Reading Practice: 3D Printer in Space

This practice reading lesson focuses on Sentence Completion questions which means filling in a gap to complete a sentence. These are common questions in IELTS and also in English language exercise books.

The level is not high, so it is suitable for GT candidates and also a good easy practice for Academic candidates. Remember, the academic reading passages are usually a bit more difficult. Even so, this lesson will help you focus on skills.

Sentence completion questions in IELTS reading require you to choose one or more words from the passage to complete the sentence. This involves skim reading the passage, identifying the type of word missing from the sentences and then scanning the passage to locate the missing word. Always check how many words you can have for the answer.

Reading Passage: Space Technology

Made-in-Space

Astronauts on the International Space Station have used their 3-D printer to make a wrench from instructions sent up in an email. It is the first time hardware has been “emailed” to space. Nasa was responding to a request by ISS commander Barry Wilmore for a ratcheting socket wrench. Previously, if astronauts requested a specific item they could have waited months for it to be flown up on one of the regular supply flights. Nasa says the capability will help astronauts be more self-reliant on future long duration space missions. This will also have a positive impact on the sustainability of space travel. Furthermore, it makes ships lighter and reduces launching costs. Mike Chen added: “The socket wrench we just manufactured is the first object we designed on the ground and sent digitally to space, on the fly. It also marks the end of our first experiment—a sequence of 21 prints that together make up the first tools and objects ever manufactured off the surface of the Earth.” The other 21 objects were designed before the 3D printer was shipped to the space station in September on a SpaceX Dragon supply flight.

Questions 1-7

Complete the sentences below using no more than two words and/or a number.

  1.  A ……………….. was made using a 3-D printer on the International Space Station.
  2. The tool was essentially …………… to space.
  3. This new technology provides instant access to tools which would have taken …………… before.
  4. Consequently, astronauts will be ……………… to a much greater extent.
  5. Creating tools in space as needed means crafts will weigh less and therefore have lower ………………
  6. The tool was the ……………… that had been designed on Earth yet physically created in space.
  7. Vocabulary question to you all – can you paraphrase the term “on the fly”? 

Answers

Click here to see answers: Answers to 3D Printer Reading.

All the best and stay safe,

Liz

 

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Comments

  1. Niloy says

    Dear mam,
    i don’t understand how no. 2 answer is ‘EMAILED’
    I can’t find connection between passage and the sentence.
    Please help

    • From these sentences “…a wrench from instructions sent up in an email. It is the first time hardware has been “emailed” to space.”. Remember you are not looking for a matching sentence. The answer is through the general meaning rather than one sentence which paraphrases another sentence. Also remember that for these types of questions, answers will come in order. So, the answer to Q2 will come after Q1 and before Q3. Hope this helps 🙂

  2. krishna says

    A=III
    B=IV
    C=VI
    D=VII

  3. Mercy says

    1-Wrench
    2-Emailed
    3-Month
    4-Self Reliance
    5-Launching cost
    6-First object
    7-in the space

  4. Veronica says

    WRENCH
    EMAILED
    MONTHS
    SELF-RELIANT
    COSTS
    FIRST OBJECT
    QUICKLY

  5. 1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3.Months
    4.Self-reliant
    5. Launching cost
    6. First hardware
    7. in a hurry

  6. Harpreet brar says

    1.WRENCH
    2.EMAILED
    3.MONTHS
    4.SELF RELIANT
    5.LAUNCHING COSTS
    6.FIRST OBJECT
    7.ON THE SPACE

  7. Lakhveer says

    1) socket wrench
    2) emailed
    3) months
    4) self-reliant
    5) launching costs
    6) first object
    7) In the space

  8. Tareq says

    1.wrench
    2. responding to request
    3.months
    4.self reliant
    5.launching cost
    6.first object

  9. Adzri Pascaline Diana says

    1.wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. more self-reliant
    5. launching cost
    6. first object
    7. quickly

  10. Mishael says

    1- wrench
    2- emailed
    3- months
    4- more self-reliant
    5- launching costs
    6- first object
    7- quickly (without planning)
    -It is easier than the ease. I hope IELTS reading will be as difficulty as this passage 🙁

