Unit 5 Force of Nature

Unit 5 Force of Nature

Detailed Study of Paras 1-3 • (1) Why did the writer idolize Marie Curie? Because in the writer's mind Marie Curie seemed so exotic; she became the strongest and most capable woman in the world, and she was a super-competent multi-tasker. • (2) What did the writer think of Marie Curie and her discovery? • The writer thought that among all women in the world Marie Curie had the strongest will and possessed the greatest capability, that she was worth being called a super-competent multi-tasker, and that her discovery was most brilliant.

Language work bulletin board: notice-board, board for notices to be pinned on • bulletin n. a short official statement of news; a printed newsletter produced by an association, a group, or a society e.g. (1)Bulletins are found everywhere in this small town. • elm tree: any tree of the genus Ulmus, with rough serrated leaves; it produces hard heavy wood e.g. (1) There is an elm forest near the village.

basics n. essential or important matters e.g. (1)Let's stop chatting and get down to basics. (2) These students have acquired a good knowledge of the basics of English. • radioactivity n. the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei, with the emission of usu. penetrating radiation or particles; radioactive substances, or the radiation they emit

single-minded adj. having or concentrating on one aim, purpose, etc. e.g. (1) They were too single-minded to be distracted by failures. (2) These men are hardworking and single-minded, so they are always successful. • legend n. a famous person, a person who has achieved great fame; a famous event e.g. (1) The three astronauts in China have become legends. (2) Her daring work behind the enemy lines has now become a legend.

I was just a girl with little direction, more drawn to words and made-up stories than to formulas and lab experiments. I was only a girl with almost no guidance. I was more attracted to words and made-up stories than to formulas and lab experiments. She was brilliant, single-minded, a legend. She was very intelligent, focused, famous.

encircle vt. (oft. passive) surround, form a circle round e.g.(1) The West Lake is encircled by trees. (2) The enemy troops were encircling the town. recover v. return to a normal state of health, mind, prosperity, etc.; get back the use of one's health, faculties, etc. e.g. (1) He has now fully recovered from his stroke. (2) Our economy finally recovered from the financial depression. (3) He has recovered his sight and hearing.

idolize vt. treat sb. as an idol; love and admire sb. very much e.g.(1)The leader was idolized by many people at that time. (2) The Beatles were idolized in the 1960s. • fantasy n. the faculty of inventing images, esp. extravagant or visionary ones; a fanciful mental image, a daydream; a whimsical speculation e.g.(1) The girl lives in a world of fantasy. (2) The man indulges in fantasy. (3) Some of the old fantasies about the space age are coming true.

Marie Curie's own daughters grew into accomplished women in their own right, though their mother was obsessively engaged in her research before they were born. Marie Curie's own daughters grew up into intelligent successful women through their own effort, though their mother was almost always completely preoccupied with her research before their birth. • in one's own right: as a result of one's own claims, qualifications, or effort, etc. rather than an association with someone else

multi-tasker n. a person who engages in a number of tasks at the same time revolutionize vt. introduce fundamental changes to sth.; cause sth. to change completely or drastically e.g.(1) Computers have revolutionized the world. (2) The university has revolutionized its administrative management.

Curie was what we might today call a super-competent multi-tasker: Her work revolutionized the study of atomic energy and radioactivity, and she's one of the pitifully few female scientists whom schoolchildren ever study. • Curie was what might be referred to today as an exceptionally competent scientist, engaging in numerous research tasks simultaneously. Her research work introduced fundamental changes to the study of atomic energy and radioactivity, and she is one of the precious female scientists who are always included in textbooks for schoolchildren to learn from.

diagnose vt. identify a disease in a patient on the basis of his symptoms e.g.(1) The doctor diagnosed my disease as tuberculosis. (2) Her extreme melancholy has been diagnosed as severe depression. depression n. a pathological state of extreme dejection or melancholy, often with physical symptoms; being depressed, in low spirits e.g.(1) He committed suicide during a fit of depression. (2) She went through a long depression after her husband's death.

