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My Friend, Albert Einstein
He was one of the greatest scientists the world has ever known, yet if I
had to convey the essence of Albert Einstein in a single word, I would choose
simplicity. Perhaps an anecdote will help. Once, caught in a downpour, he took
off his hat and held it under his coat. Asked why, he explained, with admirable
logic , that the rain would damage the hat, but his hair would be none the
worse for its wetting. This knack for going instinctively to the heart of a
matter was the secret of his major scientific discoveries — this and his
extraordinary feeling for beauty.
I first met Albert Einstein in 1935 , at the famous Institute for Advanced
Study in Princeton, N. J. He had been among the first to be invited to the
Institute, and was offered carte blanche as to salary. To the director’s
dismay, Einstein asked for an impossible sum: it was far too small. The director
had to plead with him to accept a larger salary.
I was in awe of Einstein, and hesitated before approaching him about some
ideas I had been working on. When I finally knocked on his door, a gentle voice
said, “Come ”—with a rising inflection that made the single word both a welcome
and a question. I entered his office and found him seated at a table,
calculating and smoking his pipe. Dressed in ill-fitting clothes, his hair
characteristically awry , he smiled a warm welcome . His utter naturalness at
once set me at ease.
As I began to explain my ideas, he asked me to write the equations on the
blackboard so he could see how they developed. Then came the staggering — and
altogether endearing — request:“Please go slowly. I do not understand things
quickly. ”This from Einstein! He said it gently, and I laughed. From then on,
all vestiges of fear were gone.
阅读自测
Ⅰ. Fill in the blanks with proper words of the passage:
1. If I have to describe Albert Einstein in a single word, I would
choose_______ ( 单 纯) .
2. Caught in a_______ ( 倾盆大雨) , I have got a bad cough.
3. In the hometown of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, there are many _______ ( 轶事)
about him.
4. To my _______ ( 沮丧) , my father doesn’t buy me the Walkman I like best.
5. Helen Keller is so strong-minded a person that I am _______ ( 敬畏) her.
Ⅱ. Questions :
After reading this passage , do you have a new understanding of this famous
person, Albert Einstein? If yes, then what is it?
参考答案
Ⅰ. 1. simplicity 2. downpour 3. anecdotes 4. dismay 5 . in awe of Ⅱ. Yes, I
have a new understanding of him. I find he is not only a great scientist but
also a simple man. He is polite and kind to the young people. Also he is a
little humorous. |
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发表于 2016-12-4 13:30:31