This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Reading Test 1 Reading Passage 3 titled ‘Conquering Earth’s space junk problem’. This is an aimed post for IELTS candidates who have great problems finding and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you in the best way to understand every Reading answer quite easily. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process, and this post will assist you in this respect.
IELTS Test 1: AC Reading Module
Reading Passage 3: Questions 27-40
The headline of the passage: Conquering Earth’s space junk problem
Questions 27-31: Identifying information
[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you to not answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be really useful here.]
Question no. 27: a reference to the cooperation that takes place to try and minimise risk
Keywords for the question: cooperation, takes place, try and minimise risk,
We know that the synonym for the word ‘risk’ is ‘threat’ or ‘danger’ or ‘hazard’. Let’s read each section’s first lines and try to find the words like ‘threat’ or ‘danger’ or ‘hazard’.
Ah! We found it!
Have a look at the first lines of section C.
Here, the writer says, “Even as our ability to monitor space objects increases, so too does the total number of items in orbit. That means companies, governments and other players in space are collaborating in new ways to avoid a shared threat. . .. . .. ..”
Here, companies, governments and other players in space are collaborating = cooperation, avoid = minimise, threat = risk,
So, the answer is: C
Question no. 28: an explanation of a person’s aims
Keywords for the question: explanation, a person’s aims,
In section F, the writer says in the second paragraph, “Jah describes himself as a space environmentalist: ‘I want to make space a place that is safe to operate, that is free and useful for generations to come.’. .. . . ..”
Here, I want to make = Jah’s aims,
So, this section discusses Jah’s desire to ensure that space remains safe and beneficial for future generations. This is his aim.
So, the answer is: F
Question no. 29: a description of a major collision that occurred in space
Keywords for the question: description, a major collision, occurred in space,
Section A contains two paragraphs. Take a look at the first few lines of the second paragraph. The writer explains, “ … .. .. . . Ten years ago, a US commercial Iridium satellite smashed into an inactive Russian communications satellite called Cosmos-2251, creating thousands of new pieces of space shrapnel that now threaten other satellites in low Earth orbit – the zone stretching up to 2,000 kilometres in altitude. .. . .. . .”
Here, a US commercial Iridium satellite smashed into an inactive Russian communications satellite called Cosmos-2251 = a major collision that occurred in space,
So, the answer is: A
Question no. 30: a comparison between tracking objects in space and the efficiency of a transportation system
Keywords for the question: comparison between, tracking objects, space, efficiency of, a transportation system,
In section E, the writer gives reference to the comments made by Moriba Jah, an astrodynamicist at the University of Texas at Austin. He compares the space debris with the air traffic controls and goes on to say, “ . . . .. . . planes line up in the sky, landing and taking off close to one another in a carefully choreographed routine. Air-traffic controllers know the location of the planes down to one metre in accuracy. The same can’t be said for space debris. Not all objects in orbit are known, and even those included in databases are not tracked consistently.”
Here, planes line up in the sky, landing and taking off close to one another in a carefully choreographed routine. Air-traffic controllers know the location of the planes down to one metre in accuracy = the efficiency of a transportation system,
The same can’t be said for space debris .. . . . . are not tracked consistently = comparison with air traffic control,
So, the answer is: E
Question no. 31: a reference to efforts to classify space junk
Keywords for the question: efforts, to classify, space junk,
Section B contains two paragraphs. At the end of the first paragraph, the writer explains, “ . .. … Others are developing taxonomies of space – working on measuring properties such as the shape and size of an object, so that satellite operators know how much to worry about what’s coming their way. . . .. . .”
Here, Others are developing taxonomies of space = efforts to classify space junk,
Here, taxonomy means classifying.
So, the answer is: B
Questions 32-35: Summary completion
[In this kind of question, candidates are given a summary for one, two or three paragraphs with some fill-in-the-blanks questions. Candidates need to find out the related paragraphs by correctly studying the keywords from the questions. Then, they should follow the steps of finding answers to fill in the gaps.]
Title of the summary: The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee
Question no. 32: The committee gives advice on how the _________ of space can be achieved.
Keywords for the question: The committee, gives advice, how, of space, can be achieved,
We find the word ‘committee’ by scanning the passage and it is in section C. Let’s have a look there. Then, in lines 3-5, the writer says, “ . .. . . . International groups such as the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee have developed guidelines on space sustainability.. .. . ..”
Here, Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee = the committee, developed guidelines = has provided advice on,
So, the answer is: sustainability
Questions no. 33 & 34: The committee advises that when satellites are no longer active, any unused 33. __________ or pressurised material that could cause 34. _________ should be removed.
Keywords for the question: The committee advises, when satellites, no longer active, any unused, pressurised material, could cause, should be removed,
Take a look at lines 5-7 of the same section C, “ . . .. . Those include inactivating satellites at the end of their useful life by venting pressurised materials or leftover fuel that might lead to explosions. .. … . .”
