow-moving retreated to the mountainous forest, beyond the reach of humans.

If climate change isn’t a credible factor in extinction, what about fire? Fire is caused naturally by lightning strikes as well as by humans with torches. Surprisingly, the charcoal record for many thousands of years does not show a marked increase in fire after human habitation of Australia – there is only a slow increase over time. Besides, it could be argued that forest fires aid megafauna since grass, their favoured food, invariably replaces burnt vegetation.

Johnson, an archaeologist, has proposed that the Aborigines could have wiped out all 55 megafaunal species in just a few thousand years. He believes that the 45 kyr human settlement date will be pushed back to make this extinction fit, and he also maintains that 700 years are enough to make one species extinct without large-scale hunting or sophisticated weapons. Johnson used computer modelling on a population of only 1000 animals to demonstrate this. If just 30 animals are killed a year, then the species becomes extinct after 520-700 years. Human populations in Australia were small at 45 kyr – only 150 people occupied the same 500 square kilometres as 1000 animals. However, at a rate of killing just two animals a year by each group of ten people, extinction is highly likely.

A recent study on the albatross has shown the bird has almost disappeared due to females’ occasionally being hooked on fishing lines. A large number of animals do not need to be killed to effect extinction especially if an animal breeds late and infrequently like the albatross and like megafauna.

———————-

1 A period of 2.6 million-10,000 years ago. 2 This mammal, like a kangaroo, keeps its very young baby in a pouch. 3 The killing of a group or groups of animals by another group.

Questions 27-30

Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G , below.

Write the correct letter, A-G , in boxes 27-30 on your answer sheet.

27   Many animals in the Pleistocene were

28   Australian megafauna became extinct

29   The figure 45 kyr refers to

30   OSL represented

A      surprisingly swiftly.

B      optically stimulated luminescence.

C      over a long period of time.

D      considerably larger than their modern equivalents.

E      the date of megafaunal disappearance.

F      human habitation of Australia.

G      a breakthrough in dating technology.

Questions 31-34

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 31-34 on your answer sheet.

31   ‘Kill sites’ for moas have been found in ……………………. , but no equivalents have been

found for megafauna in Australia.

32   It seems unlikely megafaunal extinction was caused by ……………………. .

33   Modern kangaroo species bear more ……………………. than megafaunal species.

34   Johnson does not think it is strange that megafaunal ……………………. with proof of

hunting have not yet been found.

Questions 35-39

Look at questions 35-39 and the list of people below.

Match each statement with a person or group of people.

Write the letters in boxes 35-39 on your answer sheet.

List of people

A      The Adnyamathanha

B      Johnson

D      Roberts

35   This scientist used reliable dating techniques to propose a likely extinction date for megafauna.

36   These people have a mythical description of a creature like a diprotodon.

37   This scientist drew on data from fish farming to understand dwarfing.

38    This person believes dates will be revised so that the period between human settlement in Australia and the extinction of megafauna is longer.

39   This scientist developed a theory that even with basic weapons, Aborigines made megafauna extinct.  

Question 40

Choose the correct letter: A , B , C , D , or E .

Write the correct letter in box 40 on your answer sheet.

Which of the following is the most suitable title for Reading Passage 3?

A     The rise and fall of giant mammals in Australia

B     Is a koala still cute at 16 kilograms?

C     Climate change: killer of Australian megafauna

D     Modern research techniques solve an archaeological puzzle

E     Invisible hunters caused mass extinctions

Reading Test 67

Reading test 69, answer reading test 68.

5. around $100,000 ( dollar sign necessary )

6. Lynx ( capital optional )

7. a few (‘a’ necessary )

9. PayPal ( capitals optional )

11. NOT GIVEN

31. New Zealand ( capitals optional )

32. climate change/ environmental pressures

34. bones/skeletons

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Space Flight Tourism: IELTS Reading Passage with Questions and Answers

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Updated on 03 February, 2024

upGrad Abroad Team

Upgrad abroad editorial team.

Introduction:

The concept of space flight tourism, once a mere figment of science fiction, has transformed into a tangible reality in the 21st century. This passage delves into the intricacies of space tourism, exploring its development, the technology involved, its impact, and the ethical considerations it raises.

