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I Force of Nature

Glossary

elm /elm/ n. any of various deciduous trees落叶树 of the genus Ulmus, characteristically having arching or curving branches and serrated leaves with asymmetrical bases. Elms are widely planted as shade trees 榆树

radioactivity // n. spontaneous emission of radiation, either directly from unstable atomic nuclei or as a consequence of a nuclear reaction

single-minded // adj. characterized by having only one aim or purpose and

being determined to achieve it

made-up // adj. (of stories) that is invented, rather than really existing or being true, fictional

exotic // adj. intriguingly unusual or different, as if from another part of the world 由外国引进的，非本地的

encircle // v. to circle around

grave // adj. fraught充满不愉快的事情 with danger or harm; serious

idolize // v. to worship sb. or sth. as an object of adoration 将（某人）当作偶像崇拜

fantasy // n. the creative imagination; unrestrained fancy 想象，幻想

shred // n. a small amount (of)

obsessively // adv. in a way that one cannot stop doing a particular thing or behaving in a particular way 萦绕于心；有执着想法

revolutionize // v. to bring about a radical change in 使彻底变革

atomic // adj. of or relating to an atom or atoms an atomic bomb/an atomic submarine/atomic power/atomic warfare/atomic energy nuclear

pitiful // adj. inspiring or deserving pity

passion // n. strong emotion

tuberculosis // n. a serious infectious disease that attacks many parts of the body, esp. the lungs结核病；（由指）肺结核

governess // n. a woman employed to educate and train the children of a private household女家教

wind up to end up; finish up; be in a situation at the end of a series of

events, adventures, experiences, even though it is not the original intention 使结束

disinherit // v. to exclude from inheritance or the right to inherit 剥夺继承权

nursemaid // n. a woman employed to take care of children 育婴女佣

drag by (of time) to pass in a tedious and prolonged way

meager // adj. scanty; small and not enough （数量或大小）不足的

enrol // v. to enter one's own or sb.'s name on an official register or list of members 入学，加入

vat // n. a large vessel, such as a tub, cistern, or barrel, used to hold or

store liquids 大桶，大盆

glisten // v. to shine by reflection with a sparkling luster 闪亮

luminous // adj. emitting light, especially emitting self-generated light 发光的，发亮的

stain // n. a discoloured spot or smudge

congeal // v. to cause to solidify or coagulate or to undergo a process likened to solidification or coagulation 使…凝结

radium // n. (化)镭：一种稀有的、有白色光泽、发光、高度放射性的金属元素，极少量地存在于沥青矿中

gritty // adj. showing resolution and fortitude; plucky 刚强的，刚毅的

shabby // adj. dilapidated or deteriorated in condition, esp. through neglect; seedy因照管不善而破旧，变坏；破烂的，肮脏的

dank // adj. disagreeably damp or humid 阴湿的，阴冷的

prominent // adj. well-known; eminent 知名的，受人尊敬的

stable // n. a building for the shelter and feeding of domestic animals, especially horses and cattle

toast // n. a person receiving much attention or acclaim 极出名的人

Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to propose a toast to the bride and groom. They drank a toast to the Queen. After the success of her show she was the toast of Broadway. fete // v. to pay honor to 向…致敬

After it won the cup, the local football team was feted everywhere it went.

acolyte // n. a devoted follower 助手

homage // n. special honor or respect shown or expressed publicly 崇敬，致敬

exposure // n. an act of subjecting or an instance of being subjected to an action or an influence

fierce // adj. extremely intense

sore // n. an open skin lesion, wound, or ulcer 痛处，伤处

draft // adj. （英）draught suited for or used for drawing heavy loads

a draught horse I asked for draught beer, not bottled beer. defining // adj. giving a distinctive character to sth., or encapsulating its character

inconsolable // adj. impossible or difficult to console 无法安慰的；极为伤心的

metamorphosis // n. a marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function改变

cape // n. (a) cape-like state (of)

secrecy // n. the quality or condition of being secret or hidden; concealment

polonium // n. [化] 钋

onset // n. beginning

X-ray // n. X光；X射线

fleet // n. a group of vessels or vehicles, owned or operated as a unit 舰队；船队；车队；机群

aplastic // adj. unable to form or regenerate tissues

pernicious // adj. tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly 恶性的；很有害的

anemia // n. a pathological deficiency in the oxygen-carrying component of the blood, measured in unit volume concentrations of hemoglobin, red blood cell volume, or red blood cell number 贫血症

icon // n. one who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol 偶像

obstacle // n. sth. that opposes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress

