Reading Mock test-10 (2 passages)

IELTS Reading Mock Test 10

📘📗 Passages A & B – Scrollable Reading Section

📘 Passage A – The Drive to Explore Space

Humanity’s fascination with space has driven decades of exploration. From the Moon landing to Mars rovers, each milestone reflects a blend of curiosity, ambition, and technological progress. Private companies have joined the effort, accelerating innovation and reducing launch costs. Space tourism, asteroid mining, and interplanetary travel are no longer confined to science fiction.

Advocates argue that space exploration inspires scientific advancement and global cooperation. It pushes boundaries in engineering, materials science, and data analysis. Moreover, it offers a long-term vision for survival beyond Earth, especially in the face of climate change or resource depletion.

📗 Passage B – Challenges of Long-Term Space Missions

Despite its promise, space exploration presents formidable challenges. Prolonged exposure to microgravity affects muscle and bone density. Radiation risks increase with distance from Earth. Psychological stress from isolation and confinement can impair decision-making and team dynamics.

Sustainability is another concern. Life-support systems must recycle air, water, and waste efficiently. Ethical questions arise around planetary protection and the impact of human activity on extraterrestrial environments. As missions grow longer and more complex, careful planning and international oversight become essential.

❓ Questions & Feedback

1. What is one reason private companies are involved in space exploration?
A. To increase launch costs B. To reduce innovation C. To accelerate progress D. To limit tourism

2. Space tourism is still considered science fiction.
True False Not Given

3. Space exploration pushes boundaries in science and analysis.

4. What long-term benefit is associated with space exploration?

5. Which physical effect is caused by microgravity?
Bone density loss Improved digestion Enhanced vision Stronger muscles

6. Challenges mentioned in Passage B:
Radiation risk Isolation stress Unlimited resources Planetary protection

7. What must life-support systems recycle?

8. Ethical concerns include the impact of human activity on environments.

9. Fill in the table:
Private Sector Role:
Government Role:

10. Fill in the flowchart:
Curiosity → Innovation → → Exploration

11. What psychological issue affects team dynamics?

12. Which passage discusses sustainability?
A. Passage A B. Passage B Both Neither

Correct Answers	Estimated Band Score
12	9.0
11	8.5
10	8.0
9	7.5
8	7.0
7	6.5
6	6.0
5	5.5
4	5.0
0–3	Below Band 5

📚 Answer Explanations

Q1: C – To accelerate progress
📘 Passage A states that “Private companies have joined the effort, accelerating innovation and reducing launch costs.” ✅ Option C reflects this directly — private firms contribute to faster development and affordability. ❌ Option A (“increase launch costs”) contradicts the passage. ❌ Option B (“reduce innovation”) is the opposite of what’s stated. ❌ Option D (“limit tourism”) is misleading — space tourism is expanding, not being limited. 💡 Tip: Look for verbs like “accelerate,” “reduce,” “expand” — they often signal cause-effect relationships.
Q2: False
📘 The passage says “Space tourism, asteroid mining, and interplanetary travel are no longer confined to science fiction.” ✅ “False” is correct because the statement claims tourism is still fictional, which the passage refutes. ❌ “True” contradicts the passage. ❌ “Not Given” is incorrect because the passage directly addresses this. 💡 Tip: For True/False/Not Given, ask: “Is this idea clearly supported, clearly contradicted, or not mentioned?”
Q3: Engineering, data
📘 Passage A highlights “engineering, materials science, and data analysis” as fields advanced by space exploration. ✅ “Engineering” and “data” are two of the three listed — learners must extract exact terms. ❌ “Physics” or “biology” may seem plausible but aren’t mentioned. 💡 Tip: When filling blanks, scan for noun phrases and match them precisely.
Q4: Survival beyond Earth
📘 The passage says space exploration “offers a long-term vision for survival beyond Earth.” ✅ This is a direct quote and reflects the strategic benefit of space missions. ❌ “Economic growth” or “national pride” are not discussed in this context. 💡 Tip: Look for phrases that signal long-term goals or future implications.
Q5: Bone density loss
📗 Passage B states “Prolonged exposure to microgravity affects muscle and bone density.” ✅ “Bone density loss” is correct and directly supported. ❌ “Improved digestion” and “enhanced vision” are not mentioned. ❌ “Stronger muscles” contradicts the idea of muscle deterioration. 💡 Tip: Pay attention to physiological effects — they often appear in science-themed passages.
Q6: Radiation risk, Isolation stress, Planetary protection
📗 All three are listed as challenges: “Radiation risks,” “psychological stress from isolation,” and “ethical questions… planetary protection.” ✅ These are correct. ❌ “Unlimited resources” is a distractor — the passage discusses resource limitations, not abundance. 💡 Tip: Checkbox questions often include one false option that sounds plausible — eliminate carefully.
Q7: Air, water, and waste
📗 The passage says “Life-support systems must recycle air, water, and waste efficiently.” ✅ This is a direct quote. ❌ “Food and fuel” are important but not mentioned in this recycling context. 💡 Tip: When asked “what must be recycled,” look for lists and parallel structures in the passage.
Q8: Extraterrestrial
📗 The passage discusses “the impact of human activity on extraterrestrial environments.” ✅ “Extraterrestrial” is the key term. ❌ “Natural” or “terrestrial” environments refer to Earth, not space. 💡 Tip: Ethical concerns often hinge on specific terminology — match the passage exactly.
Q9: Innovation, Oversight
📘 Private companies “accelerate innovation.” 📗 Governments provide “careful planning and international oversight.” ✅ “Innovation” and “Oversight” reflect the distinct roles. ❌ “Funding” or “regulation” may be partially true but aren’t the focus here. 💡 Tip: Table completion requires comparing roles — look for contrast or complement.
Q10: Collaboration
📘 The passage links exploration to “global cooperation.” ✅ “Collaboration” fits the flowchart: curiosity → innovation → collaboration → exploration. ❌ “Profit” or “competition” are not part of the logical sequence. 💡 Tip: Flowcharts test logical progression — look for verbs and abstract nouns that connect ideas.
Q11: Isolation
📗 “Psychological stress from isolation and confinement can impair decision-making and team dynamics.” ✅ “Isolation” is the root cause. ❌ “Fatigue” or “conflict” may result from isolation but are not the primary issue. 💡 Tip: Focus on cause-effect relationships — what leads to the problem?
Q12: B – Passage B
📗 Sustainability is discussed in terms of “life-support systems” and “efficient recycling.” ✅ Passage B is correct. ❌ Passage A focuses on ambition and innovation, not sustainability. ❌ “Both” is incorrect because only B addresses this topic. 💡 Tip: When asked “which passage,” isolate the topic and scan each passage for coverage.

📘📗 Passages A & B – Scrollable Reading Section

📘 Passage A – The Drive to Explore Space

📗 Passage B – Challenges of Long-Term Space Missions

❓ Questions & Feedback

📊 IELTS Band Score Reference

📚 Answer Explanations