Ironically, it was the ambitious reach of NASA's Viking spacecraft

Question

Ironically, it was the ambitious reach of NASA's Viking spacecraft that set back the exploration of Mars for so many years. As proffered by such enthusiastic visionaries as Carl Sagan, the question that Viking would answer seemed not to be whether Mars was home to life but to what kind. Would it be bacteria? Algae? Lichen? Or other, more complex forms? The two landers carried suites of astrobiological life detection apparatuses that were marvels to behold: tiny growing chambers packed with nutrients to awaken ancient Martian spores, radioactive tracers to identify the metabolic activities of microbes, and chemical analysis systems to identify the expected respiratory byproducts.

Alas, save for some narrowly held dissenting opinions, no interpretation of the data supported the existence of viable life forms on Mars. Instead, the probes found an atmosphere so harshly oxidizing that biotic matter, as then understood, could scarcely survive. And so, like a rebuffed suitor retreating across the room to collect his composure, the American exploration of space was left hunting for new directions to explore. Mars was dead.

But time heals all shame and the allure of the red planet could not long remain at bay. It took a series of events to bring Martian exploration back into the limelight. The discovery of extremophiles, forms of life here on Earth that existed in conditions previously considered completely inhospitable to any biological process, combined with a new understanding of the limitations of Viking's sensors (which, it turned out, had been somewhat oversold in an effort to secure backing for the missions) to awaken the possibility that life could still exist on Mars, albeit perhaps in forms we would scarcely recognize. The competitive spirit of the Reagan presidency then provided the necessary political will to return to Mars, for the Russians had suffered no shame from the American frustration and were then pursuing an ambitious program of Martian exploration.

These factors combined to bring about the launch of Mars Observer, a mission almost as grandiose as Viking had been. Technical shortsightedness caused the Mars Observer craft to explode while preparing to enter orbit around Mars. But by then the spirit was relit and a sequence of missions, some humble and some ambitious, some successful and some not, flew throughout the late 1990's and into the new millennium. Today's goals are less dramatic. No surefire detection of life is promised or looked for. Instead, a methodical tracing of the biologic, climatologic, and geologic history of Mars is slowly expanding our understanding of our close planetary neighbor. This systematic exploration may even one day progress to a reexamination of the great question that has haunted man's imagination for centuries: Is there life on Mars?   1 
 1 : Based on the information in the passage, which of the following best characterizes the results of the Viking missions?

a) A methodical understanding of the biologic, climatologic, and geologic history of Mars.
b) Undisputed proof that no life could possibly exist on Mars.
c) Widely disputed and inconclusive results regarding the biological potential of Mars.
d) A general belief that life, as then recognized, was unlikely to exist on Mars.
e) Widespread enthusiasm towards continued Martian exploration.
 2 
 2: The passage discusses which of the following as a reason why the Viking landers failed to detect signs of life on Mars?

a) Their life detection apparatus was not designed to detect traces of the sort of life now believed to exist on Mars.
b) Subsequent investigations proved that there was no life present for them to detect.
c) The Viking landers only surveyed two small areas of the planet and might have missed locations more favorable to biological activity.
d) The instruments were not as sensitive as originally claimed and, if life on Mars does exist, it may do so in a form they would not have correctly identified.
e) The Viking landers could only identify complex forms of life such as bacteria and algae.
 3 
 3 : Which of the following would most effectively and accurately title this article?

a) Viking and Mars Observer - Two Studies in Hubris
b) Back to the Red Planet, One Step at a Time
c) Beat the Russians!
d) Astrobiological Possibilities of Martian Extremophiles
e) Moving On - Why Space Exploration Must Abandon a Dead Mars
 4 
 4. According to the passage, the competitive spirit of the Reagan presidency played what role in the exploration of Mars?

a) It provided political impetus to move forward with the launch of the Viking Landers.
b) It ensured the flight of a sequence of missions from the late 1990's through the new millennium.
c) It led to the opposition of Russian efforts to explore Mars.
d) It was like a rebuffed suitor retreating across the room.
e) It contributed to the launch of the Mars Observer mission.

Official Explanations :

Correct Answer: 1

The Viking missions resulted in the generally, though not universally, held belief that life did not exist on Mars, matching answer choice D. Answer choice A is incorrect because it describes the current approach. Answer choice C overstates the dissenting opinions regarding the Viking results and is incorrect whereas answer choice B fails to acknowledge this minority view. Answer choice E is opposite of the actual outcome of the Viking results.

Correct Answer: 2

The passage discusses a combination of reasons for the Viking failure. Answer choice A comes close but ends with the idea that a certain kind of life is now believed to exist on Mars, which is not supported by the passage. B discusses subsequent investigations but the passage does not mention any further biological probes. C may well be correct but is not mentioned in the passage. D matches the reasons put forward in the passage and is correct. E is not supported by the information in the passage.

