Life Beyond Earth Reading Answers

May 29, 2025

Life Beyond Earth Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Life Beyond Earth Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the first question set, choose no more than three words from paragraphs A to E for each answer. In the next question set, choose no more than three words from the given passage to answer the question correctly. In the last question set, choose no more than three words or a number from the given text.

The candidate's understanding and assessment of academic and general texts are examined in the IELTS Reading Section. By using IELTS Reading Practice Questions, you can increase your vocabulary, sharpen your critical reading skills, and become more familiar with the various question types in reading tasks. Furthermore, practice enhances vocabulary and improves analytical reading skills, both of which are necessary for success. It's critical to comprehend the guidelines for every question type and create effective ways to manage time if you wish to receive excellent band scores.

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Section 1 LIFE BEYOND EARTH

A. We all have our suppositions, our scenarios. The late astronomer Carl Sagan estimated that there are a million technological civilizations in our galaxy alone. His more conservative colleague Frank Drake offers the number 10,000. John Oro, a pioneering comet researcher, calculates that the Milky Way is sprinkled with a hundred civilizations. And finally there are skeptics like Ben Zuckerman, an astronomer at UCLA who thinks we may as well be alone in

this galaxy if not in the universe.

B. All the estimates are highly speculative. The fact is that there is no conclusive evidence Of any life beyond Earth. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, as various pundits have wisely noted. But still we don't have any solid knowledge about a single alien microbe, a solitary spore, much less the hubcap from a passing alien starship.

C. Our ideas about extra-terrestrial life are what Sagan called "plausibility arguments," usually shot through with unknowns, hunches, ideologies, and random ought-to-bes. Even if we convince ourselves that there must be life out there, we confront a second problem, which is that we don't know anything about that life. We don't know how truly alien it is. We don't know if it's built on a foundation of carbon atoms. We don't know if it requires a liquid-water medium, if it swims or flies or burrows.

D. Despite the enveloping nebula of uncertainties, extra-terrestrial life has become an increasingly exciting area of scientific inquiry. The field is called exobiology or astrobiology or bioastronomy - every few years it seems as though the name has been changed to protect the ignorant.

E. Whatever it's called, this is a science infused with optimism. We now know that the universe may be aswarm with planets. Since 1995 astronomers have detected at least 22 planets orbiting other stars. NASA hopes to build a telescope called the Terrestrial Planet Finder to search for Earth-like planets, examining them for the atmospheric signatures of a living world. In the

past decade organisms have been found thriving on our own planet in bizarre, hostile environments. If microbes can live in the pores of rock deep beneath the earth or at the rim of a scalding Yellowstone spring, then they might find a place like Mars not so shabby.

F. Mars is in the midst of a full-scale invasion from Earth, from polar landers to global surveyors to rovers looking for fossils. A canister of Mars rocks will be rocketed back to Earth in the year 2008, parachuting into the Utah desert for scrutiny by scientists in a carefully sealed lab. In the coming years probes will also go around and, at some point, into Jupiter's moon Europa. That icy world shows numerous signs of having a subsurface ocean and could conceivably harbor a dark, cold biosphere.

G. The quest for an alien microbe is supplemented by a continuing effort to find something large, intelligent, and communicative. SETI - the Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence has not yielded a confirmed signal from an alien civilization in 40 years of experiments, but the signal-processing technology grows more sophisticated each year. The optimists figure it's only a matter of time before we tune in the right channel.

H. No one knows when - or if - one of these investigations might make a breakthrough. There's a fair bit of boosterism surrounding the entire field, but I'd bet the breakthrough is many years, if not decades, away. The simple truth: extraterrestrial life, by definition, is not conveniently located.

I. But there are other truths that sustain the search for alien organisms. One is that, roughly speaking, the universe looks habitable. Another is that life radiates information about itself - that, if nothing else, it usually leaves a residue or an Imprint. If the universe contains an abundance of life, that life is not likely to remain forever in the realm of the unknown.

J. Contact with an alien civilization would be an epochal and culturally challenging event, but ex-biologists would settle gladly for the discovery of a tiny fossil, a mere remnant of extra-terrestrial biochemistry. One example. One data point to add to the one we have Earth life. That's what we need to begin the long process of putting human existence in its true cosmic context.

Questions 28-33

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from paragraphs A to E for each answer.

Many astronomers gave estimate on the number of 28________ existing in the universe. Some of them might be likely to give a more conservative figure. But there are also others being skeptical about their existence. However, all of the arguments are not proved yet. Even if we believe that there might be extra-. terrestrial life, we are still unable to decide whether it is formed based on 29________ or whether it demands a 30________ or not. However, this theme is known as 31________ and has become more fascinating and intriguing for scientists. Despite its name, the scientific fields are optimistic about the exploration: NASA plans to build telescope in order to examine 32 ________ of Earth-like planets. Since the find of 33________

our own planet, it is possible that they can also be present on Mars.

28________

Answer: TECHNOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION

Supporting statement: there are a million technological civilizations in our galaxy alone.

