--- title: "Notes and summary: colonising space and gravity" subject: "Communication English" chapter: 1 key: "semester_5/communication_english:notes-summary-colonising-space-gravity" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/notes-summary-colonising-space-gravity site: BCT Engineering --- # Notes and summary: colonising space and gravity Communication English · Chapter 1: Intensive Reading - Asked in: 2071 Shrawan, 5+5 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/notes-summary-colonising-space-gravity - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/communication_english/chapter-1 ## Question Read the following text carefully, make notes and write a summary. Colonising space could be much more difficult than we imagine. [passage of about 330 words on the effects of low gravity on children's nervous system development, cell metabolism, pregnancy and muscle wasting] ... Clearly the importance of gravity in the development of human beings requires further study before individuals can be sent off to colonise space. ## Short answer Colonising space may be harder than expected because gravity is vital to human development. Children born in space may suffer permanent nervous-system damage and trouble walking on Earth; adults may struggle to readjust. Gravity affects cell metabolism and brain development, mouse foetuses grew slower in space, and astronauts experience temporary muscle wasting. More study is needed. ## Answer #### Notes **Title: Difficulties of colonising space** 1. **Main claim**: colonising space is harder than imagined 2. **Nervous system** - Children born in space may have permanent nervous-system damage unless exposed to Earth-like gravity at key stages - Trouble learning to walk on Earth (low-gravity development); adults may also struggle to readjust 3. **Gravity and development** - Gravity affects cell metabolism, brain development, DNA synthesis - Pregnant women cannot go to space - Mice study: 18 pregnant mice, ~200 foetuses; development and cell reproduction slowed; smaller brains, fewer nerve cells 4. **Muscle wasting** - Seen in astronauts; cause unclear (gravity on muscle cells or lack of use) - Strength loss temporary; no confirmed long-term illness 5. **Conclusion**: more study of gravity needed before people are sent to colonise space #### Summary Colonising space may be harder than expected because gravity is vital to human development. Children born in space may suffer permanent nervous-system damage and may be unable to walk properly on Earth, while adults may find it hard to readjust. Gravity also affects cell metabolism, brain development and DNA synthesis; in experiments, mouse foetuses grown in space developed more slowly and had smaller brains. Astronauts suffer muscle wasting, though it seems temporary. Further study is therefore needed before people are sent to colonise space. *(About 95 words.)* ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is the main claim? A. Colonising space is harder than imagined B. Space is easy to colonise C. Space has too much gravity D. Gravity is harmful Answer: A. Gravity is vital to human development. (Key point: Main claim) 2. What risk do children born in space face? A. Faster growth B. Permanent nervous-system damage unless exposed to Earth-like gravity at key stages C. Better muscles D. Stronger bones only Answer: B. They may also have trouble walking on Earth. (Key point: Nervous system) 3. What did the mice study show? A. Mice grew faster B. Mice were unaffected C. Development and cell reproduction slowed; brains were smaller with fewer nerve cells D. Mice lived longer Answer: C. It involved 18 pregnant mice and about 200 foetuses. (Key point: Mice study) 4. What is said of astronauts' muscle wasting? A. It is permanent and fatal B. It is caused by food C. It never happens D. The cause is unclear and the loss seems temporary Answer: D. No long-term illness is confirmed. 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