Introduction
'A Truly Beautiful Mind' introduces the life and work of Albert Einstein. It traces his journey from being a slow-speaking child to becoming one of the greatest scientific minds in history. The chapter explores his achievements, including his groundbreaking work in the field of physics and his efforts for world peace.
Summary in English (Part 1):
The story begins with Albert Einstein’s early life. Born in Germany, he was slow in speaking and disliked the regimentation of school life. Despite this, he excelled in mathematics and had a passion for science. After graduating, he worked in a patent office and began developing his scientific ideas, including the famous equation E = mc².
Summary in English (Part 2):
Einstein’s personal life was marked by challenges, including his troubled marriage with Mileva Maric. However, his scientific contributions continued, and he gained international recognition. He later advocated for peace and democracy, especially after the horrors of World War II and the atomic bombings.
Thinking about the Text
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1. Here are some headings for paragraphs in the text. Write the number(s) of the paragraph(s) for each title against the heading. The first one is done for you.
- Einstein’s equation (9)
- Einstein meets his future wife (7)
- The making of a violinist (3)
- Mileva and Einstein’s mother (10)
- A letter that launched the arms race (15)
- A desk drawer full of ideas (8)
- Marriage and divorce (11)
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2. Who had these opinions about Einstein?
- (i) He was boring. — Einstein’s playmates in his childhood.
- (ii) He was stupid and would never succeed in life. — A headmaster at Einstein’s school.
- (iii) He was a freak. — Einstein’s mother.
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3. Explain what the reasons for the following are.
- (i) Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good. — He left the school because of the strict regimentation that conflicted with his liberal and questioning mind.
- (ii) Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich. — He preferred Switzerland because it was more liberal, and the educational system encouraged independent thinking.
- (iii) Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally. — Einstein saw in Mileva an ally because she shared his intellectual interests and opposed the traditional role expected of women.
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4. What did Einstein call his desk drawer at the patent office? Why?
Einstein called his desk drawer at the patent office "the bureau of theoretical physics" because he worked on his scientific papers secretly while doing his official work.
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5. Why did Einstein write a letter to Franklin Roosevelt?
Einstein wrote a letter to Franklin Roosevelt to warn him that Germany might be developing an atomic bomb, urging the U.S. to accelerate its own nuclear research.
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6. How did Einstein react to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Einstein was deeply shaken by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although he had encouraged the development of atomic energy, he was horrified by its destructive use and worked for world peace thereafter.
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7. Why does the world remember Einstein as a “world citizen”?
The world remembers Einstein as a “world citizen” because of his commitment to global peace and democracy. He advocated for disarmament and international cooperation, especially after witnessing the horrors of atomic warfare.
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8. Here are some facts from Einstein’s life. Arrange them in chronological order.
- [ ] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.
- [ ] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
- [ ] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb.
- [ ] Einstein attends a high school in Munich.
- [ ] Einstein’s family moves to Milan.
- [ ] Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm.
- [ ] Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva.
- [ ] Einstein dies.
- [ ] He provides a new interpretation of gravity.
- [ ] Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school.
- [ ] He works in a patent office as a technical expert.
- [ ] When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.
- [✔] Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm.
- [✔] Einstein attends a high school in Munich.
- [✔] Einstein’s family moves to Milan.
- [✔] Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school.
- [✔] Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva.
- [✔] He works in a patent office as a technical expert.
- [✔] He provides a new interpretation of gravity.
- [✔] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.
- [✔] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
- [✔] When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.
- [✔] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb.
- [✔] Einstein dies.
Answer
Thinking about Language
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I. Here are some sentences from the story. Choose the word from the brackets which can be substituted for the italicised words in the sentences.
- 1. A few years later, the marriage faltered. (became weak)
- 2. Einstein was constantly at odds with people at the university. (in disagreement)
- 3. The newspapers proclaimed his work as “a scientific revolution.” (declared)
- 4. Einstein got ever more involved in politics, agitating for an end to the arms buildup. (campaigning)
- 5. At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled that he left the school for good. (permanently)
- 6. Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists in an uproar. (in a state of commotion)
- 7. Science wasn’t the only thing that appealed to the dashing young man with the walrus moustache. (interested)
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II. Complete the sentences below by filling in the blanks with suitable participial clauses. The information that has to be used in the phrases is provided as a sentence in brackets.
- Working round the clock, the firefighters finally put out the fire.
- She watched the sunset above the mountain, noticing the colours blending softly into one another.
- The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, neighing continually.
- Having taken the wrong train, I found myself in Bangalore, instead of Benaras.
- Not having bathed for two days, I was desperate to get to the bathroom.
- The stone steps, worn down, needed to be replaced.
- The actor received hundreds of letters from his fans, asking him to send them his photograph.
Writing Newspaper Reports : Einstein’s Manuscript Unearthed
21 August 2005: An original handwritten manuscript of the renowned physicist Albert Einstein has been unearthed, creating excitement among the scientific community. The document, believed to contain groundbreaking insights, has been hidden from public view for decades.
The discovery was made by Rowdy Boeynik, a student at the University of the Netherlands. Boeynik was researching old papers belonging to an old friend of Einstein when he stumbled upon this precious manuscript. The finding was made on 21 August 2005, and it has since sparked interest in the world of physics.
The 16-page document is dated 1924 and contains Einstein’s last known theory regarding the behaviour of atoms at low temperatures. This theory is now famously referred to as the Bose-Einstein condensation. Fingerprints of Albert Einstein were found on the document, further authenticating its importance.
The manuscript will be preserved at Leyden University, the same institution where Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize. This discovery is expected to contribute significantly to the ongoing study of Einstein’s works and the history of quantum physics.
