The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

Express View on Luna-25: After the crash-landing

The crash-landing of Luna-25, the Russian spacecraft that was scheduled to reach the moon a
couple of days ahead of India’s Chandrayaan-3, is a grim reminder of the uncertainties involved in
making a landing on extra-terrestrial surfaces. In the last four years, spacecraft from four different
countries have tried to land on the moon, and failed. For each one of these countries — Israel,
India, Japan and Russia — it was the first attempt to land on the moon. Each one of them failed in
the last stage, just ahead of, or during, the process of landing. It may have sounded alarmist then,
but former ISRO chairman K Sivan’s “15 minutes of terror” remark in the context of the
Chandrayaan-2 mission was a realistic description of the final stages of a moon landing.

In a sense, the name Luna-25 was misleading. It would be erroneous to think that this particular
mission was a continuation of the Luna series of moon probes launched by the then Soviet Union
in the 1960s and 1970s. The current rounds of moon missions are drastically different from those
that were sent off half a century ago. The technology and materials are new, the fuel is new, and
even the purpose and motivation is very different. It is no surprise, then, that when countries
resumed their interest in going to the moon in this century, they began almost from scratch, with
the Orbiter missions.

Failure is not alien to space agencies. Every space-faring nation has suffered reverses and
setbacks. And they have been able to pick up the pieces and accomplish spectacular missions.
That is how science, in general, has also progressed. Failures have been stepping stones to much
bigger successes. The failure of Luna-25 has paved the way for Chandrayaan-3 to become the first
spacecraft to land around the polar region of the moon. But it is more likely that ISRO would be
“feeling” for Roscosmos, having experienced this disappointment with Chandrayaan-2. It would
itself be feeling anxious as the landing day comes nearer. Chandrayaan-3 has been bolstered with
a number of safety improvements to prevent an accident like last time. But however good the
preparation is, there can be no comfort or complacency till the examination is passed. [Practice Ex]

 Red/blue coloring of words in the sentence indicates subject verb relationship; where ‘red’
denotes ‘subject’ and ‘blue’ denotes ‘verb’.

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

Vocabulary
1. Luna-25 (noun) – a Russian lunar lander 11. Erroneous (adjective) – Incorrect,
mission by Roscosmos in August 2023 wrong, mistaken, false, inaccurate
that planned to land near the lunar
south pole at the crater Boguslawsky but 12. Probe (noun) – Investigation, inquiry,
which crashed 19 August. examination, inspection, scrutiny

2. Grim (adjective) – Shocking, ghastly, 13. Resume (verb) – Restart, recommence,

horrible, horrific, gristly continue, pick up, return to

3. Uncertainty (noun) – Ambiguity,

doubtfulness, unpredictability,
14. From scratch (phrase) – From the
variability, inconsistency
beginning, from square one, starting
4. Extra-terrestrial (adjective) – Alien, non- afresh, anew
Earthly, off-world, outer space, space-
15. (be) alien (to) (adjective) – Strange,
born
unfamiliar, unknown ,
5. Sound (verb) – appear, seem, look,
16. Space-faring (adjective) – Definition:
Being capable of or engaged in space
6. Alarmist (adjective) – Pessimistic, travel
gloomy, panicky, hysterical उ

17. Reverse (noun) – Setback, defeat,

7. Former (adjective) – Previous, prior, failure, downturn, backlash
earlier, preceding, antecedent
18. Setback (noun) – Obstacle, hindrance,
8. Remark (noun) – Comment, statement, impediment, complication, snag
observation, note, mention
19. Pick up the pieces (phrase) – Recover,
9. In the context of (phrase) – Regarding, rebound, bounce back, come back,
with reference to, in relation to, in terms regroup
of
20. Accomplish (verb) – Achieve, complete,
10. Misleading (adjective) – Deceptive, fulfill, realize, carry out
false, inaccurate, untrue, erroneous

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

21. Spectacular (adjective) – Stunning, 25. Pave the way for (phrase) – Set the
breathtaking, magnificent, impressive, stage for, lead to, usher in, introduce,
dramatic herald

22. In general (adjective) – Generally, 26. Roscosmos (noun) – Russian Federal

overall, typically, usually, commonly Space Agency

27. Anxious (adjective) – Worried, uneasy,

23. Progress (verb) – Advance, develop, apprehensive, nervous, tense /
evolve, grow, improve उ

24. Stepping stones (noun) – Milestones, 28. Bolster (verb) – Support, reinforce,
benchmarks, stages, phases, markers strengthen, fortify, back up
थ
29. Complacency (noun) – Self-satisfaction,
smugness, self-congratulation, self-
approval -

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

Summary of the Editorial

1. Luna-25, a Russian spacecraft, crash-landed while attempting to land on the moon.

2. This event occurred just a few days before India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission.

3. Over the past four years, four nations, including Israel, India, Japan, and Russia, have tried
and failed in their moon-landing attempts.