Also she was a woman driven by passions, fighting battles much of her life with what a doctor now would probably diagnose as severe depression. • Moreover, Marie Curie pressed ahead, fighting persistently almost all her life against what a doctor today would probably identify as severe depression.

fataladj. causing death or ending in death; causing a disaster e.g.(1)His fatal injuries were caused by a fatal accident. (2) His illness was fatal to our plans. • In the end, her most brilliant discovery proved fatal for both her and her husband. Eventually, her most superb discovery turned out to be deadly for both her and her husband.

Detailed Study of Paras 4-13 • (1) How did Pierre's death affect Marie Curie's life? • Pierre's death immensely affected Marie Curie'slife. "The metamorphosis was less simple, more serious. A cape of solitude and secrecy fell upon her shoulders forever." Marie was just 38. The Sunday after the funeral, instead of staying with family and friends, she retreated to the lab. She lived a solitary life and she wanted very much to talk to her husband in the silence of the laboratory. And she felt extremely sorrowful about her husband's death.

(2) Briefly describe the major events that Marie Curie experienced in her life. In 1878, when Curie was 10 years old, her mother died of tuberculosis. The Polish girl carried on with her schoolwork as if nothing had happened, but for months she shed unseen tears. At age 18, she got a job as governess to a wealthy family near Warsaw. She fell in love with Casimir Zorawski, an accomplished student of 19 with whom she shared a love of nature and science. Four years dragged by. Her love with Casimir Zorawski finally ended in failure. Manya then gathered her meager savings and took a train to Paris, where she changed her name, enrolled at the Sorbonne -- and walked into history.

In 1893, she became the first woman to earn a degree in physics at the Sorbonne. Marie and Pierre got married in 1895. The couple won a Nobel Prize in physics in 1903 for the discovery of radioactivity. Soon after, they were the center of attention of the European scientific community, feted lavishly and visited at home in Paris by people who came from as far away as New Zealand to pay homage. In 1906, Pierre was killed by a wagon drawn by two huge draft horses. His death marked the defining moment in Marie Curie's life. "A cape of solitude and secrecy fell upon her shoulders forever."

Their work, however, still went on after his death. A second Nobel Prize in chemistry went to Marie alone for isolating the elements radium and polonium. With the onset of World War I in 1914, she recognized that mobile X-ray units could save lives in battlefield hospitals, so she established a fleet of these vehicles, known as petites Curies, or little Curies. She and Irene drove one themselves. Later she went back to the Radium Institute she established, teaching, traveling and lecturing until her death, at age 66, on July 4, 1934.

(3)What was the cause of Marie Curie's death? Marie Curie's death was caused by aplastic pernicious anemia, which was most likely due to her long, devastating exposure to radium and other radioactive elements.

Language Work • The Polish girl ?carried on with her schoolwork ? She ?continued her schooling ? • but for months she'd find places to hide so she could cry her eyes out. … but in the following months she would look for places to hide herself, weeping bitterly. • cry one's eyes (or heart) out: cry very bitterly e.g.(1) When her pet puppy died, my daughter cried her eyes out.

land:obtain sth. e.g.(1)After years' effort, she landed the gold medal at the National Games. • governess n. a woman employed to teach children in a private household. e.g.(1)She serves as governess in her free time in order to add to her family income. (2) Jane Eyre once worked as governess.

At age 18, she landed a job as governess to a wealthy family near Warsaw. When 18 years old, she obtained a job as a tutor for children in a rich family near Warsaw • She wound up falling in love with Casimir Zorawski, an accomplished student of 19 with whom she shared a love of nature and science. In the end, she fell in love with Casimir Zorawski, a clever, well-educated young man of 19. Both of them cherished a love for nature and science.

disinheritvt. reject as one's heir; deprive of the right of inheritance e.g.(1) He was disinherited and driven out of his father's house. (2) The young man was disinherited because he rejected the marriage arranged by his parents. drag: pass or proceed slowly e.g.The last part of the play dragged a little. nursemaid: a woman employed to look after sb.'s child(ren)

