Space Travel And Health Reading Answers

Dec 13, 2022

Space Travel And Health Reading Answers has comprehensive passages. Space Travel And Health Reading Answers has 14 different types of questions. Candidates will be shown various question types with clear instructions in this IELTS Section. Space Travel And Health Reading Answers comprises three types of questions: Matching heading, sentence completion, and Choose the correct option. For the Matching heading, candidates need to thoroughly go through each passage. For sentence completion, candidates need to skim the passage for keywords and understand the concept. To choose the correct option, candidates must read the IELTS Reading passage and understand the statement provided.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Space Travel And Health Reading Answers

Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and in Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identify the most critical medical problems, and find solutions to those problems. Space biomedicine centers are receiving increasing direct support from NASA and/or the European Space Agency (ESA).

This involvement of NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets, and beyond, are no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can actually withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.

The most obvious physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are essentially harmless; in some cases, they are even amusing. The blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called ‘fat face’, together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

Much more serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space. With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, with the result that the bones weaken, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This extra calcium can overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Muscles too lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all parts of the body, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully. The digestive system becomes less efficient, a weakened immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases and the high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer.

To make matters worse, a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or serious illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth. There is simply not enough room available inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital's casualty unit, some of which would not work properly in space anyway. Even basic things such as a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied. The only solution seems to be to create extremely small medical tools and ‘smart’ devices that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. The cost of designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be, well, astronomical.

Such considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing huge sums of money to help a handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their own health in outer space, when so much needs to be done a lot closer to home. It is now clear, however, that every problem of space travel has a parallel problem on Earth that will benefit from the knowledge gained and the skills developed from space biomedical research. For instance, the very difficulty of treating Astronauts in space have led to rapid progress in the field of telemedicine, which in turn has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world. To take another example, systems invented to sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft could be used by emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. In the same way, miniature monitoring equipment, developed to save weight in space capsules, will eventually become tiny monitors that patients on Earth can wear without discomfort wherever they go.

Nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space. To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater, but the Space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas. In one experiment, researchers study the weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity. This would involve volunteers staying in bed for three months, but the center concerned is confident there should be no great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down.All in the name of science, of course.

Section 2

Solution with Explanation
Question 1-4:

Reading Passage has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below. Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 1—5 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

The problem of dealing with emergencies in space
How space biomedicine can help patients on Earth
Why accidents are so common in outer space
What is space biomedicine?
The psychological problems of astronauts
Conducting space biomedical research on Earth
The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel
How space biomedicine First began
The visible effects of space travel on the human body
Why space biomedicine is now necessary

Example: Paragraph A Answer iv

Paragraph B

Answer: x
Supporting Statement: This involvement of NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets, and beyond, is no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can actually withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.
Keywords: NASA, ESA, engineering constraints.
Keyword location: Paragraph B
Explanation: These lines suggest that human bodily limits, rather than engineering limitations, now determine whether it is possible to travel to distant planets. The hostile environment of space will obliterate the bodies. Also, if they are not given the required protection and medical care, as is stated in the paragraph's final line. Therefore, space biomedicine is crucial. Therefore, the solution is x.

Paragraph C

Answer: ix
Supporting Statement: the most obvious physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are essentially harmless; in some cases, they are even amusing. The blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called ‘fat face', together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.
Keywords: physical changes, zero gravity, fat face, chicken legs syndrome.
Keyword location: Paragraph C
Explanation: These phrases imply that a person's physical changes under zero gravity are both safe and occasionally entertaining. It is evident that paragraph C outlines how space flight affects the human body physically. So, ix is the correct response.

Paragraph D

Answer: vii
Supporting Statement: much more serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space. With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, with the result that the bones weaken, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This extra calcium can overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Muscles too lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all parts of the body, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully. The digestive system becomes less efficient, a weakened immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases and the high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer.
Keywords: sturdy skeleton, bloodstream, renal failure, cosmic radiation.
Keyword location: Paragraph D
Explanation: We realize that paragraph D describes potential impacts and illnesses that a human being living in space might experience, according to paragraph D. As a result, the paragraph talks about how space flight harms the human body within. The solution is therefore vii.

