TOEFL Reading Practice #11
Instruction: Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Passage: Exploring Exoplanets: The Search for Habitable Worlds
Since the discovery of the first exoplanet in 1992, the field of astronomy has undergone a revolution. Exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system, have opened up new possibilities in the quest to find habitable worlds beyond Earth. With advanced telescopes and space missions, scientists have identified thousands of these distant planets, ranging from gas giants larger than Jupiter to rocky, Earth-like worlds.
A key criterion for determining habitability is the presence of liquid water. For this reason, researchers focus on planets located in the “habitable zone”—a region around a star where temperatures allow water to remain in its liquid state. However, habitability depends on more than just temperature. The planet’s atmosphere, composition, and magnetic field all play critical roles in sustaining life.
The discovery of exoplanets has not only deepened our understanding of planetary systems but has also raised profound philosophical questions. Are we alone in the universe? If life exists elsewhere, what forms might it take? Such questions have spurred international collaborations and missions, such as the Kepler and James Webb Space Telescopes, which continue to unveil the secrets of distant worlds.
Despite the advances, challenges remain. Detecting exoplanets is a complex task, often involving indirect methods like observing the “wobble” of a star caused by a planet’s gravitational pull or the slight dimming of starlight as a planet passes in front of its star. Additionally, interpreting the data to assess habitability requires sophisticated models and significant computational power.
As technology evolves, the search for habitable exoplanets is likely to yield even more discoveries. By exploring these distant worlds, humanity inches closer to answering some of the most fundamental questions about our place in the cosmos.
1. What is the primary purpose of the passage?
2. According to the passage, what is the “habitable zone”?
3. What does the word “indirect” in paragraph 4 most nearly mean?
4. How does the passage describe the challenges in detecting exoplanets?
5. Why are international collaborations important in exoplanet research?
6. What is one method used to detect exoplanets?
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