Passage: "Space Flight Tourism: Navigating the New Frontier"

In the annals of human achievement, the early 21st century will perhaps be remembered as the dawn of a new era in space exploration – not by professional astronauts, but by ordinary people. Space flight tourism, once a fantasy relegated to the pages of science fiction, is becoming a reality, promising a unique blend of adventure, science, and awe-inspiring experiences.

The journey towards commercial space travel has been a complex one. In the early 2000s, visionaries like Elon Musk with SpaceX and Jeff Bezos with Blue Origin took the first steps in this ambitious quest. The goal was clear: to make space accessible to not just a select few astronauts but to anyone with the dream and financial means. The development of reusable rocket technology marked a critical turning point in this endeavor. These technological advancements promised a reduction in costs and increased the feasibility of space tourism, bringing it within the realm of possibility for a larger demographic.

SpaceX, with its Dragon spacecraft, and Blue Origin, with its New Shepard rocket system, have both successfully sent non-professional astronauts into space, signaling the birth of the space tourism industry. Additionally, Virgin Galactic, led by Sir Richard Branson, has also been a key player, focusing on suborbital spaceflights. These developments represent a monumental shift from state-sponsored space programs to private, entrepreneurial ventures in outer space.

The experience of space travel is unparalleled. Imagine the thrill of a rocket launch, the weightlessness of zero gravity, and the breathtaking views of the Earth from above. For many, it's the ultimate bucket-list experience. However, the industry faces significant challenges and criticisms. One of the most pressing is the environmental impact. Rocket launches release substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the Earth's atmosphere. While the total number of space flights remains relatively low compared to other forms of transport, the impact per flight is significant.

Furthermore, space tourism raises important ethical and philosophical questions. In a world grappling with numerous challenges such as poverty, climate change, and political strife, some argue that the resources dedicated to space tourism could be better used elsewhere. This debate is intensified by the fact that space tourism remains an elite experience, accessible only to the very wealthy. The tickets for a trip to space range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, making it far beyond the reach of the average person.

Despite these concerns, the industry is advancing. The potential of space tourism extends beyond mere recreational activity. It holds promise for scientific research and technological development. For instance, the microgravity environment of space offers a unique laboratory for experiments in fields ranging from medicine to materials science.

Moreover, space tourism could have significant long-term benefits for humanity. It could pave the way for advancements in space colonization and exploration, and perhaps even provide solutions to earthly problems. For example, asteroid mining, a concept that has been much discussed in scientific circles, could potentially provide resources that are scarce on Earth.

The economic impact of space tourism cannot be ignored. It's expected to create new jobs and generate significant revenue. As the industry grows, the cost of space travel may decrease, making it more accessible to a broader audience. This democratization of space travel could lead to a new era in human consciousness, expanding our understanding and appreciation of our planet and its place in the universe.

However, the risks associated with space travel are not trivial. The safety of passengers is paramount, and the industry will need to demonstrate consistent, reliable safety records. The challenge of ensuring the safety of space tourists adds another layer of complexity to this endeavor.

The regulatory landscape for space tourism is still evolving. Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive international regulation governing commercial space flights. This raises questions about liability, insurance, and the rights of passengers. As the industry grows, there will be a need for clear regulations to ensure the safety and rights of all involved.

In conclusion, space flight tourism represents a remarkable intersection of human ambition, technological prowess, and the enduring allure of the unknown. It's a testament to our unquenchable thirst for exploration and discovery. As we stand on the cusp of this new age, it's vital to navigate the challenges and opportunities with care, ensuring that this bold venture into space benefits not just a privileged few, but humanity as a whole.  

