Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers Reading Answers

Feb 24, 2023

Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers Reading Answers is an academic reading topic discussing in detail about a laser technique used in trying to control lightning strikes. The given IELTS topic has been taken from the book named “Cambridge IELTS 8. Student's Book with Answers”. The topic named Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers Reading Answers has a total 13 wide range of questions. The topic consists of four different types of questions, which are, choose the correct letter, no more than two words, complete the summary, and Yes/No/Not Given. The candidates should thoroughly read the IELTS reading passage in order to recognize the synonyms, identify the keywords, and answer the questions provided. IELTS reading practice papers can be taken into consideration by the candidates in order to gain a good band score in the reading section, in which, the similar topics like Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers Reading Answers have been included.

Check: Get 10 Free IELTS Sample Papers

Check: Register for IELTS Coaching - Join for Free Trial Class Now

Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Striking Back at Lightning with Lasers Reading Answers

Seldom is the weather more dramatic than when thunderstorms strike. Their electrical fury inflicts death or serious injury on around 500 people each year in the United States alone. As the clouds roll in, a leisurely round of golf can become a terrifying dice with death -out in the open, a lone golfer may be a lightning bolt's most inviting target. And there is damage to property too. Lightning damage costs American power companies more than $100 million a year.
But researchers in the United States and Japan are planning to hit back. Already in laboratory trials they have tested strategies for neutralising the power of thunderstorms, and this winter they will brave real storms, equipped with an armoury of lasers that they will be pointing towards the heavens to discharge thunderclouds before lightning can strike.
The idea of forcing storm clouds to discharge their lightning on command is not new. In the early 1960s, researchers tried firing rockets trailing wires into thunderclouds to set up an easy discharge path for the huge electric charges that these clouds generate. The technique survives to this day at a test site in Florida run by the University of Florida, with support from the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), based in California. EPRI, which is funded by power companies, is looking at ways to protect the United States' power grid from lightning strikes. ``We can cause the lightning to strike where we want it by using rockets': says Ralph Bernstein, manager of lightning projects at EPRI. The Rocket site is providing precise measurements of lightning voltages and allowing engineers to check how electrical equipment bears up.

Bad Behaviour

But while rockets are fine for research, they cannot provide the protection from lightning strikes that everyone is looking for. The rockets cost around $1,200 each, can only be fired at a limited frequency and their failure rate is about 40 per cent. And even when they do trigger lightning, things still do not always go according to plan. 'Lightning is not perfectly well behaved,' says Bernstein. 'Occasionally, it will take a branch and go someplace it wasn't supposed to go.
And anyway, who would want to fire streams of rockets in a populated area? 'What goes up must come down,' points out Jean-Claude Diels of the University of New Mexico. Diels is leading a project, which is backed by EPRI, to try to use lasers to discharge lightning safely- and safety is a basic requirement since no one wants to put themselves or their expensive equipment at risk. With around $500,000 invested so far, a promising system is just emerging from the laboratory.
The idea began some 20 years ago, when high-powered lasers were revealing their ability to extract electrons out of atoms and create ions. If a laser could generate a line of ionisation in the air all the way up to a storm cloud, this conducting path could be used to guide lightning to Earth, before the electric field becomes strong enough to break down the air in an uncontrollable surge. To stop the laser itself being struck, it would not be pointed straight at the clouds. Instead it would be directed at a mirror, and from there into the sky. The mirror would be protected by placing lightning conductors close by. Ideally, the cloud-zapper (gun) would be cheap enough to be installed around all key power installations, and portable enough to be taken to international sporting events to beam up at brewing storm clouds.