  11. Sonja Zigic says

    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. on the run

  12. Sonay says

    1- Wrench
    2- Emailed
    3- Months
    4- Self-Reliant
    5- Launching costs
    6- First object
    7- Quickly

  13. falah obaid says

    1- socket wrench
    2- emailed
    3- months
    4- more self-reliant
    5- launching costs
    6. first object
    7. on the air

  14. Ravi Verma says

    1. WRENCH
    2. EMAILED
    3. MONTHS
    4. SELF-RELIANT
    5. LAUNCHING COSTS
    6. FIRST OBJECT
    7. ON THE RUN

  15. Aboh Ekoja says

    Answers to 3D Printers in Space:

    1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Months
    4. Self-reliant
    5. Launching cost
    6. First object
    7. In flight

  16. 1 WRENCH
    2 EMAILED
    3 MONTHS
    4 SELF-RELIANT
    5 LAUNCHING COSTS
    6 FIRST OBJECT
    7 QUICKLY

  17. Brenda says

    1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3.Months
    4. More self reliant
    5. Launching cost
    6. First object
    7. Onboard

  18. Claudia Hutter says

    Hi Liz,
    Thank you for your informative website and the accompanying videos that you add. They are incredibly helpful in understanding how to deal with each of the four Ielts categories. I hope this is the right place to post my question.

    I would like to know wethet it is necessary to go through the complete Road to Ielts; I have gone through the free version and now am going through each of the four sections on your website.
    Another reason for my question, is that the Road to Ielts clearly states that the complete version is free when booking through their site. However this does not appear to be the case, as I have not received it. A friend writing the Ielts with me was told that the complete version is not free as stated on the website.
    The Ielts test alone is very expensive in South African Rands and the Road to Ielts complete version would be another hefty cost.

    If I can prepare for the Ielts using the information that you supply only, it would be very helpful.

    Thank you. Claudia

    • My website contains a lot of the essential practice you will need to be prepared for the IELTS test. It gives you practice as well as information and tips. However, you need to practice FULL tests at home. To get those, you need the IELS Cambridge test books, see a picture and description of them on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/recommended-books-for-ielts/. Those books contain real IELTS tests which you can use at home. Use them for practising skills and also for practising under exam conditions (listening, reading and writing in 2 hours 40mins without a break). Good luck in your test!!

      • 1-wrench
        2-Emailed
        3-months
        4-self-reliant
        5-launching costs
        6-first object
        7-flight

  19. Bridget Onokwai says

    1wrench
    2 emailed
    3months
    4self-reliant
    5launching costs
    6first object
    7supply flight

  20. Rawia Obida says

    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. more self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. quickly

    • Julie Chinemelu says

      1. wrench
      2 emailed
      3 months
      4 more self-relaint
      5. Launching costs
      6 first object
      7 to air

  21. Ngam Engonwei says

    1.Wrench
    2.Emailed
    3.Months
    4. More self-reliant
    5. Launching cost
    6.First object
    8.To Launch

  22. Gloria says

    1.wrench
    2.emailed
    3.flown up
    4.self-reliant
    5.launching costs
    6.first object
    7.by air

  23. safrin says

    1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Months
    4. Self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. On the uptake

  24. EMMANUEL ODURO AMPAW says

    1. WRENCH
    2. EMAILED
    3. MONTHS
    4.SELF RELIANT
    5. LAUNCHING COST
    6. FIRST OBJECT
    7. IN FLIGHT

  25. John Sunday Mwantiyi says

    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self- reliant
    5. cost
    6. socket
    7. immediately

  26. wrench
    “emailed”
    months
    self-reliant
    launching costs
    first object
    through flight

  27. Lizzie says

    1. WRENCH
    2. EMAILED
    3. MONTHS
    4. SELF-RELIANT
    5. LAUCHING COST
    6. FIRST OBJECT
    7. RAPIDLY

  28. 1, wrench 2, emailed 3, months 4, self reliant 5, launching costs 6, first object 7, successfully

