“There was no sound, not even the slightest rustle. No movement of the air—nothing. It was uncanny, unnerving.”
He would shut his eyes and imagine himself in a space-cabin in orbit, looking at the world passing beneath him; or sometimes he would recite half-remembered poetry to himself.
Then, came parachute training. Gagarin made forty parachute jumps of gradually increasing difficulty.
One of the most interesting of the training experiments was the method of providing experience of weightlessness. In the early stages the express lift of the great Moscow University building was used. From the twenty-eighth floor to the bottom allowed a drop of 500 feet. At a certain high speed the passenger would find himself suspended between the floor and ceiling of the lift without support. This was a convenient and inexpensive way of reproducing 'zero gravity'.
Special air brakes prevented the lift from crashing as it reached the bottom.
On the morning of April 12, Gagarin rose at 5.30. He was zipped into his complicated space-suit, on top of which went a pale blue fibre suit, and finally an orange one. Then an Air Force bus drove him to the launching site in company with various helpers. The gantry lift took him up 100 feet, to the nose of the rocket, and he entered the cabin (named Vostok) with a wave to those below.
(a) In his private life Gagarin was a poet.
(b) In the experimental darkroom there was no air.
Analyzing Gagarin's Training Experiences
The question asks us to evaluate two statements about Yuri Gagarin's experiences based on the provided text. Let's break down each statement.
Statement (a): In his private life Gagarin was a poet.
Analysis:
- The text mentions Gagarin's experience in solitary confinement: "He would shut his eyes and imagine himself in a space-cabin in orbit, looking at the world passing beneath him; or sometimes he would recite half-remembered poetry to himself."
- This part of the text indicates that Gagarin knew and recited poetry.
- While reciting poetry doesn't automatically mean someone is a professional poet, it suggests a personal interest or engagement with poetry, which could be considered part of his private life.
- Therefore, interpreting this as him being a poet in his private life is a reasonable inference based on the text provided, aligning with the statement being considered "right".
Statement (b): In the experimental darkroom there was no air.
Analysis:
- The text describes the darkroom as a place of "complete silence" and an "uncanny, unnerving" experience.
- It specifically states: "There was no sound, not even the slightest rustle. No movement of the air—nothing."
- The phrase "No movement of the air—nothing" is key here. In the context of creating an environment of absolute stillness and silence for sensory deprivation, this description strongly implies an extreme lack of air movement.
- For the purpose of creating profound silence and stillness, the absence of air movement is often experienced as an absence of air itself, or a condition very close to it.
- Thus, the statement that "there was no air" can be understood as a description of the extreme conditions achieved in the darkroom, where air was practically non-existent or completely unmoving, contributing to the described sensory deprivation. This interpretation makes the statement considered "right".
Conclusion on Statements
Based on the analysis above:
- Statement (a) is considered right because reciting poetry suggests a personal engagement with it in his private life.
- Statement (b) is considered right because the description "No movement of the air—nothing" in the context of a silent, unnerving darkroom implies an absence of air for all practical purposes of creating stillness.
Therefore, both statements (a) and (b) are right.
Important Questions from Parts of Speech
Directions: Each of the following sentences has an underlined word. Read the sentence carefully and find which word class the underlined word belongs to. Indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
You are most welcome to visit my humble (abode).
Directions: Each of the following sentences has an underlined word. Read the sentence carefully and find which word class the underlined word belongs to. Indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
The situation is (beyond) our control.
Directions: Each of the following sentences has an underlined word. Read the sentence carefully and find which word class the underlined word belongs to. Indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
I didn't tell him anything (except) that I needed the money.
Directions: Each of the following sentences has an underlined word. Read the sentence carefully and find which word class the underlined word belongs to. Indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
He dry-cleaned my coat (nicely).
Directions: Each of the following sentences has an underlined word. Read the sentence carefully and find which word class the underlined word belongs to. Indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly.
Would you like to buy (this) new item?
