A
Stephen Hawking, the brilliant British theoretical physicist who published wildly popular books exploring the mysteries of the universe, has died, according to a family spokesman. He was 76.
Considered by many to be the world's greatest living scientist, Hawking was also a cosmologist, astronomer, mathematician and author of numerous books including the landmark “A Brief History of Time”， which has sold more than 10 million copies.
With fellow physicist Roger Penrose, Hawking combined Einstein's theory of relativity with quantum theory to suggest that space and time would begin with the Big Bang and end in black holes. He also discovered that black holes were not completely black but emit radiation and would likely eventually evaporate and disappear. “It will be difficult enough to avoid disasters on planet Earth in the next 100 years, let alone next thousand, or million. The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket or on one planet. Let's hope we can avoid dropping the basket until we have spread the load.”
Hawking suffered from ALS (amyotrophic latcral sclerosis), a disease which is usually deadly within a few years. He was diagnosed in 1963, when he was 21, and doctors initially gave him only a few years to live. The disease left Hawking wheelchairbound and paralyzed. He was able to move only a few fingers on one hand and was completely dependent on others or on technology for everything—bathing, dressing, eating, even speech.
Dramatically, he even gueststarred in the “Star Trek”， “The Simpsons” and the 2014 movie “The Theory of Everything”.
Hawking's children, Lucy, Robert and Tim, said in a statement, “He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. We will miss him forever.”
1．From the passage, we can learn that ________.
A．Hawking was diagnosed with the fatal disease since he was born
B．Hawking was once the main character in the movie and TV series
C．Hawking just published one book titled “A Brief History of Time”
D．Hawking had to rely on other people and technology to do everything in life
答案：D 细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句“He was able to move only a few fingers on one hand and was completely dependent on others or on technology for everything—bathing, dressing, eating, even speech.”可知，霍金的日常生活不得不依靠其他人和技术的帮助。故选D。
2．Which of the following is NOT believed by Stephen Hawking?
A．The space and time would end in black holes.
B．Black holes are not exactly black in color.
C．The disasters can be avoided in the next thousand or million years.
D．Black holes can give off radiation and will disappear in the end.
答案：C 推理判断题。根据第三段中的“It will be difficult enough to avoid disasters on planet Earth in the next 100 years, let alone next thousand, or million.”可知，霍金认为在接下来的100年里，要避免在地球上发生灾难将会很困难，更不用说下一千年或者数百万年。C项错误，故选C。
3．What does the underlined sentence mean?
A．The humans should explore other planets to live.
B．The humans should stay together to fight the disasters.
C．The earth will be destroyed if humans continue to live here.
D．No other planets can replace the earth as the living place.
答案：A 推理判断题。本句直译为人类不应将所有鸡蛋放在一个篮子里或一颗星球上，即人类应该探索其他星球，故选A。
4．What would be the best title of the passage?
A．A Star Just Went Out in the Universe
B．The Achievements of Stephen Hawking
C．Stephen Hawking's Suffering of the Disease
D．The Predictions of the Great Man
答案：A 主旨大意题。本文先告知了霍金去世的消息，然后回忆了他的生平事迹和主要成就，故A项最能概括文章的主旨大意，故选A。
【词汇积累】 ①quantum n. 量子 ②evaporate v. 蒸发 ③emit vt. 发出，射出，散发 ④suffer from 患……病；受……之苦
【佳句背诵】 The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket or on one planet.
人类不应该把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里或一颗星球上。
