Moon Base - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 3 Academic Reading Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–14, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.
Moon base
On 16 July 1969, two American astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, made the first landing on the Moon when the Eagle lunar module touched down in the Sea of Tranquility and Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface. At that time, it seemed almost impossible that humans would not colonise the Moon in the near future but the cost of sending people to live there was just too great. Instead, individual national space agencies have been sending robots called orbiters and rovers in place of humans. These are able to bring back and transmit a huge amount of data to help us understand the Moon better and then colonise it.
Although it is difficult to take people back to the Moon, it is not impossible. We can transport people but the logistical challenge of keeping them there is a very different thing. However, we have two of the components necessary to make this work: power from the Sun and minerals on the Moon itself. Scientists and researchers are already busy in laboratories and simulation facilities on Earth, testing their ideas for a lunar base.
The most fundamental requirement for keeping people on the Moon is oxygen, a component of the air we breathe. Fortunately, the surface of the Moon is covered with rocks and lunar soil known as regolith, which is 42-45% oxygen. Harvesting the oxygen from the regolith will be very energy intensive, but the American space agency NASA has developed and tested robots capable of doing this. Oxygen is, of course, one of the components needed to produce water, the next vital requirement for sustaining life. The other component of water is hydrogen, but because hydrogen is not present on the Moon as a free chemical, there are two options. Either we take it to the Moon in liquid form or we extract it from water. In 2018 NASA confirmed that water is indeed present on the Moon in the form of ice at the lunar poles. It is estimated that there could be 10 billion tons of water there. Some of the water would be used to sustain life, but most of it would be converted into fuel by electrolysing it into its constituent parts: oxygen and hydrogen. Electrolysis, however, requires a great deal of energy and this will need to be sourced from the Sun.
A town in Norway, Rjukan, has given scientists a lead on how to do this. Rjukan used to lack sunlight for long periods of time until giant solar mirrors were positioned on high points above the town in order to reflect sunlight down into it. On the Moon, water could be obtained by reflecting sunlight onto ice within the craters from giant reflectors positioned at high points or mountains near the craters. The melted water could then be moved to a processing plant, where it would be split into hydrogen and oxygen using solar electricity. The hydrogen could then be used to fuel vehicles or fed to fuel cells to supply energy to the lunar base, and the oxygen could be used in the air supply. As well as being used to obtain water, the Sun's energy could also be used to provide power to the base. Lunar soil contains almost all the minerals necessary to build solar panels and in theory, the potential to harvest solar electricity is unlimited. However, because the lunar night lasts for 354 hours, it is important to place solar panels in regions of the Moon that receive the most sunlight. Fortunately, the Moon's poles get sunlight 75-80% of the time and this is also where ice is located, making the poles ideal places to establish the base station.
What will the Moon base be constructed from? The Moon's surface is constantly bombarded by cosmic radiation and small asteroids because it has no protecting atmosphere or magnetic field. This makes it a dangerous place to live so shelter is vital. There are three options. One would be to build a Moon base on Earth and transport it to the Moon via a spaceship in lunar orbit, but the costs of doing this would be prohibitive. A better solution would be to make bricks from the lunar soil. Architects in Vienna have already shown that such bricks can be used to form walls and domes, and it is thought that they would be strong enough to stand up to moonquakes. A third option would be to use caves and geographical features such as crater walls as shelters. Researchers in the Canary Islands are currently practising how to explore lunar caves by driving rovers into caves and tubes formed by volcanic lava.
Humans have not been on the Moon for decades, but preparations to establish a base there are now well under way, and lessons learned from a future Moon base will help us to explore even further: Mars, Europa and beyond.
Questions
Questions 1–5 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
Write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Questions 6–9 Matching Sentence Endings
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G, below.
Write the correct letter, A-G.
A. they would be cheaper to manufacture on the Moon.
B. this has already been done successfully with robots.
C. it is quite easy to duplicate on the Moon.
D. resources found on the Moon could be used instead.
E. they have already been tested on Earth.
F. it is composed of oxygen and hydrogen.
G. it will be needed to fuel vehicles and power a Moon base.
Questions 10–13 Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from paragraph 4 for each answer.
New techniques, for example, the use of mirrors to light the town of Rjukan in Norway, can be applied on the Moon. Sunlight could be 10 onto the Moon's ice to melt it. The water could then be split into hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen could be used as 11. Lunar soil contains the minerals needed to make 12 to generate electricity. In order to collect sunlight during the lunar night, these would be located at the 13.