Q1. When did the concept of commercial space travel become plausible? A. 1990s B. Early 2000s C. 2010s D. 1980s

Q2. Which company is not mentioned as a pioneer in space tourism? A. SpaceX B. NASA C. Blue Origin D. Virgin Galactic

Q3. What marked a significant milestone in the development of space tourism? A. Discovery of new planets B. Development of reusable rocket technology C. First human on Mars D. International Space Station

Q4. One major allure of space travel is: A. Speed of travel B. Zero gravity experience C. Meeting extraterrestrial life D. Mining asteroids

Q5. True or False: Space tourism has no environmental impacts. A. True B. False

Q6. Fill in the blank: The ethical debate around space tourism involves the prioritization of ________. A. Global issues B. Rocket technology C. Luxury experiences D. Space exploration

Q7. What is one concern raised about the impact of rocket launches? A. Noise pollution B. Release of greenhouse gases C. Formation of new galaxies D. Decreased gravity on Earth

Q8. The desire for _________ is a driving factor behind the growth of the space tourism industry. A. Profit B. Exploration C. Fame D. Colonization

Q9. According to the passage, space tourism is: A. Decreasing in popularity B. Limited to astronauts C. Growing in industry D. Focused on Mars colonization

Q10. The passage suggests that space travel offers: A. A solution to global warming B. A standard holiday experience C. A unique, life-altering experience D. An affordable vacation option

A1. B. Early 2000s. The passage mentions that the idea of commercial space travel became a plausible venture in the early 2000s.

A2. B. NASA. The passage mentions SpaceX and Blue Origin as pioneers in space tourism, but not NASA in this context.

A3. B. Development of reusable rocket technology. The passage states this as a significant milestone in the development of space tourism.

A4. B. Zero gravity experience. The allure of experiencing zero gravity is highlighted in the passage as a unique aspect of space travel.

A5. B. False. The passage mentions the environmental impact of rocket launches, including the release of greenhouse gases.

A6. A. Global issues. The ethical debate involves prioritizing resources for space over addressing global issues.

A7. B. Release of greenhouse gases. This is mentioned as a concern regarding the environmental impact of rocket launches.

A8. B. Exploration. The passage identifies the human desire for exploration as a driving factor behind the industry's growth.

A9. C. Growing in industry. The passage indicates that despite concerns, the space tourism industry is growing.

A10. C. A unique, life-altering experience. This is mentioned in the passage as one of the promises of space travel.

Conclusion:

Space flight tourism stands at the crossroads of groundbreaking technology and profound ethical debates. As this industry continues to expand, it challenges us to balance the thrill of exploration with the responsibility towards our planet and its inhabitants. This passage and the accompanying questions aim to provoke thought and discussion among IELTS learners and enthusiasts alike.

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Describe a story about space that you have read about

• IELTS SPEAKING

Describe a story about space that you have read about or seen in a film or on TV.

You should say:

• When you read or saw the story
• What happened in the story
• Whether the story has any significance today
• And explain how you felt about reading or seeing this story.

Sample answer to describe a story about space that you have read about

I’d like to discuss a space story that I encountered in a book titled “The Mars”. I don’t recall the author’s name, but the story made a lasting impression on me. I stumbled upon this book at a local bookstore, drawn in by its captivating cover, and read it entirely in about two hours while there. I also remember that it was adapted into a well-known film.

The story is set in the future, where Earth is becoming uninhabitable due to severe weather conditions. A man named Cooper, a former NASA pilot, is recruited for a mission to find a new home for humanity. Cooper and his team travel to Mars to explore whether it’s suitable for human habitation. They face many obstacles on Mars but successfully navigate through them.

The story holds significant relevance today as we grapple with the effects of climate change and consider the possibilities of life beyond Earth. It raises important questions about our responsibility towards our planet and the lengths we are willing to go to ensure the survival of our species

Reading ‘The Mars’ had a profound impact on me; its intricate plot and thought-provoking themes captivated me. The narrative technique was so compelling that I felt compelled to read the entire book in one sitting. It underscored the critical importance of protecting our planet, suggesting that if we fail to act, we might soon find ourselves unable to inhabit Earth. Additionally, the book enriched my vocabulary with numerous universe-related terms

Useful vocab

Ielts speaking part 2

S ách luyện thi IELTS

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Space travel And Health IELTS Reading Answers

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Updated on 13 April, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

The IELTS examinations are again coming close. Students who wish to enroll in international universities must score well on this test. The IELTS test assesses a student's comprehension skills and language proficiency. For a better understanding of the question pattern and type, students must practice regularly using sample papers. The Space Travel and Health Reading sample is designed to support preparations so students can ace the test. 

