German physicist Albert Einstein is one of the most famous scientists of all time, the personification of genius and the subject of a whole industry of scholarship. In The Einsteinian Revolution, two experts on Einstein’s life and his theory of relativity―Israeli physicst Hanoch Gutfreund and German historian of science Jurgen Renn—offer an original and penetrating(厚利的) analysis of Einstein’s revolutionary contributions to physics and our view of the physical world.
By setting Einstein’s work in the long course of the evolution of scientific knowledge, Gutfreund and Renn discover the popular misconception of Einstein as an unconventional scientific genius who single-handedly created modern physics—and by pure thought alone.
As a large part of the book explains, Einstein typically argued that science progresses through steady evolution, not through revolutionary breaks with the past. He saw his theory of relativity not as something from scratch, but a natural extension of the classical physics developed by pioneers such as Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei and English physicist Isaac Newton in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as well as nineteenth-century physicists.
The authors highlight how classical physics cannot be separated cleanly from modem Einsteinian physics. The book also includes substantial sections on Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo whose methods inspired Einstein. When Einstein considered himself as standing on their shoulders, he meant that, without their contributions, he would not have formulated(阐述) the theory of relativity.
The Einsteinian Revolution is an important and thought-provoking contribution to the scholarly literature on Einstein and his surprising scientific creativity between 1905 and 1925. Gutfreund and Renn might not have given the final answer as to why Einstein, of all people, revolutionized physics in the way that he did. But they argue in fascinating detail that, to understand his genius, one must take into account not just the earlier history of physics but also the history of knowledge more broadly. Although not always an easy read, the book will interest physicists and historians alike.
1. Where is the text most probably taken from?| A．An essay on Albert Einstein. | B．An introduction to a book |
| C．A guidebook to a course. | D．A review of physics development |
| A．Unclear. | B．Favorable. | C．Dismissive | D．Opposing. |
| A．Up to standard | B．From nothing. |
| C．By learning from others. | D．With previous knowledge. |
| A．Their ideas were rejected by Einstein， |
| B．Their devotion to physics impressed Einstein |
| C．Their researches contributed to Einstein’s success. |
| D．Their hard work deserved the worldwide respect. |
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【推荐1】Getting around in Canada is fairly easy. Most cities have urban transportation systems, including buses, streetcars, and trains, and some of the larger cities also have subways.
You can board these systems at regular stops along their routes. Some let you pay with cash while others require tickets. If you don’t have a ticket for the bus, you must pay with the correct amount of money. This is because the driver does not carry any change. If you plan to stay in a city for a long time, you may want to buy a monthly pass or a package of tickets to save money. You can buy subway tickets at any subway station.
If you have to take several buses or subways for a single trip, you do not need to pay money each time. Simply ask the driver for a transfer (换乘) ticket, or take one from the machines on the subway platform.
If you are not sure where to board the bus or the streetcar, just ask someone or follow the crowd. People can usually only board at the front of the bus where you show your pass to the driver. When using public transportation, Canadians line up. First come, first serve, is a common approach to many activities in Canada, and it is considered to be extremely rude to cut in any line.
Maps of routes and schedules are usually available from the public transit (运输) company in your area, and there is also a telephone information line. You may ask someone for the name of the transit company in your area, and then look it up in the telephone book.
1. What is this passage mainly about?| A．Where to find subways in larger cities |
| B．How to save money when traveling. |
| C．How to use public transportation in Canada. |
| D．How public transit companies work. |
| A．you must have the exact amount of money |
| B．you can exchange money with the driver |
| C．it might cost you a little more |
| D．you may be given some change |
| A．take a bus whenever you want | B．go wherever you like |
| C．find comfortable seats | D．save money |
【推荐2】Robotic surgery is one thing, but sending a robot inside the body to carry out an operation quite another, which has long been a goal of some researchers to produce tiny robotic devices being capable of traveling through the body to deliver drugs or to make repairs without the need for a single cut, the possibility of which has just got a bit closer.
However, unlike the plot of one film—which featured a microscopic crew and submarine traveling through a scientist’s bloodstream — this device could not be inserted into blood vessels（管）because it is too big. While other types of miniature swallowable robots have been developed in the past, their role has mostly been limited to capturing images inside the body. In a presentation this week to the International Conference, Daniela Rus and Shuhei Miyashita of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology described a robot they have developed that can be swallowed and used to collect dangerous objects accidentally taken in.