A stumbling block

However, there is still a big stumbling block. The laser is no nifty portable: it's a monster that takes up a whole room. Diels is trying to cut down the size and says that a laser around the size of a small table is in the offing. He plans to test this more manageable system on live thunderclouds next summer.
Bernstein says that Diels's system is attracting lots of interest from the power companies. But they have not yet come up with the $5 million that EPRI says will be needed to develop a commercial system, by making the lasers yet smaller and cheaper. 'I cannot say I have money yet, but I'm working on it,' says Bernstein. He reckons that the forthcoming field tests will be the turning point - and he's hoping for good news. Bernstein predicts 'an avalanche of interest and support' if all goes well. He expects to see cloud-zappers eventually costing $50,000 to $100,000 each.
Other scientists could also benefit. With a lightning 'switch' at their fingertips, materials scientists could find out what happens when mighty currents meet matter. Diels also hopes to see the birth of 'interactive meteorology' - not just forecasting the weather but controlling it. 'If we could discharge clouds, we might affect the weather,' he says.
And perhaps, says Diels, we'll be able to confront some other meteorological menaces. 'We think we could prevent hail by inducing lightning,' he says. Thunder, the shock wave that comes from a lightning flash, is thought to be the trigger for the torrential rain that is typical of storms. A laser thunder factory could shake the moisture out of clouds, perhaps preventing the formation of the giant hailstones that threaten crops. With luck, as the storm clouds gather this winter, laser-toting researchers could, for the first time, strike back.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Questions 1-3
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

Question 1. The main topic discussed in the text is

the damage caused to US golf courses and golf players by lightning strikes.
the effect of lightning on power supplies in the US and in Japan.
a variety of methods used in trying to control lightning strikes.
a laser technique used in trying to control lightning strikes.

Answer: D
Supporting sentence: Already in laboratory trials they have tested strategies for neutralizing the power of thunderstorms, and this winter they will brave real storms, equipped with an armory of lasers that they will be pointing towards the heavens to discharge thunderclouds before lightning can strike.
Keywords: Lasers, lightning
Keyword Location: Para B, line 1
Explanation: The passage is specifically discussing a technique that involves aiming lasers towards the sky to neutralize thunderclouds before lightning can strike the surface. The purpose of this technique is to mitigate the destructive power of thunderstorms.

Question 2. According to the text, every year lightning

does considerable damage to buildings during thunderstorms.
kills or injures mainly golfers in the United States.
kills or injures around 500 people throughout the world.
damages more than 100 American power companies.

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: As the clouds roll in, a leisurely round of golf can become a terrifying dice with death - out in the open, a lone golfer may be a lightning bolt’s most inviting target. And there is damage to property too.
Keywords: Lightning, damag
Keyword Location: Para A, line 3
Explanation: The passage clearly indicates that lightning is not only dangerous for lone golfers but can also cause significant damage to property. During thunderstorms, lightning can cause considerable damage to buildings.

Question 3. Researchers at the University of Florida and at the University of New Mexico

receive funds from the same source.
are using the same techniques.
are employed by commercial companies.
are in opposition to each other.

Answer: A
Supporting sentence: The technique survives to this day at a test site in Florida run by the University of Florida, with support from the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), based in California. Jean-Claude Diels of
the University Of New Mexico. Diels is leading a project, which is backed by EPRI,
Keywords: the University of Florida, funded
Keyword Location: Para C, line 3
Explanation: The Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI) is supporting a test site at the University of Florida to protect the United States' power grid from lightning strikes. Additionally, EPRI is also backing a similar project led by Jean-Claude Diels at the University of Florida.

Questions 4-6.

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

EPRI receives financial support from ...............
The advantage of the technique being developed by Diets is that it can be used ................
The main difficulty associated with using the laser equipment is related to its ...............

Question 4

Answer: Power companies
Supporting sentence: EPRI, which is funded by power companies, is looking at ways to protect the United States’ power grid from lightning strikes.
Keywords: EPRI, funded
Keyword Location: Para C, line 4
Explanation: EPRI, headquartered in California and funded by power companies, is exploring methods to safeguard the United States' power grid from lightning strikes.

Question 5

Answer: Safely
Supporting sentence: Diels is leading a project, which is backed by EPRI, to try to use lasers to discharge lightning safely - and safety is a basic requirement since no one wants to put themselves or their expensive equipment at risk.
Keywords: Diels, safety
Keyword Location: Para E, line 4
Explanation: The safe use of this technique involving laser-based lightning discharges is crucial. However, prior tests have demonstrated that the method developed by Diels is safe to use.