TEXT EXPLANATIONS

This narrative article is characterized by an objective and somewhat

descriptive style. It may be divided into three parts. The first part, which consists of the first three paragraphs, provides us with the background knowledge, informing us why the writer idolized Marie Curie, briefly introduces the heroine and presents the writer's evaluation of the heroine. The second part, which comprises paragraphs 4-13, is the body of the narrative story. This major part provides us with true, descriptive, and impressive accounts of the heroine, focusing on her experiences in life and her research work, and vividly telling us the major events that happened to her. The last paragraph, the last part or the summarizing paragraph of the story, concisely points out the writer's understanding or assessment of Marie Curie's life—truly glorious and tragic.

The questions below are to be discussed.

(1) Why did the author, when still a teenager, idolize Madame Curie?

She idolized Madame Curie because in her mind Curie was the strongest and most capable woman in the world; she was both a loving mother and an outstanding scientist.

(2) Why is Marie Curie so famous in the world?

Firstly, she and her husband won a Nobel Prize in physics in 1903 for the discovery of radioactivity. Secondly, after Pierre died, she proceeded with the research work, and won a second Nobel Prize in chemistry for isolating the elements radium and polonium. Thirdly, in her later years, she went back to the Radium Institute she established, teaching, traveling and lecturing until her death, at age 66, on July 4, 1934. Her professional devotion touches our hearts and inspires us to persevere in our lives.

Analysis

These three paragraphs, the first part of the narrative article, tell us the reason why the writer admired Marie Curie and offers her assessment of the heroine.

The following two questions may be put forward for discussion.

(1) Why did the writer idolize Marie Curie?

Because in the writer's mind Marie Curie seemed so exotic; she became the strongest and most capable woman in the world, and she was a super-competent multi-tasker.

(2) What did the writer think of Marie Curie and her discovery?

The writer thought that among all women in the world Marie Curie had the strongest will and possessed the greatest capability, that she was worth being

called a super-competent multi-tasker, and that her discovery was most brilliant.

Language work

1. bulletin board: notice-board, board for notices to be pinned on

bulletin n. a short official statement of news; a printed newsletter produced by an association, a group, or a society

Bulletins are found everywhere in this small town.

The China Association for Comparative Studies of English and Chinese prints and circulates bulletins among its members annually.

2. elm tree: any tree of the genus Ulmus, with rough serrated leaves; it produces hard heavy wood

There is an elm forest near the village.

The bench is made of elm.

3. basics n. essential or important matters

Let's stop chatting and get down to basics.

These students have acquired a good knowledge of the basics of English.

4. radioactivity n. the spontaneous disintegration of atomic nuclei, with the emission of usu. penetrating radiation or particles; radioactive substances, or the radiation they emit

5. She was brilliant, single-minded, a legend. + She was very intelligent, focused, famous.

single-minded adj. having or concentrating on one aim, purpose, etc.

They were too single-minded to be distracted by failures.

These men are hardworking and single-minded, so they are always successful.

legend n. a famous person, a person who has achieved great fame; a famous event

The three astronauts in China have become legends.

Her daring work behind the enemy lines has now become a legend.

6. I was just a girl with little direction, more drawn to words and made-up stories than to formulas and lab experiments. + I was only a girl with almost no guidance. I was more attracted to words and made-up stories than to formulas and lab experiments.

7. encircle vt. (oft. passive) surround, form a circle round

The West Lake is encircled by trees.

