Reading for the Real World 2 Second Edition – Test Bank

Unit 8

Space and Exploration
Reading Set 1.1

The Origins of the Universe

Throughout recorded history, the origin of the universe has been a topic of ongoing controversy. In particular, debate has centered around how—or if— it began. One school of thought, especially held by Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions, is that the universe was created. It proposes that there is a clear beginning and end to everything. On the other hand, some people, like the Greek philosopher Aristotle, did not like the idea of it having a beginning. He preferred to believe that the universe had existed and would exist forever and that it was eternal and perfect. One thing that these two schools of thought originally had in common was that no matter what the origin or the ending of the universe, the it was static and unchanging. In fact, this was a natural belief to have since recorded history is so short that it has not changed significantly in all that time.
In the 19th century, evidence began to challenge the idea of a motionless, unchanging universe. At this time, Boltzmann, the German physicist, formulated the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This states that the total amount of entropy, or disorder, in the universe always increases with time. Therefore, the universe must be changing in some way for its entropy to increase. Also, according to Newton’s Law of Gravity, each star in the universe ought to be attracted to each other and thus start falling together and collapsing at a central point. If the universe were motionless, the result would be an unavoidable collapse.
In the 1920s, US astronomer Edwin Hubble observed a critical phenomenon that increased our understanding of the universe. Using a powerful new telescope, he identified a group of celestial objects outside our own galaxy. By observing the Doppler Shift of these stars—the way the wavelengths and colors of their light changed due to their motion—he realized that they were receding from our own position in the universe. In fact, all the observable galaxies were moving away from each other! Furthermore, the more distant the galaxy, the faster it was moving away. This observation implied that the universe was expanding.
Hubble’s observation led to the assumption that at some point, all matter in the universe was close together. The event that started its expansion is referred to as the Big Bang. According to the Big Bang theory, time and space did not exist prior to the beginning of the expansion. Thus, the age of the universe can be calculated from the distance and the velocities of the stars traveling away from us. However, the approximate age of the universe is calculated to be between ten to twenty billion years old.
The Big Bang theory has led to many predictions in science. Physicist George Gamow realized in the 1940s that the early universe must have been extremely hot and dense. As the universe expanded, it would cool down, and the initial hot radiation should eventually be observable as uniform radio waves throughout space.
In the 1960s, Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias discovered cosmic uniform radio waves that implied a temperature of about 3 degrees above absolute zero (Kelvin). Later, technology enabled scientists to take very detailed measurements of this radiation. They confirmed that it is extremely uniform, is of the shape predicted by theory, and has a temperature of 2.7 degrees Kelvin. This observation provides strong support for the Big Bang theory.
Another interesting result of the Big Bang theory relates to the movement of the galaxies. Though the universe is expanding, the galaxies themselves are not moving. Instead, it is the space between the galaxies that is expanding, while the galaxies themselves remain still. It’s much like points drawn on the surface of a balloon. Balloons can achieve a great surface area despite their low density. When the balloon inflates, only the material stretches out and separates the points. The points themselves do not actually move.

Throughout recorded history, the origin of the universe has been a topic of ongoing controversy. In particular, debate has centered around how—or if— it began. One school of thought, especially held by Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions, is that the universe was created.  It proposes that there is a clear beginning and end to everything. On the other hand, some people, like the Greek philosopher Aristotle, did not like the idea of  it having a beginning. He preferred to believe that the universe had existed and would exist forever and that it was eternal and perfect. One thing that these two schools of thought originally had in common was that no matter what the origin or the ending of the universe, the  it was static and unchanging. In fact, this was a natural belief to have since recorded history is so short that it has not changed significantly in all that time. 1. What is the passage mainly about?  Religious and philosophical contributions to astronomy  The history of astronomical study in Greece  Two opposing theories about the origins of the universe  Limitations of Aristotle’s theory about the universe  Common belief systems from around the world 2. Which [it] refers to something else?     

