The Auroras Reading Answers

Dec 30, 2023

The Auroras Reading Answers contains 14 questions, and it is a topic belonging to the IELTS general reading test. The Auroras Reading Answers has been taken from a book called IELTS: The Complete Guide to General Reading. In IELTS reading section, the nature of questions is such that candidates have to read a passage and provide answers from therein, it is to be attempted within 20 minutes. The Auroras Reading Answers contains the questions that ask the candidates to find information from the passage and filing in the blanks. To practice more reading papers like that the candidates can refer to the IELTS practice test.

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Section 1

Read the passage to answer the questions that follow

The Auroras Reading Answers

An aurora occasionally referred to as polar lights, northern lights (aurora borealis), or southern lights (aurora Australis), is a natural light exhibition in the Earth's sky, largely seen in the high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras are the result of turbulences in the magnetosphere activated by solar wind. These turbulences are sometimes stout enough to change the courses of charged particles in both solar wind and magnetospheric plasma. These particles, mainly electrons and protons, precipitate into the upper atmosphere(thermosphere/exosphere). The subsequent ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents produce light of changing colour and complexity. The form of the aurora, happening within bands around both polar regions, is also reliant on the amount of acceleration informed to the precipitating particles. Precipitating protons usually produce optical emissions as incident hydrogen atoms after gaining electrons from the atmosphere. Proton auroras are usually observed at lower latitudes.

The Word "aurora" is derivative from the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, who travelled from east to west announcing the coming of the sun. Ancient Greek poets used the name metaphorically to denote to dawn, often stating its play of colors across the otherwise dark sky. Most auroras happen in a band known as the "auroral zone", which is typically 3° to 6° wide in latitude and between 10° and 20° from the geomagnetic poles at all local times (or longitudes), most evidently seen at night against a dark sky. A region that presently displays an aurora is called the "auroral oval", a band exiled towards the night side of the Earth.

Early indication for a geomagnetic connection comes from the statistics of auroral observations. Elias Loomis (1860), and later Hermann Fritz (1881) and Sophus Tromholt (1881) in more detail, established that the aurora looked mainly in the auroral zone. Day-to- day positions of the auroral ovals are posted on the Internet. In northern latitudes, the effect is known as the aurora borealis or the northern lights. The previous term was coined by Galileo in 1619, from the Roman goddess of the dawn and the Greek name for the north wind. The southern counterpart, the aurora Australis, or the southern lights, has features almost identical to the aurora borealis and changes concurrently with changes in the northern auroral zone. The aurora Australis is observable from high southern latitudes in Antarctica, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia.

A geomagnetic storm grounds the auroral ovals (north and south) to expand, bringing the aurora to lower latitudes. The rapid distribution of auroras ("auroral oval") is slightly different, being cantered about 3-5° night ward of the magnetic pole, so that auroral arcs reach furthest toward the equator when the magnetic pole in question is in between the observer and the Sun. The aurora can be seen finest at this time, which is called magnetic midnight.

Auroras seen inside the auroral oval may be directly overhead, but from farther away, they brighten the poleward horizon as a greenish glow, or sometimes a faint red, as if the Sun were growing from an unfamiliar direction. Auroras also happen poleward of the auroral zone as either diffuse patches or arcs, which can be sub visual.

Colours and wavelengths of auroral light

Red: At the highest elevations, excited atomic oxygen emits at 630 nm (red); low concentration of atoms and lower sensitivity of eyes at this wavelength make this color visible only under intense solar activity. The low number of oxygen atoms and their gradually diminishing concentration is responsible for the faint appearance of the top parts of the "curtains". Scarlet, crimson, and carmine are the most often- seen hues of red for the auroras.