Questions 14–14 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | NOT GIVEN | On 16 July 1969, two American astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, made the first landing on the Moon when the Eagle lunar module touched down in the Sea of Tranquility and Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface. At that time, it seemed almost impossible that humans would not colonise the Moon in the near future but the cost of sending people to live there was just too great | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in 1969, people believed humans would surely "colonise" (live on) the Moon soon, but it does not say anything about building a "city." Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage tells us people thought humans would "colonise" the Moon, but it never mentions building a "city." Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the text only mentions that it seemed likely humans would "colonise" the Moon after the 1969 landing. While "colonise" means to go and live in a new place, it is not the same as building a "city," which is a very large area with many buildings and people. Because the text does not use the word "city" or describe a large town being planned in the 1960s, we do not have enough information to know if this statement is true or false. You should pay attention to the word "colonise" (to settle in a place) and compare it to the specific word "city." |
| Q2 | TRUE | Instead, individual national space agencies have been sending robots called orbiters and rovers in place of humans. These are able to bring back and transmit a huge amount of data to help us understand the Moon better and then colonise it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that since it is expensive to send people, space agencies send robots instead. These robots can collect and send back a very large amount of information to Earth. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is correct because the text says that machines (robots) are used to send back a lot of information about the Moon. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage states that space agencies use robots, specifically "orbiters and rovers", which are types of machines. It explains that these robots are capable of sending back a "huge amount of data", which is another way of saying "large amounts of information", to help scientists understand the Moon. |
| Q3 | NOT GIVEN | Although it is difficult to take people back to the Moon, it is not impossible. We can transport people but the logistical challenge of keeping them there is a very different thing | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says it is hard to send people to the Moon again and that staying there is a big problem, but it does not talk about how difficult or safe the journey to the Moon and the trip back to Earth would be. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not say whether the flight to the Moon and the journey back home to Earth is safe or difficult. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage only mentions that it is 'difficult' to send people to the Moon again (to return to lunar exploration) and that it is hard to keep them alive there (the logistical challenge). It mentions that the Moon itself is a 'dangerous place' because of radiation and space rocks. However, the text does not provide any information regarding the difficulty or the safety of the actual flight from Earth to the Moon or the return trip from the Moon to Earth for human beings. |
| Q4 | TRUE | However, we have two of the components necessary to make this work: power from the Sun and minerals on the Moon itself | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there are two things we need to make a base work: energy from the sunlight and materials found on the moon's surface. Answer Explanation: The answer says that having energy from the sun and the rocks or materials on the Moon helps make it possible to build a base there. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text specifically says there are two parts needed (components necessary) to make a lunar base work. It lists these two parts as energy from the sun ('power from the Sun') and materials on the Moon ('minerals'). Since we have these two components, a moon base is considered possible. |
| Q5 | FALSE | Scientists and researchers are already busy in laboratories and simulation facilities on Earth, testing their ideas for a lunar base | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that scientists are using labs and special practice areas on Earth to check if their plans for a moon base will work. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because the statement says tests for a moon base are happening on the Moon, but they are actually happening on Earth. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text clearly states that scientists are currently working in laboratories and simulation buildings on Earth to test how a moon base would work. The passage mentions work being done in places like Vienna and the Canary Islands (on Earth) to prepare. Because the statement claims these tests are taking place on the Moon itself, it contradicts the information provided in the passage. |
| Q6 | D | However, we have two of the components necessary to make this work: power from the Sun and minerals on the Moon itself | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that even though staying on the Moon is hard, we have two important things to help us: energy from sunlight and natural materials found in the Moon's ground. Answer Explanation: The answer states that we do not need to bring everything from Earth because the things we need are already available on the Moon. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the passage highlights that the Moon contains the materials needed for survival and construction. It mentions that energy can be collected from the Sun and that the Moon's own rocks and soil (minerals) can be used to create essentials like oxygen, water, and building bricks. Since these 'resources' are already present on the Moon, there is no need to send all the supplies from Earth, which would be very difficult and expensive. |
| Q7 | B | Harvesting the oxygen from the regolith will be very energy intensive, but the American space agency NASA has developed and tested robots capable of doing this | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that although getting oxygen from the Moon's surface is difficult, NASA has already made and checked that robots can successfully do it. Answer Explanation: The answer means we know for sure that oxygen can be taken out of Moon rocks because robots have already been built and tried out to do this job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the text mentions that NASA has created and tested robots that can perform the task of getting oxygen from the Moon's soil. In the passage, the word 'harvesting' is used as a synonym for extracting, and the fact that these robots were 'tested' proves that the process has already been done successfully. |
