Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was a German-born physicist, although most people probably know him as the most intelligent person who ever lived. His name has become part of many languages when we want to say someone is a genius, as in the phrase, “She’s a real Einstein”. He must have been pretty brainy to discover the Theory of Relativity and the equation E=mc2. 

In 1999, ‘Time’ magazine named Einstein as the Person of the Century. No one could have guessed this would happen when he was at school. He was extremely interested in science but hated the system of learning by heart. He said it destroyed learning and creativity. He had already done many experiments, but failed the entrance exams to a technical college.

He didn’t let this setback stop him. When he was 16, he performed his famous experiment of imagining traveling alongside a beam of light. He eventually graduated from university, in 1900, with a degree in physics. Twelve years later he was a university professor and in 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He went on to publish over 300 scientific papers.

Einstein is the only scientist to become a cult figure, a household name, and part of everyday culture. He once joked that when people stopped him in the street, he always replied: "Pardon me, sorry! Always I am mistaken for Professor Einstein.” Today, he is seen as the typical mad, absent-minded professor, who just happened to change our world.

 

Аудио

 

 

SYNONYM MATCH: Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right.

Paragraphs 1 and 2

 

 

1.

probably

a.

mastermind

2

genius

b.

very

3.

brainy

c.

predicted

4.

guessed

d.

most likely

5.

extremely

e.

ruined

6.

destroyed

f.

intelligent

Paragraphs 3 and 4

 

 

7.

setback

g.

forgetful

8.

alongside

h.

answered

9.

papers

i.

next to

10.

figure

j.

problem

11

replied

k

personality

12

absent-minded

l

reports

 

PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article.

1.

the most intelligent person 

a.

this would happen

2

He must have been pretty 

b.

name

3.

No one could have guessed 

c.

brainy

4.

the system of learning 

d.

stop him

5.

failed the entrance exams

e.

who ever lived

6.

He didn’t let this setback 

f.

over 300 scientific papers

7.

traveling alongside a beam 

g.

by heart

8.

He went on to publish

h.

to a technical college

9.

a household 

i.

absent-minded professor

10.

the typical mad, 

j.

of light

 

LISTENING GAP FILL:

Albert Einstein was a German-_______________, although most people probably know him as the most intelligent person _______________. His name has become part of many languages when we want to say someone is a genius, _______________, “She’s a real Einstein”. He must have been pretty brainy to discover the Theory of Relativity and the _______________. 

In 1999, ‘Time’ magazine named Einstein as the Person of the Century. No one __________________ this would happen when he was at school. He was ____________________ science but hated the system of learning by heart. He said it destroyed learning and creativity. He had __________________ experiments, but failed the __________________ a technical college.

He didn’t __________________ him. When he was 16, he performed his famous experiment of imagining traveling alongside __________________. He eventually graduated from university, in 1900, with __________________. Twelve years later he was a university professor and in 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He __________________ over 300 scientific papers.

Einstein is the only scientist __________________ figure, a household name, and part __________________. He once joked that when people stopped him in the street, he always replied: "Pardon me, sorry! Always __________________ Professor Einstein.” Today, he is seen as the typical mad, __________________, who just happened to change our world.

 

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD:

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

Albert Einstein was a German-born physics / physicist, although most people probably know him as the most intelligent people / person who ever lived. His name has become part of many languages when we want to say someone is a genius, as / so in the phrase, “She’s a real Einstein”. He must have been pretty brain / brainy to discover the Theory of Relativity and the equation E=mc2. 

In 1999, ‘Time’ magazine naming / named Einstein as the Person of the Century. No one could have guessed / guesses this would happen when he was at school. He was extremely interested in science but hated the system of learning by heart / stomach. He said it destroyed learning and creativity. He had already done many / much experiments, but failed the entrance exams to a technical college.

He didn’t let this setback / setting stop him. When he was 16, he performed his famous experiment of imagining traveling alongside a beam of sound / light. He eventually graduated from university, in 1900, with a degrees / degree in physics. Twelve years later he was a university professor and in 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He went on to publish / publishing over 300 scientific papers.

