Read the following passage.
A. Canadarm began with a need that NASA announced in the early 1970s, when it was developing the space shuttle. The shuttle required an arm able to unload the contents of its payload bay. Canadian firms including Spar, CAE Electronic and RCA took part. Because the arm was meant for weightlessness, it could not be operated in Earth's gravity, so a computer simulation facility was built to evaluate it and to train astronauts. The Government of Canada gave NASA the first arm as its contribution to the shuttle, and thanks to that gift Canada was able to send its first astronaut, Marc Garneau, to space.
B. The arm first went into action in space on November 13, 1981, from the cargo bay of Space Shuttle Columbia, and it worked as expected. It had rotating joints at the shoulder, the elbow and the wrist, and cameras at its elbow and wrist let crews inspect the shuttle and its cargo. After this first success, NASA bought four more arms. Over 30 years they launched satellites, captured others for repair, helped build the International Space Station and supported astronauts on spacewalks. The series retired after its 90th flight, when the shuttle program ended in July 2011.
C. A larger successor, Canadarm2, was launched to the International Space Station in 2001 as part of Canada's contribution. The 17-metre arm took a large part in assembling the orbiting laboratory. It can walk end-over-end along the station's exterior, anchoring one end to a fixture while the other end works. It also grapples visiting cargo ships and berths them to the station. Astronauts on board can command it, and so can ground teams at the Canadian Space Agency or NASA. In 2008 it was joined by Dextre, a two-armed robot that can ride on its end and replace small equipment such as cameras and batteries.
D. Canadarm2 will never return to Earth, so it is built from parts that can be swapped out individually in orbit. In June 2002, a spacewalking astronaut replaced one of its wrist roll joints, and astronauts fitted it with new hands in 2017 and 2018. The planned Canadarm3, meant for a lunar outpost called Gateway, was to perform some tasks around the Moon autonomously and to include a small arm able to repair the larger one. The Canadian Space Agency has since announced that it intends to redirect its Canadarm3 investments to the next phase of lunar exploration.
E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.
Decide which paragraph, A to D, has the information given in each statement below. Select E if the information is not given in any of the paragraphs.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: B
Why this is correct: Paragraph B says the arm worked as expected on its first flight. After this first success, NASA bought four more arms. Paid for means bought, and another four means four more.
Passage Reference: After this first success, NASA bought four more arms.
Tips: NASA turns up in three paragraphs. Check the verb each time, because only one has NASA spending money on arms.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: NASA also appears in Paragraph A, but there it receives the first arm as a gift from Canada. No purchase is mentioned.
- C: Paragraph C mentions NASA ground teams and Dextre's two arms, but not NASA buying any arms.
- D: Paragraph D is about how later arms were designed and repaired. It does not count how many shuttle arms were bought.
- E: NASA's purchase of four more arms after the first success is reported in Paragraph B.
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: It can walk end-over-end along the station's exterior, anchoring one end to a fixture while the other end works.
Why this is correct: Paragraph C says Canadarm2 can walk end-over-end along the outside of the station. It anchors one end to a fixture while the other end works. Fixing one end means anchoring it.
Tips: Imagine how an arm with two ends could travel. Find where one end holds on while the other end is busy.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Paragraph A covers why the first arm was built and how astronauts trained on it. The station does not appear.
- B: Paragraph B lists the joints of the shuttle arm, but it does not describe an arm moving along a structure.
- D: Canadarm2 is in Paragraph D, but only its repairs and replaceable parts are discussed, not how it travels.
- E: Canadarm2 moving end-over-end with one end anchored is described in Paragraph C.
Correct Answer: D
Passage Reference: In June 2002, a spacewalking astronaut replaced one of its wrist roll joints, and astronauts fitted it with new hands in 2017 and 2018.
Why this is correct: Paragraph D says that in June 2002 a spacewalking astronaut replaced one of Canadarm2's wrist roll joints. A spacewalking astronaut is a person working outside in space, and the whole joint was swapped for a new one.
Tips: Wrist joints show up twice. Ask which time a joint is actually changed, not just described.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: The first paragraph is about the design and testing of the first arm on the ground. No repairs in space are mentioned.
- B: Wrist joints are also listed in Paragraph B, but only as part of the shuttle arm's design. Nothing is replaced there.
- C: Look at paragraph C: it describes what Canadarm2 does on the station, not a repair carried out on it.
- E: The spacewalking astronaut who replaced a wrist roll joint on Canadarm2 appears in Paragraph D.
Correct Answer: E
Passage Reference: A larger successor, Canadarm2, was launched to the International Space Station in 2001 as part of Canada's contribution.
Why this is correct: Paragraph C calls Canadarm2 a larger successor and says when it was launched. It does not say who designed it, so there is no link between the designers of the two arms.