To test their latest version, Dr Rus and Dr Miyashita designed a robot as a battery hunter, which might seem to be an odd task, but more than 3,500 people in America alone, most of them children, swallow the tiny button cells used in small electronic devices by accident every year. To start with, the researchers created an artificial esophagus（食道）and stomach made out of silicone(硅胶). It was closely modeled on that found in a pig and filled with medical liquid; the robot itself is made from several layers of different materials, including pig intestine（肠）, and contains a little magnet. This is folded up and encased in a 10mm×27mm capsule of ice. Once this reaches the stomach the ice melts and the robot unfolds which is moved and guided with the use of a magnetic field outside the body. In their tests, the robot was able to touch a button battery and draw it with its own magnet, and during dragging it along, the robot could then be directed towards the intestines where it would eventually be gotten rid of through the anus(肛门). After it, the researchers sent in another robot loaded with medication to deliver it to the site of the battery burn to speed up healing.
The artificial stomach being transparent on one side, the researchers were able to see the batteries and visually control the robots. If not, that will require help with the help from imaging system, which will be a bit more of a challenge, but Dr Rus and Dr Miyashita are determined to succeed.
1. According to the passage, the robot operation will probably be able to_________.| A．travel through a scientist’s bloodstream |
| B．enter the body to deliver drugs or make repairs |
| C．photograph the body to convey to the doctor |
| D．operate on a person outside the body completely |
| A．the researchers did the experiment on a chosen animal |
| B．the actual size of the robot may be larger than the capsule of ice |
| C．digesting the swallowed batteries is difficult for children |
| D．the robot took necessary drugs besides a little magnet |
| A．Fewer children will swallow the button cells. |
| B．A robot will be invented travelling blood vessels. |
| C．The surgeries will cost patients much money. |
| D．Patients will suffer less for some surgeries. |
| A．The Fantastic Robotic Voyage | B．The Exploration of Robot Technology |
| C．Tiny Robot, Significant Role | D．An Experiment on Robot |
【推荐3】Hearing loss may increase the risk of dementia (痴呆), but using hearing aids lowered the risk so it’s similar to that of those without hearing loss, according to a new paper. Scientists followed more than 437,000 people from UK Biobank, a large biomedical database and research resource that follows local residents long-term. They looked at each person’s risk of dementia, self-reported use of hearing aids and medical records to see if the person developed dementia.
“Our findings provide the best evidence to date to suggest that hearing aids could be a cost-effective treatment to reduce the potential impact of hearing loss on dementia,” corresponding author Zhu Dongshan, professor at Shandong University in China, said. “They also point out the urgent need for the early introduction of hearing aids when someone starts to experience hearing damage.” The paper accounted for other factors, including loneliness and depression, but found untreated hearing loss still had a strong association with dementia.
Tom Dening, a professor of dementia research, who wasn’t involved in the paper, recently began wearing hearing aids. He hopes that these findings will help him care for patients better. “We need to use studies like this to encourage the public not to be ashamed of hearing problems,” he said, “and to seek treatment sooner rather than later. ”
Many adults need hearing aids, but not enough use them. Dr. Karina De Sousa, lead author of a survey looking at over-the-counter hearing aids, said, “There are many potential reasons people choose not to get hearing aids, but one has been the accessibility of the devices.” And this is the issue she wants to deal with. “This small survey found that a self-fitting, over-the-counter hearing aid could be as good an option for some people as those fitted by a hearing specialist,” De Sousa added. “One thing to remember is that if you don’t meet the specified criteria for wearing an over-the-counter hearing aid, I would recommend seeking the help of a hearing professional.”
1. What are the new paper’s findings based on?| A．Research conducted by UK Biobank. | B．Reports on the user experience of hearing aids. |
| C．Medical records of many dementia patients. | D．Data collected from a large UK-based population. |
| A．Attaching more importance to them. | B．Using them in a more careful way. |
| C．The early use for hard-of-hearing people. | D．The application to untreated hearing loss. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Appreciative. | C．Critical. | D．Objective. |
| A．They are not a one-size-fits-all option. | B．They should be accessible to all. |
| C．They are less effective than expected. | D．They fail to satisfy the specified criteria. |
【推荐1】Thomas Alva Edison （爱迪生）was awarded more patents（专利） on inventions than any other American. When he died in 1931，Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him .One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout . All electric power would be shut off in homes，streets，and factories. Perhaps this suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them. Electric power was too important to the country. Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion. A blackout was out of the question.
On the day of Edison’s funeral（葬礼），many people silently dimmed their lights. In this way they honored the man who had done more than anyone else to put the great force of electricity at his countrymen’s finger tips.
