Question
A1. Simple Factual Activities:
Write one sentence each, why the following years were landmarks in the lives of Pierre and Marie Curie:
(1) 1902 -
(2) 1903 -
The Curies continued their work for four more years. Wearing an acid stained, dust covered mask, Marie toiled along stirring large pots of pitchblende ensuring that the fires beneath were active throughout the day and the night. Then in 1902, success finally came. On a September night the Curies, after a day’s tiresome work, went home. Then just as they were about to go to bed they went to the laboratory to have another look at the hundreds of small bowls into which they had poured filtered pitchblende. In the dark laboratory as they moved cautiously forward there were all around them rays of soft, bluish purple light coming from the small, glass covered bowls. Radium had been discovered ! Marie said to her husband, ‘Do you remember the day when you told me that you wanted radium to have a beautiful colour? Look …. look!’’
Actually, what they had produced was just a tiny pinch of white powder that looked like salt. But it was to become one of the wonders of the world. With its rays people would be able to see through the hardest of substances except lead.
The benefits of radium in the world of medicine are incalculable. It has been used with great effect in the treatment of cancer. The bacteria of such diseases as typhus, cholera and anthrax can also be killed by radium.
In 1903 the Curies along with Henry Becquesel, were awarded the Nobel Prize for physics for the discovery of Radium and Polonium. They wished, they could have patented their discovery and become rich, but this noble woman refused to do so and gave it free to the world to be used properly.
In 1906, Pierre was knocked down and killed by a horse-drawn wagon. Marie clung to his lifeless body and remained disconsolate.
In 1911, Marie was awarded the Nobel prize for the second time and this was for Chemistry. Madame Curie remained comparatively poor and when asked why she did not make money by her discoveries, she replied, ‘‘I am working for science. Radium belongs to the people, not to me.’’
In 1934, the health of Marie Curie failed and in the July of that year this great scientist, who had given her life for the cause of science and humanity, died. In every great man and woman there is a compulsive desire to discover the truth. Madame Curie, who pursued her life’s goal with great courage, endurance, dedication and strength of character, is a living example of this statement.
There are also men and women who show extreme courage when they are face to face with great danger. But greater is the courage of men and women who display a strength of mind that is not defeated by extremely hostile and unfavourable conditions of life. Madame Curie certainly belongs to this latter group.
A2. Complex Factual Activities:
(1) How is radium used in the medical field?
A3. Activities based on Vocabulary:
Write down the describing words used for the following nouns :
(1) _______________ work
(2) _______________ pitchblende
(3) _______________ colour
(4) _______________ desire.
A4. Activities based on Contextual Grammar:
Change the voice:
(1) In 1906, Pierre was knocked down by a horse- drawn wagon.
(Begin the sentence with 'A horse-drawn wagon'.)'
(2) In 1911, Marie was awarded the Nobel Prize.
(Begin the sentence with 'They'.)
A5. Personal Response:
(1) Why are awards and prizes given to the people in different fields?
Write one sentence each, why the following years were landmarks in the lives of Pierre and Marie Curie:
(1) 1902 -
(2) 1903 -
The Curies continued their work for four more years. Wearing an acid stained, dust covered mask, Marie toiled along stirring large pots of pitchblende ensuring that the fires beneath were active throughout the day and the night. Then in 1902, success finally came. On a September night the Curies, after a day’s tiresome work, went home. Then just as they were about to go to bed they went to the laboratory to have another look at the hundreds of small bowls into which they had poured filtered pitchblende. In the dark laboratory as they moved cautiously forward there were all around them rays of soft, bluish purple light coming from the small, glass covered bowls. Radium had been discovered ! Marie said to her husband, ‘Do you remember the day when you told me that you wanted radium to have a beautiful colour? Look …. look!’’
Actually, what they had produced was just a tiny pinch of white powder that looked like salt. But it was to become one of the wonders of the world. With its rays people would be able to see through the hardest of substances except lead.
The benefits of radium in the world of medicine are incalculable. It has been used with great effect in the treatment of cancer. The bacteria of such diseases as typhus, cholera and anthrax can also be killed by radium.
In 1903 the Curies along with Henry Becquesel, were awarded the Nobel Prize for physics for the discovery of Radium and Polonium. They wished, they could have patented their discovery and become rich, but this noble woman refused to do so and gave it free to the world to be used properly.
In 1906, Pierre was knocked down and killed by a horse-drawn wagon. Marie clung to his lifeless body and remained disconsolate.
In 1911, Marie was awarded the Nobel prize for the second time and this was for Chemistry. Madame Curie remained comparatively poor and when asked why she did not make money by her discoveries, she replied, ‘‘I am working for science. Radium belongs to the people, not to me.’’
In 1934, the health of Marie Curie failed and in the July of that year this great scientist, who had given her life for the cause of science and humanity, died. In every great man and woman there is a compulsive desire to discover the truth. Madame Curie, who pursued her life’s goal with great courage, endurance, dedication and strength of character, is a living example of this statement.
There are also men and women who show extreme courage when they are face to face with great danger. But greater is the courage of men and women who display a strength of mind that is not defeated by extremely hostile and unfavourable conditions of life. Madame Curie certainly belongs to this latter group.
A2. Complex Factual Activities:
(1) How is radium used in the medical field?
A3. Activities based on Vocabulary:
Write down the describing words used for the following nouns :
(1) _______________ work
(2) _______________ pitchblende
(3) _______________ colour
(4) _______________ desire.
A4. Activities based on Contextual Grammar:
Change the voice:
(1) In 1906, Pierre was knocked down by a horse- drawn wagon.
(Begin the sentence with 'A horse-drawn wagon'.)'
(2) In 1911, Marie was awarded the Nobel Prize.
(Begin the sentence with 'They'.)
A5. Personal Response:
(1) Why are awards and prizes given to the people in different fields?