Tips: A successor is a later model. Check whether any paragraph names who made it.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Notice that paragraph A names the firms that worked on the first arm, but it says nothing about who later built Canadarm2.
- B: The second paragraph follows the shuttle arm in use. The people behind Canadarm2 are not mentioned.
- C: Look at paragraph C: it calls Canadarm2 a successor and gives its launch year and length. Its designers are not named.
- D: Notice that paragraph D covers repairs to the station's arm and the plans for Canadarm3. But it does not say who designed any arm.
Correct Answer: D
Passage Reference: The planned Canadarm3, meant for a lunar outpost called Gateway, was to perform some tasks around the Moon autonomously and to include a small arm able to repair the larger one.
Why this is correct: Paragraph D says the planned Canadarm3 was to perform some tasks around the Moon autonomously. Autonomously means on its own, without people controlling it.
Tips: One arm is commanded by people in space or on the ground. Ask which arm would do its jobs near the Moon by itself.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: The first paragraph deals with the first arm and how it was tested on the ground. The Moon is not mentioned.
- B: The shuttle arm's work with satellites fills Paragraph B. No arm works by itself there.
- C: Notice that paragraph C says Canadarm2 is commanded by astronauts or ground teams, which is the opposite of working alone.
- E: Canadarm3's plan to perform some tasks around the Moon autonomously is described in Paragraph D.
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: Because the arm was meant for weightlessness, it could not be operated in Earth's gravity, so a computer simulation facility was built to evaluate it and to train astronauts.
Why this is correct: The first paragraph says a computer simulation facility was built to evaluate the first arm and to train astronauts. Astronauts are people preparing to fly, and a simulation is a computer model.
Tips: Ask why people had to practise on a computer model instead of the real thing. The answer sits with the story of the first arm.
Why the other options are wrong:
- B: Astronauts appear in Paragraph B only as people the arm supported during spacewalks, not as trainees.
- C: In Paragraph C astronauts command Canadarm2 in orbit, but nothing is said about training on a computer.
- D: The fourth paragraph describes astronauts repairing Canadarm2 in space. It does not mention any simulation.
- E: The computer simulation facility used to train astronauts is described in Paragraph A.
Correct Answer: D
Passage Reference: Canadarm2 will never return to Earth, so it is built from parts that can be swapped out individually in orbit.
Why this is correct: Look at paragraph D: it says Canadarm2 will never return to Earth. So it is built from parts that can be swapped out in orbit. Staying in space for good means never coming back, and swapped out means exchanged.
Tips: Two places mention changing equipment in space. Check which one says it happens because the arm stays up for good.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Notice that paragraph A explains that the first arm could not work in Earth's gravity. It says nothing about replacing parts in space.
- B: The second paragraph tells how long the shuttle arms served, not whether their parts could be changed in orbit.
- C: Dextre replaces cameras and batteries on the station in Paragraph C. But that paragraph does not say Canadarm2's own parts can be swapped.
- E: The reason Canadarm2 has replaceable parts, that it will never return to Earth, is given in Paragraph D.
Correct Answer: E
Passage Reference: A larger successor, Canadarm2, was launched to the International Space Station in 2001 as part of Canada's contribution.
Why this is correct: Paragraph C calls Canadarm2 a larger successor and gives its length of 17 metres. Being larger is not the same as lifting more, and no paragraph compares the loads of the two arms.
Tips: The statement compares how much each arm can lift. Check whether the passage ever makes that comparison.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: The first arm's purpose and testing are the subject of paragraph A. No weights are given for either arm.
- B: Notice that paragraph B lists jobs the shuttle arms did, but it gives no figure for how much they could lift.
- C: The third paragraph says Canadarm2 is larger, which is about size. It does not say it can handle more weight.
- D: The fourth paragraph covers repairs to the station's arm and the Moon plans for Canadarm3, not how much any arm can lift.
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: The Government of Canada gave NASA the first arm as its contribution to the shuttle, and thanks to that gift Canada was able to send its first astronaut, Marc Garneau, to space.
Why this is correct: Notice that paragraph A says Canada gave NASA the first arm. Thanks to that gift, Canada was able to send its first astronaut, Marc Garneau, to space. The gift of the arm is what made his flight possible.
Tips: Two paragraphs mention a Canadian contribution. Find the one that ties the contribution to an astronaut.
Why the other options are wrong:
- B: The second paragraph follows the arm's missions from 1981 to 2011. No Canadian astronaut is named there.
- C: Canada's contribution to the space station is in Paragraph C, but that contribution is not linked to sending an astronaut.
- D: Notice that paragraph D talks about astronauts repairing the station's arm, not about Canada's first astronaut.
- E: Canada's first astronaut, Marc Garneau, and the gift that made his flight possible are in Paragraph A.
The rest of this explanation is for members. Sign in free to read why the other options are wrong, key words and tips.
Sign in to read the full explanation