4. For each of these nations, it was their first moon landing attempt.

5. All these attempts failed during the critical final stages of landing.

6. Former ISRO chairman K Sivan's "15 minutes of terror" comment about Chandrayaan-2's
moon landing highlighted the inherent risks involved.

7. The name Luna-25 may suggest a continuity of the Luna moon missions from the 1960s
and 1970s, but that's not the case.

8. Modern moon missions, including Luna-25, are fundamentally different from those
launched by the Soviet Union in the 20th century.

9. Contemporary moon missions utilize new technology, materials, and fuel, and they also
have different objectives.

10. As a result, when nations resumed their moon missions in the 21st century, they started
almost anew, beginning with Orbiter missions.

11. Every space agency has faced failures and setbacks in the past.

12. Such failures have often led to future successes in the realm of space exploration.

13. Luna-25's failure has given Chandrayaan-3 the chance to be the first to land near the
moon's polar region.

14. ISRO, remembering its Chandrayaan-2 disappointment, is likely empathetic toward Russia's
space agency, Roscosmos.

15. Despite safety enhancements for Chandrayaan-3, anxieties persist until the landing is
successful, underscoring that there's no room for complacency in space missions .

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

Practice Exercise: SSC Pattern based

1. What is the main point that the author tries to convey about the recent moon landing
attempts, as discussed in the passage? [Editorial page]
A. Landing on the moon has always been easy and straightforward.
B. The failures in recent moon landings signify that we shouldn't attempt such missions.
C. Recent moon landing attempts show the inherent risks and uncertainties of space
missions.
D. All moon missions are the same in terms of technology and purpose.
2. How does Luna-25 compare with the Luna series of moon probes launched in the 1960s
and 1970s?
A. Luna-25 was exactly the same in technology and purpose as the earlier Luna missions.
B. Luna-25 was a direct continuation of the Luna series from the Soviet Union era.
C. The Luna-25 mission utilized older technology and materials from the past Luna
missions.
D. Luna-25, despite its name, differed considerably in technology, fuel, and purpose from
the older Luna missions.
3. Based on the passage, what does the word "erroneous" mean in the context of the
second paragraph?
A. Progressive
B. Correct
C. Mistaken
D. Enlightening
4. Based on the passage, which statement best reflects the attitude of space agencies
towards failure?
A. Space agencies tend to avoid failures at all costs.
B. Failures are discouraging and often halt space missions indefinitely.
C. Failures are common and lead to major setbacks in space exploration.
D. Failures are viewed as learning opportunities leading to future successes.
5. How would you describe the tone of the passage?
A. Enthusiastic
B. Optimistic
C. Reflective and sympathetic
D. Critical
6. What is the main theme of the passage?
A. The technical advancements in space technology over the years.
B. The competitive nature of various countries trying to land on the moon.
C. The unpredictability and challenges of moon landings, and the learning from failures.
D. A detailed analysis of the Luna-25 mission.
7. Parts of the following sentence have been given as options. Select the option that
contains an error
An lion is the most ferocious of all animals.

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

A. ferocious of
B. all animals.
C. An lion
D. is the most
8. Select the appropriate idiom to fill in the blank.
The police have not yet been able to solve the case; it seems to be ____________
A. in a nutshell
B. turning over a new leaf
C. a hard nut to crack
D. in a pink
9. Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the underlined word in the given sentence.
Israel has been a staunch ally of the United States.
A. Resolute
B. Careless
C. Confused
D. Unsteady
10. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom
I knew he was feeling blue after he failed the test.
A. To be very happy
B. To be extremely angry
C. To feel sad or depressed
D. To be full of energy
11. Some sentences are given below. While the first and the last sentences (1 and 2) are in
the correct order, the sentences in between are jumbled up. Arrange the sentences in
the correct order to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph
1. The exodus of a large chunk of Gurugram’s industrial workforce following the
recent communal clashes is a huge setback to this commercial hub of North India.
A. The communal tension has not only exposed the religious fault-lines but also put
the booming industry in a precarious position.
B. At a time when New Delhi is going all out to seek more investment, the violence
sends out all the wrong signals.
C. Safety concerns need to be addressed on priority.
D. As businesses and companies come to grips with an atmosphere of distrust, both
the Haryana and the Central governments have a challenging task at hand to
restore public confidence.
2. Any delay on this count or allowing activities that could be detrimental to peace
and security will adversely affect the business sentiment and the hard-won
economic gains.
A. BCDA B. ABDC C. CBDA D.ADCB
12. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. As I move inexorably, relentlessly and perhaps

