Stephen Hawking’s archive and belongings to be preserved inside the UK

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Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. archive / ˈɑr kaɪv / (n.) – a collection of information or historical data about a person, place, etc.
    Example:

    Monica spent the whole day browsing through the library’s archives to research the town’s history.


  2. shoot to international fame / ʃut tʊ ˌɪn tərˈnæʃ ə nl feɪm / (idiom) – to suddenly become famous around the world
    Example:

    She shot to international fame after appearing in the film.


  3. probe / proʊb / (v.) – to study something carefully
    Example:

    The detectives probed the crime scene to look for more evidence.


  4. wasting / ˈweɪ stɪŋ / (adj.) – causing someone or part of someone’s body to become thinner and weaker
    Example:

    His wasting disease caused his bones to become weaker.


  5. motor / ˈmoʊ tər / (adj.) – of or relating to the movement of the muscles or the nerves and parts of the brain that control muscle movement
    Example:

    Amanda took her son to a therapist because he has poor motor skills for his age.


Article

Read the text below.

The work of the late British scientist Stephen Hawking and the contents of his office will be preserved in the country, the British government has said.


An agreement was signed on May 26 by the government, Cambridge University Library and the Science Museum Group. The agreement keeps Hawking’s archive of scientific and personal papers at the university library. The contents of his office — including his wheelchairs — will be kept in the collection of the Science Museum Group.


Hawking shot to international fame with his 1988 book A Brief History of Time, but was already famous among scientists for his work on black holes.


He died in March 2018 aged 76 after spending a lifetime probing the origins of the universe.


He had suffered from a wasting motor neurone disease from age 21, and spoke using an electronic voice synthesizer. (Reuters)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Hawking died in March 2018 aged 76 after spending a lifetime probing the origins of the universe. If you were to spend a lifetime studying something, what would it be? Why? Discuss.
  • Hawking had suffered from a wasting motor neurone disease from age 21, and spoke using an electronic voice synthesizer. Why do you think he chose to continue studying the universe instead of retiring at an early age? If you were him, would you do the same? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Hawking shot to international fame with his 1988 book A Brief History of Time. Would you also like to be internationally famous? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Hawking was 46 when he published the book. If you’re under age 46, what do you hope to achieve by the time you’re that age (ex. buy a house, become a manager)? If you’re 46 or older, what’s something that you achieved or wish you had achieved by that age? Why? Discuss.