  29. Kamini muthyala says

    1.Wrench
    2.Emailed
    3.Specific item/waited months
    4. More self-reliant
    5.Launching costs
    6.First object
    7.on the arrive

  30. shah taj banu says

    1.wrench
    2.emailed
    3.months
    4.self-reliant
    5.launching costs
    6.first object
    7.instantly

  31. A. Roberts says

    1) Wrench
    2) Emailed
    3) Months
    4) self-reliant
    5) launching cost
    6) socket wrench
    7) while travelling

  32. Michael says

    1)Wrench
    2) Emailed
    3) Months
    4) More self-reliant
    5) Launching costs
    6) Socket wrench
    7) Space vehicle

  33. Rotimi Ishola says

    1. wrench
    2. email
    3. months
    4. more self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. socket wrench
    7. on the air

  34. 1 wrench
    2 emailed
    3 months
    4 self reliant
    5 launching cost
    6 first object

  35. Nimerta says

    1 wrench
    2 emailed
    3 months
    4 self reliant
    5 launching cost
    6 first object
    7 very quickly

  36. aniee says

    1.wrench
    2.emailed
    3,months
    4.self reliant
    5. cost
    6.socket wrench

  37. 1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Months
    4. Self-reliant
    5. Launching costs
    6. First object
    7. In the space

  38. Glory Tom says

    WRENCH
    EMAILED
    MONTHS
    SELF-RELIANT
    LAUNCHING COSTS
    FIRST OBJECT
    ON THE FLY MEANS THROUGH FLIGHTS OR BY AIR

  39. leueen says

    1.wrench
    2.emailed
    3.months
    4.more self-reliant
    5.launching cost
    6.first object
    7. on the fly = “on a hurry”

  40. Dede Flo says

    1. Wrench.
    2. Emailed.
    3. Months.
    4. Self-reliant.
    5. Launching costs.
    6. First.
    7. On motion

  41. 1.hardware
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. shipped

  42. 1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Months
    4. Self-reliant
    5. Launching costs
    6. Socket wrench
    7. In the air

  43. Khurram Abbas Sarani says

    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. launched in the air

  44. Jignesh Patel says

    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. objects (information) send via internet in form of DATA

  45. Anate says

    1) wrench
    2) emailed
    3)months
    4) self-reliant
    5)launching cost
    6)first
    7)’on the fly’ means in an instance

  46. sushmita khadka says

    1) wrench
    2)emailed
    3)months
    4)more self-reliant
    5)launching cost
    6)very quickly

  47. Oziegbe Daniel says

    wrench
    emailed
    months
    self-reliant
    launching costs
    launch in space

  48. Jibola says

    2:emailed
    3:months
    4:more self-reliant
    5: launching costs
    6:by air

  49. 1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Months
    4. Self-reliant
    5. Launching cost
    6. First object
    7. On the air| air-transmitted

  50. Akash Panchal says

    The answer to Space Technology
    1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Flown up
    4. Self reliant
    5. Costs
    6. First object
    7. On air

  51. Abdulnoor says

    1.arench
    2.emailed
    3. months
    4.self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6.first object

    On the fly. quickly online.

  52. 1. Wrench
    2. ‘Emailed’
    3. Months
    4. Self – reliant
    5. Launching costs
    6. First object
    7. In this case : using the internet

  53. 1. wrench
    2. ratcheting socket
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. very fast

  54. 1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Months
    4. Self- reliant
    5. Costs
    6. First experiment
    7. Something that is changed

  55. 1. WRENCH
    2. EMAILED
    3. MONTHS
    4. MORE SELF-RELIANT
    5. LAUNCHING COST
    6. FIRST OBJECT
    7. ON SKY

  56. Ajoke says

    1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3.Months
    4.Self-reliant
    5.Lunching Costs
    6. First object
    7.On board

  57. Pauline kabakabana says

    7.on the fly means in progress or it can mean something done while the computer program is running without interupting

  58. Hongfar says

    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. more selfrediant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. space travel

