Cambridge IELTS 9, Test 2, Reading Passage 2 – Venus in Transit, Solution With Answer Key

Cambridge IELTS 9 Test 2 Reading Passage 2 Venus in Transit Solution with Answer Key. Here we will discuss detailed explanation of all the questions of the passage. You will get step by step Solution with Tips and Strategies. This post is for educational purpose only. If you find difficulties in reading passage to find the right answer in the exam, just read the post carefully. Tips and strategies will help you find the right answer.

 

Venus in Transit Passage 2 Explanation

 

Solution of IELTS Cambridge 9, Test 2  Academic Reading Module, Reading Passage 2

 

PASSAGE 2: Venus in Transit (View Full Passage Here)

Questions 14-17 (Identifying information)

** Tips (link details): How To Solve Information Matching or Locating Paragraph In IELTS Reading Module?

Question 14: examples of different ways in which the parallax principle has been applied
Keywords: different ways, parallax principle, applied,
Now, the first lines of paragraph F indicates that the parallax principle has been applied in several ways using different measurements. “But astronomers labored hard to analyse the results of these expeditions to observe Venus transits. Johann Franz Encke, Director of the Berlin Observatory, finally determined a value for the AU based on all these parallax measurements.”
Here, determined a value . . .. . all these parallax measurements = different ways …. Parallax principle ….applied,
Answer: F

Question 15: a description of an event which prevented a transit observation
Keywords: event, prevented, transit observation,
Now, in the last line of paragraph D, “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 at the last moment = the event which prevented the observation,
Answer: D

Question 16: a statement about potential future discoveries leading on from transit observations
Keywords: potential future discoveries, transit observations,
Now, in paragraph G, the last lines give us the answer, “. . . 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, paved the way for = leading on from, might prove to be = future, breakthroughs = discoveries,
Answer: G

Question 17: a description of physical states connected with Venus which early astronomical instruments failed to overcome
Keywords: physical states, connected, Venus, early astronomical instruments, failed,
Now, the last lines of paragraph E “.. .. . . 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, made it impossible to obtain = failed to overcome;
Answer: E

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Questions 18-21: (Matching statements with correct person or people)
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Question 18: He calculated the distance of the Sun from the Earth based on observations of Venus with a fair degree of accuracy.
Keywords: distance, observations of Venus, accuracy,
Now, in paragraph F, lines 2-5, “. … . . Johann Franz Encke, Director of the Berlin Observatory, finally determined a value for the AU based on all these parallax measurements: 153,340,000 km.
Reasonably accurate for the time, that is quite close to today’s value of 149,597,870 km. . .. ..”
Here, a fair degree of accuracy = Reasonably accurate, AU (Astronomical Unit) = distance of the Earth from the Sun (in paragraph B)
Answer: D (Johann Franz Encke)

Question 19: He understood that the distance of the Sun from the Earth could be worked out by comparing observations of a transit.
Keywords: distance, worked out by comparing observations,
Now, in paragraph B we find how Edmund Halley realised the observation of a transit could help find out the distance between the Earth and the Sun, “He realised that from different latitudes, the passage of the planet across the Sun’s disc would appear to differ. By timing the transit from two widely-separated locations, teams of astronomers could calculate the parallax angle – the apparent difference in position of an astronomical body due to a difference in the observer’s position. Calculating this angle would allow astronomers to measure what was then the ultimate goal: the distance of the Earth from the Sun.”
Answer: A (Edmund Halley)

Question 20: He realised that the time taken by a planet to go around the Sun depends on its distance from the Sun.
Keywords: time, around the Sun, distance from the Sun,
Now, Paragraph C talks about Johannes Kepler’s realisation about timing of the orbit done by a planet around the Sun. Here, the writer says, “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 around means orbit (orbital)
Answer: B (Johannes Kepler)

Question 21: He witnessed a Venus transit but was unable to make any calculations.
Keywords: Venus transit, unable, make calculations,
Now, in lines 4-6 of paragraph D, the writer sympathizes Guillaume Le Gentil which indicates that he was unable to do something, “. . .. . The person who deserves most sympathy is the French astronomer Guillaume Le Gentil.” Then follow the last lines, “ .. . Ironically, after travelling nearly 50,000 kilometres, his view was clouded out at the last moment, a very dispiriting experience.”
Answer: C (Guillaume Le Gentil)

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Questions 22-26 (TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN)
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Question 22: Halley observed one transit of the planet Venus.
Keywords: Halley, observed, transit, Venus,
Now, in the last few lines of paragraph C, “. . .and Halley worked out that by using Venus it would be possible to measure the Sun’s distance to 1 part in 500. But there was a problem: transits of Venus, unlike those of Mercury, are rare, occurring in pairs roughly eight years apart every hundred or so years.
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.”
These lines suggest that Halley predicted the transits of Venus but he was not able to observe any transit because he died before that.
Answer: FALSE

Question 23: Le Gentil managed to observe a second Venus transit.
Keywords: Le Gentil, observe, second Venus transit,
Now, in paragraph D, the writer states in lines 8-11, “Undaunted, he remained south of the equator ….before setting off to observe the next transit in the Philippines. Ironically, after traveling nearly 50,000 kilometers, his view was clouded out at the last moment, a very dispiriting experience.”
Here, his view was clouded out = he could not observe the transit.
The lines suggest that Le Gentil was not able to observe a second Venus transit in the Philippines due to the thickness of the cloud.
Answer: FALSE

Question 24: The shape of Venus appears distorted when it starts to pass in front of the Sun.
Keywords: shape, distorted, pass in front of the sun,
Now, in paragraph E, take a look at lines 1-3, “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, pass in front of the Sun = cross the Sun’s disc, distorted = smeared not circular;
Answer: TRUE

Question 25: Early astronomers suspected that the atmosphere on Venus was toxic.
Keywords: early astronomers, suspected, atmosphere on Venus, toxic,
There is no information in this passage about the atmosphere of Venus.
Answer: NOT GIVEN

Question 26: The parallax principle allows astronomers to work out how far away distant stars are from the Earth.
Keywords: parallax principle, how far, stars, Earth,
Now, in paragraph F, lines 7-10, “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 month later. Knowing the width of Earth’s orbit, the parallax shift lets astronomers calculate the distance.”
The lines suggest that the parallax principles can be used to measure the distance between different stars and the Earth.
Answer: TRUE

 

View Full Passage Here

 

 

Cambridge IELTS 9 Test 2 Reading Passage 2 Answer Keys

 

Venus in Transit Reading Passage Answers Keys

Passage 2

 

 

 

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