She was beneath his station, poor, a common nursemaid. As she was a poor ordinary girl in charge of a child, she was beneath him in social status. • Four years dragged by. Four years went by or passed by slowly and tediously.

meager savings: a very small amount of money saved • the broad brush strokes: the ways in which plans or ideas are explained or implemented e.g.(1) The artist sketched out her idea of the ideal lover only with the broadest brush strokes. • stroke n. a quick forceful action e.g.(1) By computerizing we have, at a single stroke, improved efficiency and reduced cost.

In what still seems to me a remarkable act of courage, Manya then gathered her meager savings and took a train to Paris, where she changed her name, enrolled at the Sorbonne -- and walked into history. • It still seems to me an extraordinary act of courage that Manya then collected the small amount of money she had saved and took a train to Paris, where she took a new name, became a student at the Sorbonne -- and gradually turned out to be a very influential figure in history.

Late at night, Marie and her husband, Pierre, enter the lab to see a tiny luminous stain congealed in a dish. "Oh, Pierre! Could it be?" exclaims Marie as tears roll down her cheeks. • Late at night, Marie and her husband, Pierre, went into the lab and saw a very small bright stain which had become semi-solid in a dish. "Oh, Pierre! Could it be?" shouted Marie excitedly as tears flowed down her cheeks.

congeal v. (cause a liquid to) become thick or semi-solid, esp. by cooling e.g.(1)The blood was congealed around the cut on his knee. (2) Discard the fat that congeals at the top. (3) Fear congealed his very blood. • gritty adj. full of particles of stone or sand; firm, staunch, strong e.g.(1) Residents in Beijing have to face the gritty wind in spring. (2) He was a gritty fighter.

Marie and Pierre, whom she married in 1895, did indeed work side by side late into the night. But their lab was so shabby and dank that their daughter Irene, at age three, called it "that sad, sad place". And one prominent scientist said that had he not seen the worktable, he would have thought he was in a stable. • Marie and Pierre, whom she married in 1895, worked indeed side by side late into the night. However, their laboratory was in so poor a condition, old, damp and cold, that even their three-year-old daughter Irene called it "that sad, sad place". And one eminent scientist said that if he had not witnessed the worktable, he would have thought himself to be in a building where horses are fed and kept.

toast n. sb. who is the object of much attention or admiration • E.g.After winning the championship at Athens Olympic Games, 2004, Liu Xiang is the toast of China and Asia as well. fete vt. honor or entertain sb. in a special way e.g.The astronauts were feted wherever they went. lavishly adv. giving or providing generously or in large quantities; plentifully, abundantly e.g.He praised the project lavishly.

acolyte n. assistant; apprentice; faithful follower e.g.(1)The old professor has a number of acolytes. (2)It is said that Confucius had 72 acolytes. • sore n. a painful place on the body where the skin or flesh is injured e.g.(1)Her hands are covered in sores. (2)The nurse bandaged the sores on her hands very carefully.

They were the toast of the European scientific community, feted lavishly and visited at home in Paris by acolytes who came from as far away as New Zealand to pay homage. • They became the center of attention by the scientists in Europe, honored or entertained in a special and generous way and visited at home in Paris by faithful admirers who came from as far away as New Zealand to show great respect.

For the Curies, though, their triumph contained the seeds of their tragedy. For the Curies, however, their great success was conducive to their future disasters. • Even before winning the Nobel, Pierre was severely ill from exposure to this fierce energy. Even before they were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics, Pierre was terribly ill because he had been too much exposed to radioactivity.