Green: At lower heights, the more frequent collisions suppress the 630- nm (red) mode: rather the 557.7 nm emission (green) dominates. A high concentration of atomic oxygen and higher eye sensitivity in green make green auroras the most common. The excited molecular nitrogen (atomic nitrogen being rare due to the high stability of the N₂ molecule) plays a role here, as it can transfer energy by collision to an oxygen atom, which then radiates it away at the green wavelength. (Red and green can also mix to produce pink or yellow hues.) The rapid decrease of concentration of atomic oxygen below 100 km is responsible for the abrupt- looking end of the lower edges of the curtains. Both the 557.7 and 630.0 nm wavelengths correspond to forbidden transitions of atomic oxygen, a slow mechanism responsible for the graduality (0.7 s and 107 s respectively) of flaring and fading.

Blue: At lower altitudes, atomic oxygen is uncommon, and molecular nitrogen and ionized molecular nitrogen take over in producing visible light emission, radiating at many wavelengths in both red and blue parts of the spectrum, with 428 nm (blue) being dominant. Blue and purple emissions, typically at the lower edges of the "curtains", show up at the highest levels of solar activity. The molecular nitrogen transitions are much faster than the atomic oxygen ones.

Ultraviolet: Ultraviolet radiation from auroras (within the optical window but not visible to virtually all humans) has been observed with the requisite equipment. Ultraviolet auroras have also been seen on Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Infrared: Infrared radiation, in wavelengths that are within the optical window, is also part of many auroras.

Yellow and pink are a mix of red and green or blue. Other shades of red, as well as orange, may be seen on rare occasions; yellow green is moderately common. As red, green, and blue are the primary colours of additive synthesis of colours, in theory, practically any colour might be possible, but the ones mentioned in this article comprise a virtually exhaustive list.

Questions 27-33

Do the following Statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
Choose
TRUE, if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE, if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN, if there is no information on this

Auroras are the consequence of commotions in the magnetosphere triggered by Solar Wind.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Auroras are the result of turbulences in the magnetosphere activated by solar wind.
Keyword: Auroras, magnetosphere, solar wind
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, 3rd & 4th line
Explanation: Here, turbulence is equivalent to commotion and triggered means activated. So, the supporting sentence says that Auroras are formed by commotion in the magnetosphere activated by solar winds.

The charged particles are primarily electrons and protons which travels hastily into the upper atmosphere.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: These turbulences are sometimes stout enough to change the courses of charged particles in both solar wind and magnetospheric plasma. These particles, mainly electrons and protons, precipitate into the upper atmosphere(thermosphere/exosphere).
Keyword: charged particles, electrons, protons, upper atmosphere
Keyword Location: Paragraph 1, 5th, 6th & 7th line
Explanation: The earlier of the two supporting sentences talks about charged particles so these particles in the latter are the same. Now, it says charged particles are mainly electrons and protons. The supporting sentence further states that they precipitate into the upper atmosphere which means they deposit there. This deposition would require them to travel to the upper atmosphere.

It is believed that Roman goddess Aurora created Auroras.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Supporting Sentence: Another
Keyword: promising, water vapour
Keyword Location: Paragraph
Explanation: If

Few Auroras transpire in a band known as “Auroral Zone”.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: Most auroras happen in a band known as the "auroral zone", which is typically 3° to 6° wide in latitude and between 10° and 20° from the geomagnetic poles at all local times (or longitudes), most evidently seen at night against a dark sky.
Keyword: Auroras, Auroral Zone
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, 4th line
Explanation: While Auroras do happen in Auroral Zone, the correct sentence would be that most of them happen there. So, few Auroras happening in Auroral zone is false.

In the northern latitudes, the aurora effect is recognized as the aurora borealis or the northern lights.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: In northern latitudes, the effect is known as the aurora borealis or the northern lights.
Keyword: Northern latitudes, Aurora Borealis, Northern lights
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, 4th &5th line
Explanation: The expression known as is the same as recognized. So, supporting sentence says that in northern latitudes the effect is recognized as aurora borealis or northern lights. Here, the effect means aurora effect because the whole passage is about aurora effect only.