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

Q. This is not a worry that I developed suddenly

R. Seamlessly into what is termed “old age”, one gnawing worry that I have is “what if
while being alive, I lose the power — if not fully, quite substantially — of one of the
senses”
S. It was slowly but surely agitating my mind in varying measures at varying points of time
even while I was in active service
A. PSQR B.PRQS C.SRQP D.RQSP
13. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. We are always talking about life skills that can make people successful and sharp
Q. These “peace skills” can make a conducive atmosphere for us to live. Of course, a
harmonious atmosphere is what we all yearn to have around us
R. In this tumultuous world in which we live today, we need to learn a few “peace skills”
to make our lives bearable and livable
S. One such skill is the art of letting go at the right time and place
A. RPQS B.RSPQ C.SRQP D.SPRQ
14. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. We get irritated and flare up for the flimsiest reason!
Q. Few jobs are as demanding as that of a flight attendant.
R. That day feels like a drag — we trudge through it with tousled hair, unkempt stubble
and a perpetual scowl!
S. How many times do we wake up on the wrong side of the bed?
A. QSPR B.PSRQ C.QSRP D.PQSR
15. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. Women are taking up leadership roles at work
Q. Too many expectations put pressure on them, and they are not well
R. The anxiety levels at work and home too are growing for them
S. Rewarded for their contributions, which, at times, just get ignored or are taken for
granted
A. QSPR B.PSRQ C.QSRP D.PQSR
16. Arrange the following sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
P. Promoting competition, protecting consumer interests, and the supply of electricity to
all were key objectives of the legislation
Q. The Electricity Act 2003 provided the framework for the dismantling of the State
R. Electricity generation was delicensed, while transmission and distribution remained
licenced and regulated activities
S. Electricity Boards and the separation of generation, transmission and distribution into
separate companies
A. QSPR B.PSRQ C.QSRP D.PQSR
Comprehension
The government has made a fresh bid to attract major global chip manufacturers into the
country. At the Semicon India summit last Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

prospective investors that the government had drawn on their suggestions after the first
such conference last year, and taken pro-active decisions to ______1______ areas of
concern. Apart from low corporate tax rates and _____2____ for all new manufacturing
projects, he said the incentives offered to tech firms to set up production facilities under
India’s semiconductor programme have been scaled up to 50% financial assistance. So,
essentially, the government would ____3____ half of the typically large investment outlays
that companies commit to undertake. Ahead of Mr. Modi’s U.S. State visit, the decks were
cleared for a $2.75 billion assembly, testing, marking and packaging facility in Gujarat
proposed by the U.S.-based Micron Technology. The deal, perhaps _____4_____ by the
two countries’ cooperation pact to build a semiconductors supply chain, has piqued
investor interest and spurred Micron’s suppliers to explore the option of co-located
facilities.
Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate combinations of words
17. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 1.
A. Attempted
B. Aimed
C. Address
D. Adopted
18. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 2.
A. Levy
B. Sops
C. Tariff
D. Bills
19. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 3.
A. Borne
B. Bears
C. Beared
D. Bear
20. Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 4.
A. Nudged
B. Revealed
C. Wooed
D. Seeked