In 1906, he fell into the path of a wagon drawn by two huge draft horses, and a wheel ran over his head. He died instantly. --- In 1906, he slipped into the way of a carriage drawn by two huge horses, and a wheel ran over his head. He died at once. • The metamorphosis was less simple, more serious. A cape of solitude and secrecy fell upon her shoulders forever. --- The change she underwent was profound and enduring. She thereafter lived a life of loneliness and did not communicate much with others.

cape n. loose sleeveless garment like a cloak but usu. shorter 披肩 • solitude n. a state of being alone without companions e.g.(1)She is not fond of solitude. (2)His wife enjoys the solitude of their own flat, but he doesn't. • secrecy n. keeping secrets; ability or tendency to keep secrets e.g.(1)We rely on your secrecy. (2) The meeting was arranged with the utmost secrecy.

Marie was just 38. The Sunday after the funeral, instead of staying with family and friends, she retreated to the lab ? • Marie was only 38 when her husband died. The Sunday after the funeral, she did not stay with family and friends; instead, she went to the lab, a place she regarded as her shelter.

With the onset of World War I in 1914, she recognized that mobile X-ray units could save lives in battlefield hospitals, so she established a fleet of these vehicles, known as petites Curies, or little Curies. • With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, she realized that mobile X-ray units could save lives of wounded soldiers in battlefield hospitals; therefore, she established a fleet of these vehicles, known as petites Curies, or little Curies.

devastating adj. extremely destructive; causing severe shock; striking, impressive • E.g.(1)Because of the devastating earthquake, hundreds of people died and thousands of people became homeless. (2) He made devastating criticism of her newly-published novel. • pernicious anemia: a severe form of anemia, i.e., a blood condition in which there are too few red blood cells or the red blood cells are deficient in hemoglobin, resulting in poor health 恶性贫血

Detailed Study of Para 14 • (1) Why did the writer say that the Marie Curie she discovered was no icon but a flesh-and-blood woman? • There are mainly two reasons. Firstly, it was owing to her constant hard work, very strong will, remarkable courage, and willing self-sacrifice that Marie Curie made a most brilliant discovery, won two Nobel Prizes and became a great scientist, famous throughout the world. Secondly, like any other normal human being, she possessed emotions, weaknesses, and strengths Marie Curie and her husband worked side by side very hard and pursued their professional career whole-heartedly, going through thick and thin and sharing joys and hardships. Undoubtedly, they loved each other dearly. When her husband died, she was seized by extreme sorrow and retreated to the lab, feeling that she could hardly live on without her husband. As she had been exposed to radium and other radioactive elements, and as she had been working extremely hard all her life, Marie Curie died of aplastic pernicious anemia at the age of 66. Facts tell us that Marie Curie was no icon but a flesh-and-blood woman.

(2) Why is Marie Curie's life considered both glorious and tragic? • After the most brilliant discovery of radium,Marie Curie and her husband became the toast of the European scientific community, and they were feted lavishly and visited at home in Paris by people from far and wide, who came to pay homage. Marie Curie continued to work hard and became the first woman to win two Nobel Prizes for her brilliant achievements. She never stopped working hard until her last breath. Thanks to her extraordinary efforts, great discovery, and remarkable qualities, she became well known and highly respected all over the world, enjoying both fame and glory. But as she conquered huge professional obstacles, she paid a terrible personal price. Her husband became severely ill from exposure to the fierce energy, he had open sores on his hands and fingers, and increasing difficulty walking. In 1906, he was run over by a wagon and died instantly. This dealt a terrible blow to Marie Curie, who lived a lonely, sad life afterwards. She herself died of pernicious anemia caused by the radioactive elements. All these facts show that Marie Curie lived a tragic, yet glorious life.

Language Work • icon n. painting, carving, etc. of a holy person; sb. regarded as sacred e.g.(1) Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean are still icons for many young people. • flesh-and-blood adj. of the human body or human nature, with its emotions, weaknesses, etc. e.g.(1)It was more than a flesh-and-blood person could bear.

She conquered huge professional obstacles but paid a terrible personal price. She overcame colossal difficulties in her career, yet she persisted at the sacrifice of her own health and even life. • I know now how complex her life was -- truly glorious and tragic. I realize now that her life was rather intricate -- really magnificent and heartbreaking.

Unit 5 Force of Nature