A New Planet is Discovered- IELTS Reading Answer

Reading Passage

A New Planet is Discovered

Questions 14-18

14 A reason why we cannot learn much more about Gliese 581g in the near future

15 An estimate of the number of planets in habitable zones

16 An explanation for why Gliese 581g may not rotate

17 Gliese 581 g’s location in relation to other planets

18 A prerequisite for the beginning of life

Questions 19-23

Distance from star

Questions 24-26

24 To what can Gliese 581g be compared because of its lack of circular motion?

25 What is the name for the central meridian on Gliese 581g where there is no darkness?

26 What do astronomers now realize are not rare occurrences?

Reading Answers

14 Answer: E

Question type: Matching information

Answer location: Paragraph E, lines 1-7

Answer explanation: “And so, the search for life continues. Unfortunately, Gliese 581 g is not particularly amenable to observation. The next step in finding out the chances of life on the planet would be to measure its light spectrum, a process that would reveal molecular oxygen if indeed it exists. The glare from the parent star makes this impossible to do with current instruments, however. Another way to gather information would be to transport a vessel to and from the planet. The technology currently exists to do this, but at 20 light-years from earth, it would take 200 years for astronomers to receive the result.” This paragraph clearly states the reason why we, at present, can’t gauge the details of the planets and why in the near future, we can’t derive the results.

15 Answer: D

Question type: Matching information

Answer location: Paragraph D, lines 1-4

Answer explanation: “Even if there is no life on Gliese 581g, its discovery reveals that habitable planets are quite common, with around 10 to 20 percent of red dwarfs and sun-like stars boasting them. Gliese 581 is one of just nine stars at that particular distance which astronomers have searched with high enough precision to uncover a planet in the habitable zone.” This paragraph estimates the number of planets that are habitable.

16 Answer: C

Question type: Matching information

Answer location: Paragraph C, lines 2-6

Answer explanation: “The main difference is that Gliese 581g orbits much closer to its star than the Earth does to the Sun. Because Gliese 581 is only one percent as bright as the Sun, it exudes little warmth, and its habitable zone lies much closer than the Sun’s. At this closer distance, planets in the zone get locked into strong gravitational pulls that tend to slow their circular movements over time.” This clearly explains the reason behind the inability of rotation in Gliese 581g.

17 Answer: B

Question type: Matching information

Answer location: Paragraph B, lines 1-2

Answer explanation: “Two of Gliese 581 g’s siblings—Gliese 581 e and Gliese 581 b—orbit too close to their parent star to support any kind of life on them. Gliese 581c skims the near side of the habitable zone, but scientists suggest that it does not have enough of a toehold in this zone to provide a stable infrastructure for organic formations—roughly the same goes for Gliese 581d, which has a stronger presence in the habitable zone on its far side, but may not be hot enough for liquid water.” This paragraph evidently talks about the position of various planets of Gliese 581 and the location of Gliese 581g in reference to other planets.

18 Answer: A

Question type: Matching information

Answer location: Paragraph A, lines 2-7

Answer explanation: “Firstly, Gliese 581 g is located at almost exactly the right distance from its red dwarf parent star (Gliese 581) in order to sustain liquid water, which is the only known criterion for organic formation. Planets that orbit too close to or too far away from their stars do not have a suitable climate; this can only be found in a slender strip of solar space around each star known to astronomers as a ‘habitable zone’.” This paragraph states the conditions and prerequisites for life on the planets.

19 Answer: E

Question type: Diagram completion

Answer location: Paragraph A, lines 4-7

Answer explanation: “Planets that orbit too close to or too far away from their stars do not have a suitable climate; this can only be found in a slender strip of solar space around each star known to astronomers as a ‘habitable zone’. Around our star—the Sun-Earth is the only planet that occupies this zone..” Hence, the answer should be Earth as the reference of Gliese 581 g is made with Earth, and as per the condition and positioning mentioned in the passage, the answer is Earth.

20 Answer: C

Question type: Diagram completion

Answer location: Paragraph B, lines 1-3

Answer explanation: “Two of Gliese 581 g’s siblings—Gliese 581 e and Gliese 581 b—orbit too close to their parent star to support any kind of life on them. “ Since 581 b is already given in the diagram, the only possibility left is 581 e, hence the answer is 581 e.

21 Answer: A

Question type: Diagram completion

Answer location: Paragraph B, lines 3-5

Answer explanation: “Gliese 581c skims the near side of the habitable zone, but scientists suggest that it does not have enough of a toehold in this zone to provide a stable infrastructure for organic formations” This suggests that the answer is 581 c as the lines suggest that the position of Gliese 581c is nearer to the sun than other planets.

22 Answer: D

Question type: Diagram completion

Answer location: Paragraph B, lines 8-10

Answer explanation: “Kasting, who has studied the two Gliese 581 planets on the outer edges of the habitable zone, suggests that Gliese 581g is ‘ smack dab in the middle ‘ of the zone which, along with its size and composition, makes it the most exciting and realistic prospect for extra-terrestrial life yet.” This suggests that the planet Gliese 581g lies in the middle and is the most conducive planet to support life on it. Hence, the answer as per the position should be Gliese 581g.

23 Answer: B

Question type: Diagram completion

Answer location: Paragraph B, lines 5-6

Answer explanation: “…..—roughly the same goes for Gliese 581d, which has a stronger presence in the habitable zone on its far side,..” This suggests that the planet Gliese 581d lies the farthest from the planet. Therefore, the answer is Gliese 581d.

24 Answer: The moon

Question type: Short-Answer question

Answer location: Paragraph C, lines 7-10

Answer explanation: “Eventually, they become stuck with one side constantly facing the star—just as the Moon always shows the Earth the same face. Because of this, it is likely that Gliese 581g experiences permanent daytime on the side facing the star and permanent shadow on the other side.” Thus, the comparison made is with the moon in relation to the circular motion. Therefore, the answer is the moon.

25 Answer: The Terminator

Question type: Short-Answer question

Answer location: Paragraph C, lines 11-14

Answer explanation: “ Nevertheless, Steven Vogt suggests that Gliese 581g probably has a comfortable area along the midpoint, known as the terminator. Any life here would always see the star sitting on the horizon and consequently experience eternal sunrise or sunset.” These lines clearly state that the area in the midpoint of the Gliese 581 g experiences the most comfortable and favorable conditions for the living organisms and that area is called, “The Terminator”.

26 Answer: Habitable planets

Question type: Short-Answer question

Answer location: Paragraph D, first lines and E- last lines.

Answer explanation: “Even if there is no life on Gliese 581g, its discovery reveals that habitable planets are quite common, with around 10 to 20 percent of red dwarfs and sun-like stars boasting them.” and, “Astronomers suggest that many rocky planets are likely to be found in habitable zones during the coming years, and some of these will provide a better platform for research with current instruments.” This suggests that the astronomers believe that many habitable planets are likely to be found as there is a higher probability of occurrence of such planets than what was believed to be.

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