Table of Contents
BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 499
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 499 – PASSAGE – 3
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST – 499
READING PASSAGE – 3
Global Response to COVID-19
NASA monitors environmental signals
When we think of NASA, journeys into outer space come to mind such as the Voyager 2 probe now making its way beyond our solar system, past journeys to the moon or the numerous unmanned landings on the surface of Mars. Then, a bit closer to home, is the Hubble telescope, a satellite which has been orbiting the Earth looking out into the universe since 1990.
However, NASA has a number of satellites that look back at the Earth as well, and these collect an enormous amount of data on the state of our planet. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the world has been experiencing a new normal, with fewer cars on the roads and more time spent at home. NASA’s Earth-observing fleet continues to operate, but is now collecting key observations on how the planet is responding to the changes resulting from COVID-19 restrictions.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
‘Much like our satellites, our work continues remotely, explains Acting Director for NASA’s Earth Science Division, Sandra Cauffman. ‘NASA Earth scientists continue to collect and analyse satellite and ground-based data on a global scale, and our programs are helping to characterize and understand global environmental signals. We do this by analysing existing, long-term datasets and equally importantly, funding new, cutting- edge research.
Ongoing observations of air quality and of the Earth at night have helped provide immediate examples of how the Earth’s systems are responding to these changes in human behaviour. From space, NASA’s Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aboard the Aura satellite and the European Space Agency’s TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) aboard the Sentinel-5P satellite, have provided the data behind images of rapidly falling nitrogen dioxide (NO) levels around the world caused by industrial shutdown and the reduced use of human transport systems.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
The OMI has been measuring total column NO, since 2004. NO, is an air pollutant commonly associated with burning fossil fuels in motor vehicles and power plants, and it is also monitored by the weather satellite Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In addition, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band on the joint NASA/NOAA mission has been observing nocturnal light emissions from Earth since 2011.
It also supports the production of short-term weather predictions and disaster responses. Now it provides valuable insight into recent changes in global human activity. These satellites and the rest of NASA’s global Earth- observing fleet, coupled with measurements from their semi-autonomous network of ground sensors, continue to observe the Earth’s changing air, land, ocean, ice and water around the world.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
Existing NASA datasets are also being used to help shed light on the spread of COVID 19. NASA’S Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) has launched a new interactive mapping tool that is being used by researchers to visualize global age and gender data overlaid with updated data from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center on the spread of COVID-19. This freely available tool may be especially helpful for use in countries with limited access to spatial population data.
Other new Earth signals that result from the global response to COVID-19 will also be recorded. NASA is funding new scientific research and augmenting existing projects to expand its data collection capacity. For example, more time series data needs to be gathered to improve the analysis of signals such as changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane, due to their relatively long lifespans in the atmosphere. Similarly, more work is urgently required to determine whether any hydroclimatic observations, such as temperature or humidity, may impact the spread of COVID-19.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
NASA is accepting proposals for new research to address Earth system responses to COVID-19 on a rolling basis through its Rapid Response to Novel research in the Earth Sciences (RRNES) program. Usually focused on studies of the immediate effects of events such as hurricanes and earthquakes, RRNES is now quite rightly allowing the scientific community to utilise existing NASA infrastructure and refocus research on both natural and human-induced Earth events.
In response to the spread of COVID-19, NASA is continuing its existing partnerships and fostering new ones. Across the Earth Science Division’s Applied Sciences Program, NASA scientists from areas such as water resources, health and air quality and disasters are teaming up with federal, state and local agencies to coordinate and share information.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
On the international stage, NASA scientist, Lawrence Friedl, represents the United States on the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Health Community of Practice, a global network that uses environmental observations to improve health decision-making at all levels. NASA is wisely sharing research, applications and activities related to Earth observations to advance knowledge on the transmission of COVID-19 and its impact.
NASA scientists are also working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support users of remotely sensed information to assess crop production. Information from NASA satellites has become more critical as COVID-19 puts ground data collection at risk. This information is crucial to assess the nation’s food supply and policies to ensure food remains available throughout the pandemic.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
NASA is exploring additional partnering opportunities beyond its current joint Earth-observing satellite operations with the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to collaborate on Earth science research related to COVID-19. As the world continues to respond to and recover from the impact of the pandemic, NASA’s Earth-observing satellites and ground sensors will keep measuring our planet’s response during these extraordinary times.
Questions 27-30
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
27. NASA’s Hubble project is used for
A. landing on Mars.
B. monitoring the Earth.
C. travelling outside the solar system.
D. observing space.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
28. Since the onset of COVID-19, NASA has
A. restricted its activities of observing other planets.
B. increased its research of outer space.
C. amassed data on changes on Earth.
D. changed its focus exclusively to Earth
29. Sandra Cauffman believes that in light of COVID-19
A. there is value in investing in the latest research methods.
B. the examination of long-term data is the most effective measure.
C. NASA has had to reduce its data collection programs.
D. without satellites, data collection would have ceased completely.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
30. OMI and TROPOMI
A. are both on NASA satellites.
B. provide similar types of data.
C. are reducing NO, levels.
D. observe the closure of factories.
Questions 31-34
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD OR NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Teaming up with other agencies
The Suomi NPP is a weather satellite operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Together, NOAA and NASA observe night light emitted from Earth using an infrared imaging system called VIIRS, make 31……………… forecasts and monitor natural disasters. NASA’s fleet of 32……………… and their network of ground sensors, monitor physical changes in the world’s land, oceans and atmosphere and these now include the effects of COVID-19. With the help of COVID-19 33……………… updates from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, NASA has introduced a free interactive 34……………… which maps the spread of the disease.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
Questions 35-40
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in Reading Passage 3?
In boxes 35-40 on your answer sheet write
YES – if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO – if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN – if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this.
35. NASA should analyse more atmospheric and hydroclimatic data.
36. The RRNES ought to concentrate on its typical focus of research.
37. NASA’s Earth Science Division would benefit from increased international cooperation.
38. NASA needs to protect its data more carefully, despite its usefulness to COVID-19 research.
39. Ground data collection is no longer required as satellite systems improve.
40. Collaboration between NASA and the Japanese and European space agencies is growing.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
IELTS Academic Reading Test
ANSWERS
27. D
28. C
29. A
30. B
31. WEATHER
32. SATELLITES
33. DATA
34. TOOL
35. YES
36. NO
37. NOT GIVEN
38. NO
39. NO
40. YES
IELTS Academic Reading Test