Category: IELTS preparation

So how was this unimaginably (difficult or impossible to imagine or comprehend) giant (a person or thing of unusually great size, power, importance, etc.;major figure; legend) Universe created? For centuries (a period of 100 years) scientists (an expert in science, especially one of the physical or natural sciences) thought the Universe always existed in a largely unchanged (not changed; unaltered) form, run like clockwork (the mechanism of a clock)thanks to the laws of physics. But a Belgian priest (a person whose office it is to perform religious rites, and especially to make sacrificial offerings) and scientist called George Lemaitre put forward another idea. In 1927, he proposed that the Universe began as a large, pregnant and primeval (of or relating to the first age or ages, especially of the world)atom, exploding (to burst, fly into pieces, or break up violently with a loud report, as a boiler from excessive pressure of steam) and sending out the smaller atoms that we see today.

His idea went largely unnoticed. But in 1929 astronomer (an expert in astronomy; a scientific observer of the celestial bodies)Edwin Hubble discovered that the Universe isn’t static (showing little or no change)but is in fact expanding (to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc). If so, some scientists reasoned (based on reason) that if you rewound (to wind back to or toward the beginning; reverse)the Universe’s life then at some point it should have existed as a tiny, dense point. Critics (a person who judges, evaluates, or criticizes) dismissed (to discard or reject)this: the celebrated (renowned, well known)astronomer Fred Hoyle sarcastically (marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt) called this concept the “Big Bang” theory, a phrase that would later be adopted by its proponents (a person who puts forward a proposition or proposal).

Undeterred (persevering with something despite setbacks)by sceptics (a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions), scientists Ralph Alpher, George Gamow and Robert Herman predicted that if there had been a Big Bang, then a faint afterglow (the pleasant remembrance of a past experience, glory, etc)should linger (to remain or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if from reluctance to leave)somewhere in the Universe, and we should in theory be able to detect it. To do so would require one of the greatest pieces of fortune (position in life as determined by wealth)in science.

Source : BBC

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Development (the act or process of developing; growth; progress) comes in many forms and serves multiple (consisting of, having, or involving several or many individuals, parts,elements, relations, etc) purposes (the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc). Over the last few months, the Central government has initiated (the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc) a series of steps to upgrade (an increase or improvement) communications (the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs)and transport (to carry, move, or convey from one place to another) infrastructure (the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization) in areas affected by naxalite (a member of an extreme Maoist group in India that originated in 1967in West Bengal and which employs tactics of agrarian terrorism and direct action)activity. The larger project is to not only usher in development in the tribal (of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe )areas and improve the living conditions of populations (the total number of persons inhabiting a country, city, or any district or area)in hilly and forest terrains (a tract of land, especially as considered with reference to its natural features, military advantages, etc.), but also facilitate (to make easier or less difficult) security (freedom from care, anxiety, or doubt; well-founded confidence) operations (an act or instance, process, or manner of functioning or operating) against Maoists, who specialise (to pursue some special line of study, work, etc.; have a specialty )in ambushes (an act or instance of lying concealed so as to attack by surprise)and hit-and-retreat (a tactical doctrine where the purpose of the combat involved is not to seize control of territory, but to inflict damage on a target and immediately exit the area to avoid the enemy’s defense and/or retaliation)tactics (the art or science of disposing military or naval forces for battle and maneuvering them in battle.). Hundreds of mobile phone towers have been erected (upright in position or posture)along the Red Corridor, and roads and bridges are being built to connect naxalite-affected districts (a division of territory, as of a country, state, or county, marked off foradministrative, electoral, or other purposes). Ending the isolation (the complete separation from others of a person suffering from contagious or infectious disease)of some of the villages in remote areas of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand is, no doubt, part of a strategy (a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.) to win over local populations and wean (to withdraw (a person, the affections, one’s dependency, etc.) from some object, habit, form of enjoyment, or the like) them away from the influence (the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others)of armed groups of Maoists. But, coming as it does with heavy deployment (to arrange in a position of readiness, or to move strategically or appropriately)of Central police forces, such infrastructure (the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization) development (the act or process of developing; growth; progress)is suspect (to doubt or mistrust)in the eyes of many villagers in the tribal regions (an extensive, continuous part of a surface, space, or body). The ‘development’ is often seen more as an effort (an earnest or strenuous attempt)to allow access (the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use;admittance)to tribal areas for security personnel (a body of persons employed in an organization or place of work)in pursuit (an effort to secure or attain; quest) of Maoists rather than as an attempt to open up the outside world to the villages. Invariably, the state is seen as an external agency waiting to wield (to exercise (power, authority, influence, etc.), as in ruling or dominating)its authority (a person or body of persons in whom authority is vested, as a governmental agency) and extend its reach without allowing substantial (of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc) consequential (following as an effect, result, or outcome; resultant; consequent) benefits (something that is advantageous or good)to the villages.

SOURCE- The Hindu

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