Reading
This text is an example of a ‘chronological’ text – it goes in order of time, and this can help you locate the answers more quickly.
- TRUE – the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE – the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN – there is no information on this
Marie Curie is probably the most famous woman scientist who has ever lived. Born Maria Sklodowska in Poland in 1867, she is famous for her work on radioactivity, and was twice a winner of the Nobel Prize. With her husband, Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, she was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics, and was then sole winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
7. Marie Curie’s husband was a joint winner of both Maria‘s Nobel Prizes.
From childhood, Marie was remarkable for her prodigious memory, and at the age of 16 won a gold medal on completion of her secondary education. Because her father lost his savings through bad investment, she then had to take work as a teacher.
8. Marie became interested in science when she was a child.
[Ask yourself – when did Marie become interested in science?]
From her earnings, she was able to finance her sister Bronia’s medical studies in Paris, on the understanding that Bronia would, in turn, later help her to get an education. In 1891 this promise was fulfilled and Marie went to Paris and began to study at the Sorbonne (the University of Paris).
9.Marie was able to attend the Sorbonne because of her sister’s financial contribution.
The births of Marie’s two daughters, Irene and Eve, in 1897 and 1904 failed to interrupt her scientific work.
10. Marie stopped doing research for several years when her children were born.
The sudden death of her husband in 1906 was a bitter blow to Marie Curie, but was also a turning point in her career: henceforth she was to devote all her energy to completing alone the scientific work that they had undertaken. On May 19, 1906, she was appointed to the professorship that had been left vacant on her husband’s death, becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne.
11. Marie took over the teaching position her husband had held.
Marie also gave lectures in Belgium. Brazil, Spain and Czechoslovakia and, in addition, had the satisfaction of seeing the development of the Curie Foundation in Paris and the inauguration in 1932 in Warsaw of the Radium Institute, where her sister Bronia became the director.
12. Marie‘s sister Bronia studied the medical uses of radioactivity.
A good background knowledge of key IELTS topics will always help with your understanding of dense texts, especially when you are under pressure of time.
Answers
7. Marie Curie’s husband was a joint winner of both Maria‘s Nobel Prizes.FALSE
…and was twice a winner of the Nobel Prize. With her husband, Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, she was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics, and was then sole winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
8. Marie became interested in science when she was a child. NOT GIVEN
From childhood, Marie was remarkable for her prodigious memory, and at the age of 16 won a gold medal on completion of her secondary education. Because her father lost his savings through bad investment, she then had to take work as a teacher.
9. Marie was able to attend the Sorbonne because of her sister’s financial contribution. TRUE
From her earnings, she was able to finance her sister Bronia’s medical studies in Paris, on the understanding that Bronia would, in turn, later help her to get an education. In 1891 this promise was fulfilled and Marie went to Paris and began to study at the Sorbonne (the University of Paris).
9. Marie stopped doing research for several years when her children were born. FALSE
The births of Marie’s two daughters, Irene and Eve, in 1897 and 1904failed to interrupt her scientific work.
10. Marie took over the teaching position her husband had held. TRUE
The sudden death of her husband in 1906 was a bitter blow to Marie Curie. but was also a turning point in her career: henceforth she was to devote all her energy to completing alone the scientific work that they had undertaken. On May 19, 1906, she was appointed to the professorship that had been leftvacant on her husband’s death,becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne.
12. Marie‘s sister Bronia studied the medical uses of radioactivity. NOT GIVEN
Marie also gave lectures in Belgium. Brazil, Spain and Czechoslovakia and, in addition, had the satisfaction of seeing the development of the Curie Foundation in Paris and the inauguration in 1932 in Warsaw of the Radium Institute, where her sister Bronia became the director.