Table of Contents

Download e-books for ielts preparation.

• Questions 1-5
• Questions 6-7

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Study Abroad Without IELTS

Explore ielts reading samples with answers.

A. Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identify the most critical medical problems, and find solutions to those problems. Space biomedicine centers are receiving increasing direct support from NASA and/or the European Space Agency (ESA).

B. This involvement of NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets and beyond is no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a large and powerful spacecraft to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.

C. The most apparent physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are harmless; in some cases, they are even amusing. The blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called 'fat face`, together with the opposite 'chicken legs' syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

D. More serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space. With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, resulting in the bones weakening and releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This extra calcium can overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Muscles, too, lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all body parts, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully. The digestive system becomes less efficient, a weakened immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases, and high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer.

E. To make matters worse, a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or severe illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth. There is not enough room inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital's casualty unit, some of which would not work correctly in space. Even basic things such as a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied. The only solution seems to be to create extremely small medical tools and 'smart` devices that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. The cost of designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be astronomical.

F. Such considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing vast sums of money to help a handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their health in outer space, when so much needs to be done a lot closer to home. However, it is clear that every problem of space travel has a parallel problem on Earth that will benefit from the knowledge gained and the skills developed from space biomedical research. For instance, the difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in telemedicine, which has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world. To take another example, systems invented to sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft could be used by emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. In the same way, miniature monitoring equipment, developed to save weight in space capsules, will eventually become tiny monitors that patients on Earth can wear without discomfort wherever they go.

G. Nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to studying the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of working in space. One tried and tested method to simulate conditions in zero gravity is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas. In one experiment, researchers studied the weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity. This would involve volunteers staying in bed for three months, but the center concerned is confident there should be no great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down. AII in the name of science, of course.

Questions 1-5 

Reading passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of titles below. Write the valid number (i-x) in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet. 

List of Headings 

• The problem of dealing with emergencies in space. 
• How space biomedicine can help patients on Earth 
• Why are accidents so common in outer space 
• What is space biomedicine?
• The psychological problems of astronauts 
• Conducting space biomedical research on Earth 
• The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel 
• How space biomedicine first began 
• The visible effects of space travel on the human body 
• Why space biomedicine is now necessary 

Answer (1) –  x (Why space biomedicine is now necessary) 

Explanation: 

In the second paragraph or Paragraph B of the  Space Travel and Health Reading Answers , the author says that returning to space is no longer a problem due to engineering limitations. The primary issue is human health in outer space. Towards the end also, the author says that if proper medical equipment and teams are unavailable, the same can have irrecoverable health consequences given how hostile the outer space environment is. This shows how necessary space for biomedical research is. 

Answer (2) –  ix (The visible effects of space travel on the human body) 

Explanation:  According to Paragraph C of the  Space Travel and Health Reading sample, the author talks about visible changes that outer space travel cause on the human body. From the get-go, mention is made of the first visible change, which is rather amusing. The blood accumulating towards the face due to zero gravity is the first change – the fat face situation. Then comes chicken legs syndrome since the lower half of the limbs become leaner. So, this paragraph is all about visible physiological changes. 

Answer (3) –  vii (The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel)

Explanation:  Paragraph D of the  Space Travel and Health Reading sample starts by mentioning that the visible physiological changes are trivial compared to the other dangerous changes happening within the body over months and years of staying in space. Then the author mentions what those changes can be – calcium accumulating in the kidneys, bones weakening significantly, renal failure, heart becoming smaller, and decreased muscle strength. So, this paragraph is all about the internal damage of space travel. 

Answer (4) –  i (The problem of dealing with emergencies in space)

Explanation:  In the fifth paragraph of Paragraph E of the reading passage, the author carefully discusses the complications that health emergencies in space may cause. Many such examples are also mentioned, including drip not functioning due to lack of gravity. Then there is the problem of resuscitation in case the patient's body weight has reduced dramatically. This paragraph focuses heavily on the complications that space health emergencies cause.  