Einstein is the only scientist to become a culture / cult figure, a household name, and part of everyday culture. He once joke / joked that when people stopped him in the street, he always replied: "Pardon me, sorry! Always I am mistake / mistaken for Professor Einstein.” Today, he is seen as the typical madly / mad, absent-minded professor, who just happened to change our world.

 

SPELLING:  

These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1

1.

most people yboprlba know him

2.

someone is a esnugi

3.

He must have been pretty aniryb

4.

the oqnuatie E=mc2

Paragraph 2

5.

No one could have sdugese

6.

He was extremely interested in cincsee

7.

learning and tvtarceyii

8.

failed the aeennrtc exams to a technical college

Paragraph 3

9.

He didn’t let this katecsb stop him

10.

traveling iealnsogd a beam of light

11.

He eventually egaudrtad from university

12.

He went on to lsibpuh over 300 scientific papers

Paragraph 4

13.

become a cult rugfei

14.

a usohdleho name

15.

part of everyday ceutrul

16.

mad, absent-dindem professor

 

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

someone is a genius, as in the phrase, “She’s a real Einstein”. He must have been pretty brainy to discover

(    )

heart. He said it destroyed learning and creativity. He had already done many experiments, but failed the

(    )

the Theory of Relativity and the equation E=mc2.

(    )

Einstein is the only scientist to become a cult figure, a household name, and part of everyday

(    )

happen when he was at school. He was extremely interested in science but hated the system of learning by

(    )

mistaken for Professor Einstein.” Today, he is seen as the typical mad, absent-minded professor, who just

(    )

He didn’t let this setback stop him. When he was 16, he performed his famous experiment of imagining

(    )

culture. He once joked that when people stopped him in the street, he always replied: "Pardon me, sorry! Always I am

(    )

physics. Twelve years later he was a university professor and in 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He went on to publish over 300 scientific papers.

(    )

entrance exams to a technical college.

( 1 )

Albert Einstein was a German-born physicist, although most people probably know him as

(    )

happened to change our world.

(    )

In 1999, ‘Time’ magazine named Einstein as the Person of the Century. No one could have guessed this would

(    )

the most intelligent person who ever lived. His name has become part of many languages when we want to say

(    )

traveling alongside a beam of light. He eventually graduated from university, in 1900, with a degree in

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

1.

German-born   a   was   Einstein   Albert   physicist   

2.

He   brainy   pretty   been   have   must

3.

named   Einstein   as  the   Person   of   the  Century  ‘Time’  magazine

4.

interested   extremely   was   He   science   in

5.

creativity   said   destroyed   and   He   it   learning

6.

this   stop   He   let   setback   him   didn’t

7.

a   alongside   traveling   light   of   beam

8.

over   went   300   on   scientific   to   papers   publish   He

9.

the   to   cult   is   scientist   a   Einstein   only   become   figure

10.

mad   typical   the   professor   minded-absent

 

 

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2

 

 

1.

probably

a.

most likely

2

genius

b.

mastermind 

3.

brainy

c.

intelligent 

4.

guessed

d.

predicted 

5.

extremely

e.

very 

6.

destroyed

f.

ruined 

Paragraphs 3 and 4

 

 

7.

setback

g.

problem

8.

alongside

h.

next to 

9.

papers

i.

reports 

10.

figure

j.

personality 

11

replied

k

answered 

12

absent-minded

l

forgetful 

 

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

the most intelligent person 

a.

who ever lived

2

He must have been pretty 

b.

brainy 

3.

No one could have guessed 

c.

this would happen 

4.

the system of learning 

d.

by heart 

5.

failed the entrance exams

e.

to a technical college 

6.

He didn’t let this setback 

f.

stop him 

7.

traveling alongside a beam 

g.

of light 

8.

He went on to publish

h.

over 300 scientific papers 

9.

a household 

i.

name 

10.

the typical mad, 

j.

absent-minded professor