  59. Adekunle says

    My Answers:
    1. WRENCH
    2. EMAILED
    3. WAITED MONTHS
    4. MORE SELF-RELIANT
    5. LAUNCHING COSTS
    6. FIRST OBJECT
    7. IN THE AIR

  60. Tehreem says

    1 socket wrench
    2 emailed
    3 months
    4 self- reliant
    5 launching cost
    6 first object
    7 abruptly

  61. Esther .A says

    Esther .A

    1 wrench
    2 Emailed
    3. Place
    4 Self reliant
    5 cost
    6 First object
    7 Quickly

  62. 1 WRENCH
    2 EMAILED
    3 SUPPLY FLIGHTS
    4 SELF-RELIANT
    5 LAUNCHING COSTS
    6 FIRST OBJECT
    7 THROUGH FLIGHT, BY AIR

  63. 1. Wrench
    2.emailed
    3.months
    4.more self-reliant
    5.cost
    6.first
    7.off the surface of the earth

  64. WRENCH
    EMAILED
    MONTHS
    SELF-RELIANT
    LAUNCHING COSTS
    FIRST OBJECT
    QUICKLY/RAPID

    • Anyanwu Augustine says

      1_ Hardware,2_ 3_D printer,3’_space, 4_ more self reliant 5_ Cost , 6_ Objects 7_ move into air

  65. 1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching cost
    6. socket wrench
    7. in this context- it was sent immediately to space while they were designing on the ground (kind of during process)

  66. RAHUL says

    1 WRENCH
    2 EMAILED
    3 MONTHS
    4 SELF-RELIANT
    5 LAUNCHING COST
    6 FIRST OBJECT
    7 ON THE SPACE STATION

  67. Olajumoke Enigbokan says

    1 Astronauts
    2 emailed
    3 months
    4 self-reliant
    5 launching cost
    6 first object
    7 no

  68. 1. wrench, 2. sent up, 3. months, 4. more self-reliant, 5. launching costs, 6. first object, 7. quickly?

  69. Chinelo says

    Hi Liz,
    Check my answers 😊
    1 wrench
    2 emailed
    3 months
    4 more self- reliant
    5 Lunching costs
    6 First Object

  70. TomSeton says

    1 wrench
    2 emailed
    3 months
    4 self-reliant
    5 launching costs
    6 first object
    7 simultaneously

  71. ZAMAN says

    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. for flying

  72. Nagaba Caroline says

    Hi Liz.
    Thanks for sharing.here are my answers for the reading practice questions above.
    1.wrench
    2. emailed
    3.months
    4. Self-reliant
    5.launching costs
    6. First object
    7. By the plane.
    Waiting to hear from you.

  73. 1 WRENCH
    2.EMAILED
    3.MONTHS
    4.MORE SELF-RELIANT
    5.LAUNCHING COSTS
    6 FIRST OBJECT
    7.QUICKLY

  74. Neelima Sewani says

    Wrench
    Emailed
    Months
    Self -reliant
    Launching costs
    First object
    Parceled

  75. Nnaji-Eneh Stanley Chukwuemeka says

    1.Wrecnch
    2..emailed
    3.waited months
    4.self-relaimt
    5.Launching costs
    6.21 prints
    7.space travel

  76. Nomvula Tshuma says

    1. Astronauts
    2.Emailed
    3.months
    4. Self reliant
    5.launching costs
    6.first object
    7. quickly

  77. Jigme says

    1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Flights supply
    4. Capable
    5. Launching costs
    6. Socket wrench
    7. Risen/rises

  78. 1.WRENCH
    2.EMAILED
    3.MONTHS
    4. MORE SELF-RELIANT
    5.LAUNCHING COSTS
    6.FIRST OBJECT

  79. Farinu AYODEJI MAYOWA says

    1.wrench
    2.mailed
    3.months
    4.self-reliant
    5.launching cost
    6.socket wrench
    7.moving around

  80. 1. wrench
    2. sent email
    3. months
    4. self reliant
    5. launching cost
    6. first object
    7. spontaneously