Correct Answer: 3

The main idea of this passage is that the Viking missions held back Mars exploration but that new missions are proceeding. This is best supports answer choice B. Answer choices A and C are too narrowly focused. Answer choice D goes into a topic barely touched upon in the passage, and answer choice E is opposite of the author's tone.

chid2 · Answer

1 : Based on the information in the passage, which of the following best characterizes the results of the Viking missions?

a) A methodical understanding of the biologic, climatologic, and geologic history of Mars. - no, this is the Mars Observer
b) Undisputed proof that no life could possibly exist on Mars -No 
c) Widely disputed and inconclusive results regarding the biological potential of Mars. -not mentioned
d) A general belief that life, as then recognized, was unlikely to exist on Mars. -yes, 
e) Widespread enthusiasm towards continued Martian exploration -wrong

2. The passage discusses which of the following as a reason why the Viking landers failed to detect signs of life on Mars?

only option D perfectly mimics the idea

a) Their life detection apparatus was not designed to detect traces of the sort of life now believed to exist on Mars.
b) Subsequent investigations proved that there was no life present for them to detect.
c) The Viking landers only surveyed two small areas of the planet and might have missed locations more favorable to biological activity.
d) The instruments were not as sensitive as originally claimed and, if life on Mars does exist, it may do so in a form they would not have correctly identified.
e) The Viking landers could only identify complex forms of life such as bacteria and algae.

3. : Which of the following would most effectively and accurately title this article?

a) Viking and Mars Observer - Two Studies in Hubris - no
b) Back to the Red Planet, One Step at a Time - yes, so after failed NASA's Viking, they are starting humbly with Mars Observer
c) Beat the Russians! -too extreme
d) Astrobiological Possibilities of Martian Extremophiles -far 
e) Moving On - Why Space Exploration Must Abandon a Dead Mars

aragonn · Answer

P1 - N spacecraft - life on mars, equipments to detect life.
P2 - no life harsh conditions.
P3 - hope for Martian exploration.
P4 - launch of new mission to mars, new hopes.

1 : Based on the information in the passage, which of the following best characterizes the results of the Viking missions?

a) A methodical understanding of the biologic, climatologic, and geologic history of Mars. - no 
b) Undisputed proof that no life could possibly exist on Mars. - too extreme.
c) Widely disputed and inconclusive results regarding the biological potential of Mars. - no. too extreme choice.
d) A general belief that life, as then recognized, was unlikely to exist on Mars. - best of the lot. ask basic questions. is it A general belief? yes. was it recognized then ? yes. no life on mars ? yes . 
e) Widespread enthusiasm towards continued Martian exploration. - not true, mission was not so much full of hopes.

-----------------------------------
2: The passage discusses which of the following as a reason why the Viking landers failed to detect signs of life on Mars?

which, it turned out, had been somewhat oversold in an effort to secure backing for the missions) to awaken the possibility that life could still exist on Mars, albeit perhaps in forms we would scarcely recognize.

PT - in simple terms life may still exists on mars, just in a form we do not recognize. probably we dnt have equipments to do that.

d) The instruments were not as sensitive as originally claimed and, if life on Mars does exist, it may do so in a form they would not have correctly identified. - on the same lines as in PT.
-------------------------------------

3 : Which of the following would most effectively and accurately title this article?

a) Viking and Mars Observer - Two Studies in Hubris ---------- not covering whole passage.
b) Back to the Red Planet, One Step at a Time --------- no 
c) Beat the Russians! ----- haha .... no way.
d) Astrobiological Possibilities of Martian Extremophiles ----------- no
e) Moving On - Why Space Exploration Must Abandon a Dead Mars ----------- no, passage is hopeful.

At first i have eliminated all of the choices. in 2nd go lets find the choices that cant be the answer. i trim it down to B and D.

b) Back to the Red Planet, One Step at a Time 
d) Astrobiological Possibilities of Martian Extremophiles

Out of these two, Astrobiological Possibilities --- para1 clearly discarded this. no possibility of life ever over here. I would choose B cause other can not be the answer.

Diwakar003 · Answer

Hey  aragonn ,

Could you please explain your reasoning behind eliminating Option A for Q2?

Cheers!

sananoor · Answer

the passage says "combined with a new understanding of the  limitations of Viking's sensors  (which, it turned out, had been somewhat oversold in an effort to secure backing for the missions) to awaken the possibility that life could still exist on Mars, albeit perhaps in forms we would scarcely recognize.