The enemy troops were encircling the town.

8. recover v. return to a normal state of health, mind, prosperity, etc.; get back the use of one's health, faculties, etc.

He has now fully recovered from his stroke.

Our economy finally recovered from the financial depression.

He has recovered his sight and hearing.

9. idolize vt. treat sb. as an idol; love and admire sb. very much

The leader was idolized by many people at that time.

The Beatles were idolized in the 1960s.

10. fantasy n. the faculty of inventing images, esp. extravagant or visionary ones; a fanciful mental image, a daydream; a whimsical speculation

The girl lives in a world of fantasy.

The man indulges in fantasy.

Some of the old fantasies about the space age are coming true.

11. Marie Curie's own daughters grew into accomplished women in their own right, though their mother was obsessively engaged in her research before they were born. + Marie Curie's own daughters grew up into intelligent successful women through their own effort, though their mother was almost always completely preoccupied with her research before their birth.

in one's own right: as a result of one's own claims, qualifications, or effort, etc. rather than an association with someone else

Elizabeth II is queen of England in her own right. (This sentence implies that she is queen of England not because she is married to a king.)

12. Curie was what we might today call a super-competent multi-tasker: Her work revolutionized the study of atomic energy and radioactivity, and she's one of the pitifully few female scientists whom schoolchildren ever study. + Curie was what might be referred to today as an exceptionally competent scientist, engaging in numerous research tasks simultaneously. Her research work introduced fundamental changes to the study of atomic energy and radioactivity, and she is one of the precious female scientists who are always included in textbooks for schoolchildren to learn from.

multi-tasker n. a person who engages in a number of tasks at the same time

The professor, always engaged in several scientific research projects simultaneously, is well known as a multi-tasker.

revolutionize vt. introduce fundamental changes to sth.; cause sth. to change completely or drastically

Computers have revolutionized the world.

The university has revolutionized its administrative management.

13. Also she was a woman driven by passions, fighting battles much of her life with what a doctor now would probably diagnose as severe depression. + Moreover, Marie Curie pressed ahead, fighting persistently almost all her life against what a doctor today would probably identify as severe depression./acute depression 严重的抑郁症

Emotion： love， hatred， sorrow， grief， despair， fear， anger， jealousy， joy， delight， pleasure

diagnose vt. identify a disease in a patient on the basis of his symptoms

The doctor diagnosed my disease as tuberculosis.

Her extreme melancholy has been diagnosed as severe depression.

depression n. a pathological state of extreme dejection or melancholy,

often with physical symptoms; being depressed, in low spirits

He committed suicide during a fit of depression.

She went through a long depression after her husband's death.

14. In the end, her most brilliant discovery proved fatal for both her and her husband. + Eventually, her most superb discovery turned out to be deadly for both her and her husband.

fatal adj. causing death or ending in death; causing a disaster

His fatal injuries were caused by a fatal accident.

His illness was fatal to our plans.

Analysis 1

These paragraphs, the body of the narration, supply objective and descriptive accounts of what Marie Curie experienced, vividly concentrating on the major events that shaped her life. The events are arranged mainly chronologically, i.e. mostly in the order of their occurrence.

The following questions are to be answered.

(1) How did Pierre's death affect Marie Curie's life?

Pierre's death immensely affected Marie Curie's life. \"The metamorphosis was less simple, more serious. A cape of solitude and secrecy fell upon her shoulders forever.\" Marie was just 38. The Sunday after the funeral, instead of staying with family and friends, she retreated to the lab. She lived a solitary life and she wanted very much to talk to her husband in the silence of the laboratory. And she felt extremely sorrowful about her husband's death.

(2) Briefly describe the major events that Marie Curie experienced in her life.

In 1878, when Curie was 10 years old, her mother died of tuberculosis. The Polish girl carried on with her schoolwork as if nothing had happened, but for months she shed unseen tears.

