Marie Curie
Marie Curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in history. Together with her husband, Pierre, she discovered radium, an element widely used for treating cancer, and studied uranium and other radioactive substances. Pierre and Marie’s amicable collaboration later helped to unlock the secrets of the atom.
Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a professor of physics. At an early age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe personality. Her great exuberance for learning prompted her to continue with her studies after high school. She became disgruntled, however, when she learned that the university in Warsaw was closed to women. Determined to receive a higher education, she defiantly left Poland and in 1891 entered the Sorbonne, a French university, where she earned her master’s degree and doctorate in physics.
Marie was fortunate to have studied at the Sorbonne with some of the greatest scientists of her day, one of whom was Pierre Curie. Marie and Pierre were married in 1895 and spent many productive years working together in the physics laboratory. A short time after they discovered radium, Pierre was killed by a horse-drawn wagon in 1906. Marie was stunned by this horrible misfortune and endured heartbreaking anguish. Despondently she recalled their close relationship and the joy that they had shared in scientific research. The fact that she had two young daughters to raise by herself greatly increased her distress.
Curie’s feeling of desolation finally began to fade when she was asked to succeed her husband as a physics professor at the Sorbonne. She was the first woman to be given a professorship at the world-famous university. In 1911 she received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for isolating radium. Although Marie Curie eventually suffered a fatal illness from her long exposure to radium, she never became disillusioned about her work. Regardless of the consequences, she had dedicated herself to science and to revealing the mysteries of the physical world.
1. What is the main idea of the text?
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2. Look up the word (blithe) in a in a dictionary. What other adjectives could you replace it with in this context?
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3. What is the main obstacle did Marie face when she finished high school?
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4. Find a word in the text that means aggrieved.
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5. For Marie, 1891 was a life-changing year. Explain.
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6. Was the death of Pierre easy for Marie to endure? Justify your answer.
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7. When did Marie become in high spirits after Pierre’s death?
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8. How was Marie’s work finally acknowledged?
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9. What does the phrase (She never became disillusioned about her work) mean?
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10. In few words, write down how was Marie an inspiring woman? – some of your own ideas after reading the passage.
Answers
Answer:
Marie Curie
Marie Curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in history. Together with her husband, Pierre, she discovered radium, an element widely used for treating cancer, and studied uranium and other radioactive substances. Pierre and Marie’s amicable collaboration later helped to unlock the secrets of the atom.
Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a professor of physics. At an early age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe personality. Her great exuberance for learning prompted her to continue with her studies after high school. She became disgruntled, however, when she learned that the university in Warsaw was closed to women. Determined to receive a higher education, she defiantly left Poland and in 1891 entered the Sorbonne, a French university, where she earned her master’s degree and doctorate in physics.
Marie was fortunate to have studied at the Sorbonne with some of the greatest scientists of her day, one of whom was Pierre Curie. Marie and Pierre were married in 1895 and spent many productive years working together in the physics laboratory. A short time after they discovered radium, Pierre was killed by a horse-drawn wagon in 1906. Marie was stunned by this horrible misfortune and endured heartbreaking anguish. Despondently she recalled their close relationship and the joy that they had shared in scientific research. The fact that she had two young daughters to raise by herself greatly increased her distress.
Curie’s feeling of desolation finally began to fade when she was asked to succeed her husband as a physics professor at the Sorbonne. She was the first woman to be given a professorship at the world-famous university. In 1911 she received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for isolating radium. Although Marie Curie eventually suffered a fatal illness from her long exposure to radium, she never became disillusioned about her work. Regardless of the consequences, she had dedicated herself to science and to revealing the mysteries of the physical world.
1. What is the main idea of the text?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. Look up the word (blithe) in a in a dictionary. What other adjectives could you replace it with in this context?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. What is the main obstacle did Marie face when she finished high school?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4. Find a word in the text that means aggrieved.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. For Marie, 1891 was a life-changing year. Explain.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. Was the death of Pierre easy for Marie to endure? Justify your answer.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
7. When did Marie become in high spirits after Pierre’s death?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8. How was Marie’s work finally acknowledged?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
9. What does the phrase (She never became disillusioned about her work) mean?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
10. In few words, write down how was Marie an inspiring woman? – some of your own ideas after reading the passage.