The Life Cycle of a Star: IELTS Reading Passage with Questions & Answers

The cosmos is a vast tapestry of celestial phenomena, among which stars are perhaps the most wondrous. They are not static but dynamic, undergoing a life cycle that is both fascinating and complex. This passage will explore the stages of a star's life from birth to death, providing a narrative suitable for the IELTS reading test preparation, along with questions to assess comprehension.

The Life Cycle of a Star: An IELTS Reading Passage

Stars are the fundamental building blocks of galaxies, and their life cycle is a cosmic tale of transformation. This cycle is determined by a star's mass, which dictates its ultimate fate. The journey of a star is both methodical and violent, a process of nuclear reactions that can span billions of years.

Birth in the Nebulae

The genesis of a star, known as stellar birth, occurs in nebulae, the vast clouds of gas and dust scattered throughout space. These nebulae are the maternity wards of the cosmos. Here, gravity pulls the gas and dust together to form protostars, which will eventually become main-sequence stars. The most famous nebula, the Orion Nebula, is a stellar nursery that is visible to the naked eye.

The Main Sequence

Once a protostar reaches the main sequence phase, it begins the longest part of its life. During this time, hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium in the star's core, releasing vast amounts of energy. This process is known as nuclear fusion and is the source of a star's light and heat. Our own Sun has been in the main sequence for approximately 4.5 billion years and is expected to remain there for another 5 billion years.

The Red Giant

As a star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it exits the main sequence. For medium-sized stars like the Sun, the core contracts and heats up, expanding the outer layers and transforming the star into a red giant. In this swollen state, the star can engulf nearby planets.

Supernova: The Stellar Explosion

For the most massive stars, the end of life comes with a dramatic climax: the supernova. This colossal explosion occurs when the star's core collapses under gravity's pull. It's a cosmic event so bright that it can outshine entire galaxies and can be seen across vast interstellar distances.

The Final Acts: Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black Holes

Depending on its mass, a star can meet different ends. Medium-sized stars shed their outer layers, leaving behind a white dwarf, which will eventually cool and fade into a black dwarf. Massive stars, however, can become neutron stars or even black holes, entities with gravitational fields so strong that not even light can escape

Questions & Answers:

1. Multiple Choice: Where does the stellar birth take place?

A. In galaxies

B. In supernovae

C. In nebulae

D. On planets

Answer: C. In nebulae

2. Fill in the Blanks: The longest phase in the life of a star is the ________ phase.

Answer: main sequence

3. True or False: Nuclear fusion is the process by which a star creates energy during the red giant phase.

Answer: False (Nuclear fusion occurs during the main sequence phase, not just the red giant phase.)

4. Multiple Choice: What can be seen with the naked eye from Earth?

A. The birth of a star

B. The Orion Nebula

C. A supernova

D. A black dwarf

Answer: B. The Orion Nebula

5. Fill in the Blanks: A supernova is a ________ explosion that marks the end of a ________ star's life.

Answers:

colossal

massive

6. Multiple Choice: What does a medium-sized star like the Sun become after it exhausts its hydrogen fuel?

A. A neutron star

B. A red giant

C. A black hole

D. A supernova

Answer: B. A red giant

7. True or False: A black dwarf is a final stage in the life of a massive star.

Answer: False (A black dwarf is the final stage of a medium-sized star, not a massive one.)

8. Multiple Choice: What is the final stage of a star's life if it is not massive enough to become a black hole?

A. Red giant

B. Supernova

C. Neutron star

D. White dwarf

Answer: D. White dwarf

9. Fill in the Blanks: The process where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium and release energy is called ________.

Answer: nuclear fusion

10. Multiple Choice: Which celestial phenomenon can outshine entire galaxies for a brief period?

A. A comet

B. A meteor shower

C. A supernova

D. The Aurora Borealis

Answer: C. A supernova

Understanding the life cycle of a star provides not only a window into the workings of the universe but also an opportunity for IELTS test-takers to expand their academic reading skills. The passage above, with its corresponding questions, is designed to engage the reader in critical thinking and comprehension, key components of the IELTS Reading section. By studying such passages, learners can enhance their ability to analyze and interpret complex texts, an essential skill for achieving a high band score on the IELTS.