Keywords: technological civilizations, galaxy

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 2

Explanation: According to many astronomers, many other technological civilizations may be a million of them are present in our galaxy.

29________

Answer: CARBON ATOMS

Supporting statement: We don't know if it's built on a foundation of carbon atoms.

Keywords: built, carbon atoms

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 5

Explanation: According to the text, even if extraterrestrial life exists, we have no information about them, whether they are formed of carbon atoms.

30________

Answer: LIQUID -WATER MEDIUM

Supporting statement: We don't know if it requires a liquid-water medium, if it swims or flies or burrows.

Keywords: requires, liquid-water

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 5

Explanation: As stated in the text, we are unsure if extraterrestrial life needs a liquid-water medium, whether it burrows, flies, or swims.

31________

Answer: EXOBIOLOGY/ASTROBIOLOGY/BIOASTRONOMY

Supporting statement: The field is called exobiology or astrobiology or bioastronomy - every few years it seems as though the name has been changed to protect the ignorant.

Keywords: exobiology, bioastronomy

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 2-3

Explanation: Scientific research into extraterrestrial life has grown more and more captivating. It looks like the name of the field has been changed every few years to protect the uninformed. It is known as exobiology, astrobiology, or bioastronomy.

32________

Answer: THE ATMOSPHERIC SIGNATURES

Supporting statement: Earth-like planets, examining them for the atmospheric signatures of a living world.

Keywords: Earth, atmospheric signatures

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 4

Explanation: As stated in the text, to find planets that resemble Earth and analyse them for the atmospheric signatures that indicate the existence of the outside world, NASA plans to construct a telescope known as the Terrestrial Planet Finder.

33________

Answer: ORGANISMS / MICROBES

Supporting statement: If microbes can live in the pores of rock deep beneath the earth or at the rim of a scalding Yellowstone spring, then they might find a place like Mars not so shabby.

Keywords: microbes, Mars

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 6-7

Explanation: The text highlights that if microbes or organisms can live can thrive in bizarre, hostile and harsh environments, then it is possible that they can also be found on Mars.

Questions 34-38

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each.

34. Experts are approaching Mars extensively in the search of ____________

Answer: FOSSILS

Supporting statement: from polar landers to global surveyors to rovers looking for fossils.

Keywords: landers, fossils

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the text, experts have been looking into Mars in hopes of finding fossils with the help of polar landers, global surveyors and rovers.

35. Jupiter's moon Europa will be in the analysed, for it is conceived to embrace a probably hostile to life.

Answer: DARK, COLD BIOSPHERE

Supporting statement: That icy world shows numerous signs of having a subsurface ocean and could conceivably harbor a dark, cold biosphere.

Keywords: icy, dark, cold

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 5-6

Explanation: According to the text, in the years to come, probes will also orbit Jupiter and possibly explore its moon Europa. The frozen world has a cold, dark biosphere and several indications of a subterranean ocean.

36. Although no clear signals have been received by human being, advances made in_________ has provided some optimism after 40 years' experiments.

Answer: SIGNAL-PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY

Supporting statement: But the signal-processing technology grows more sophisticated each year.

Keywords: signal-processing, technology

Keyword Location: Para G, Line 4

Explanation: The signal processing technology has made many advancements despite having received no signal from outer space.

37. The reason why extra-terrestrial life cannot be immediately found is that it is not readily_____________

Answer: LOCATED

Supporting statement: The simple truth: extraterrestrial life, by definition, is not conveniently located.

Keywords: extraterrestrial, located

Keyword Location: Para H, Lines 2-3

Explanation: According to the text, it is difficult to find any extraterrestrial life due to its location.

38. The look for alien organism can still be sustained because it would still give off traces

such as a_____________-

Answer: RESIDUE/ IMPRINT

Supporting statement: Another is that life radiates information about itself - that, if nothing else, it usually leaves a residue or an Imprint.

Keywords: radiates, residue

Keyword Location: Para I, Lines 2-3

Explanation: According to the text, the search for extraterrestrial life can be sustained, as any life form is bound to leave an imprint or residue.

Questions 39 and 40

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each.

39. How many planets surrounding other stars have been detected since the year 1995?

Answer: 22

Supporting statement: Since 1995 astronomers have detected at least 22 planets orbiting other stars.

Keywords: 1995, 22

Keyword Location: Para E, Line 2

Explanation: According to the text, a total of 22 planets have been found orbiting other stars by astronomers since the year 1995.

40. Where will the rocks from Mars parachuted for examination?

Answer: THE UTAH DESERT

Supporting statement: A canister of Mars rocks will be rocketed back to Earth in the year 2008, parachuting into the Utah desert for scrutiny by scientists in a carefully sealed lab.

Keywords: 2008, parachuting, Utah desert

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 2-3

Explanation: According to the text, the rock from Mars will be sent back to Earth through a parachute in the Utah desert in the year 2008 to be sealed in a lab by scientists for research.

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