‘Venus in Transit’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named, ‘Venus in Transit’ which is from the Cambridge 9 book. The Questions that have been asked are ‘finding information’, ‘finding researcher’s name, True/False/ Not Given.You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 2: Venus in transit
| Question | Answer |
| 14 | F |
| 15 | D |
| 16 | G |
| 17 | E |
| 18 | D |
| 19 | A |
| 20 | B |
| 21 | C |
| 22 | FALSE |
| 23 | FALSE |
| 24 | TRUE |
| 25 | NOT GIVEN |
| 26 | TRUE |
Questions 14-17
Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-G, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.
14. examples of different ways in which the parallax principle has been applied
Location and Answer: F
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘parallax principle’ and its reference is there in the first two lines of the paragraph. ‘But astronomers labored hard to analyze the results of these expeditions to observe Venus transits. Jonathan Franz Encke, Director of the Belin Observatory, finally determined a value for the AU based on all these parallax measurements: 153340,000 km…’ Here, ‘all these parallax measurements’ refers to the different ways. In addition, ‘expeditions to observe Venus transits’ is an example. Thus, the answer is F.
‘Venus in Transit’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
15. a description of an event which prevented a transit observation
Location and Answer: D
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Fleeing on a French warship crossing the Indian Ocean, Le Gentil saw a wonderful transit – but the ship`s pitching and rolling ruled out any attempt at making accurate observations…’ Here, ‘French warship’ is an ‘event’. In addition, ‘ruled out any attempt…observations’ means ‘prevented a transit observation’. Thus, the answer is clear.
16. a statement about potential future discoveries leading on from transit observations
Location and Answer: G
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘But such transits have paved the way for what might prove to be one of the most vital breakthroughs in the cosmos – detecting Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars…’ Here, ‘breakthrough’ means ‘discovery’. ‘Paved the way’ and ‘leading on’ means the same. Moreover, the writer states that ‘might proved to be’ refers to ‘future’. Thus, the answer is G.
‘Venus in Transit’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
17. a description of physical states connected with Venus which early astronomical instruments failed to overcome.
Location and Answer: E
Explanation: The main keyword is ‘astronomical instruments’ that helps to locate an answer in the last line of the paragraph. ‘While this showed astronomers that Venus was surrounded by a thick layer of gases refracting sunlight around it, both effects made it impossible to obtain accurate timings…’ Here, ‘surrounded by a thick layer of gases refracting sunlight’ refers to a physical state. In addition, ‘failed to overcome’ = ‘impossible to obtain’. Thus, the answer is E.
Questions 18-21
Look at the following statements (Questions 18-21) and the list of people below
Match each statement with the correct person, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter A, B, C or D. in boxes 18-21 on your answer sheet.
18. He calculated the distance of the Sun from the Earth based on observations of Venus with a fair degree of accuracy.
Location: F paragraph
Explanation: The writer states, ‘Jonathan Franz Encke, Director of the Belin Observatory, finally determined a value for the AU based on all these parallax measurements: 153340,000 km. Reasonably accurate for the time, that is quite close to todays value of 149,597,870 km…’ Here, ‘AU’ refers to the distance of the sun from the earth. In addition, ‘with a fair degree of accuracy’ and ‘reasonably accurate’ means the same. Thus, the answer is D.
Answer: D
‘Venus in Transit’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
19. He understood that the distance of the Sun from the Earth could be worked out by comparing observations of a transit.
Location: B paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the third and last line of the paragraph. ‘He realized that from different latitudes, the passage of the planet across the Suns disc would appear to differ…. Calculating this angle would allow astronomers to measure what was then the ultimate goal; the distance of the Earth from the Sun.’ Here, the writer states that ‘realized from different latitudes’. That means he was comparing different observations.
Answer: A
20. He realized that the time taken by a planet to go round the Sun depends on its distance from the Sun.
Location: C paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the first two lines of the paragraph. ‘Johannes Kepler, in the early 17th century, had shown that the distances of the planets from the Sun governed their orbital speeds, which were easily measurable…’ Here, ‘go round’ and ‘orbit’ means the same. ‘orbital speeds’ give reference to the time taken by a planet.
Answer: B
‘Venus in Transit’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
21. He witnessed a Venus transit but was unable to make any calculations.
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the third line of the paragraph. ‘Fleeing on a French warship crossing the Indian Ocean, Le Gentil saw a wonderful transit – but the ship`s pitching and rolling ruled out any attempt at making accurate observations…’ Here, ‘ruled out any attempt at making accurate observation’ that means ‘unable to make any calculations’. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: C
List of People
A. Edmond Halley
B. Johannes Kepler
C. Guillaume Le Gentil
D. Johann Franz Encke
Questions 22-26
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
Write answers in boxes 22-26 on your answer sheet. write
TRUE it the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
22. Halley observed one transit of the planet Venus.
Location: C paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Nevertheless, he accurately predicted that Venus would cross the face of the Sun in both 1761 and 1769 – though he didn`t survive to see either…’ Here, this line states that he accurately predicted about transit of planet Venus but he didn’t survived to see that he was died before observing. Therefore, the question statement contradicts the passage statement.
Answer: False
23. Le Gentil managed to observe a second Venus transit.
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘Le Gentil’ helps to locate an answer in the last line of the paragraph. ‘Ironically after travelling nearly 50,000 kilometres, his view was clouded out at the last moment, a very dispiriting experience…’Here, ‘his view was clouded out’ means he was not able to observe second Venus transit in Philippines. Thus, the question statement contradicts the passage statement.
Answer: False
‘Venus in Transit’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
24. The shape of Venus appears distorted when it starts to pass in front of the Sun.
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘While the early transit timings were as precise as instruments would allow the measurements were dogged by the ‘black drop’ effect. When Venus begins to cross the Sun’s disc, it looks smeared not circular…’ Here, ‘smeared not circular’ refers to the ‘distorted shape’. In addition, ‘it starts to pass in front of the sun’ and ‘begins to cross the sun’s disc’ means the same. Thus, the answer is True.
Answer: True
25. Early astronomers suspected that the atmosphere on Venus was toxic.
Location: Not Given
Explanation: The writer does not provide information regarding Venus atmosphere in the whole passage. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
‘Venus in Transit’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
26. The parallax principle allows astronomers to work out how far away distant stars are from the Earth.
Location: F paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘ parallax principle’ helps to locate an answer in the last two lines of the paragraph. ‘The parallax principle can be extended to measure the distances to the stars. If we look at a star in January – when Earth is at one point in its orbit – it will seem to be in a different position from where it appears six months later. Knowing the width of Earth`s orbit, the parallax shift lets astronomers calculate the distance…’ These two statements clarifies an answer as astronomers calculate the distance of stars. Also, ‘how far’ and ‘extended’ means the same.
Answer: True
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