填空题 The curious youngster, the crack student who gets nothing (31) A's in math and sciences, the bright and inventive whiz kid who frightens his or her schoolmates, sometimes becomes an inventor that the world will honor forever for devising an important machine, improving an old process, or making a major breakthrough (32) the search for the cure for some disease.
It is rare nowadays to see one person alone invent something entirely new and startling. More (33) a number of researchers are working (34) a problem that has been studied by others for some time; a pioneer has (35) the groundwork, probably, and his or her successors are building on it, step by step.
Scientists, engineers, and technicians are a competitive lot; they often have a clear idea (36) what is afoot in (37) others' laboratories, and they do their (38) to beat their rivals to the final glorious discovery.
Some inventors are neither scientists not trained technicians: they are merely tinkerers who play (39) an idea, working in a amateurish way but with great imagination and skill. While they tinker, they might stumble, entirely by chance, upon some major fact (40) they had not at all expected. The faculty of making such lucky (41) unplanned discoveries is called serendipity. (42) the word "serendipity" nor the occurrence that is expressed are very common. Usually discoveries are the fruit of hard work and obstinate, dogged perseverance. Thomas Edison, who (43) the electric light bulb and the phonograph(among other things)said that genius, which brings discoveries, is 10 (44) inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.
It is not enough to announce one's invention to the world, (45) we have seen in the case of young Imogen Cunningham. The inventor should protect his (46) her brainchild against pirates who (47) steal the idea and make practical (48) of it. To establish ownership and rights, the wise inventor (49) to the Patent Office for a patent of invention. If someone infringes (50) inventor can appeal to the courts. The litigation may be slow, but it is usually thorough.