Answer (5) –  vi (Conducting space biomedical research on Earth) 

Explanation:  In the final paragraph or Paragraph G of the  Space Travel and Health Reading sample, the author talks explicitly about how space biomedical research may be conducted on Earth. He mentions two experiments that may work – one is to experiment underwater for zero gravity situations and the other is to have volunteers lie down for 12 weeks straight to help study the weakening of bones due to extended periods of inactivity. 

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Questions 6-7 

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views on the Reading Passage? Write –

YES -  If the statement agrees with the views of the writer 

NO  – If the statement contradicts the views of the writer 

NOT GIVEN –  If there is no information about this in the passage 

8. The obstacles to going far into space are medical, not technological.

Answer – YES 

Explanation:  The answer to this question may be found in Paragraph B of the  Space Travel   and Health Reading Answers . This paragraph begins as a continuation of the previous one, wherein the author says that the greater involvement of ESA and NASA in space biomedicine centers is raising concerns. In Paragraph B, the concerns are revealed – space travel limitations currently do not extend to engineering or technological issues but to medical reasons. This is implied by the sentence talking about the conditions that the human body can endure. Hence, the statement is true. 

9. Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space. 

Answer – NOT GIVEN

Explanation:  This question's answer may be found in Paragraph D of the  Space Travel and Health Reading sample. In the previous paragraphs, the author addressed concerns about space travel. In Paragraph D, questions are raised on the effects of space on the human body after months and years of living there. The author mentions several adverse consequences, such as too much calcium in the bloodstream, weakened muscles, a smaller heart, and an inefficient digestive system. However, no mention is made of whether or not humans can survive in space for more than two years. 

10. Spending so much money on space biomedicine is morally wrong. 

Answer – NO

Explanation:  Paragraph F of the  Space Health and Travel Reading Answers answers this question. In the previous paragraph, the writer talks about the enormous sum space travel-related medical research would cost. In the paragraph in question, the author reveals that some people consider space travel-related biomedical research unethical investments. However, he further states that such research has value for medical science on Earth. Instances include advancements in telemedicine. Therefore, the statement contradicts what is given in the passage. 

11. Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space. 

Answer – NOT GIVEN 

Explanation:  A clue to this question's answer can be found in Paragraph F of the Reading passage. As the paragraph proceeds, the author says that investing in biomedicine research for space travel is helpful because it helps medical research on Earth. He gives the example of telemedicine. We also get to know that the way this has helped is it has enabled surgeons to communicate with patients in every part of the world. However, nowhere is mention of certain surgeries being more successful in space. 

12. Space biomedical research can only be done in space. 

Answer – NO 

Explanation:  The answer to this question is available in Paragraph G of the  Space Travel and Health Reading Answers sample. In this paragraph, the author mentions that it is possible to carry out biomedicine research for space travel on Earth itself. However, the same will involve huge expenses and out-of-the-ordinary experiments. An example is also given in the form of having volunteers lay in bed for three months straight to test the weakening of bones. Though the experiment seems impractical, at least the statement is true because space-related biomedicine research is possible on Earth. 

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Questions 13-14 

Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer 

Answer for Question 13 –  Communicate with patients 

Explanation:  The answer to this question may be found in Paragraph F of the  Space Travel   and Health Reading Answers . In this paragraph, the author continues the debate on whether investing money in space-related biomedicine research is ethical. Then, the author justifies the spending, saying that this research has benefitted the Earth in several ways, one of which is the advancement of telemedicine. And the reason is that surgeons can now speak to people in previously inaccessible parts of the world. 

Answer for Question 14 –  Filter contaminated water 

Explanation:  The answer to this question can again be found in Paragraph F of the  Space   Travel and Health   Reading sample. In this paragraph, the author first mentions advancements in telemedicine as one of the significant benefits of space-related biomedicine research. An example was how surgeons were able to communicate with patients in previously inaccessible parts of the world. Then, he offers another example – systems through which wastewater in the spacecraft was sterilized could also be used to fix contaminated water in sites of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. 

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space travel health issues ielts listening

Ieltsdata reading passage 68 – space travel and health..

IELTSData Reading Passage 68-space Travel and Health. SPACE TRAVEL AND HEALTH A. Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and in Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identifying the most critical medical problems, and finding solutions to those problems. … Read more