In the 19th century, evidence began to challenge the idea of a motionless, unchanging universe. At this time, Boltzmann, the German physicist, formulated the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This states that the total amount of entropy, or disorder, in the universe always increases with time. Therefore, the universe must be changing in some way for its entropy (A) [increase / to increase]. Also, according to Newton’s Law of Gravity, each star in the universe ought to (B) [attract /be attracted] to each other and thus start falling together and collapsing at a central point. If the universe (C) [was / were] motionless, the result would be an unavoidable collapse. 3. What is the purpose of this paragraph?  To compare the theories of Boltzmann and Newton  To point out flaws in Boltzmann’s theories  To provide evidence that the universe is in constant motion  To clarify the definitions of entropy and gravity  To prove that Newton’s laws only applied to stars 4. Choose the grammatically correct words. (A) (B) (C)  increase attract was  increase be attracted were  increase attract were  to increase be attracted were  to increase attract was

In the 1920s, US astronomer Edwin Hubble observed a critical phenomenon that increased our understanding of the universe. Using a powerful new telescope, he identified a group of celestial objects outside our own galaxy. By observing the Doppler Shift of these stars—the way the wavelengths and colors of their light changed due to their motion—he realized that they were receding from our own position in the universe. In fact, all the observable galaxies were moving away from each other! Furthermore, the more distant the galaxy, the faster it was moving away. This observation implied that the universe was expanding.  Hubble’s observation led to the assumption that at some point, all matter in the universe was close together.  The event that started its expansion is referred to as the Big Bang.  According to the Big Bang theory, time and space did not exist prior to the beginning of the expansion.  Thus, the age of the universe can be calculated from the distance and the velocities of the stars traveling away from us.  However, the approximate age of the universe is calculated to be between ten to twenty billion years old. 5. Choose the best words that complete the summary of the passage. Hubble’s discovery that the universe was expanding led scientists to hypothesize about the event that (A) __________ the expansion and helped them (B) _________ the Big Bang Theory. (A) (B)  provided proof of formulate  occurred after support  might have prevented support  gave warning of support  initially caused formulate 6. Where is the best place to insert the sentence below? Due to experimental uncertainties, a definite age still cannot be given for the universe.     

(A) Another interesting result of the Big Bang theory relates to the movement of the galaxies. Though the universe is expanding, the galaxies themselves are not moving.  Instead, it is the space between the galaxies that is expanding, while the galaxies themselves remain still.  It’s much like points drawn on the surface of a balloon.  Balloons can achieve a great surface area despite their low density.  When the balloon inflates, only the material stretches out and separates the points.  The points themselves do not actually move. (B) The Big Bang theory has led to many predictions in science. Physicist George Gamow realized in the 1940s that the early universe must have been extremely hot and dense. As the universe expanded, it would cool down, and the initial hot radiation should eventually be observable as uniform radio waves throughout space. (C) In the 1960s, Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias discovered cosmic uniform radio waves that implied a temperature of about 3 degrees above absolute zero (Kelvin). Later, technology enabled scientists to take very detailed measurements of this radiation. They confirmed that it is extremely uniform, is of the shape predicted by theory, and has a temperature of 2.7 degrees Kelvin. This observation provides strong support for the Big Bang theory. 7. What is the correct order of the paragraphs?  (A) (C) (B)  (B) (A) (C)  (B) (C) (A)  (C) (A) (B)  (C) (B) (A) 8. Choose the sentence that does NOT belong.     

Reading Set 1.2

The Big Bang Theory raises profound philosophical questions. For centuries, scientists believed that the universe was eternal, while religious believers held otherwise. The Christian and Jewish bibles both start with, “In the beginning, God created ...the universe and everything in it.” This implies that there was, indeed, a time when the universe did not exist.
British biologist Richard Dawkins argues in his book, The God Delusion, that such an idea is pure nonsense. Though Dawkins stops short of saying God absolutely does not exist, he writes that the existence of a divine creator is highly improbable. God would have to be extremely complex, Dawkins notes, and the more complex something is, the less probable it is.
Dawkins claims that the theory of evolution and descent by natural selection can explain how everything in the world was made and why many things are so complex that they appear to be designed. In the latter half of his book, Dawkins argues that science can also explain human morality.
Critics answer that most of Dawkins’s arguments are philosophical rather than scientific and accuse Dawkins of being a poor philosopher. They say that attributing the world’s complexity to random chance is much more improbable than the __________. Also, they note that nothing in Dawkins’s book denies that God could have guided the process of evolution. Philosopher Alvin Plantinga claims that Dawkins contradicts himself. “By Dawkins’ own definition of complexity,” writes Plantinga, “God is simple and not complex. Therefore, God’s existence is more probable than Dawkins supposes.”
1. What is the tone of the passage?

