IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1

Passage 1

The Layers of the Sun

Consider the earth, the moon, and all the other planets in our solar system. Think about the mass

that all those objects must have when they are all added together. Counter-intuitively, added all

together they account for only 0.2% of the total mass of the solar system. The sun makes up the

remaining 99.8% of all the mass in the solar system! The sun is the center of the solar system and

the largest object in the solar system. Our sun is a star that provides light and heat and supports

almost all life on Earth.

The sun is a sphere, but unlike the earth and the moon, it is not solid. Most atoms in the sun exist

as plasma, or a fourth state of matter made up of superheated gas with an electrical charge. Our sun

consists almost entirely of the elements hydrogen and helium, and because the sun is not solid, it

does not have a defined outer boundary. It does, however, have a definite internal structure. There

are several identifiable layers of the sun:

The core is the innermost or central layer of the sun. The core is plasma, but moves similarly to a gas.

Its temperature is around 27 million degrees Celsius. In the core, nuclear reactions combine

hydrogen atoms to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy in the process. The energy

released then begins to move outward, towards the outer layers of the sun.

Just outside the core is the radiative zone, which has a temperature of about 7 million degrees

Celsius. The energy released in the core travels extremely slowly through the radiative zone.

Particles of light called photons can only travel a few millimeters before they hit another particle in

the sun, are absorbed and then released again. It can take a photon as long as 50 million years to

travel all the way through the radiative zone.

Surrounding the radiative zone is the convection zone. Here, hot material from near the sun's center

rises, cools at the surface, and then plunges back downward to receive more heat from the radiative

zone. This movement helps to create solar flares and sunspots. These first three layers make up

what we would actually call "the sun". The next three layers make up the sun's atmosphere. Of

course, there are no solid layers to any part of the sun, so these boundaries are fuzzy and indistinct.

The visible surface of the sun is known as the photosphere. This is the region of the sun that emits

sunlight. It's also one of the coolest layers of the sun—only about 6700°C. Looking at a photograph

of the sun's surface, you can see that it has several different colors: oranges, yellow and reds, giving

it a grainy appearance. We cannot see this when we glance quickly at the sun as our eyes can't focus

that quickly and the sun is too bright for us to look at for more than a brief moment. Looking at the

sun for any length of time can cause blindness, so don't try it! Sunlight is emitted from the sun's

photosphere. A fraction of the light that travels from the sun reaches Earth. It travels as light in a

range of wavelengths, including visible light, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation. Visible light is all the

light we can see with our eyes. We can't see ultraviolet or infrared radiation, but their effects can

Note: This is not a real IELTS test. This practice test is to give you an opportunity to practise

implementing the strategies from the course. It does not reflect the scores, time needed or

level of difficulty of a real IELTS test.

IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1

still be detected. For example, sunburn is caused by ultraviolet radiation when you spend too much

time in the sun.

The chromosphere is the zone about 2,000 kilometers thick that lies directly above the photosphere.

The chromosphere is a thin region of the sun's atmosphere that glows red as it is heated by energy

from the photosphere. Temperatures in the chromosphere range from about 4000°C to about

10,000°C. Jets of gas fire up through the chromosphere at speeds up to 72,000 kilometers per hour,

reaching heights as high as 10,000 kilometers.

The outermost layer of the sun, and the outermost part of its atmosphere, is called the corona. It is

the sun's halo or "crown". It has a temperature of 2 to 5 million degrees Celsius and is much hotter

than the visible surface of the sun, or photosphere. The corona extends millions of kilometers into

space. If you ever have the chance to see a total solar eclipse, you will be able to see the sun's

corona, shining out into space.

To conclude, in the sun's core, nuclear fusion reactions generate energy by converting hydrogen to

helium, and the rest of the sun is heated by the movement of this energy outward from the core.

Light energy from the sun is emitted from the photosphere, and it travels through space, and some

of it reaches the earth. The sun is the source of almost all the energy on Earth and sunlight

powers photosynthesis, as well as warming and illuminating our Earth.

Adapted from:

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https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/High_School_Earth_Science/The_Sun

Note: This is not a real IELTS test. This practice test is to give you an opportunity to practise

implementing the strategies from the course. It does not reflect the scores, time needed or

level of difficulty of a real IELTS test.

IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1

Questions 1-4

Label the diagram below with the names of the layers of the sun. Choose

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NO MORE THAN TWO

WORDS

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from the reading passage for each answer.

After you’ve tried these questions, check your answers with the following

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video



Note: This is not a real IELTS test. This practice test is to give you an opportunity to practise

implementing the strategies from the course. It does not reflect the scores, time needed or

level of difficulty of a real IELTS test.

195

FAQs of IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1

What types of passages are included in the IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1?

The IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1 includes diverse passages covering scientific topics, such as the layers of the sun, and environmental issues, like pollution in Oceania. These passages are designed to challenge reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Each passage is followed by a series of questions that test understanding and retention of the material presented. This variety ensures that students are well-prepared for the range of topics they may encounter on the actual IELTS exam.

How does the practice test help improve IELTS reading skills?

The practice test aids in improving IELTS reading skills by providing authentic reading materials that simulate the actual exam experience. Each passage is followed by questions that require students to analyze, interpret, and evaluate the text, which are essential skills for success on the IELTS. Additionally, the answer keys allow for self-assessment, helping students identify areas for improvement. Regular practice with these materials can enhance reading speed, comprehension, and overall test performance.

What is the significance of the answer keys provided in the practice test?

The answer keys in the IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1 are crucial for self-assessment and learning. They enable students to check their answers against the correct responses, fostering a deeper understanding of the material. By reviewing the answer keys, students can identify their strengths and weaknesses in reading comprehension. This feedback loop is essential for targeted practice, allowing students to focus on specific areas that need improvement before taking the actual IELTS exam.

What skills are tested in the reading passages of this practice test?

The reading passages in the IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1 test a variety of skills essential for the IELTS exam. These include the ability to identify main ideas, understand specific details, make inferences, and summarize information. Additionally, students are challenged to interpret data and analyze arguments presented in the texts. These skills are critical for achieving a high score on the IELTS reading section, making this practice test an invaluable resource for preparation.

IELTS Advantage Practice Reading Test 1

Key Points

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