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

Answers
1. C 2.D 3.C 4. D 5. C 6. C 7. C 8.C 9.D 10.C 11.B
12. B 13.A 14.C 15.D 16.C 17.C 18.B 19.D 20.A [Practice Exercise]
Explanations
1. C. Recent moon landing attempts show the inherent risks and uncertainties of space
missions.
The passage emphasizes the unpredictability and complexities associated with landing on
extra-terrestrial surfaces. Multiple references, such as the crash-landing of Luna-25, the
difficulties faced by various countries, and K Sivan’s “15 minutes of terror” remark,
highlight the uncertainties of making a moon landing.
2. D. Luna-25, despite its name, differed considerably in technology, fuel, and purpose from
the older Luna missions.
The passage specifically states, "In a sense, the name Luna-25 was misleading." It goes on
to explain that current moon missions are drastically different from those launched half a
century ago in terms of technology, materials, fuel, and even purpose. This underscores
that Luna-25 was not just a continuation of the earlier Luna series.
3. C) Mistaken
In the second paragraph, the word "erroneous" is used to describe a wrong or false
assumption about Luna-25 being a continuation of the earlier Luna series from the Soviet
Union. In this context, "erroneous" means having an error or being mistaken.
4. D) Failures are viewed as learning opportunities leading to future successes.
The passage consistently highlights the idea that while failures are disappointing, they are
not uncommon in the field of space exploration. Phrases like "Every space-faring nation
has suffered reverses and setbacks," and "Failures have been stepping stones to much
bigger successes," reinforce the notion that failures are perceived as lessons for future
improvements rather than insurmountable obstacles
5. C) Reflective and sympathetic.
The tone of the passage is not overly enthusiastic or critical. It discusses the challenges and
uncertainties of landing on the moon while also highlighting the resilience and progress of
space missions. The passage is reflective on the history and challenges of moon landings
and expresses sympathy towards the failures, such as the Luna-25 crash-landing.
6. C) The unpredictability and challenges of moon landings, and the learning from failures.
The passage primarily talks about the unpredictability and challenges associated with
moon landings. It also mentions how various countries have faced failures in their initial
attempts, and how these failures are part of the learning process in space missions. While
the passage does touch upon the history of space missions and the Luna-25 mission, the
overarching theme is the challenges and learnings associated with moon landings.

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

7. C) 'An lion' 'A lion' 'lion' consonant sound

औ 'An' vowel sound थ ; —
An apple, an owl, etc.
 'A lion' will be used instead of 'An lion' because the word 'lion' begins with a
consonant sound and 'An' is used only before words starting with vowel sounds;
Like— An apple, an owl, etc.
8. C) The appropriate idiom to fill in the blank is ‘a hard nut to crack’ which means “a
problem that is very difficult to solve or a person who is very difficult to understand.”

 in a nutshell (idiom) – In summary, briefly, in a few words

 turning over a new leaf (idiom) – Making a fresh start, changing one's ways or
behavior ई
 in a pink (idiom) – This idiom is not a common expression, and it may be a
misspelled or incorrect form of the expression "in the pink," meaning in good
health.
9. D) The underlined word ‘staunch’ means “firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty,
etc.”
Antonym: Unsteady – थ
 Resolute (adjective) – Determined, firm, unyielding,
 Careless (adjective) – Inattentive, neglectful, thoughtless,
 Confused (adjective) – Bewildered, perplexed, muddled,
 Unsteady (adjective) – Wavering, unstable, shaky, थ
10. C) Feeling blue (phrase) – To feel sad or depressed: उ
11. B) 1ABDC2
1: We start with Sentence 1 that introduces the exodus in Gurugram.
A: Sentence A makes logical sense next as it discusses the direct effects of the communal
tension mentioned in Sentence 1. ("The communal tension has not only...")
B: Sentence B introduces a new perspective but still carries on from the issue of communal
tension affecting the industry by discussing the signals it sends out during investment
drives by New Delhi. ("At a time when New Delhi...")
D: Sentence D carries on from the situation to talk about the challenges posed to the local
and central governments ("As businesses and companies...")
C: Sentence C emphasizes the need to act promptly and restore safety and security.
2: Finally, Sentence 2 concludes the sequence by talking about the implications of any
delay in action.

