走近名人
——霍金

江西 賴麗霞

霍金的一生是非常富有傳奇性的，就科學成就而言，他是有史以來最杰出的科學家之一。霍金的主要研究領域是宇宙論和黑洞，他提出的相關理論對人類的觀念產生了深遠的影響。

體裁文章詞數 建議用時人物傳記約3817分鐘

難詞探意

1. cosmology /k?z?m?l?d?i/ n. 宇宙學

2. crutch /kr?t?/ n. （腳或腿受傷病人用的）腋杖

3. keen /ki?n/ adj. 熱衷的；著迷的

4. accessible /?k?ses?bl/ adj. 容易理解的

5. defy /d??fa?/ v. 違抗；蔑視

Stephen William Hawking grew up in a house where education was very important. His parents were both academics who had studied at Oxford University. Dinner times were often spent reading books silently for the family!

When he was a teenager, Stephen and his friends built a computer out of old clock parts,telephone switchboards and other recycled items. His friends nicknamed him, “Einstein”!When he was 17, he went to Oxford University to study physics and chemistry. He later said that he found his first year very boring! After graduating from Oxford, he went to Cambridge University to further his studies in cosmology (the science of the origin of the universe).

Sadly, when he was 21, Stephen was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) and told that he only had two years to live. MND gradually affects the brain cells that communicate with the body's muscles. Over time,sufferers struggle to walk, talk and even swallow without help. However, it didn't defeat Stephen.He used walking sticks and crutches after his diagnosis, but as his illness got worse he had to use an electric wheelchair to get around.

Stephen made many important contributions to the world of science. He developed theories about how the world began and furthered our understanding of black holes, stars and the universe. He was always keen on his work to be accessible to everyone, not just scientists. He wrote books that explained his theories in simple terms for everyone to understand, including a children's book. His most famous book, A Brief History of Time, sold more than 10 million copies!

In 1985, Stephen developed a lifethreatening infection. He had an emergency operation that saved his life but left him unable to talk. He was given a special computer that talked for him, which he controlled by moving a muscle in his cheek—clever!

Stephen has received many awards for his work including the 1979 Albert Einstein Medal,the Order of the British Empire (Commander) in 1982 and the 1988 Wolf Prize in Physics. He is remembered as an inspiration to many people.He had an amazing mind, incredible determination and didn't let his illness stand in his way. He defied doctors' predictions, living for a further 55 years after his diagnosis.

1. What did Stephen think of his first year in Oxford University?

A. Challenging. B. Uninteresting.

C. Meaningful. D. Tiring.

2. What can we know about MND?

A. It is an infectious disease.

B. It can be cured within two years.

C. It made Stephen feel desperate for a long time.

D. It can influence the communication between brain cells and body muscles.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Stephen?

A. Strongminded. B. Warmhearted.

C. Critical. D. Humorous.

熟詞生義

After graduating from Oxford, he went to Cambridge University to further his studies in cosmology (the science of the origin of the universe). 從牛津大學畢業后，他去劍橋大學深造宇宙學（宇宙起源學）。

further v. 促進；增進

e.g. She took the new job to further her career. 她接受了這項新工作以進一步發展她的事業。

MND（運動神經元病）

MND（motor neuron disease）確切的發病機制至今尚未明確。半數患者首發癥狀為肢體無力伴肌萎縮（5%）和肌束顫動（4%）。 隨著病情的發展，患者逐漸出現典型的上下運動神經元損害的體征, 表現為廣泛而嚴重的肌肉萎縮。約有10%的患者在整個患病過程中僅表現為進行性的肌肉萎縮，而無上運動神經元損害的體征；約30%的患者因腦干的運動神經核受累起病，表現為吞咽困難、構音不清、呼吸困難、舌肌萎縮和纖顫，以后逐漸累及四肢和軀干。 單純的MND患者一般不會智力減退。