| Q8 | G | The hydrogen could then be used to fuel vehicles or fed to fuel cells to supply energy to the lunar base, and the oxygen could be used in the air supply | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the hydrogen made from moon water can be used to make lunar cars move and to give the moon station the electricity it needs. Answer Explanation: The answer explains that hydrogen is required for running moon vehicles and for providing electricity to the station on the Moon. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the text explains the practical reasons for splitting moon water (ice) into hydrogen. Specifically, it mentions that this hydrogen can then be used for two main purposes: to act as fuel for vehicles and to supply energy (power) to the lunar base. This aligns perfectly with the description in choice G, which identifies these two specific needs. |
| Q9 | E | Scientists and researchers are already busy in laboratories and simulation facilities on Earth, testing their ideas for a lunar base | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that people who study science are currently working in labs and special test areas on our planet to see if their plans for a moon home actually work. Answer Explanation: The answer says that we are confident about the methods for building a moon base because these methods have been tried and proven in special locations on our planet. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the text states that experts are currently using laboratories and test environments on Earth to verify their plans. The passage gives several examples of this: NASA testing robots to get oxygen, architects in Vienna testing how to make bricks from soil, and researchers in the Canary Islands practicing missions in caves. These 'tests' on Earth provide the evidence that the techniques will work. Synonyms for 'tested' used in the text include 'practising', 'shown', and 'testing'. |
| Q10 | reflected | On the Moon, water could be obtained by reflecting sunlight onto ice within the craters from giant reflectors positioned at high points or mountains near the craters | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that people could get water on the Moon by bouncing sunlight off large mirrors onto ice that is located inside deep holes called craters. Answer Explanation: The answer means that sunlight is bounced off a surface (like a mirror) and sent toward the ice. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'reflected' because the passage describes how scientists can get water on the Moon by using giant mirrors. It explains that these mirrors, or 'reflectors', would be used to bounce or 'reflect' sunlight directly onto the ice found in craters. This heat from the light would then melt the ice into water. |
| Q11 | fuel | The hydrogen could then be used to fuel vehicles or fed to fuel cells to supply energy to the lunar base, and the oxygen could be used in the air supply | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that hydrogen can be used as a source of energy for equipment like vehicles or for the base's power systems. Answer Explanation: The answer "fuel" refers to a material that is used to produce power or energy for machines and engines. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "fuel" because the passage describes how water on the moon can be split into hydrogen and oxygen. It then explains that the hydrogen part of this process is intended to power vehicles (cars) or be used in cells to provide energy for the base. In paragraph 4, the text specifically says hydrogen can be used "to fuel vehicles" or used in "fuel cells." |
| Q12 | solar panels | Lunar soil contains almost all the minerals necessary to build solar panels | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the dirt on the Moon has nearly all the materials needed to make the tools that catch energy from the Sun. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to flat devices that collect light from the Sun and turn it into power. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'solar panels' because the passage states that the Moon's ground, called lunar soil, has the materials needed to build them. These tools are used to create electricity from the Sun's light. The text uses the word 'minerals' to describe the parts needed for these panels. |
| Q13 | lunar poles / Moon's poles / poles | Fortunately, the Moon's poles get sunlight 75-80% of the time and this is also where ice is located, making the poles ideal places to establish the base station | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that these specific spots on the Moon are great because they have water ice and receive sunlight for most of the time, unlike other areas that stay dark for hundreds of hours. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the specific parts of the Moon (the top and bottom) where solar panels should be placed to catch the most light. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found by looking for a location on the Moon that stays sunny during the long dark periods (the lunar night). The text mentions that some areas get sunlight 75-80% of the time, making them the best choice or 'ideal places' for the station. These areas are identified as the poles. |
| Q14 | B | One would be to build a Moon base on Earth and transport it to the Moon via a spaceship in lunar orbit, but the costs of doing this would be prohibitive | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that a spaceship would circle the Moon to carry a base built on Earth, but it does not say that the spaceship is the place where people will live. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not name living inside a spaceship that circles around the Moon as an option for a home. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because paragraph 5 describes three ways scientists might create a shelter on the Moon, but staying on a spaceship is not one of them. The passage mentions a 'spaceship in lunar orbit' only as a tool to move a base from Earth to the Moon. In contrast, the text explicitly mentions moving a base from Earth (Option A), making bricks from Moon soil or 'regolith' (Option C), and using 'caves' or 'crater walls' (Option D) as the actual shelter options. |