At age 18, she got a job as governess to a wealthy family near Warsaw. She fell in love with Casimir Zorawski, an accomplished student of 19 with whom she shared a love of nature and science.

Four years dragged by. Her love with Casimir Zorawski finally ended in failure. Manya then gathered her meager savings and took a train to Paris, where she changed her name, enrolled at the Sorbonne -- and walked into history.

In 13, she became the first woman to earn a degree in physics at the Sorbonne. Marie and Pierre got married in 15.

The couple won a Nobel Prize in physics in 1903 for the discovery of

radioactivity. Soon after, they were the center of attention of the European scientific community, feted lavishly and visited at home in Paris by people who came from as far away as New Zealand to pay homage.

In 1906, Pierre was killed by a wagon drawn by two huge draft horses. His death marked the defining moment in Marie Curie's life. \"A cape of solitude and secrecy fell upon her shoulders forever.\"

Their work, however, still went on after his death. A second Nobel Prize in chemistry went to Marie alone for isolating the elements radium and polonium.

With the onset of World War I in 1914, she recognized that mobile X-ray units could save lives in battlefield hospitals, so she established a fleet of these vehicles, known as petites Curies, or little Curies. She and Irene drove one themselves.

Later she went back to the Radium Institute she established, teaching, traveling and lecturing until her death, at age 66, on July 4, 1934.

(3) What was the cause of Marie Curie's death?

Marie Curie's death was caused by aplastic pernicious anemia, which was most likely due to her long, devastating exposure to radium and other radioactive elements.

Language work 1

15. The Polish girl ?carried on with her schoolwork ? + She ?continued her schooling ?

16. ?but for months she'd find places to hide so she could cry her eyes out. + ?but in the following months she would look for places to hide herself, weeping bitterly.

cry one's eyes (or heart) out: cry very bitterly

When her pet puppy died, my daughter cried her eyes out.

17. At age 18, she landed a job as governess to a wealthy family near Warsaw. + When 18 years old, she obtained a job as a tutor for children in a rich family near Warsaw.

land: obtain sth.

After years' effort, she landed the gold medal at the National Games.

governess n. a woman employed to teach children in a private household.

She serves as governess in her free time in order to add to her family income.

Jane Eyre once worked as governess.

18. She wound up falling in love with Casimir Zorawski, an accomplished

student of 19 with whom she shared a love of nature and science. + In the end, she fell in love with Casimir Zorawski, a clever, well-educated young man of 19. Both of them cherished a love for nature and science.

19. disinherit vt. reject as one's heir; deprive of the right of inheritance

He was disinherited and driven out of his father's house.

The young man was disinherited because he rejected the marriage arranged by his parents.

20. She was beneath his station, poor, a common nursemaid. + As she was a poor ordinary girl in charge of a child, she was beneath him in social status.

nursemaid: a woman employed to look after sb.'s child(ren)

21. Four years dragged by. + Four years went by or passed by slowly and tediously.

drag: pass or proceed slowly

The last part of the play dragged a little.

22. In what still seems to me a remarkable act of courage, Manya then gathered her meager savings and took a train to Paris, where she changed her name, enrolled at the Sorbonne -- and walked into history. + It still seems to me

an extraordinary act of courage that Manya then collected the small amount of money she had saved and took a train to Paris, where she took a new name, became a student at the Sorbonne -- and gradually turned out to be a very influential figure in history.

meager savings: a very small amount of money saved

23. the broad brush strokes: the ways in which plans or ideas are explained or implemented

broad (brush) strokes

if you describe a situation with broad strokes, you describe it in a very general way without giving any details The novel's historical background is filled in with broad brush strokes. In a few broad strokes he summed up his beliefs

The artist sketched out her idea of the ideal lover only with the

broadest brush strokes.

stroke n. a quick forceful action

By computerizing we have, at a single stroke, improved efficiency and reduced cost.