Paragraph E

Answer: i
Supporting Statement: to make matters worse, a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or serious illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth. There is simply not enough room available inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit, some of which would not work properly in space anyway. Even basic things such as a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied. The only solution seems to be to create extremely small medical tools and ‘smart' devices that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. The cost of designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be, well, astronomical.
Keywords: serious illness, resuscitation techniques, smart devices, ultrasound.
Keyword location: Paragraph E
Explanation: These lines highlight the difficulties of responding to emergencies in space. For example, even a drip needs gravity to work, and resuscitation treatments are useless without weight. Additionally, there isn't room in the area for any additional medical equipment. The solution is hence i.

Example: Paragraph F Answer ii

Paragraph G

Answer: vi
Supporting Statement: Nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space. To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas. In one experiment, researchers study the weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity. This would involve volunteers staying in bed for three months, but the center is confident there should be no great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down. AII in the name of science, of course.
Keywords: zero gravity, weakening of bones, twelve weeks, prolonged inactivity.
Keyword location: Paragraph G
Explanation: From these lines, we may infer that performing space biomedical research on Earth is tough. Because it would be difficult to carry out the research without actually traveling to space. Space biomedicine centers are searching for different substitute solutions as a result. The solution is thus vi.

Questions 6 and 7:
Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Where, apart from Earth, can space travelers find water? ………….

Answer: (on/ from) Mars
Supporting Statement: the discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years.
Keywords: ice on Mars, spacecraft, transport.
Keyword location: Paragraph B, line 2
Explanation: These lines suggest that the finding of ice on Mars negated the need to create or design a spaceship to transfer the water needed to maintain the crew. So, in addition to Earth, space visitors can find water on Mars. So, Mars (in/on) is the correct answer.

What happens to human legs during space travel? ……………..

Answer: they become thinner
Supporting Statement: the blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called ‘fat face', together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.
Keywords: blood, fluids, fat face, chicken legs syndrome.
Keyword location: Paragraph C, last line
Explanation: The evident impacts of space flight on humans are shown in paragraph C. Thus, it is clear that human legs become slimmer during space travel, as stated in the paragraph's final line. Therefore, the solution is that they get leaner.

Questions 8-12:

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in Reading Passage? Write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO, if the state does not agree with the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological.

Answer: Yes
Supporting Statement: its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identify the most critical medical problems, and find solutions to those problems.
Keywords: effects, space travel, human body.
Keyword location: Paragraph A, line 2
Explanation: These words suggest identifying significant medical issues and coming up with effective treatments. These are the main goals of research into how space travel affects the human body. The information and the assertion are consistent, hence the answer is yes.

Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No relevant information was found in the reading passage.

It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine.

Answer: No
Supporting Statement: such considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing huge sums of money to help a handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their own health in outer space, when so much needs to be done a lot closer to home.
Keywords: considerations, ethics of investigation, own health.
Keyword location: Paragraph F
Explanation: These words imply that moral considerations have led to the ethics of spending enormous sums of money. This is in order to assist those who are ready to put their own lives in danger in space. It is obvious that consumers are eager to pay for space biomedicine. As a result, the assertion is false and the information is true, hence the answer is no.

Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: No relevant information was found in the reading passage.

Space biomedical research can only be done in space.

Answer: No
Supporting Statement: The initial lines suggest that nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space. To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas.
Keywords: space travel, zero gravity, biomedicine.
Keyword location: Paragraph G
Explanation: Conducting biomedical research in space on Earth is described in paragraph G. These lines suggest that working underwater is another tried-and-true technique for carrying out biomedical research in space. Space biomedicine centers are, however, looking for other options. The response is No since the statement conflicts with the available data.

Questions 13-14:

Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer

Research area
Application in space
Application on Earth
Telemedicine
treating astronauts

……….. in remote areas

Sterilization
sterilizing wastewater

Answer: communicate with patients
Supporting Statement: the very difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in the field of telemedicine, which in turn has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world.
Keywords: telemedicine, treating astronauts.
Keyword location: Paragraph F
Explanation: These words suggest that telemedicine has advanced as a result of the challenges in treating astronauts in space. It has given rise to innovations that enable doctors to speak with patients even in inhospitable locations. So, talking to patients is the solution.

…………….in disaster zones

Miniaturization
saving weight
wearing small monitors comfortably

Answer: filter contaminated water
Supporting Statement: the systems invented to sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft could be used by emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.
Keywords: sterilize wastewater, emergency teams, contaminated water.
Keyword location: Paragraph F
Explanation: These lines show that methods for sterilizing wastewater were developed, which emergency personnel might employ to purify contaminated water in disaster areas. Filtering tainted water is the solution as a result.

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