Mission to Mars Reading Answers

Feb 24, 2023

Mission to Mars Reading Answers is a topic from the IELTS general reading test and contains 12 questions. In IELTS reading section generally the nature of questions is comprehension based and does not require specific knowledge. Mission to Mars Reading Answers is an IELTS reading exercise that has been taken from a book by the name Reading for the IELTS. Mission to Mars Reading Answers contains several types of questions like choose the correct option and complete the summary. To practise reading papers , the candidates can refer to the IELTS practice test.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Mission to Mars Reading Answers

2011 Mars One Founded

In 2011 Bas Lansdorp and Arno Wielders lay the foundation of Mars One mission plan. Discussion meetings are held with potential suppliers of aerospace components in the USA, Canada, Italy and United Kingdom. Mission architecture, budgets and timeline are solidified from the feedback of supplier engineers and business developers. A baseline design for a mission of permanent human settlement on Mars achievable with existing technology is the result.

2013 Start Crew Selection

In April 2013, the Astronaut Selection Program is launched at press conferences in New York and Shangai. Round One is an online application open to all nationalities. The selection program proceeds with three additional rounds over the course of two years. At the end of it around six teams of four individuals are selected for training. A new batch of the Astronaut Selection Program begins every year to replenish the training pool regularly. An analogue of the Mars habitat is constructed on Earth for technology testing and training purposes.

2015 Start of Crew Training

Selected candidates from the first batch of applicants enter full-time training groups. This training continues until the launch in 2024. The group's ability to deal with prolonged periods of time in a remote location is the most important part of their training. They learn to repair components of the habitat and rover, learn to grow their own food, and train in medical procedures. The first outpost simulation, a Mars-like terrain that is relatively easy to reach is chosen. A second training outpost is located at a more remote environment like the Arctic desert.

2018 Demo and Comsat Mission

A Demonstration Mission is launched to Mars in May 2018, it provides proof of concept for some of the technologies that are important for a human mission. A communication satellite is also launched that is placed into a Mars stationary orbit. It enables 24/7 communication between the two planets. It can relay images, videos and other data from the Mars surface.

2020 Rover Mission Launched

One intelligent rover and one trailer are launched. The rover can use the trailer to transport the landers to the outpost location. On Mars, the rover drivers around the chosen region to find the best location for the settlement. An ideal location for the settlement is far enough north for the soil to certain enough water, equatorial enough for maximum solar power and flat enough to facilitate construction of the settlement. When the settlement location is determined, the rover prepares the surface for arrival of the cargo missions. It also clears large areas where solar panels will lie. A second communications satellite is launched into orbit around the Sun

2022 Cargo Missions Launched

Six cargo missions are launched and two living units, two life support systems, and two supply units are sent to Mars in July 2022. In February 2023 all units land on Mars using a rover signal as a beacon.

2023 Outpost Operational

The six cargo units land on Mars, up to 10 km away from the outpost. The rover picks up the first life support unit using the trailer, takes it to the right place, and deploys the thin film solar panel of the life support unit. The rover can now connect to the life support unit to recharge its batteries much faster than using only its own panels, allowing it to do much more work. The rover picks up all the other cargo units and then deploys the thin film solar panel of the second life support unit and the inflatable sections of the living units. The life support unit is connected to the living units by a hose that can transport water, air and electricity.

The life support is now activated. The rover feeds Martian soil into the life support system. Water is extracted from the Martian soil by evaporating the subsurface ice particle in an oven. The evaporated water is condensed back to its liquid state and stored. Part of the water is used for producing oxygen. Nitrogen and argon, filtered from the Martian atmosphere make up the other components of the breathable air inside the habitat.

2024 Departure Crew One

In April 2024, the components of the Mars transit vehicle are launched to Earth orbit om receiving the green light on the status of the system on Mars. First, a transit habitat and a Mars lander with an assembly crew on-board are launched into an orbit around the Earth. The assembly crew docks the Mars lander to the transit habitat. Two propellant stages are launched a month later and are also connected. The first Mars crew, now fully trained, is launched into the same Earth orbit. In orbit the Mars One crew switches places with the assembly crew, who descend back to Earth. Engines of the propellant stages are fixed and the transit vehicle is launched on a Mars transit trajectory. This is the point of no return; the crew is now bound to a 210 day flight to Mars.

Section 2

Question 28-31

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

Write your answers in boxes 28-31 on your answer sheet.

What is the plan to have a permanent human settlement on Mars based on?

(A) New Technology
(B) New & Old Technology
(C) Existing Technology
(D) Recent Technology

Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: A baseline design for a mission of permanent human settlement on Mars achievable with existing technology is the result.
Keyword : permanent, human, settlement, existing technology
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, 6th & 7th line
Explanation: the supporting sentence taken from the passage is talking about having a permanent human settlement achievable with existing technology. This means the plan on having a permanent human settlement on Mars is based on existing technology.

How is the Ideal site for the Settlement found?

(A) GPS
(B) Rover
(C) Settler
(D) Some luck

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: On Mars, the rover drives around the chosen region to find the best location for the settlement.
Keyword : settlement, rover
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, 3rd & 4th line
Explanation: best location for settlement would also mean ideal site for the settlement. The supporting sentence says the rover will find the best location for settlement. So, the ideal site for settlement is found with the help of a rover.

After the outpost is operational how does the rover recharge its batteries?

