14 October 2025 · Shift 3

Directions (Qs. 96-100): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Astronomy reminds us that humanity occupies only a small corner of an immense cosmic landscape. For centuries, observers have studied the night sky to understand not merely its beauty but the forces that govern celestial motion. Knowledge of the universe advances when evidence replaces speculation and when observations are (96) ____ with disciplined curiosity rather than hurried assumptions. One of the most profound shifts in astronomical thinking came with the recognition that the universe is not static. Galaxies drift apart, stars evolve, and cosmic structures continually transform. Such discoveries emerge slowly, shaped by measurements so delicate that even minor errors can (97) ____ an entire model. Astronomers also rely on patterns of light to infer distant realities. A star’s temperature, age and composition can be examined through its spectrum, offering clues that human senses alone could never detect. This method demonstrates how scientific insight often comes from interpreting signals that are easily (98) ____ without careful study. In recent years, the search for planets beyond our solar system has expanded rapidly. These worlds, orbiting faraway stars, challenge long-held ideas about where life might arise. Their discovery urges researchers to refine their techniques and confront the possibility that familiar conditions may not be the only environments that (99) ____ complexity. Ultimately, astronomy is a humbling discipline. It compels human beings to reconsider their assumptions and to recognise that certainty is often temporary. Each new observation extends the horizon of understanding and invites a deeper appreciation of the universe’s unfolding (100) ____.

Directions (Qs. 96-100): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Astronomy reminds us that humanity occupies only a small corner of an immense cosmic landscape. For centuries, observers have studied the night sky to understand not merely its beauty but the forces that govern celestial motion. Knowledge of the universe advances when evidence replaces speculation and when observations are (96) ____ with disciplined curiosity rather than hurried assumptions. One of the most profound shifts in astronomical thinking came with the recognition that the universe is not static. Galaxies drift apart, stars evolve, and cosmic structures continually transform. Such discoveries emerge slowly, shaped by measurements so delicate that even minor errors can (97) ____ an entire model. Astronomers also rely on patterns of light to infer distant realities. A star’s temperature, age and composition can be examined through its spectrum, offering clues that human senses alone could never detect. This method demonstrates how scientific insight often comes from interpreting signals that are easily (98) ____ without careful study. In recent years, the search for planets beyond our solar system has expanded rapidly. These worlds, orbiting faraway stars, challenge long-held ideas about where life might arise. Their discovery urges researchers to refine their techniques and confront the possibility that familiar conditions may not be the only environments that (99) ____ complexity. Ultimately, astronomy is a humbling discipline. It compels human beings to reconsider their assumptions and to recognise that certainty is often temporary. Each new observation extends the horizon of understanding and invites a deeper appreciation of the universe’s unfolding (100) ____.

Directions (Qs. 96-100): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Astronomy reminds us that humanity occupies only a small corner of an immense cosmic landscape. For centuries, observers have studied the night sky to understand not merely its beauty but the forces that govern celestial motion. Knowledge of the universe advances when evidence replaces speculation and when observations are (96) ____ with disciplined curiosity rather than hurried assumptions. One of the most profound shifts in astronomical thinking came with the recognition that the universe is not static. Galaxies drift apart, stars evolve, and cosmic structures continually transform. Such discoveries emerge slowly, shaped by measurements so delicate that even minor errors can (97) ____ an entire model. Astronomers also rely on patterns of light to infer distant realities. A star’s temperature, age and composition can be examined through its spectrum, offering clues that human senses alone could never detect. This method demonstrates how scientific insight often comes from interpreting signals that are easily (98) ____ without careful study. In recent years, the search for planets beyond our solar system has expanded rapidly. These worlds, orbiting faraway stars, challenge long-held ideas about where life might arise. Their discovery urges researchers to refine their techniques and confront the possibility that familiar conditions may not be the only environments that (99) ____ complexity. Ultimately, astronomy is a humbling discipline. It compels human beings to reconsider their assumptions and to recognise that certainty is often temporary. Each new observation extends the horizon of understanding and invites a deeper appreciation of the universe’s unfolding (100) ____.

Directions (Qs. 96-100): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Astronomy reminds us that humanity occupies only a small corner of an immense cosmic landscape. For centuries, observers have studied the night sky to understand not merely its beauty but the forces that govern celestial motion. Knowledge of the universe advances when evidence replaces speculation and when observations are (96) ____ with disciplined curiosity rather than hurried assumptions. One of the most profound shifts in astronomical thinking came with the recognition that the universe is not static. Galaxies drift apart, stars evolve, and cosmic structures continually transform. Such discoveries emerge slowly, shaped by measurements so delicate that even minor errors can (97) ____ an entire model. Astronomers also rely on patterns of light to infer distant realities. A star’s temperature, age and composition can be examined through its spectrum, offering clues that human senses alone could never detect. This method demonstrates how scientific insight often comes from interpreting signals that are easily (98) ____ without careful study. In recent years, the search for planets beyond our solar system has expanded rapidly. These worlds, orbiting faraway stars, challenge long-held ideas about where life might arise. Their discovery urges researchers to refine their techniques and confront the possibility that familiar conditions may not be the only environments that (99) ____ complexity. Ultimately, astronomy is a humbling discipline. It compels human beings to reconsider their assumptions and to recognise that certainty is often temporary. Each new observation extends the horizon of understanding and invites a deeper appreciation of the universe’s unfolding (100) ____.

Directions (Qs. 96-100): In the following passage some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Astronomy reminds us that humanity occupies only a small corner of an immense cosmic landscape. For centuries, observers have studied the night sky to understand not merely its beauty but the forces that govern celestial motion. Knowledge of the universe advances when evidence replaces speculation and when observations are (96) ____ with disciplined curiosity rather than hurried assumptions. One of the most profound shifts in astronomical thinking came with the recognition that the universe is not static. Galaxies drift apart, stars evolve, and cosmic structures continually transform. Such discoveries emerge slowly, shaped by measurements so delicate that even minor errors can (97) ____ an entire model. Astronomers also rely on patterns of light to infer distant realities. A star’s temperature, age and composition can be examined through its spectrum, offering clues that human senses alone could never detect. This method demonstrates how scientific insight often comes from interpreting signals that are easily (98) ____ without careful study. In recent years, the search for planets beyond our solar system has expanded rapidly. These worlds, orbiting faraway stars, challenge long-held ideas about where life might arise. Their discovery urges researchers to refine their techniques and confront the possibility that familiar conditions may not be the only environments that (99) ____ complexity. Ultimately, astronomy is a humbling discipline. It compels human beings to reconsider their assumptions and to recognise that certainty is often temporary. Each new observation extends the horizon of understanding and invites a deeper appreciation of the universe’s unfolding (100) ____.