Here, inactivating satellites = when satellites are no longer active,
leftover = unused,
might lead to = cause,
So, the answers are:
33. fuel
&
34. explosions
Question no. 35: Although operators of large satellite constellations accept that they have obligations as stewards of space, Holger Krag points out that the operators that become _________ are unlikely to prioritise removing their satellites from space.
Keywords for the question: Holger Krag, points out, the operators, that become, unlikely to prioritise, removing, their satellites, from space,
Let’s have a look at lines 9-14, “ …. .. . But so far, only about half of all missions have abided by this 25-year goal, says Holger Krag, head of the European Space Agency’s space-debris office in Darmstadt, Germany. Operators of the planned large constellations of satellites say they will be responsible stewards in their enterprises in space, but Krag worries that problems could increase, despite their best intentions. ‘What happens to those that fail or go bankrupt?’ he asks. . .. … .”
Here, Operators of the planned large constellations of satellites = operators of large satellite constellations,
they will be responsible stewards = they have obligations as stewards of space,
problems could increase, despite their best intentions = unlikely to proiritise removing their satellites,
go = become,
So, the answer is: bankrupt
Questions 36-40: Matching statements with list of people
[In this type of question, candidates need to relate statements given by or links to people in the passage. The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the names of the persons and read around it carefully. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same person 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. 36: Knowing the exact location of space junk would help prevent any possible danger.
Keywords for the question: knowing, exact location, space junk, would help prevent, any possible danger,
In section D, we find a comment made by Marlon Sorge which resembles with this statement, “ . . .. ..
Then, read paragraph no. 3, “ …. .. . That would alleviate the need for many of the unnecessary manoeuvres that are carried out to avoid potential collisions. ‘If you knew precisely where everything was, you would almost never have a problem,’ says Marlon Sorge, a space-debris specialist at the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California.”
Here, If you knew precisely where everything was = Knowing the exact location of space junk,
you would almost never have a problem = would help prevent any possible danger,
So, the answer is: C (Marlon Sorge)
Question no. 37: Space should be available to everyone and should be preserved for the future.
Keywords for the question: space, should be available, everyone, should be preserved, for the future,
Can you spot the word ‘future’? There is a very high possibility that the answer is in the final section. You can try this in other reading tests too. Let me know if it works!
Let’s have a look. In section F, the second and the final paragraph, Moriba Jah explains, “ . . .. . . . ‘I want to make space a place that is safe to operate, that is free and useful for generations to come.’ .. … .”
Here, free = available for everyone, useful = should be preserved, generations to come = future generations,
So, the answer is: D (Moriba Jah)
Question no. 38: A recommendation regarding satellites is widely ignored.
Keywords for the question: recommendation, satellites, widely ignored,
In section C, lines 5-11 say, “ .. . .. . Those include inactivating satellites at the end of their useful life by venting pressurised materials or leftover fuel that might lead to explosions. The intergovernmental groups also advise lowering satellites deep enough into the atmosphere that they will burn up or disintegrate within 25 years. But so far, only about half of all missions have abided by this 25-year goal, says Holger Krag, head of the European Space Agency’s space-debris office in Darmstadt, Germany. . . …. .. ..”
Here, only about half of all missions have abided by this 25-year goal = the other half have been ignored,
This means only around 50% of space missions have complied with the 25-year target, according to Holger Krag, demonstrating that his guidance concerning satellites is not consistently followed or it has been widely ignored.
So, the answer is: B (Holger Krag)
Question no. 39: There is conflicting information about where some satellites are in space.
Keywords for the question: conflicting information, where some satellites are, in space,
In section F, the final few lines of the first paragraph say, “ . . . . ‘When Jah enters that number, the database draws two purple lines: the US and Russian sources contain two completely different orbits for the same object. Jah says that it is almost impossible to tell which is correct, unless a third source of information made it possible to cross-correlate.”
Here, it is almost impossible to tell which is correct = conflicting information about where some satellites are in space,
So, the answer is: D (Moriba Jah)
Question no. 40: There is a risk we will not be able to undo the damage that occurs in space.
Keywords for the question: a risk, will not be able to undo, damage, occurs in space,
The answer can be found in section B, in the second paragraph “The alternative, many say, is unthinkable. Just a few uncontrolled space crashes could generate enough debris to set off a runaway cascade of fragments, rendering near-Earth space unusable. ‘If we go on like this, we will reach a point of no return,’ says Carolin Frueh, an astrodynamical researcher at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.”
Here, If we go on like this, we will reach a point of no return = we will not be able to undo the damage,
So, the answer is: A (Carolin Frueh)
Click here for complete solutions to Test 1 Reading Passage 1: Urban farming