So A is wrong because it talk about Life detecting instruments where as passage tell us about limitation of sensors---i hope its clear now
The first para list more than one thing (life detection apparatuses, chemical analysis system etc etc,) that were taken to mars

aragonn · Answer

workout  - an extra question for this passage, please help to add it.

According to the passage, the competitive spirit of the Reagan presidency played what role in the exploration of Mars?

It provided political impetus to move forward with the launch of the Viking Landers.
 It ensured the flight of a sequence of missions from the late 1990's through the new millennium.
 It led to the opposition of Russian efforts to explore Mars.
 It was like a rebuffed suitor retreating across the room.
 It contributed to the launch of the Mars Observer mission.

OE:  Correct Answer: E

According to the passage the competitive spirit provided political support for renewed exploration in the form of the Mars Observer, supporting the correct answer, E. Answer choices A and B confuse the timeline since it would have been impossible for the competitive spirit to impact the earlier Viking missions, and the passage makes no specific connection between that era and the even later missions of the late 1990's and after. Answer choice C is unsupported by the passage since we are told only that the competitive spirit caused the Russian efforts to inspire new missions and are told nothing about opposition of Russian efforts. D uses a colorful phrase from another portion of the passage entirely.

dabaobao · Answer

Got 4/4 correct but took 10:30 min including 5:30 min to read the passage!

Passage Map: 
1) Viking Mission
2) Results of Viking Mission
3) Back to Research
4) New Efforts

prashant212 · Answer

I chose E for this question. E made more sense to me than D. D is talking about the sensitivity of the instruments, which has no reference in the passage anywhere. You can say that the line
  which, it turned out, had been somewhat oversold in an effort to secure backing for the missions) to awaken the possibility that life could still exist on Mars, albeit perhaps in forms we would scarcely recognize.  
can be interpreted to get option D but Option E has a better reference than Option D does.

First paragraph has clear reference of bacteria, algae and complex forms of lives. Viking was designed to find them. Option E made much more sense to me than D.

priyaarorastep · Answer

Why we have we eliminated option C for question 1?
In para 3- line 7 it is mentioned that -'  to awaken the possibility that life could still exist on Mars, albeit perhaps in forms we would scarcely recognize'

Please help with this. Thanks.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1 : Based on the information in the passage, which of the following best characterizes the results of the Viking missions?

Difficulty Level:   600

Explanation

The Viking missions resulted in the generally, though not universally, held belief that life did not exist on Mars,  matching answer choice D.

Answer  choice A  is incorrect because it describes the current approach.

Answer  choice C  overstates the dissenting opinions regarding the Viking results and is incorrect whereas

Answer  choice B  fails to acknowledge this minority view.

Answer  choice E  is opposite of the actual outcome of the Viking results.

Answer: D

Hope it helps

mangamma · Answer

3 rd question ans

Correct Answer: E

According to the passage the competitive spirit provided political support for renewed exploration in the form of the Mars Observer, supporting the correct answer, E. Answer choices A and B confuse the timeline since it would have been impossible for the competitive spirit to impact the earlier Viking missions, and the passage makes no specific connection between that era and the even later missions of the late 1990's and after. Answer choice C is unsupported by the passage since we are told only that the competitive spirit caused the Russian efforts to inspire new missions and are told nothing about opposition of Russian efforts. D uses a colorful phrase from another portion of the passage entirely.

Balkrishna · Answer

Question No. 2 is a detail question. So, we need to answer the question on the basis of what has been stated in the passage.

Option C talks about comparative sensitiveness. Option C says that sensitiveness was not upto the level which was claimed. There is no claim about the level of sensitiveness. How can option C compare sensitiveness. Passage just says that there was issue in sensor. Passage does not say anything about comparative sensitiveness.

Can you please enlighten me on the above reasoning?

Balkrishna · Answer

In question no. 4, can you please explain why option A is wrong and option C is right.

unraveled · Answer

The political impetus was not for the Vikings Landers but it was for the Mars observer.
Also, C is not right. There was no opposition to Russian Efforts.

DexterZabula · Answer

Sajjad1994

Let go Veritas - they're pretty inconsistent in their choices and fight by teeth to defend their answers. I mean, so inconsistent that you cannot make a note out of their questions.
In 1 CR question, they'll say - example of another sample set cannot be a strengthener and in another, they'll defend that.
So, let them be.
Poor chaps, just cannot set options that are good for them!

You tell me, how are option B and D different from one another.
In fact, if we look at the passage, Viking concluded, based on harsh climatic conditions, that - life is not possible on Mars.
Don't you think, a statement - A project resulted in a general belief - is funny?!

VerbalBot · Answer

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Ironically, it was the ambitious reach of NASA's Viking spacecraft

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Ironically, it was the ambitious reach of NASA's Viking spacecraft

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