(A) From the living units
(B) From the life support unit
(C) From its own solar panels
(D) From the cargo units

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: The Rover can now connect to the life support unit to recharge its batteries much faster than using only its own panels, allowing it to do much more work.
Keyword : recharge, batteries, rover
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, 3rd & 4th line
Explanation: The paragraph this supporting sentence is taken from is titled Outpost Operational. So, the events discussed in the said paragraph are after the output is operation. Taking that conclusion in mind the supporting sentence talks about the rover recharging its batteries which is also what is asked in the question. It's clearly stated that the rover connects with a life support unit to recharge its batteries. Thus, after the outpost is operational, the rover recharges its batteries from the life support unit.

Where does Oxygen come from?

(A) Nitrogen and Argon
(B) Water
(C) Martian atmosphere
(D) Life Support System

Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: Part of the water is used for producing oxygen.
Keyword : water, oxygen
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, 4th & 5th line
Explanation: the passage says a part of water is being used for producing oxygen. Even if it is a part of the water and not the whole amount but the oxygen is being produced via water.

Questions 32-38

Complete the summary below

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

Write your answers in boxes 32-38 in your answer sheet.

To begin the process of selecting suitable astronauts two 32………. are held in two cities around the world. The first application is 33………. and available to every nationality. This is followed by a further 34……… rounds and results in the selection of 35…….. teams that then start training. During training they learn how to cope with life in an isolated 36…….., cultivate 37………, and perform 38……….

Question: 32

Answer: Press conferences
Supporting Sentence: In April 2013, the Astronaut selection program was launched at press conferences in New York and Shanghai.
Keyword : Astronaut, Selection
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, 1st & 2nd line
Explanation: The question is asking about the beginning of the astronaut selection process regarding which passage mentions launching astronaut selection. Now, the supporting sentence goes on to mention this process involves press conferences in New York and Shanghai. This leads to the inference that two press conferences are held in two cities.

Question: 33.

Answer: Online
Supporting Sentence: Round One is an online application open to all nationalities.
Keyword : one, nationalities, application
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, 2nd & 3rd line
Explanation: the question is asking about the first application regarding which supporting sentence mentions Round One is an online application. So, the application round is bound to be the first application and it's online as well. The supporting sentence further states that this online application is open to all nationalities. Thus, the first application which is open to all nationalities is online.

Question: 34.

Answer: Three/3
Supporting Sentence: The Selection program proceeds with three additional rounds over the course of two years.
Keyword : rounds, selection
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, 3rd & 4th line
Explanation: the question is asking about the further proceedings after the first round. It's clearly stated in the supporting sentence from the passage that three additional rounds are conducted. So, the initial procedure is followed by three additional rounds.

Question: 35.

Answer: Six/6
Supporting Sentence: At the end of it around six teams of four individuals are selected for training.
Keyword : teams, selected
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, 5th line
Explanation: the question is asking about the number of selected teams after further rounds. The supporting sentence starts with the phrase at the end of it which means the further rounds have ended. The passage then goes on to mention that six teams are selected for training.

Question: 36.

Answer: Location
Supporting Sentence: the group’s ability to deal with prolonged periods of time in a remote location is the most important part of their training.
Keyword : training, location
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, 3rd & 4th line
Explanation: This is to be understood that isolated could mean remote as well and cope with can also mean deal with. In this context, the question is asking about training and what do teams learn to cope with. The supporting sentence states that the group's ability to deal with remote/isolated locations is the most important part of their training. So, the teams learn to cope with life in isolated locations during training.

Question: 37.

Answer: Food
Supporting Sentence: They learn to repair components of their habitat and rover, learn to grow their own food and train in medical procedures.
Keyword : grow, food
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, 5th line
Explanation: the only thing that the answer is qualified by in this question is cultivate. Cultivate could also mean to grow and mentioned in the supporting sentence from the passage only food is being grown.

Question: 38.

Answer: Medical Procedure
Supporting Sentence: They learn to repair components of their habitat and rover, learn to grow their own food and train in medical procedures.
Keyword : train, medical procedures
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, 5th line
Explanation: the supporting sentence mentions that teams perform medical procedures while the question asks for performance. It can be argued that teams can only be trained in medical procedures if they perform them.

Questions 39-40

Answer the questions below.

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

Write your answer in boxes 39-40 on your answer sheet.

How will it be possible for people on Mars to contact people on Earth?

Answer: Communication Satellite
Supporting Sentence: A Communication satellite is also launched that is placed into a Mars stationary orbit. It enables 24/7 communication between the two planets.
Keyword : communication
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, 4th& 5th line
Explanation: In the context of this passage, two planets mean Mars and Earth. People on Mars to contact people on Earth means communication between two planets. The supporting sentence mentions a communication satellite has been launched whose exact purpose is to facilitate communication between two planets. So, people from Mars and Earth are going to contact each other through communication satellites.

What point is reached when the crew start their journey to Mars?

Answer: No Retur
Supporting Sentence: This is the point of no-return; the crew is bound to a 210-day flight to Mars.
Keyword : Mars, point
Keyword Location: Paragraph 8, 11th line
Explanation: The supporting sentence says crew is bound to a 210-day flight to Mars, this means journey to Mars has begun. The question is asking what is that point called when this journey begins and, in the passage, it's mentioned as point of no-return.