The Most Powerful Force in Space

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the blanks or correct answer to each of the questions.

The Most Powerful Force in Space

A black hole is a spot in space that has incredibly powerful gravity. A hole’s gravity is so strong that it pulls everything nearby into it. It can pull stars, planets, and other things. Nothing can escape a black hole. In fact, they are so powerful that even light cannot escape them.

Scientists first started talking about black holes in the year 1783. That year, one scientist said that in the universe, there might be places with gravity strong enough to trap light. However, that scientist didn’t use the term “black hole”. The term “black hole” was invented in 1967.

Black holes are formed when a star dies. When a star dies, it collapses. When that happens, a huge amount of matter crowds into a very small space. The matter becomes very, very dense. How much matter are we talking about? Imagine a star that is the size of ten suns. Imagine fitting that amount of matter into New York City. That is what a black hole is like. Its gravity is so powerful because it has so much matter.

However, not all black holes are huge. Scientists believe that some black holes are the size of atoms. Although these black holes are tiny, they might have the same amount of matter that a mountain has.

We can’t see black holes because they don’t have any light. They are completely invisible. Scientists can guess where black holes are by studying nearby stars and planets. If gravity seems to be pulling the stars and planets to one spot, then scientists believe that the spot is a black hole.

Some people wonder if a black hole could ever destroy the Earth. We do not need to worry about that. There is no black hole that is close enough to destroy the Earth. The closest black hole is about 7,800 light years away. In addition, the sun is not big enough to create a black hole.

Question 1: When are black holes formed?

A. When a new star is formed

B. When a planet collapses

C. When two suns crash into each other

D. When a star dies

Question 2: How do scientists study black holes?

A. They look at nearby stars.

B. They look at the black holes.

C. They look at the sun.

D. They visit the black holes.

Question 3: Which statement is NOT true?

A. Black holes have very little matter.

B. Black holes can be big or small.

C. We can't see black holes.

D. Nothing can escape a black hole.

Question 4: Which of the following CAN'T be inferred from the passage?

A. Scientists started studying a black hole in 1967.

B. A black hole is invisible because it traps light.

C. The movement of stars and planets are affected by a nearby black hole.

D. A black hole gets its name because it does not have any light.

Question 5: The word "them" in paragraph 1 refers to _________.

A. planets

B. gravitation

C. empty spaces

D. black holes

Question 6: The word "collapses" in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _________.

A. fails

B. falls inwards

C. breaks down

D. becomes unconscious

Question 7: What would be another good title for the passage?

A. Places without Gravity

B. Strong Enough to Pull a Planet

C. Will a Black Hole Destroy the Earth?

D. The Brightest Things in the Universe

Đáp án

Question 1. D

Đoạn văn nói rõ rằng "Black holes are formed when a star dies" (Các lỗ đen được hình thành khi một ngôi sao chết)

Question 2. A

"Scientists can guess where black holes are by studying nearby stars and planets" (Các nhà khoa học có thể đoán vị trí của lỗ đen bằng cách nghiên cứu các ngôi sao và hành tinh gần đó). Điều này cho thấy họ sử dụng các quan sát của các ngôi sao và hành tinh xung quanh để nghiên cứu lỗ đen.

Question 3. A

Đoạn văn mô tả rằng khi một ngôi sao chết, "a huge amount of matter crowds into a very small space" (một lượng vật chất lớn tập trung vào một không gian rất nhỏ). Điều này cho thấy lỗ đen có một lượng vật chất lớn, do đó tuyên bố "Black holes have very little matter" là không đúng.

Question 4. A

"The term “black hole” was invented in 1967" (Thuật ngữ "lỗ đen" được phát minh vào năm 1967).

=> "lỗ đen" được đặt ra trong năm đó, nhưng không cho biết rằng các nhà khoa học bắt đầu nghiên cứu lỗ đen từ năm 1967.

Question 5. D

"It can pull stars, planets, and other things. Nothing can escape a black hole" (Nó có thể kéo sao, hành tinh và những thứ khác. Không gì có thể thoát ra khỏi một lỗ đen), "them" đề cập đến các lỗ đen.

Question 6. B

Từ "collapses" có nghĩa là "đổ sụp" hoặc "rơi vào bên trong"

Question 7. B

Đoạn văn tập trung vào việc mô tả về sức mạnh khủng khiếp của lỗ đen, đặc biệt là khả năng của chúng để hút và thu hút mọi thứ trong vũ trụ, bao gồm cả các hành tinh. 

=> tiêu đề "Strong Enough to Pull a Planet"