24. Late at night, Marie and her husband, Pierre, enter the lab to see a tiny luminous stain congealed in a dish. \"Oh, Pierre! Could it be?\" exclaims Marie as

tears roll down her cheeks. + Late at night, Marie and her husband, Pierre, went into the lab and saw a very small bright stain which had become semi-solid in a dish. \"Oh, Pierre! Could it be?\" shouted Marie excitedly as tears flowed down her cheeks.

congeal v. (cause a liquid to) become thick or semi-solid, esp. by cooling

The blood was congealed around the cut on his knee.

Discard the fat that congeals at the top.

Fear congealed his very blood.

25. The reality was a lot grittier -- and a lot less romantic. + The reality was much harder -- and far less appealing to the emotions.

gritty adj. full of particles of stone or sand; firm, staunch, strong

Residents in Beijing have to face the gritty wind in spring.

He was a gritty fighter.

26. Marie and Pierre, whom she married in 15, did indeed work side by side late into the night. But their lab was so shabby and dank that their daughter Irene, at age three, called it \"that sad, sad place\". And one prominent scientist said that had he not seen the worktable, he would have thought he was in a stable. +

Marie and Pierre, whom she married in 15, worked indeed side by side late into the night. However, their laboratory was in so poor a condition, old, damp and cold, that even their three-year-old daughter Irene called it \"that sad, sad place\". And one eminent scientist said that if he had not witnessed the worktable, he would have thought himself to be in a building where horses are fed and kept.

27. They were the toast of the European scientific community, feted lavishly and visited at home in Paris by acolytes who came from as far away as New Zealand to pay homage. + They became the center of attention by the scientists in Europe, honored or entertained in a special and generous way and visited at home in Paris by faithful admirers who came from as far away as New Zealand to show great respect.

toast n. sb. who is the object of much attention or admiration

After winning the championship at Athens Olympic Games, 2004, Liu

Xiang is the toast of China and Asia as well.

fete vt. honor or entertain sb. in a special way

The astronauts were feted wherever they went.

lavishly adv. giving or providing generously or in large quantities; plentifully, abundantly

He praised the project lavishly.

The Queen was entertained lavishly.

acolyte n. assistant; apprentice; faithful follower

The old professor has a number of acolytes.

It is said that Confucius had 72 acolytes.

28. For the Curies, though, their triumph contained the seeds of their tragedy. + For the Curies, however, their great success was conducive to their future disasters.

29. Even before winning the Nobel, Pierre was severely ill from exposure to this fierce energy. + Even before they were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics, Pierre was terribly ill because he had been too much exposed to radioactivity.

30. sore n. a painful place on the body where the skin or flesh is injured

Her hands are covered in sores.

The nurse bandaged the sores on her hands very carefully.

31. In 1906, he fell into the path of a wagon drawn by two huge draft horses, and a wheel ran over his head. He died instantly. + In 1906, he slipped into the

way of a carriage drawn by two huge horses, and a wheel ran over his head. He died at once.

draft horses (also draught horses): horses used for pulling heavy loads

32. The metamorphosis was less simple, more serious. A cape of solitude and secrecy fell upon her shoulders forever. + The change she underwent was profound and enduring. She thereafter lived a life of loneliness and did not communicate much with others.

cape n. loose sleeveless garment like a cloak but usu. shorter 披肩

solitude n. a state of being alone without companions

She is not fond of solitude.

His wife enjoys the solitude of their own flat, but he doesn't.

secrecy n. keeping secrets; ability or tendency to keep secrets

We rely on your secrecy.

The meeting was arranged with the utmost secrecy.

Here, however, the word secrecy does not imply a sense of keeping secrets. It actually conveys the idea that after her husband's death Marie devoted almost all

her time to her scientific experiments and subconsciously avoided getting involved with others.

33. Marie was just 38. The Sunday after the funeral, instead of staying with family and friends, she retreated to the lab ? + Marie was only 38 when her husband died. The Sunday after the funeral, she did not stay with family and friends; instead, she went to the lab, a place she regarded as her shelter.

