The Supermoon Reading Answers

Jun 24, 2024

The Supermoon Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Supermoon Reading Answers have a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions, you have to write TRUE, FALSE and NOT GIVEN as per the statements given in the passage. You have to choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER and choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as The Supermoon Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Text Below and Answer Questions

The Supermoon

A supermoon happens when the full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth in its orbit. Supermoons make the moon appear a little brighter and closer than normal, although the difference is hard to spot with the naked eye. The term "supermoon" has only been used in the past 40 years, but it received a slew of attention in late 2016 when three supermoons occurred in a row. The supermoon of November 2016 was also the closest supermoon in 69 years, although a closer supermoon will rise in the 2030s.
The moon's orbit around the Earth is not a perfect circle. It has an average distance of 238,000 miles (382,900 km) from Earth, but its apogee and perigee - the closest and farthest approaches from Earth - change every lunar month. "The main reason why the orbit of the moon is not a perfect circle is that there are a lot of tidal, or gravitational, forces that are pulling on the moon," said NASA's Noah Petro, deputy scientist of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. He added that the different gravities of the Earth, sun and planets all have an effect on the moon's orbit. "You have all of these different gravitational forces pulling and pushing on the moon, which gives us opportunities to have these close passes."
A supermoon needs two key ingredients to occur. The moon needs to be at its closest approach. or perigee, to the Earth in its 27-day orbit. The moon also needs to be at the full phase, which happens every 29.5 days when the sun fully illuminates the moon. Supermoons only happen a few times a year (at most) because the moon's orbit changes orientation while the Earth orbits the sun - that's why you don't see a supermoon every month. The moon will appear as much as 14 percent brighter and 30 percent larger than usual, but it's very hard to spot the difference with the naked eye. "That's not enough to notice unless you're a very careful moon-watcher," Sky & Telescope magazine senior editor Alan MacRobert said in a 2016 statement.
The supermoon may look especially large to you, however, if it's very close to the horizon. But that has nothing to do with astronomy and everything to do with how the human brain works. This effect is called the "moon illusion" and may arise from at least a couple of different things. Scientists suggest that perhaps the brain is comparing the moon to nearby buildings or objects, or perhaps our brain is just wired to process things on the horizon as bigger than things in the sky.

Section 2

Solution and Explantion

Questions 9-14

The above passage has four paragraphs, A-D. Which paragraph mentions the following? Write the correct letter, A-D.
Note: You may use any letter more than once.

If the supermoon looks particularly large to you, it is probably just an Illusion.

Answer: D
Supporting statement:“..........if it's very close to the horizon. But that has nothing to do with astronomy and everything to do with how the human brain works. This effect is called the 'moon illusion'........”
Keywords: illusion, brain
Keyword Location: para D, lines 1-4
Explanation: Para D says how the "moon illusion" makes the supermoon appear larger when it's near the horizon due to the way the human brain processes visual information.

The term 'supermoon' has only gained popularity in recent years.

Answer: A
Supporting statement:“.........The term 'supermoon' has only been used in the past 40 years, but it received a slew of attention in late 2016 when three supermoons occurred in a row.........”
Keywords: years, attention
Keyword Location: para A, lines 2-3
Explanation: Para A mentions that the term "supermoon" has been in use for only the past 40 years and became notably popular in 2016.

Gravitational forces impact the orbit of the moon.

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“..........There are a lot of tidal, or gravitational, forces that are pulling on the moon," said NASA's Noah Petro... "You have all of these different gravitational forces pulling and pushing on the
moon........”
Keywords: forces, pulling
Keyword Location: para B, lines 3-6
Explanation: Para B explains how various gravitational forces from the Earth, sun, and planets influence the moon's orbit.

The closest supermoon in 69 years was observed in November 2016.

Answer: A
Supporting statement:“.......The supermoon of November 2016 was also the closest supermoon in 69 years...........”
Keywords: supermoon, November
Keyword Location: para A, line 4
Explanation: Para A mentions that the supermoon in November 2016 was the closest in 69 years.

The moon is at its full phase every 29.5 days.

Answer: C
Supporting statement:“........the full phase, which happens every 29.5 days when the sun fully illuminates the moon...........”
Keywords: phase, 29.5 days
Keyword Location: para C, lines 4-5
Explanation: Para C notes that the moon reaches its full phase every 29.5 days.

The moon's orbit lasts for 27 days.

Answer: C
Supporting statement:“........the moon needs to be at its closest approach, or perigee, to the Earth in its 27-day orbit...........”
Keywords: day, orbit
Keyword Location: para C, line 3
Explanation: Para C states that the moon's orbit around the Earth lasts 27 days.

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