IELTS General Training Reading Sample 024

Read the following passage and then answer the questions below (28- 40).

1. A Throughout history, there have been instances in which people have been unwilling to accept new theories, despite startlingThis was certainly the case when Copernicus published his theory - that the earth was not the centre of the universe.
    
2. B Until the early 16th century, western thinkers believed the theory put forward by Ptolemy, an Egyptian living in Alexandria in about 150 A.His theory, which was formulated by gathering and organizing the thoughts of the earlier thinkers, proposed that the universe was a closed space bounded by a spherical envelope beyond which there was nothing.  The earth, according to Ptolemy, was a fixed and immobile mass, located at the centre of the universe.  The sun and the stars, revolved around it.
    
3. The theory appealed to humanSomeone making casual observations as they looked into the sky might come to a similar conclusion.  It also fed the human ego.  Humans could believe that they were at the centre of God's universe, and the sun and stars were created for their benefit.
    
4. Ptolemy's theory, was of course, incorrect, but at the time nobody contestedEuropean astronomers were more inclined to save face.  Instead of proposing new ideas, they attempted to patch up and refine Ptolemy's flawed model.  Students were taught using a book called The Sphere which had been written two hundred years previously.  In short, astronomy failed to advance.
    
5. E In 1530, however, Mikolaj Kopernik, more commonly known as Copernicus, made an assertion which shook the world. He proposed that the earth turned on its axis once per day, and travelled around the sun once perEven when he made his discovery, he was reluctant to make it public, knowing how much his shocking revelations would disturb the church.  However, George Rheticus, a German mathematics professor who had become Copernicus's student, convinced Copernicus to publish his ideas, even though Copernicus, a perfectionist, was never satisfied that his observations were complete. 
    
6. Copernicus's ideas went against all the political and religious beliefs of theHumans, it was believed, were made in God's image, and were superior to all creatures.  The natural world had been created for humans to exploit.  Copernicus's theories contradicted the ideas of all the powerful churchmen of the time.  Even the famous playwright William Shakespeare feared the new theory, pronouncing that it would destroy social order and bring chaos to the world.  However, Copernicus never had to suffer at the hands of those who disagreed with his theories.  He died just after the work was published in 1543.
    
7. G However, the scientists who followed in Copernicus's footsteps bore the brunt of the church'sTwo other Italian scientists of the time, Galileo and Bruno, agreed wholeheartedly with the Copernican theory.  Bruno even dared to say that space was endless and contained many other suns, each with its own planets.  For this, Bruno was sentenced to death by burning in 1600.  Galileo, famous for his construction of the telescope, was forced to deny his belief in the Copernican theories.  He escaped capital punishment, but was imprisoned for the rest of his life. 
    
8. H In time however, Copernicus's work became moreSubsequent scientists and mathematicians such as Brahe, Kepler and Newton took Copernicus's work as a starting point and used it to glean further truths about the laws of celestial mechanics.
    
9. The most important aspect of Copernicus' work is that it forever changed the place of man in theWith Copernicus' work, man could no longer take that premier position which the theologians had immodestly assigned him. This was the first, but certainly not the last time in which man would have to accept his position as a mere part of the universe, not at the centre of it.

Questions 28 - 34

The text has nine paragraphs, A-I. Which paragraph contains the following information?

28. the public's reaction to the new theory

29. an ancient belief about the position of the earth

30. Copernicus's legacy to the future of science

31. How academics built on Copernican ideas

32. An idea which is attractive to humans

33. Out-dated teaching and defective research

34. Scientists suffer for their beliefs

Questions 35 - 40

Look at the following statements and the list of people below.

Match each statement with the correct person.

List of People
Ptelomy
George Rheticus
William Shakespeare
Galileo
Bruno
Newton
 

35. He, among others, used Copernicus's theories to advance scientific knowledge.

36. He proposed an inaccurate theory based on the work of early philosophers.

37. His attitude to the new theory was similar to that of the Church.

38. He was killed because of his belief in the new theory.

39. He was responsible for Copernicus's ideas being made public.

40. He had to go to jail because he believed in the new theory.

Answer:
28  F 29  B 30  I 31  H 32  C 33  D 34  G 35  Newton
36  Ptelomy
37  William Shakespeare
38  Bruno
39  George Rheticus 40  Galileo

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