Question 6

Answer: Size
Supporting sentence: Diels is trying to cut down the size and says that a laser around the size of a small table is in the offing.
Keywords: Size, small
Keyword Location: Para G, line 2
Explanation: The primary challenge of utilizing laser equipment is its size, which significantly hinders its portability and makes relocating the equipment a daunting task.

Questions 7-10

Complete the summary using the list of words, A-I, below:

In this method, a laser is used to create a line of ionisation by removing electrons from 7...................This laser is then directed at 8.......................in order to control electrical charges, a method which is less dangerous than using 9.......................As a protection for the lasers, the beams are aimed firstly at 10......................

A- cloud-zappers
B- atoms
C- storm clouds
D- mirrors
E- technique
F- ions
G- rockets
H- conductors
I- thunder

Question 7

Answer: B
Supporting sentence: The idea began some 20 years ago when high-powered lasers were revealing their ability to extract electrons out of atoms and create ions.
Keywords: Electrons, ions
Keyword Location: Para F, line 2
Explanation: The technique involves utilizing a laser to generate a row of ionization by stripping electrons from atoms and producing ions.

Question 8

Answer: C
Supporting sentence: Ideally, the cloud-zapper (gun) would be cheap enough to be installed around all key power installations, and portable enough to be taken to international sporting events to beam up at brewing storm clouds.
Keywords: beam up, cloud-zapper (gun)
Keyword Location: Para F, last line
Explanation: Next, the cloud-zapper gun aims the laser at thunderclouds. Given the affordability and portability of the gun, it can be readily deployed around critical power facilities.

Question 9

Answer: G
Supporting sentence: In the early 1960s, researchers tried firing rockets trailing wires into thunderclouds to set up an essay discharge path for the huge electric charges that these clouds generate.
Keyword: electric charges
Keyword Location: Para C, line 2
Explanation: An alternative approach to mitigating electrical charges was experimented with, one that is less perilous than firing rockets. The method involved directing lasers at gathering thunderclouds.

Question 10

Answer: D
Supporting sentence: Instead it would be directed at a mirror, and from there into the sky.
Keywords: directed
Keyword Location: Para F, line 4
Explanation: To shield the lasers from harm, the beams are initially directed towards mirrors. This ensures that the lasers are not aimed directly at the clouds, thus minimizing the risk of damage to the equipment.

Questions 11-13.

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Power companies have given Diels enough money to develop his laser.
Obtaining money to improve the lasers will depend on tests in real storms.
Weather forecasters are intensely interested in Diels's system.

Question 11

Answer: NO
Supporting sentence: But they have not yet come up with the $5 million that EPRI says will be needed to develop a commercial system, by making the lasers yet smaller and cheaper.
Keywords: develop, $5 million
Keyword Location: Para H, line 2
Explanation: Although power companies have shown significant interest, they have yet to secure the required $5 million, as estimated by EPRI, to establish a commercial system. Thus, we can clearly conclude the above statement as an incorrect one.

Question 12

Answer: YES
Supporting sentence: He reckons that the forthcoming field tests will be the turning point - and he’s hoping for good news. Bernstein predicts ‘an avalanche of interest and support’ if all goes well.
Keywords: field tests, a turning point
Keyword Location: Para H, line 4
Explanation: The funding for laser enhancements is contingent on the outcomes of real-world storm tests. Bernstein believes that the upcoming field tests during actual storms will be pivotal in securing the necessary funding. Therefore, the above statement can be regarded as a correct response.

Question 13

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage does not provide any indication of whether weather forecasters are intrigued by Diels's system or not. There is no information in the text that suggests intense interest from weather forecasters in Diels's system. Hence, no suitable information being found in the extract, the above statement can be regarded as an invalid one.

Read more IELTS Reading Samples: