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Reading answers with explanations

IELTS · Part 2 · Cambridge 9 — Test 3

Venus in transit: Reading answers

Answers to questions 14–26 (13 in all), each with why it is right.

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June 2004 saw the first passage, known as a 'transit', of the planet Venus across the face of the Sun in 122 years.Transits have helped shape our view of the whole Universe, as Heather Cooper and Nigel Henbest explain. A On 8 June 2004, more than half the population of the world were treated to a rare astronomical event.For over six hours, the planet Venus steadily inched its way over the surface of the Sun.This 'transit' of Venus was the first since 6 December 1882.On that occasion, the American astronomer Professor Simon Newcomb led a party to South Africa to observe the event.They were based at a girl's school, where - it is alleged - the combined forces of three schoolmistresses…

Answers 14–26

  1. 14

    examples of different ways in which the parallax principle has been applied

    F Matching information

  2. 15

    a description of an event which prevented a transit observation

    D Matching information

  3. 16

    a statement about potential future discoveries leading on from transit observations

    G Matching information

  4. 17

    a description of physical states connected with Venus which early astronomical instruments failed to overcome

    E Matching information

  5. 18

    He calculated the distance of the Sun from the Earth based on observations of Venus with a fair degree of accuracy.

    D: Johann Franz Encke Matching features

  6. 19

    He understood that the distance of the Sun from the Earth could be worked out by comparing observations of a transit.

    A: Edmond Halley Matching features

  7. 20

    He realised that the time taken by a planet to go round the Sun depends on its distance from the Sun.

    B: Johannes Kepler Matching features

  8. 21

    He witnessed a Venus transit but was unable to make any calculations.

    C: Guillaume Le Gentil Matching features

  9. 22

    Halley observed one transit of the planet Venus.

    FALSE True / False / Not Given

  10. 23

    Le Gentil managed to observe a second Venus transit.

    FALSE True / False / Not Given

  11. 24

    The shape of Venus appears distorted when it starts to pass in front of the Sun.

    TRUE True / False / Not Given

  12. 25

    Early astronomers suspected that the atmosphere on Venus was toxic.

    NOT GIVEN True / False / Not Given

  13. 26

    The parallax principle allows astronomers to work out how far away distant stars are from the Earth.

    TRUE True / False / Not Given

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