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

12. B) PRQS
P-R: P ends with "relentlessly and perhaps". R starts with "Seamlessly into what is termed
“old age”..." The use of the adverb "seamlessly" serves as a continuation of the list of
adverbs that P provides, making it evident that R follows P.
R-Q: The end of R mentions a "gnawing worry." Q begins with "This is not a worry that I
developed suddenly." The pronoun "This" in Q refers back to the "gnawing worry"
mentioned in R, indicating that Q follows R.
Q-S: Q states, "This is not a worry that I developed suddenly," which is then elaborated
upon in S with the phrase "It was slowly but surely agitating my mind in varying measures
at varying points of time even while I was in active service." This indicates that Q precedes
S.
13. A) RPQS
R - P: Sentence R introduces the need for "peace skills" in the current world scenario.
Sentence P elaborates on skills in general (here, life skills) making the connection from the
specific to the general. Thus, it provides a broader context after the introduction of "peace
skills".
P - Q: Sentence P sets up the topic of skills, and sentence Q directly references the "peace
skills" (from R) using the pronoun "These", tying back to the previous idea and further
elaborating on its benefits.
Q - S: Sentence Q ends with the general importance of a harmonious atmosphere, and S
delves into one specific skill that can help achieve this atmosphere. This progression from
general to specific gives a coherent flow.
14. C) QSRP
Q: This sentence introduces the topic of a demanding job, specifically that of a flight
attendant.
S: This is a general statement but considering the topic introduced in Q (a demanding job),
this could imply the consequences of such a demanding job - waking up on the wrong side
of the bed.
R: The use of "That day" in R refers to the day mentioned in S when someone wakes up on
the wrong side of the bed. Thus, R is elaborating on the consequences mentioned in S.
P: This sentence is a continuation of R, emphasizing the mood of the day after waking up
on the wrong side of the bed.
15. D) PQSR
P: Sentence P introduces "Women" taking up leadership roles.
Q: Sentence Q uses the pronoun "them". The antecedent of "them" is "Women" from
Sentence P. Hence, Q follows P.
S: Sentence Q ends with "...and they are not well". It is an incomplete thought, indicating
there's more to this statement. Sentence S starts with "Rewarded for their

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

contributions...", providing the continuation to the incomplete thought from Q. Therefore,

S follows Q
R: Sentence R mentions "The anxiety levels... are growing for them", indicating the
consequence or effect of the aforementioned pressure and lack of reward. Thus, R follows
S.
16. C) QSRP
Q: This sentence introduces a subject — The Electricity Act 2003 — and suggests that
there's a structural change to the electricity framework in the state.
S: This sentence is a continuation of the previous one as it provides specific details about
the change mentioned in sentence Q. The use of "and" in the beginning of this sentence
also indicates that it is meant to be a continuation from a previous statement. So, S should
come after Q.
R: This sentence offers more details about the changes mentioned in S. The delicensing of
electricity generation and the regulation of transmission and distribution can be seen as
consequences or specifics of "the separation of generation, transmission, and distribution
into separate companies." Thus, R should follow S.
P: This sentence seems to give the reasons or objectives behind the changes mentioned in
sentences Q, S, and R. After detailing the specifics of the change, it's logical to explain why
those changes were made. So, P should come after R
17. C) 'Address' "address" थ ख
उ 'Attempted' थ , 'Aimed' थ ,
औ 'Adopted' थ , इ
 'Address' should be used because it means to take into consideration and resolve a
concern or issue. Whereas, 'Attempted' means to try, 'Aimed' means to target, and
'Adopted' means to accept, which don't fit in this context.
18. B.) ‘Sops' "sops" थ उ ,
'A. Levy' थ , 'C.
Tariff' थ , औ 'D. Bills' थ , इ
 'B. Sops' should be used because it refers to incentives or gifts, usually provided by the
government to entice investors. Whereas, 'A. Levy' means to impose a tax, 'C. Tariff'
means a duty or list of duties, and 'D. Bills' means invoices or legislative proposals,
which don't fit in this context
19. D) 'Bear' इ 'Bear' थ उ
उ 'Borne'
, 'Beared' , औ 'Bears' , इ

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The Indian Express Editorial – By English Madhyam 23 Aug, 2023

 'Bear' should be used in this context because it means to carry or support. Here, the
government will 'bear' or take on half of the investment that companies commit to.
'Borne' is the past participle, 'Beared' is not proper English, and 'Bears' is present tense
which doesn't fit the context here.
20. A) 'Nudged' "nudged" थ
थ ,
'Revealed' थ , 'Wooed' थ ,औ
'Seeked' ( , 'Sought' ) थ ख

 'Nudged' should be used because it means to encourage or give a slight push. When two
countries work together, they can gently encourage each other towards an agreement.
Whereas, 'Revealed' means to disclose, 'Wooed' means to attract, and 'Seeked' (which is
grammatically incorrect, the correct term is 'Sought') means to search.

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