  81. Hi Liz, thank you so much for your motivation by posting tests in your website though in difficult circumstances
    1.astronauts
    2.emailed
    3.months
    4.self reliant
    5.launching costs
    6.objects
    7.through aircrafts/through rocket

  82. Lavensan Benadict says

    Hi Liz,
    The answers are…
    1. socket wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. more self-reliant
    5. launching cost
    6. first object
    7. On the fly – Sent quickly

  83. 1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. Instantly

  84. mansi patel says

    1)wrench
    2)Emailed
    3)Month
    4)Self-Reliant
    5)Launching costs
    6)First object
    7)by rocket

  85. Sherry says

    1.wrench
    2.emailed
    3.months
    4.self reliant
    5.launching costs
    6.first object
    7.immediately

  86. Neerish says

    Hello Liz,

    Hope you are doing well and your health is better.
    Thank You for the wonderful work that you are doing here to help us prepare well for the tests. I regularly follow your site and have learnt a lot from your lessons and videos. Have also subscribed to your additional tests. I took ielts GT last year and scored 7 7.5 6.5 7 in LRWS. Preparing to take it again to score more in all. Your tips and lessons are helping me to a great extent.

    Below are the answers for the reading passage. Please correct me if am wrong.
    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. on the fly = immediately (doing something immediately without thinking much about it)

    Keep helping us and we will forever be grateful to you for this😊.
    May God bless you with good health and all good things.

    Cheers,
    NB

  87. Pauline kabakabana says

    1.wrench
    2.emailed
    3.flown up
    4.self-reliant
    5.costs
    6.first object
    7.By use of numbers

  88. Keemi says

    1. wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching costs
    6. first object
    7. In the outer space

  89. Ramyakrishnan says

    Hey Liz ,stay safe there and thank you so much for motivating us by posting lessons though in the difficult circumstances.
    1.astronauts
    2.emailed
    3.months
    4.self reliant
    5.launching costs
    6.objects
    7.through aircraft /through rockets
    Thank you liz

  90. mervek says

    1-wrench
    2-emailed
    3-flights
    4-self reliant
    5-cost
    6-manufactured

  91. 1.wrench
    2. emailed
    3. months
    4 more self-reliant
    5 launching costs
    6 first tool
    7 fast (speedly)

  92. 1)wrench
    2)emailed
    3)months
    4)more self-reliant
    5)launching costs
    6)socket wrench
    7)in the air

  93. Pauline kabakabana says

    1.wrench
    2.emailed
    3.flownup
    4.self-reliant
    5.costs
    6.first object
    7.By using numbers

  94. BINDHU JACKSON says

    Socket wrench,shipped,designed , self -relient,launching costs,first object,air transport

  95. simba says

    1)wrench
    2)emailed
    3)long
    4)self-reliant
    5) Launching costs
    6) first object
    7) ‘on the go”

  96. Swarajit kar says

    1. Wrench
    2. Emailed
    3. Months
    4. More self-reliant
    5. Launching costs
    6. First object
    7. In the air

  97. G. Summiya banu says

    1.wrench 2. Emailed 3.supply flights 4.self-reliant 5. Launching costs 6.first object 7.by flights

  98. Fatima says

    1. Wrench
    2.Emailed
    3.Months
    4.Self-Reliant
    5.Launching Costs
    6.first object

  99. 1.Wrench
    2.Sent digitally
    3.Supply flights
    4.Self-Reliant
    5.Launhing cost
    6.First object
    7.Immediately/quickly.

  100. Fatima says

    Answers

  101. Margarita says

    1. wrench
    2. flown up
    3. months
    4. self-reliant
    5. launching cost
    6. first
    7. during space travel

  102. Harman Jhajj says

    1.wrench
    2.emailed
    3.months
    4.self-reliant
    5.launching costs
    6.socket wrench
    7. In the space

    • Laura says

      1. Wrench
      2. Emailed
      3. Months
      4. More self-reliant
      5. Launching costs
      6 First object
      7 at once

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