Marie Curie : A Radiant Life
by Eve Curie
Given below is a quote by the great scientist Marie Curie. Put the words in the correct order to read the quote.
nor was I taught neither progress way the of is swift easy that.
= "I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy."
Making Connections
Quick answer
In biographies, adjectives are often used to describe character traits or the personality of a character. They indicate what a character thinks, says and does.
1. You'll find a list of adjectives below. Choose suitable adjectives to describe the character traits of Marie Curie in the table on the next page. Read the biography again. Pick out evidence sentences to support your choice of adjectives. The first one has been done for you.
[ a. adventurous; b. energetic; c. intelligent;
d. obedient; e. tough; f; extraordinary;
g. brilliant; h. forgetful; i. jolly; j. patriotic;
k. unique; l. youthful; m. courageous; n. generous;
o. mysterious; p. quiet; q. valiant; r. kind;
s. dedicated; t. humble; u. nervous; v. shy;
w. witty; x. loyal; ]
=
|
Character traits of Marie Curie |
Evidence from the story |
|---|---|
|
Patriotic |
Named an element (polonium) she discovered after her country (Poland) |
|
Shy |
She was too shy to make friends, she lived a life of monastic
simplicity, devoted to study. |
|
Energetic |
After her daughter Irene was born, she kept house, washed her baby
daughter; but she also kept on working in a laboratory – working towards the
most important discovery of modern science. |
|
Generous |
She agreed to publish their researches of radium completely. |
|
Humble |
She kept her away from the limelight and resumed the routine of
school and laboratory. |
Reference to context
2. "Their life together in a little flat was singularly lacking in comfort. They refused the furniture offered to them by Pierre's father."
a. Why was the offer of furniture turned down?
= The offer of furniture was turned down as they preferred to live singular life without any comfort. They were dedicating their life in scientific research.
b. What was the only furniture of the flat?
= The only furniture of the flat were two chairs and a white wooden table.
c. What does this sentence reveal about Marie and Pierre?
= This sentence reveals about Marie and Pierre that they were leading a simple life and they were dedicated to the scientific research. They had self-esteem and they wanted to fulfil their needs themselves. Their only attention was in their work not in any earthly pleasure.
3. "No other man or woman to date has ever received the Prize for two different subjects."
a. Which reward is referred to in this extract?
= The prestigious Nobel Prize is referred to in this extract.
b. Who received this reward twice?
= Marie Curie received this reward twice.
c. For which discovery did the person receive the reward the first time? With whom was the reward shared?
= The person received the reward the first time for the discovery of radium and radioactivity.
The reward was shared half to Henri Becquerel, and half to Monsieur and Madame Curie.
4. "This was the first time that a position in French higher education had been given to a woman."
a. What is the position referred to in these lines? Which woman had been given this position for the first time?
= Pierre's position at the Sorbonne is referred to in these lines.
Marie Curie had been given this position for the first time.
b. Who had held the position before it was awarded to a woman?
= Pierre Curie had held the position before it was awarded to a woman.
c. What alternative had the woman turned down before she was given this position?
= The woman turned down a pension proposed by the government before she was given this position.
Read, reflect and write
5. What was the 'immediate sympathy' that brought Marie and Pierre together?
= Marie met Pierre Curie in 1894. Pierre Curie was a French scientist of genius. Pierre was also devoting body and soul to scientific research like Marie Curie. That was the 'immediate sympathy' that brought Marie and Pierre together.
6. What serious discussion did the Curies have when the radium industry was about to be born? What was the decision they took?
= The Curies were discussing that they had two choices. They could describe the results of their research without reserve, including the process of purification or else they could consider themselves to be the proprietors, the "inventors" of radium, patent the technique and manufacture radium throughout the world.
They decided to publish their researches completely.
7. How did the Curies spend the money they received when they were awarded the Nobel Prize? What does this reveal about them?
= They had received seventy thousand gold francs as the prize money of the prestigious Nobel Prize. They spent the money to repay the loans to Pierre's brothers, Marie's sisters, donated to scientific societies, gifted to students and to a childhood friend of Marie. Marie also installed a modern bathroom in their little house and repapered a shabby room.
8. "These were some of the happiest years of her life."
Which years does the author refer to? What gave Marie happiness over these years?
= After her daughter Irene was born, Marie had to choose between family and scientific career. But she equally managed her family and career. She kept house, washed her baby daughter, but she also kept on working in a laboratory - working towards the most important discovery of modern science. She, along with her husband, sought the unknown element in the damp little storeroom that served as their laboratory.
By July 1898, they were able to announce the discovery of a new element. Marie named it 'polonium'.
In December of the same year, the Curies announced the existence of a second new chemical element which they called radium - an element whose radioactivity they believed to be enormous.
The author refers to these years as the 'happiest years' of Marie Curie.
Marie used to work dressed in her old dust-covered and acid-stained smock. Her hair was blown by the wind. She was surrounded by the bitter smoke from her experiments, which stung her ears and throat. All these gave happiness to Marie over those years.
9. Marie Curie is known and respected not just because of her magnificent contributions to science but also for the person she was. Which character traits do you share with Marie Curie and which of her traits would you like to have?
= First of all, Marie Curie was a very simple woman. She liked to live a simple life and dedicated her life in scientific research.
I also like to lead a simple life and keep me engaged in my studies and other duties.
She is very humble and generous. She thought for her own county. She named the element 'polonium' after the name of her own country 'Poland'. She decided to publish their researches instead of making them their own patent. I also try to be humble and always share things and knowledge with my contemporaries.
I would like to have her strength - both physical and mental. She never though of choosing between family and the scientific career after the birth of her daughter Irene. This is a unique trait of her character which made her one amongst the many.
10. Extended writing: Marie Curie once quoted: 'I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.' With vivid detail from the biography you have read, show how this is true of her life.
= Marie Curie lived her life in monastic simplicity. She devoted to study alone. She had very small income. She had to pay for her room, means, clothes and expenses at the university.
She had to save time to dedicate it in her research. She invented dishes which needed little preparation or could be left to cook themselves.
After her marriage, she lived in a little life lacking comfort. They refused the furniture offered to them by Pierre's father.
After the birth of her daughter Irene, she did not thought of choosing between family and the scientific career. She managed both. Then came the success in their life.
They conserve their discovery. They published their researches. Keeping away from the limelight, Marie soon resumed the routine of school and laboratory.
She continued her work with passion and dedication till the end of her life.
About the author :
Eve Curie (1904-2007) was the youngest child of the Nobel prize-winning scientists Pierre and Marie. She gained fame as a concert pianist, writer and biographer. This account, condensed from Eve's famous biography of her mother, Madame Curie, appeared in the Readers Digest in 1959.