 apologetic and questioning

 complimentary and sober

 informative and critical

 reflective and contradictory

 authoritative and confused

2. Choose the words that best fit in the blank.

 logic of evolution

 simplicity of science

 randomness of nature

 existence of God

 development of morality

Reading Set 2

Space and Exploration

Reading Set 2.1

Space Tourism

In 1998, a United States company called Space Adventures started selling space flights on the worldwide market. The flights aren’t cheap—they cost an estimated $20 million—but in the past decade, the company has sold almost $170 million worth of “tickets”. So far, they have sent six people into space. At first, these travelers were called “space tourists,” but they objected to that term. Many said that they performed research while in space and assisted cosmonauts with scientific experiments. Later, NASA and the Russian Space Agency agreed to refer to the citizen voyagers as “spaceflight participants”.
In April 2001, US millionaire Dennis Tito became the first such participant to purchase a ride on a space ship. Traveling on the Russian ship Soyuz TM-32, Tito visited the International Space Station for seven days, orbited the Earth 128 times. In 2002, South African Mark Shuttleworth also traveled into space on a Russian ship. In 2009, a Hungarian, Charles Simonyi, became the first citizen to make a repeat space journey.
Space Adventures plans to offer a full array of space flight experiences. A suborbital flight costs about $100,000. These flights will soar to the edge of space—more than sixty-two miles above the Earth—where the engines shut down for five minutes. A trip around the moon sells for $100 million, with stops at special “spaceports” along the way. In the future, the company plans to sell space walks, in which spaceflight participants can cavort in space while tethered to the ship by a special line.
Space Adventures isn’t the only company devising plans to launch ordinary citizens into space. Spanish entrepreneur Xavier Claramunt, a former aerospace engineer, plans to open the world’s first space hotel, called “Galactic Suite,” in 2012. For $4 million, guests can stay three nights, watching the sun rise fifteen times a day while crawling around in Velcro suits that stick to the walls of the pod-shaped structure. Moving in outer space in the absence of gravity remains a troublesome issue that Claramunt is still working to resolve. The hotel will be able to accommodate six guests at a time and will orbit the Earth once every eighty minutes. Claramunt estimates that there are currently about 40,000 people in the world who can afford a vacation at Galactic Suite.
American entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, meanwhile, is designing a different type of space facility. His company, Bigelow Aerospace, wants to launch a series of habitable complexes in the suborbital atmosphere. His firm plans to unveil its first module, called Sundancer, in 2011. Sundancer will be able to house three people, but by 2010, Bigelow hopes to launch a larger module that can accommodate six people. By joining modules together, larger complexes can be crafted to hold up to fifteen people. Bigelow hopes to rent space in orbital modules for foreign countries to conduct scientific research. Suborbital modules would be available for ordinary people who want a unique vacation. Compared to Galactic Suite, the Bigelow space complex is a relative bargain. A four-week stay is projected to cost $15 million, in 2012.
At least two other companies, Virgin Galactic in America and EADS Astrium in Europe, are developing “rocket planes” for commercial passenger flights. These aircraft will go almost seventy miles into the air, which is above the international Earth-space boundary. Furthermore, they will reach speeds of Mach 3. Virgin Galactic hopes to offer civilian space flights as early as 2009. So far, it has already sold 200 seats for a two-and-a-half hour inaugural flight on its rocket plane, the VSS Enterprise, at $200,000 apiece.

One ideal of early human forays into space was the potential colonization of distant planets. That goal still seems far off, but today, ordinary people with enough money can visit space. In 1998, a United States company called Space Adventures started  selling space flights on the worldwide market. The flights aren’t cheap—they cost an  estimated $20 million—but in the past decade, the company has sold almost $170 million worth of “tickets”. So far, they have sent six people into space. At first, these travelers were called “space tourists,” but they objected to that term. Many said that they performed research  while in space and assisted cosmonauts with scientific experiments. Later, NASA and the Russian Space Agency agreed to refer to the __________ as “spaceflight participants”. In April 2001, US millionaire Dennis Tito became the first such participant to purchase a ride on a space ship. Traveling on the Russian ship Soyuz TM-32, Tito visited the International Space Station for seven days,  orbited the Earth 128 times. In 2002, South African Mark Shuttleworth also traveled into space on a Russian ship. In 2009, a Hungarian, Charles Simonyi, became the first citizen  to make a repeat space journey. 1. Choose the words that best fit in the blank.  professional explorers  citizen voyagers  unwilling visitors  experimental subjects  business associates 2. Which of the following is grammatically wrong?     

