UNIT 2B
ALBERT EINSTEIN Before you read the biographical notes, answer these questions.
• Albert Einstein is famous for a number of reasons. Can you mention any of them? • What is his best-known accomplishment? • Look at his photo. How would you describe his appearance? READING
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The 20th century produced many great minds. Albert Einstein clearly stands out as the greatest of all. The name of this absent-minded professor with piercing eyes, wild hair, an extraordinary, brilliant mind and engaging humanity became a synonym for genius. Time magazine named him as the Person of the Century at the end of 1999. Einstein, (born in Germany in 1879, died in the USA in 1955) developed the theory of relativity which became a basis for spectacular technological developments in many fields, including gravitation and the study of the cosmos.
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In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics. In 1933, he went to the United States where he spent his later years. Now you are going to read a true anecdote about Albert Einstein and his theory of relativity.
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EINSTEIN’S CHAUFFEUR
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Albert Einstein used to tour the various Universities in the United States, giving lectures on his famous theory wherever he went. He was always accompanied by his faithful chauffeur, Harry, who attended each of these lectures and sat in the back row. One fine day, while Einstein was getting into his car after finishing a lecture, Harry said to him, “Professor Einstein, I’ve heard your lecture on Relativity so many times. If I ever have the opportunity, I will be able to deliver it perfectly myself!” “Very well,” replied Einstein, “I’m going to visit Dartmouth next week. They don’t know me there. You can be Einstein and give the lecture, and I’ll be Harry!”
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And that is what happened. Harry gave the lecture perfectly, while Einstein sat in the driver’s uniform in the back row pretending to be his chauffeur and enjoying a snooze for a change. Just as Harry was walking off the stage, however, one of the students stopped him and began to ask him a question on the theory of relativity.... one that involved a lot of complex calculations and equations. Harry replied, “The answer to this question is very simple! In fact, it’s so simple that I’m going to let my chauffeur answer it!”
