America's Space Agency, NASA, Has Always had One Eye on the Crowd.

Reading Passage Question

America's space agency, NASA, has always had one eye on the crowd. It is not, therefore, a coincidence that its Deep Impact probe—comet Tempel 1—will arrive at its target. As is traditional, the anniversary of the American Revolution will be celebrated by fireworks on earth. This year, thanks to the cunning of the agency's interplanetary navigators, there will be fireworks in the heavens, too.

By observing what is ejected from the crater created when part of the probe hits the comet, Deep Impact's scientists hope to catch a glimpse of the material from which the earth and the other planets were formed.

Astronomers are interested in comets because they are simpler and more primitive than planets. Both types of bodies formed 4.5 billion years ago from a cloud of gas and dust around the young sun. Comets, though, are believed to have changed little from those days while planets, being larger and thus more prone to heating up and melting (the heat is generated by radioactive minerals, and trapped inside large bodies), have undergone significant alteration. A comet is, therefore, something of a cosmic time capsule.

Deep Impact itself is actually composed of two smaller vehicles—a mother ship that will fly past the comet taking photographs and conducting other measurements, and a sophisticated, steerable copper bullet that weighs 372kg and is intended to smash into the comet. The bullet will separate from the mother ship and begin its journey towards Tempel 1, and the next day it will hit the comet.

By observing how the crater forms, and the shape of the debris cloud, NASA's scientists hope to tell something about the rigidity of the comet's material and how porous it is. And by analyzing the spectrum of light from the debris, they will find out that material's chemical composition—although the comet has been giving up some of these secrets unprompted, with a series of natural outbursts in recent weeks. Amateur observers in the western United States should see Tempel 1 light up during the impact through a small telescope.

“America's space agency, NASA, has always had one eye on the crowd.”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. The author of the passage has mentioned the word “traditional” (Highlighted) most probably to

1. highlight that the results of NASA space missions have been so promising their success has become customary
2. show that sending space missions is common to NASA
3. show that the festivity on earth in commemoration of the American revolution is conventional
4. mark that the Americans celebrate the success of their space scientists sparklingly
5. pinpoint the apparent success of Deep Impact

2. According to the passage, the fireworks in the space will be specifically indebted to:

1. the NASA
2. the Deep Impact
3. the American revolution
4. the Scientists
5. the Interplanetary navigators

3. The passage answers to all of the following questions EXCEPT

1. What is the primary difference between the comets and the planets?
2. How did comets and planets are formed?
3. How does the Deep Impact functions?
4. Why are scientists interested in comets?
5. What is the weight of Deep Impact probe?

4. According to the passage, which of the following about comets and planets is true

1. Astronomers are interested in small planets and comets
2. Planets are more inclined to heat that can be relieved by radioactive minerals
3. Since their formation, planets and comets have undergone significant change
4. Planets are more developed and sophisticated than comets
5. The orbits of comets are different from those of planets

5. The author of the passage is primarily interested in

1. explaining how astronomers at NASA are putting in their efforts in space research
2. analyzing the Deep impact probe and reasoning why astronomers are interested in it
3. discussing what the Deep impact probe is and why it is important to American Revolution
4. identifying how the space mission by NASA will differentiate comets from planets
5. explaining what forms the Deep impact and how it will work

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