Space Adventures plans to offer a full array of space flight experiences.  A suborbital flight costs about $100,000.  These flights will soar to the edge of space—more than sixty-two miles above the Earth—where the engines shut down for five minutes.  A trip around the moon sells for $100 million, with stops at special “spaceports” along the way.  In the future, the company plans to sell space walks, in which spaceflight participants can cavort in space while tethered to the ship by a special line.  3. According to the passage, what is true of the proposed space flights?  They will no cost more than one hundred thousand dollars.  They will allow passengers to experience weightlessness.  Engine troubles have prevented them from launching so far.  They focus on trips to destinations beyond the moon.  They require travelers to stop at spaceports for safety reasons. 4. Where is the best place to insert the sentence below? During this brief time, passengers experience weightlessness while they gaze at the Earth below.     

Space Adventures isn’t the only company devising plans to launch ordinary citizens into space.  Spanish entrepreneur Xavier Claramunt, a former aerospace engineer, plans to open the world’s first space hotel, called “Galactic Suite,” in 2012.  For $4 million, guests can stay three nights, watching the sun rise fifteen times a day while crawling around in Velcro suits that stick to the walls of the pod-shaped structure.  Moving in outer space in the absence of gravity remains a troublesome issue that Claramunt is still working to resolve.  The hotel will be able to accommodate six guests at a time and will orbit the Earth once every eighty minutes.  Claramunt estimates that there are currently about 40,000 people in the world who can afford a vacation at Galactic Suite. American entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, meanwhile, is designing a different type of space facility. His company, Bigelow Aerospace, wants to launch a series of habitable complexes in the suborbital atmosphere. His firm plans to unveil its first module, called Sundancer, in 2011. Sundancer will be able to house three people, but by 2010, Bigelow hopes to launch a larger module that can accommodate six people. By joining modules together, larger complexes can be crafted to hold up to fifteen people. Bigelow hopes to rent space in orbital modules for foreign countries to conduct scientific research. Suborbital modules would be available for ordinary people who want a unique vacation. Compared to Galactic Suite, the Bigelow space complex is a relative bargain. A four-week stay is projected to cost $15 million, in 2012. 5. What is the topic of the passage  the high cost of living in space.  companies that will offer lodging in space  architectural requirements of space hotels  similarities between two space facilities  misconceptions about space travel 6. Choose the sentence that does NOT belong.     

At least two other companies, Virgin Galactic in America and EADS Astrium in Europe, are developing “rocket planes” for commercial passenger flights. These aircraft will go almost seventy miles into the air, which is above the international Earth-space boundary. Furthermore, they will reach speeds of Mach 3. Virgin Galactic hopes to offer civilian space flights as early as 2009. So far, it has already sold 200 seats for a two-and-a-half hour inaugural flight on its rocket plane, the VSS Enterprise, at $200,000 apiece. 7. What is the best title of the passage?  The First Humans in Space  The Worldwide Race to Outer Space  Companies Help Civilians Experience Space  The Environmental Costs of Space Travel  Inaugural Flights that Made History 8. Choose the correct words for (A) and (B). (A) (B)  Furthermore So far  Therefore Generally  After all So far  Furthermore Generally  Therefore Nonetheless

Reading Set 2.2
(A) Since men first walked on the moon in 1969, fewer and fewer people have traveled into space. Instead, robots have become the main agents of space exploration. Many people argue that it is unnecessary for humans to venture into orbit again, while others claim robots will never be as effective researchers as real people.
(B) Manned space flight proponents concede this is true but claim that human exploration is still valuable. Robots can provide only raw data; humans can interpret the data and conduct spontaneous follow-up tests and experiments, preventing the need for a robotic return trip. Robot critics note that twenty-one of thirty-one robotic missions to explore Mars since 1960 have failed and that only five met their original goals. Space missions crewed by astronauts succeeded almost 90 percent of the time. Moreover, critics say that costs for unmanned missions are cheaper now but will rise as we develop more complex computers, telescopes, and robots.
(C) Manned space travel, they add, is also expensive. It’s estimated that the cost of space shuttle launches has averaged $1.3 billion, which would pay for two or three unmanned missions. In addition, critics say that the international space station sits too close to Earth to yield useful scientific information. Robots, on the other hand, can go deeper into space and survive in harsher conditions.
(D) Proponents of robotic exploration point out that space travel is dangerous. For example, in 1986 and 2003, fourteen US astronauts were killed in two separate incidents when their space shuttles exploded.
1. What is the correct order of the passages that come after (A)?

 (B) (D) (C)

 (C) (B) (D)

 (C) (D) (B)

 (D) (B) (C)

 (D) (C) (B)

2. What is the purpose of this passage?

 To criticize the success rate of robotic space missions

 To show the pros and cons of robots in space

 To pose an argument against critics of space stations

 To illustrate the importance of data provided by robots

 To explain the benefits of replacing astronauts with robots