Question

questions 54 and 55 are based on the following paragraph.
in prolonged space - flight, besides the obvious hazards of meteor rocky debris, and radiation, astronauts will have to deal with muscle atrophy brought on by weightlessness. besides, when they return to earth, they face a protracted period of weight training to rebuild their strength.

1. what is the most likely meaning of the underlined word debris as it is used in this passage?

a. fragments
b. decay
c. bacteria
d. alien life

1. the underlined word atrophy, as used in the paragraph, most nearly means

a. pain.
b. wasting.
c. weakening.
d. cramping.
question 56 is based on the following paragraph.
most of the women in the orchestra wore conventional black skirts and white shirts during concerts and had their hair neatly pulled back. robin, with her brightly colored clothing and unusual hair styles, was considered quite eccentric.

1. what is the meaning of the underlined word eccentric as it is used in the sentence?

a. unconventional
b. joyful
c. unreliable
d. proud

Explanation:

For question 54, in the context of space - related hazards, "debris" often refers to fragments. For question 55, "atrophy" in the context of astronauts losing strength due to weightlessness means weakening. For question 56, since most women in the orchestra have conventional appearance and Robin has a different, colorful and unusual look, "eccentric" means unconventional.

Answer:

1. a. fragments
2. c. weakening
3. a. unconventional