1. This selection says that Thomas Edison________.| A．was the only important American inventor |
| B．received the first American patent |
| C．received more patents than any other American |
| D．was the first American inventor |
| A．he made the first electric light |
| B．electric power was 100 years |
| C．the country realized electricity’s importance |
| D．he died in 1931 |
| A．turn off the lights in factories and schools |
| B．observe a few minutes of total silence |
| C．dim all electric lights |
| D．shut of all electricity for a short time |
| A．heard of his death |
| B．heard of the plan to honor him |
| C．first used electric power |
| D．tried to carry out the plan |
【推荐2】Howard Carter is one of the most famous explorers the world has ever known. He didn’t go to school, but he was bright and curious about the world outside his home town. In 1891, at the age of 17, he set sail for Alexandria, Egypt. By the 1920s, he had become an explorer, searching for the tombs of the Egyptian kings. Inside the tombs, he discovered a great fortune in jewels and gold, along with the preserved bodies of dead kings. In 1922, Howard Carter made his most amazing discovery of all, in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. There they came across the tomb of King Tutankhamun. It was the most important tomb that had ever been found. “The tomb contained more treasure than any of us had ever seen before, as well as the mummy of the king,” said Carter.
However, not long after the discovery, people in Carter’s team fell ill and died. Upon their entering the tomb, Carter’s lucky pet bird was swallowed by a snake. Lord Carnarvon, who was also present when the tomb was opened, fell ill with a fever and died in Egypt. George Gould, a friend of Carnarvon’s, went to Egypt after hearing of his strange death. He too visited the tomb, only to catch a high fever the next day. Twelve hours later, he was dead.
Within 7 years, 21 people who had something to do with the opening the tomb died. Howard Carter, however, lived on until the age of 65. There are different explanations for the deaths. A scientific explanation is that inside the tombs there are many viruses, which can result in illness or even death. Today when scientists examine mummies, they wear special clothing for protection.
1. What is Howard Carter?| A．A famous scientist | B．A king buried in the tomb in Egypt |
| C．A brave explorer | D．A rich man who was interested in Egypt |
| A．The jewels in the tombs. | B．The tomb of King Tutankhamun. |
| C．The mummies in the tombs. | D．Several tombs in Egypt. |
| A．Lord Carnarvon | B．Howard Carter |
| C．the pet bird | D．George Gould |
| A．Howard Carter knew how to protect himself in the tomb. |
| B．the people who entered the tomb were punished by the mummy. |
| C．the deaths of those related to the opening of the tomb were just coincidence. |
| D．scientists are still trying to work out the mystery of the tomb. |
People's answers vary greatly. For British scientist Robert Edwards, the answer is having a child. "Nothing is more special than a child," he told the BBC.
Edwards, the inventor of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology—more commonly known as "test-tube (试管) baby" technology—passed away on April 10, 2013 at the age of 87.
"Edwards changed the lives of millions of ordinary people who now rejoice (高兴) in the gift of their own child," said Peter Braude, a professor at King's College London. "He leaves the world a much better place."
Edwards started his experiments as early as the 1950s, when he had just finished his PhD in genetics. At that time, much of the public viewed test-tube babies as "scary", according to Mark Sauer, a professor at Columbia University, US.
Edwards and his colleague Patrick Steptoe faced opposition from churches, governments and media, not to mention attacks from many of their fellow scientists. "People said that we should not play God and we should not interfere with nature," Edwards once told Times. He said that he felt "quite alone" at the time.
"But Edwards was a fighter, and he believed in what he was doing," said Sauer. Without support from the government, the two struggled to raise funds to carry on. And in 1968 they finally developed a method to successfully fertilize human eggs outside the body.
The first test-tube baby was born on July 25, 1978. Her name was Is Louise Brown. Despite people's safety concerns, Brown was just as healthy as other children.
"IVF had moved from vision to reality and a new era in medicine had begun," BBC commented.
Ever since then, public opinion has evolved considerably. Couples who were unable to have babies began thronging (拥向) to Edwards' clinic. Nowadays, Reuters reports, some 4.3 million other "test-tube" children exist. Edwards received a Nobel Prize in 2010 and was knighted (封为爵士) by Queen Elizabeth in the following year.
Before his death, Edwards was still in touch with Louise. "He is like a granddad to me," she said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
He is a granddad to millions, in fact.
1. What’s the article mainly about?
| A．The first test-tube baby. |
| B．A new era in medicine. |
| C．The inventor of IVF technology. |
| D．The changes IVF technology has brought. |
| A．show how difficult it was for Edwards to do his work |
| B．describe what kind of person Edwards was |
| C．explain why he is loved by all children |
| D．comment on his achievement |
| A．attack | B．support | C．test | D．influence |
a. He received a Nobel Prize.
b. He struggled to raise funds.
c. The first test-tube baby was born.
d. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
e. He succeeded in fertilizing human eggs outside body.
f. He started his experiments on IVF technology.
| A．f-e-b-c-a- d | B．f-b-e-c-d-a |
| C．f-b-e-c-a-d | D．f-e-d-a-c-b |