The Australis aurora emerges in several provinces including Antarctica.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: The aurora Australis is observable from high southern latitudes in Antarctica, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia.
Keyword: Aurora Australia, Antarctica
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, 9th & 10th line
Explanation: If something emerges that means its observable from there. Now, Antarctica, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia are several provinces including Antarctica as well. So, supporting sentence says that Auroras Australis emerges in several provinces including Antarctica.

Magnetic Midnight is the ideal time to witness Auroras

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: The aurora can be seen finest at this time, which is called magnetic midnight.
Keyword: Magnetic midnight
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, 5th line
Explanation: By ideal time to witness auroras its meant when auroras can be seen at their finest. The supporting sentence says that such a time is magnetic midnight.

Questions 34-40

Choose no more than TWO WORDS or NUMBERS for each answer.

Red Color in the Auroras can be seen at the ……… altitude

Answer: Highest
Supporting Sentence: Red: At the highest elevations, excited atomic oxygen emits at 630 nm (red); low concentration of atoms and lower sensitivity of eyes at this wavelength make this color visible only under intense solar activity.
Keyword: Red, elevations
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, 1st line
Explanation: Altitude means elevations as well. The Supporting Sentence is about the description of Red and assigns it a place at highest elevations. So, Red color can be seen at highest altitudes.

Red colour is only visible when the ……. is powerful.

Answer: Solar Activity
Supporting Sentence: Red: At the highest elevations, excited atomic oxygen emits at 630 nm (red); low concentration of atoms and lower sensitivity of eyes at this wavelength make this color visible only under intense solar activity.
Keyword: Red, visible
Keyword Location: Paragraph 6, 1st & 3rd line
Explanation: The Supporting sentence is talking about Red Color, so this color means red. Thus, the supporting sentence says that red color is visible only under intense solar activity. Intense can also be read as powerful.

Green colour is visible at ……… elevation.

Answer: Lower
Supporting Sentence: Green: At lower heights, the more frequent collisions suppress the 630- nm (red) mode: rather the 557.7 nm emission (green) dominates.
Keyword: Green, elevation
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, 1st line
Explanation: The word heights means elevations. The Supporting Sentence begins with Green as its heading so that’s the color being talked about. It says that at lower heights green dominates which means green color is visible at lower elevation.

Green colour auroras are most common due to the extraordinary cluster of …….

Answer: Atomic Oxygen
Supporting Sentence: A high concentration of atomic oxygen and higher eye sensitivity in green make green auroras the most common.
Keyword: green auroras, common, atomic oxygen
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, 2nd & 3rd line
Explanation: There are two factors making green auroras common and one of them is high concentration of atomic oxygen. A high concentration of something can also be referred as a cluster of that substance.

At inferior heights, atomic oxygen is …….

Answer: Uncommon
Supporting Sentence: The rapid decrease of concentration of atomic oxygen below 100 km is responsible for the abrupt- looking end of the lower edges of the curtains.
Keyword: atomic oxygen, decrease
Keyword Location: Paragraph 7, 7th line
Explanation: The rapid decrease of atomic oxygen means its presence is becoming uncommon at places where the decrease takes place. This decrease takes place below 100 km which means lowering of height is making atomic oxygen uncommon. Low heights also means inferior heights.

…….. auroras have been witnessed on other planets.

Answer: Ultraviolet
Supporting Sentence: Ultraviolet auroras have also been seen on Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Keyword: Ultraviolet, auroras
Keyword Location: Paragraph 9, 2nd line
Explanation: Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are other planets. The Supporting sentence says that Ultraviolet auroras are seen on other planets.

Hypothetically, ……. colour of aurora is probable.

Answer: Any
Supporting Sentence: As red, green, and blue are the primary colours of additive synthesis of colours, in theory, practically any colour might be possible, but the ones mentioned in this article comprise a virtually exhaustive list.
Keyword: in theory, color
Keyword Location: Paragraph 10, 3rd line
Explanation: In theory means hypothetically. So, the supporting sentence says that hypothetically any colour is possible.