If Stephen Hawking lives until the year 2017, he will have lived more than 50 years longer than his doctors expected. When he was a college student, doctors discovered that he had a rare disease. This disease causes a gradual disintegration (分解) of the nerve cells in the brain cells that regulate voluntary muscle activity. Death almost always occurs within two or three years.
Today Stephen Hawking cannot walk or speak. He cannot move his arms or his head. He cannot taste or smell anything. And yet this man is Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, a position held by the famous scientist Isaac Newton in 1669.
Hawking is often described as the greatest scientist since Albert Einstein, but to the world outside science, he is also known as the man who made scientific theory understandable. His book,
A Brief History of Time
, has sold over eight million copies.
He says that since he does not have to think about his body or do any of the things other men have to worry about, such as washing the car or working in the yard, he can dedicate all of his time to thinking. This puts him in the perfect position to find the answer to the question that he has dedicated his life to. His question is: Is there a complete theory of the universe and everything in it?
Despite his tremendous physical disabilities, he has already made some very important discoveries about the origin of the universe, how the universe holds together, and how it will probably end. He has also been able to explain the secrets of "black holes" in space. Now he is looking for a set of rules that everything in our universe must obey. He calls it the Theory of Everything. He thinks that someone will have found the answer within the next 20 years.
If Stephen Hawking is able to find his Theory of Everything, he will have given the world the opportunity to understand things that will change the whole nature of science and probably also the way we live.
单选题
Stephen Hawking will be 50 years old by 2017.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 本句意思：到2017年，史蒂芬·霍金就50岁了。由第一段第一句“If Stephen Hawking lives until the year 2017, he will have lived more than 50 years longer than his doctors expected. ”可知，到2017年，霍金就比当初医生预定的寿命多活了50年，并不是说他到那时就50岁了。题干叙述错误，故本题选B。
单选题
Stephen Hawking suffers from a rare brain disease.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 本句意思：史蒂芬·霍金患了一种罕见的脑部疾病。由第一段第三句“This disease causes a gradual disintegration of the nerve cells in the brain cells that regulate voluntary muscle activity. ”可知，霍金患上的疾病会逐渐分解管理随意肌活动的脑部神经细胞。题干叙述正确，故本题选A。
单选题
Stephen Hawking is Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 本句意思：史蒂芬·霍金是剑桥大学的数学教授。由第二段最后一句“And yet this man is Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, a position held by the famous scientist Isaac Newton in 1669. ”可知，霍金是剑桥大学的数学教授，牛顿在1669年也曾担任这一职位。所以本题叙述正确，故选A。
单选题
A Brief History of Time is very difficult for students to understand.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 本句意思：《时间简史》对于学生来说很难读懂。由文章第三段中的“he is also known as the man who made scientific theory understandable. His book,
A Brief History of Time
，has sold over eight million copies”可知，霍金将晦涩难懂的科学理论变得浅显易懂，《时间简史》卖出八百多万册，销量很好。所以霍金的书应该是很好读懂的。题干叙述错误。故选B。
单选题
Stephen Hawking has much time to think because he doesn"t have to do any other work.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 本句意思：史蒂芬-霍金有很多时间思考，因为他不需要做其他的工作。由文章第四段中的“he does not have to think about his body or do any of the things other men have to worry about, such as washing the car or working in the yard, he can dedicate all of his time to thinking”可知，霍金不必做一些其他人需要做的日常琐事，他可以全身心的投入思考当中。题干叙述正确，故选A。
单选题
Stephen Hawking has spent around ten years explaining the secrets of "black holes".
单选题
The Theory of Everything is about the rules that everything in our universe must follow.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析] 本句意思：万物理论是宇宙中的一切事物都需要遵循的规则。根据文章第五段对万物理论的解释“Now he is looking for a set of rules that everything in our universe must obey. He calls it the Theory of Everything. ”可知，霍金现在正在探索宇宙间万物都需要遵循的规则，他把这个理论称为万物理论。题干叙述正确，故选A。