Page 129 - OXFORD - Family and Friends 4 Class Book (2nd Edition)
P. 129
• Extensive reading: Science
1 Look at the pictures. What job did Marie Curie do?
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2 Listen and read. ~ 129
A talented family
Marie Curie As well as the
achievements of Marie and
t Can you imagine a world her husband, Pierre, their
without X-rays? X-rays let daughters, Irene and Eve,
doctors see your bones, so they were also very successful.
know if you have a broken arm Irene, the older daughter, also became a famous
or leg. X-rays exist thanks to scientist and won a Nobel Prize for Chemistry. The
the work of a very important younger daughter, Eve, wrote a book about her
scientist called Marie Curie. She mother's life.
discovered radium, an element
used in X-rays and treatments for cancer. Her World War I
work was so important that Marie Curie was the During World War I, there were not enough X-ray
first woman to win a Nobel Prize and was also machines for the hospitals. Marie Curie made X-ray
the first person to ever win two Nobel Prizes. machines that could move from hospital to hospital
Marie was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1867. in a truck. These trucks were called Little Curies and
She was the youngest of five children. helped over one million soldiers during the war.
Her parents were both teachers. Science and Safety
maths were her favourite subjects at school. As
her father was a maths teacher, he could help Although radium is a very helpful element, no
her at home. When Marie left school, she wanted one knew at the time that it can also be very
to be a scientist, but the family did not have dangerous. Nowadays, people are much more
enough money for her to study. She worked as a careful. Marie Curie did not wear protective
teacher to earn money, and read science books clothing and often carried radioactive materials in
in her free time. She had to wait six years to have her pockets. Sadly, Marie died in 1934 due to too
enough money to study. Finally, in 1891, Marie much contact with the element. She will always
went to study Physics at a famous university be remembered for her excellent contribution to
in France, called the Sorbonne. In France, she science and to healthcare.
met her husband, Pierre Curie, who was a
Nobel Prizes are given each year to the best
famous scientist. They worked on complicated
scientists in the world. You have to discover
experiements together, and during these
something very important to receive this award.
experiments the new elements were found.
3 Read again and circle the correct word.
1 Marie Curie was born in France I Poland. 2 Marie and Pierre had two daughters I sons.
3 Eve I Irene wrote a book about Marie 4 Marie Curie's parents were scientists I
Curie's life. teachers.
4 Ask and answer.
1 Do you like Science? Why? 2 What do you want to do when you grow up?
Extensive reading: Marie Curie
