Question 34

When satellites stop working, they have to be moved from orbit.

The passage discusses the inevitability of satellites aging and provides information on what happens to them when they can no longer perform their functions. It emphasizes that when satellites stop working, they must be either moved out of orbit or relocated farther into space.

A) When satellites stop working, they have to be moved from orbit.

This statement accurately captures the main idea of the passage, which explains the two main options for handling defunct satellites: moving them out of orbit to burn up in the atmosphere or sending them farther into space. The passage is centered around the actions taken when satellites age and cease functioning.

B) Satellites are sent to orbit Earth for many different purposes.

While this statement acknowledges that satellites have various functions, it does not address the main idea presented in the passage. The focus of the text is not on the diverse purposes of satellites but rather on the actions taken once they have stopped working.

C) After satellites are slowed down, they burn up in the atmosphere.

This statement describes one of the processes mentioned in the passage but does not encompass the overall main idea. The passage highlights both options for dealing with defunct satellites rather than focusing solely on the burning-up process.

D) Satellites are designed to work for only a limited amount of time.

Although this statement reflects a truth about satellites, it does not convey the passage's primary focus on what happens to satellites once they cease functioning. The text centers on the procedures for managing satellites at the end of their operational life, rather than their design specifications.

Conclusion

The selected answer, A, is the most accurate representation of the passage's main idea, as it directly addresses the fate of satellites when they stop working. In contrast, options B, C, and D, while related to the topic, fail to encapsulate the primary focus of the passage on the necessity of moving defunct satellites from their orbits.