A Mind for Space and Time現代物理學之父——愛因斯坦‏

by Matthew Brown Einstein was a brilliant scientist whose ideas are a big part of the way we think and live today. 現代物理學之父——愛因斯坦 愛因斯坦這位偉大的科學家，其科學理念深深影響我們思考與生活的方式。 　　With white hair that seemed to stand straight out and an often mischievous smile, Albert Einstein's appearance is instantly recognizable. Einstein was one of the greatest scientists and also a philosopher with a great passion for politics, people, and the world. 總是頂著一頭衝冠白髮和臉上那一抹頑皮微笑，艾伯特‧愛因斯坦的外表鮮明易辨。他是史上最偉大的科學家之一，同時也是對政治、人群和世界滿懷熱情的哲學家。 　　Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. As a young student, he generally did well in math and science and landed a job as a technical assistant. However, his work and degrees were less important than his passion for science. Even as a child, he took scientific problems seriously. Once when his father showed him a pocket compass, Einstein wasn't satisfied with the explanation about the northward pointing needle and wanted to know exactly why the needle moved. 愛因斯坦於 1879 年生於德國。當他還是年輕學生時，便在數學和科學領域表現傑出，後來還得到技術助理的工作。不過和他對科學的熱情相較，工作和學位對他而言就沒那麼重要。即使正值小小年紀的他，便已無比認真看待科學問題。有回他父親拿了一個口袋型指南針給他看，他並不滿意父親對指北針原理的解釋，而是想知道指針到底為什麼會移動。 　　While working as an assistant, Einstein published four papers about incredible discoveries in what people called "the miracle year," and suddenly the world started paying attention to him. First, he was given a job teaching physics in Switzerland and then an important professorship in Germany. The best part of that appointment was that instead of teaching, he could spend all his time trying to grasp the mysteries of time and space. 在擔任助理期間，愛因斯坦在所謂的『奇蹟之年』發表了 4 篇論文，內容包含了許多驚人的發現，突然間，全世界開始注意到他。一開始，他獲得在瑞士教授物理的工作，接著又受聘到德國擔任教授一職，而這項任聘最棒的是，他不需要教書，反而可以把所有時間花在研究時間與空間的神秘本質上。 　　Einstein became a beloved public figure and was a scientist with the popularity of a rock star. He received a Nobel Prize in physics, and he commented on events that were happening in the world, trying to promote peace and justice. Einstein had a great way with words and came up with many lines that became famous. For instance, "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." Einstein also always looked at things with a sense of humor. He once said, "It's not that I'm so smart; it's just that I stay with problems longer."

愛因斯坦成為備受敬愛的公眾人物，這位科學家走紅的程度和搖滾明星不相上下。他獲頒諾貝爾物理學獎，並對世界各地的事件發表評論，力促和平正義。愛因斯坦能言善道，許多名言都成為經典。例如：『從來不曾犯錯的人，也就從不嘗試新事物。』愛因斯坦永遠以幽默的態度看待事物，他曾說：『我其實沒那麼聰明，我只是和問題周旋得比較久而已。』

單字小舖

1. straight adv. 筆直地
2. instantly adv. 立即，馬上
3. philosopher n. 哲學家
4. technical a. 技術的
5. compass n. 羅盤，指南針
6. explanation n. 說明，解釋
7. northward a. 朝北的
8. incredible a. 驚人的；難以置信的
9. professorship n. 教授的職位
10. beloved a. 被喜愛的，受鍾愛的
11. figure n. 人物
12. justice n. 公平，正義

片語小舖

1. make a mistake　　犯錯
2. a sense of humor　　幽默感

Grammar Tips

... Einstein wasn't satisfied with the explanation about the northward pointing needle and wanted to know exactly why the needle moved.
注意:
exactly 表『確切地』或『正好地』，一般不用來修飾動詞，而通常置於含疑問詞（what, where, when, who, how）的名詞子句或數字之前，以強調該疑問詞或數字。
例: They didn't tell me exactly where the restaurant is located.
（他們沒告訴我餐廳的確切位置。）
例: Exactly 56 students showed up for the event.
（確定共有 56 位學生出席了這場活動。）

精解字詞片語

1. mischievous a. 調皮的，淘氣的
mischief n. 頑皮，淘氣
例: The mother turned a blind eye to her son's mischievous behavior.
（那位媽媽對她兒子調皮搗蛋的行為視而不見。）
2. recognizable a. 可辨認的
例: The skunk is recognizable by the white stripe on its back.
（臭鼬可由其背上的白色條紋辨認出來。）
3. passion n. 熱情
have a passion for...　　對……很有熱忱
例: Jenny has a passion for dancing and spends most of her free time practicing.
（珍妮熱愛舞蹈，她大部分的空閒時間都用來練習跳舞。）
4. do well in...　　在……方面表現優異
do well on + 考試　　……（考試）考得好
例: Paul does very well in games involving strategy like chess.
（保羅對於像是西洋棋這樣需要謀略的遊戲很拿手。）
例: Tony did very well on his midterm exams.
（東尼的期中考考得很好。）
5. land a job　　謀得一份工作
注意:
land a job 這個用法中的 job 是 fish 之喻。謀得一份好工作就好像從海∕河裡將一條大魚捕上岸一樣（land a fish）。
例: Ruby landed a job at that restaurant.
（露比在那家餐廳找到一份工作。）
6. take...seriously　　認真看待……
例: If you don't take studying seriously, you'll certainly fail the finals.
（假如你不把讀書當一回事，期末考一定過不了。）
7. be satisfied with...　　對……感到滿意
= be content with...
= be contented with...
satisfy vt. 使滿意，使高興
＊ content vt. 使滿足 & a. 滿足的（= contented）
例: Henry isn't satisfied with how the suit fits, so he's having it altered.
（亨利不滿意這件西裝的合身度，所以拿去修改。）
8. discovery n. 發現
make a discovery　　有發現
例: Archeologists have made many important discoveries about mummies in Egypt.
（考古學家對埃及木乃伊已經有了許多重大的發現。）
9. pay attention to...　　注意∕留意……
例: Please pay attention to the speed limit. You don't want to get a ticket
（請注意時速限制。你不會想吃罰單的。）
10. appointment n. 委任的工作∕職位；約會，約定
make an appointment with sb for + 時間　　和某人約在某時間會面
例: The appointment of the king's brother-in-law as head of the army was seen as nepotism.
（國王任命其妹婿作為軍隊統帥被視為重用外戚的表現。）
例: Lisa had made an appointment with the dentist for 10 o'clock this morning, but she totally forgot about it.
（麗莎預約今早 10 點看牙醫，但她忘得一乾二淨。）
11. grasp vt. 領會，理解；緊抓
grasp the meaning of...　　理解……的意思
= understand the meaning of...
例: Most readers found it hard to grasp the meaning of this poem.
（大部分的讀者都覺得難以理解這首詩的意思。）
例: The mother grasped her daughter's hand before they crossed the street.
（這位媽媽在過馬路前緊抓著她女兒的手。）
12. comment vi. & n. 評論
comment on...　　對……評論∕發表意見
= make a comment on...
例: Jake made a comment on the politician's practices, which made the supporters angry.
（傑克對該政治人物的做法發表評論，引起支持者的憤怒。）
13. come up with...　　提出∕想出……
例: Edward came up with the idea for the surprise party.
（開那場驚喜派對的點子是艾德華想出來的。）