Reading Comprehension — Set 2
Questions 11–20 of 120
Photosynthesis is the fundamental process by which green plants produce energy and sustain themselves. The process requires two primary inputs: carbon dioxide, which plants absorb from the surrounding air, and water, which they draw up from the soil through their root systems. Using energy captured from sunlight by the green pigment chlorophyll, plants convert these raw materials into glucose, which serves as their primary source of energy and building material. As a result of this reaction, oxygen is produced and released into the atmosphere as a byproduct. The ability to manufacture food from simple inorganic molecules makes plants the foundation of virtually every food web on Earth. What are the two main inputs required for photosynthesis according to the passage?
Correct Answer: B. Carbon dioxide and water
The passage clearly states that carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil are the primary inputs for photosynthesis. Plants use these with sunlight to create glucose and oxygen. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Which pigment is responsible for capturing light energy in photosynthesis?
Correct Answer: C. Chlorophyll
The passage identifies chlorophyll as the primary pigment responsible for capturing light energy during photosynthesis. It gives plants their characteristic green color and is located in the chloroplasts. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
In which part of the plant cell does photosynthesis primarily occur?
Correct Answer: C. Chloroplasts
The passage states that photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells. This is where the light-dependent and light-independent reactions occur to produce glucose and oxygen. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
What is the primary product of photosynthesis used by plants for energy?
Correct Answer: B. Glucose
The passage explains that glucose is produced during photosynthesis and serves as the primary energy source for plants. Plants convert this glucose into other compounds like starch for storage. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Photosynthesis is a two-stage biochemical process that takes place within the chloroplasts of plant cells. In the first stage, known as the light reactions, energy from sunlight is captured and used to split water molecules, releasing oxygen as a byproduct into the atmosphere. This oxygen is crucial for the survival of most living organisms, which depend on it for aerobic respiration. In the second stage, the captured energy is used to convert carbon dioxide into glucose through a series of chemical reactions. The overall process not only feeds the plant itself but also maintains the atmospheric oxygen levels that make complex animal life possible. According to the passage, what gas is released as a byproduct of photosynthesis?
Correct Answer: C. Oxygen
The passage indicates that oxygen is released as a byproduct of photosynthesis, which is essential for aerobic respiration in most organisms. This oxygen is produced when water is split during the light reactions. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Our solar system consists of the sun at its centre and a collection of celestial bodies that orbit it, including planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. For much of the twentieth century, the solar system was considered to contain nine planets; however, following a review by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. As a result, there are now eight recognised planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each planet follows an elliptical orbit around the sun, with those closer to the sun completing their orbits in less time than those farther away. This reclassification remains one of the most discussed decisions in modern astronomy. How many planets are in our solar system according to the passage?
Correct Answer: A. 8
The passage states there are eight planets in our solar system. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006, reducing the count from nine to eight recognized planets. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
The eight planets of our solar system occupy orbits at very different distances from the sun. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, completing an orbit in just 88 Earth days because of the short distance it must travel. Despite its proximity to the sun, Mercury does not have the highest surface temperature in the solar system; that distinction belongs to Venus, whose thick atmosphere traps heat effectively. Mercury is also the smallest of the eight recognised planets, with a diameter only slightly larger than Earth's moon. Its surface is heavily cratered and experiences extreme temperature swings between its scorching sunlit side and its frigid night side. Which planet is closest to the sun as mentioned in the passage?
Correct Answer: B. Mercury
The passage identifies Mercury as the closest planet to the sun. It is also the smallest of the eight planets and has extreme temperature variations between its day and night sides. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Jupiter is one of the most remarkable objects in our solar system and has fascinated astronomers for centuries. It is the largest planet in the solar system, so massive that more than 1,300 Earths could fit inside it by volume. Jupiter's enormous size means it exerts a powerful gravitational pull that influences the orbits of asteroids and comets, sometimes shielding the inner planets from potential collisions. The planet is classified as a gas giant because it lacks a solid surface, consisting instead of swirling layers of hydrogen and helium. Its most famous feature, the Great Red Spot, is a persistent storm system that has raged for hundreds of years. What characteristic makes Jupiter unique among the planets according to the passage?
Correct Answer: B. It is the largest planet
The passage emphasizes that Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Its great mass and size make it a gas giant with significant gravitational influence on other solar system bodies. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Saturn is perhaps the most visually distinctive planet in the solar system, renowned for its spectacular ring system visible even through a modest telescope. The rings are primarily composed of ice and rock fragments ranging in size from tiny grains to chunks several metres across, all orbiting Saturn at different speeds. These particles are thought to be the remnants of comets, asteroids, or shattered moons that were broken apart by Saturn's gravitational forces long ago. Although all four outer giant planets have ring systems, Saturn's rings are by far the most prominent and extensive. Scientists continue to study the rings to understand their origin, age, and eventual fate. According to the passage, what is the main composition of Saturn's rings?
Correct Answer: B. Ice and rock fragments
The passage explains that Saturn's rings are primarily composed of ice and rock fragments of various sizes. These particles orbit Saturn and create its distinctive ring appearance. Mastering this concept helps in solving grammar-based questions in competitive.
Earth's journey around the sun is the basis for our measurement of a year. It takes Earth approximately 365.25 days to complete one full orbit around the sun, a duration known as a solar year. Because the calendar year contains only 365 whole days, the extra quarter day accumulates over four years to produce a full extra day, which is added to February in what we call a leap year. This adjustment keeps the calendar aligned with Earth's actual orbital period and ensures that seasonal patterns remain consistent from year to year. Without this correction, the calendar would gradually drift out of synchronisation with the seasons over time. How long does it take Earth to complete one orbit around the sun according to the passage?
Correct Answer: B. 365.25 days
The passage states that Earth takes approximately 365.25 days to orbit the sun. This additional quarter day is the reason for leap years occurring every four years to keep our calendar aligned.