34. polonium n. a rare radioactive metallic element, occurring naturally in uranium ores钋

35. With the onset of World War I in 1914, she recognized that mobile X-ray units could save lives in battlefield hospitals, so she established a fleet of these vehicles, known as petites Curies, or little Curies. + With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, she realized that mobile X-ray units could save lives of wounded soldiers in battlefield hospitals; therefore, she established a fleet of these vehicles, known as petites Curies, or little Curies.

36. pernicious anemia: a severe form of anemia, i.e., a blood condition in which there are too few red blood cells or the red blood cells are deficient in hemoglobin, resulting in poor health 恶性贫血

37. devastating adj. extremely destructive; causing severe shock; striking, impressive

Because of the devastating earthquake, hundreds of people died and thousands of people became homeless.

He made devastating criticism of her newly-published novel.

Analysis 1

This is the concluding paragraph of the narrative text. In this paragraph, the writer makes known what she discovered about Marie Curie or what she knew about her life. In other words, the writer found out that Marie Curie was an average female human being with the emotions, weaknesses, and strengths of a normal person, and that her life was both glorious and tragic.

The following two questions are to be discussed.

(1) Why did the writer say that the Marie Curie she discovered was no icon but a flesh-and-blood woman?

There are mainly two reasons. Firstly, it was owing to her constant hard work, very strong will, remarkable courage, and willing self-sacrifice that Marie Curie made a most brilliant discovery, won two Nobel Prizes and became a great scientist, famous throughout the world. Secondly, like any other normal human being, she possessed emotions, weaknesses, and strengths Marie Curie and her husband worked side by side very hard and pursued their professional career whole-heartedly, going through thick and thin and sharing joys and hardships.

Undoubtedly, they loved each other dearly. When her husband died, she was seized by extreme sorrow and retreated to the lab, feeling that she could hardly live on without her husband. As she had been exposed to radium and other radioactive elements, and as she had been working extremely hard all her life, Marie Curie died of aplastic pernicious anemia at the age of 66. Facts tell us that Marie Curie was no icon but a flesh-and-blood woman.

(2) Why is Marie Curie's life considered both glorious and tragic?

After the most brilliant discovery of radium, Marie Curie and her husband became the toast of the European scientific community, and they were feted lavishly and visited at home in Paris by people from far and wide, who came to pay homage. Marie Curie continued to work hard and became the first woman to win two Nobel Prizes for her brilliant achievements. She never stopped working hard until her last breath. Thanks to her extraordinary efforts, great discovery, and remarkable qualities, she became well known and highly respected all over the world, enjoying both fame and glory. But as she conquered huge professional obstacles, she paid a terrible personal price. Her husband became severely ill from exposure to the fierce energy, he had open sores on his hands and fingers, and increasing difficulty walking. In 1906, he was run over by a wagon and died instantly. This dealt a terrible blow to Marie Curie, who lived a lonely, sad life afterwards. She herself died of pernicious anemia caused by the radioactive elements. All these facts show that Marie Curie lived a tragic, yet glorious life.

Language work 1

38. The Marie Curie that I discovered was no icon but a flesh-and-blood woman. + The Marie Curie in my eyes was not a sacred deity at all, but an ordinary woman with human emotions, human qualities, and human weaknesses.

icon n. painting, carving, etc. of a holy person; sb. regarded as sacred

Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean are still icons for many

young people.

flesh-and-blood adj. of the human body or human nature, with its emotions, weaknesses, etc.

It was more than a flesh-and-blood person could bear.

39. She conquered huge professional obstacles but paid a terrible personal price. + She overcame colossal difficulties in her career, yet she persisted at the sacrifice of her own health and even life.

40. I know now how complex her life was -- truly glorious and tragic. + I realize now that her life was rather intricate -- really magnificent and heartbreaking.

glorious adj. having, worthy of or bringing great fame or glory; beautiful, splendid, magnificent; very pleasant, enjoyable

These glorious deeds are worth spreading.

She died a glorious death.

They are having a glorious time.

World War II

World War Two

The Second World War

WW2