8 . On March 14, one of science’s brightest stars went dark. Stephen Hawking, the world-famous British scientist, died at 76 in Cambridge, UK.
Hawking is considered by many to be the greatest scientist in history since Albert Einstein. He came up with the theory that the universe (宇宙) began with the Big Bang (大爆炸) and will end in black holes. His theories became the base for a lot of later research. He also wrote books to help common people understand the universe. His most famous book is A Brief History of Time, which has sold more than10 million copies around the world.
Besides his scientific achievements, Hawking was also someone who had an optimistic attitude.
When Hawking was 21, he was diagnosed (诊断) with a serious illness that stopped him from walking and talking. Later in life, he had to sit in a wheelchair and “speak” using a computerized voice. But this didn’t stop him from living a meaningful and colorful life. “If one is physically-disabled (身体残疾). one cannot afford to be psychologically (心理上) disabled as well,” he once said.
Hawking traveled the globe to attend science conferences, visiting every continent, including Antarctica (南极洲). He was also a fan of pop culture and shows such as Star Trek and The Big Bang Theory . He celebrated his 60th birthday by going up in a hot-air balloon. And he hoped to travel into space one day.
1. Which of the following is true about Stephen Hawking according to the passage?
| A．His most famous book is Big Bang. |
| B．Hawking is always thought to be the greatest scientist. |
| C．He is famous as a successful writer. |
| D．His book has made it easier for people to understand his theory. |
2. What didn’t Hawking do in his life?
| A．Visit Antarctica. | B．Show on TV. |
| C．Travel into space. | D．Go up in a hot-air balloon. |
3. What does the underlined word “
optimistic ” mean?
4. What can we know about Hawking’s life from the passage?
| A．Dangerous and exciting. | B．Difficult and suffering. |
| C．Colorful and meaningful. | D．Sad and meaningless. |
