‘Is there anybody out there’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
Here are explanations of the Questions of passage named, ‘Is there anybody out there’ which is from the Cambridge 9 book. The Questions that have been asked are ‘Finding information’ and Yes/No/Not Given. You will find the locations of the Reading Answers, Keywords(highlighted and underlined) and justifications.
READING PASSAGE 2: Is there anybody out there? The search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligent
| Question | Answer |
| 14 | IV |
| 15 | VII |
| 16 | I |
| 17 | II |
| 18 | SEVERAL BILLION YEARS |
| 19 | RADIO(WAVES/SIGNALS) |
| 20 | 1000 STARS |
| 21 | YES |
| 22 | YES |
| 23 | NOT GIVEN |
| 24 | NO |
| 25 | NOT GIVEN |
| 26 | NO |
You should spend about 2000 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on the reading passage below.
Questions 14-17
The Reading Passage has five paragraphs, A-Z.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E from the headings below.
Write the correct number, i-vii, in boxes 14-17 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i. Seeking the transmission of radio signals from planets
ii. Appropriate responses to signals from other civilizations
iii. Vast distances to Earth’s closest neighbors
iv. Assumptions underlying the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence
v. Reasons for the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence
vi. Knowledge of extra-terrestrial life forms
vii. Likelihood of life on other planets
Example Answer
Paragraph A v
14. Paragraph B
Location: B paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the fourth line of the paragraph. ‘Second, we make a very conservative assumption that we are looking for a life form that is pretty well like us…’ Here, ‘life form’ refers to ‘extra terrestrial intelligence’. Moreover, ‘looking for’ and ‘search’ means the same. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: iv
‘Is there anybody out there’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
15. Paragraph C
Location: C paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the fourth line of the paragraph. ‘ leads us to estimate that perhaps one in 100,000 stars might have a life-bearing planet orbiting it…’ Here, the writer estimates that one in 100,000 stars might have life-bearing planet. ‘might have’ means ‘there is possibility’ that means likelihood of life on other planet.
Answer: vii
16. Paragraph D
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘An alien civilization could choose many different ways of sending information across the galaxy…It bums out that. for a given amount of transmitted power: radio waves in the frequency range 1000 to 3000 MHz travel the greatest distance. …’ Here, ‘sending information’ and ‘transmitting’ means the same. Moreover, ‘across the galaxy’ has been written as ‘across the planet’. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: i
‘Is there anybody out there’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
17. Paragraph E
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the beginning of the paragraph. ‘There is considerable debate over how we should react if we detect a signal from an alien civilization Everybody agrees that we should not reply immediately…’ Here, the writer states that the appropriate response is that we should not reply immediately Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: ii
Question 18-20
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 18-20 on your answer sheet.
18. What is the life expectancy of Earth?
Location: A paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the tenth line of the paragraph. ‘Since the lifetime of a planet like ours is several billion years, we can expect that if other civilizations do survive in our galaxy, their ages will range from zero to several billion years…’ Here, ‘planet like ours’ refers to Earth. Moreover, ‘lifetime’ and ‘life expectancy’ are synonyms. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: Several billion years
19. What kind of signals from other intelligent civilizations are SETI scientists searching for?
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘civilizations’ helps to find an answer in the second and third line of the paragraph. ‘It bums out that. for a given amount of transmitted power: radio waves in the frequency range 1000 to 3000 MHz travel the greatest distance. and so all searches to date have concentrated on looking for radio waves in this frequency range…’Here, ‘looking for’ and ‘searching for’ means the same. Thus, the scientists were searching for radio waves.
Answer: Radio (waves/signals)
‘Is there anybody out there’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
20. How many stars are the world’s most powerful radio telescopes searching?
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘telescopes’ helps to find an answer in the second last line of the paragraph. ‘One part is a targeted search using the world’s largest radio telescopes…This part of the project is searching the nearest 1000 likely stars with a high sensibility for signals in the frequency range 1000 to 3000 MHz…’Here, ‘world’s largest radio telescopes’ and ‘world’s most powerful radio’ means the same. The writer states that there were nearly 1000 likely stars. Thus, the answer is ‘1000 stars’.
Answer: 1000 (stars)
Questions 21-26
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 49?
In boxes 21-26 on your answer sheet, write:
YES if the statement agrees with the information
NO if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this more than once.
21. Alien civilizations may be able to help the human race to overcome serious problems
Location: A paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the last line of the paragraph. ‘It is even possible that the older civilization may pass on the benefits of their experience in dealing with threats to survival such as nuclear war and global pollution, and other threats that we haven’t yet discovered…’ Here, ‘ dealing with threats to survival’ means to ‘overcome serious problems’. Moreover, ‘pass on the benefits’ and ‘able to help’ means the same.
Answer: Yes
‘Is there anybody out there’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
22. SETI scientists are trying to find a life form that resembles humans in many ways.
Location: B paragraph
Explanation: The main keyword ‘SETI’ helps to find an answer in the third line of the paragraph. ‘Second, we make a very conservative assumption that we are looking for a life form that is pretty well like us, since if it differs radically from us we may well not recognize it as a life form, quite apart from whatever we are able to communicate with it…’ Here, ‘looking for a life form’ and ‘trying to find’ means the same. In addition, ‘life form that is pretty well like us’ means that resemble to human beings. Thus, the answer is Yes.
Answer: Yes
23. The Americans and Australians have co-operated on joint research projects.
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: Though there is reference of Americans and Australians in the middle lines of the paragraph. But there is no information regarding that they have co-operated on joint research projects. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
‘Is there anybody out there’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
24. So far SETI scientists have picked up radio signals from several stars.
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The answer to this question is in the fifth line of the paragraph. ‘Until now there have not been any detections from the few hundred stars which have been searched…’Here, the question statement contradicts the passage statement. ‘Scientists have picked up radio signals’ is opposite to ‘have not been any detections’. Thus, the answer is No.
Answer: No
‘Is there anybody out there’- Reading Answer Explanation – CAM – 9
25. The NASA project attracted criticism from some members of Congress.
Location: D paragraph
Explanation: The main keywords ‘NASA’ and ‘congress’ are there in the sixth line of the paragraph. ‘The scale of the searches has been increased dramatically since 1992, when the US Congress voted NASA $10 million per year for ten years to conduct a thorough search for extra-terrestrial life…’ But there is no information related to criticism from some members of Congress. Thus, no information available.
Answer: Not Given
26. If a signal from outer space is received, it will be important to respond promptly.
Location: E paragraph
Explanation: The location of the answer is in the second line of the paragraph. ‘There is considerable debate over how we should react if we detect a signal from an alien civilization. Everybody agrees that we should not reply immediately…’ Here, the writer states that we should not reply immediately. But the question says that it will important to respond promptly. Here, ‘promptly’ and ‘immediately’ means the same. Thus, the answer is clear.
Answer: No
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