Alfred Nobel, Founder of the Nobel Prizes

阿爾弗雷德•諾貝爾—諾貝爾獎的創始人

（選自《英語閱讀大觀》第三部 名人故事）

在世界科學史上，有這樣一位科學家：他不僅把自己的畢生精力全部貢獻給了科學事業，而且還在身后留下遺囑，把自己的遺產全部捐獻給科學事業，用以獎掖后人，向科學的高峰努力攀登。今天，以他的名字命名的科學獎，已經成為舉世矚目的最高科學大獎。他的名字和人類在科學探索中取得的成就一道，永遠地留在了人類社會發展的文明史冊上。這位偉大的科學家，就是世人皆知的瑞典化學家、諾貝爾獎的創立人阿爾弗雷德·諾貝爾。

諾貝爾獎頒發給在物理，化學，醫學，文學，和平和經濟六個領域中成就最突出的人。

 Some names have become famous because they are always connected with important things. One of these names is that of Alfred Nobel, who founded the famous Nobel Prizes.

Nobel was born in Sweden in 1833. He became an engineer and an inventor. He was particularly interested in explosives. These were very dangerous in those days, and Nobel's own brother was killed in an explosion in their factory.

In 1867, Nobel invented dynamite. This was a very powerful explosive, but unlike the others it was safe to handle. The invention made Nobel a very wealthy man.

However, he was never particularly happy. He realized that his invention was being used for warlike purposes, and that thousands and perhaps hundreds of thousands of people were being killed and injured in wars with his explosives.

When he died in 1896, he left over 3 million pounds to be spent setting up five prizes each year. These prizes were to be given to people who had made outstanding contributions to peace, to science, and to literature. Originally there were five rewards: literature, physics, chemistry, medicine and peace. Economics was added in 1968, just sixty-seven years after the first award ceremony.

These Nobel Prizes became famous and because of them we still remember the name of Nobel.

Comprehension Questions:

1. People became famous because ______

A. they founded Nobel Prizes.

B. their names were important.

C. they had something to do with important things.

D. they had heard about important things.

2. It was the founding of Nobel Prizes that ______

A. made Alfred Nobel particularly famous.

B. caused Alfred's brother death in an explosion in a factory.

C. made Alfred become an engineer and inventor.

D. made Alfred particularly interested in explosives.

3. Dynamite differs from other explosives in that ______

A. it is less powerful and safe to handle.

B. it is more powerful but less safe to handle.

C. it is both powerful and safe.

D. it won't kill people.

4. Rich as he was, Alfred Nobel was never particularly happy because ______

A. his dynamite was not safe enough.

B. his explosives were being used in wars.

C. his brother was killed by the explosives invented by him.

D. he had killed hundreds of thousands of people with explosives.

5. Those who had made outstanding contributions to peace, to science and to literature ______

A. could get three million pounds.

B. were given five prizes each year.

C. could see Alfred Nobel himself.

D. could receive Nobel Prizes.

(Answers: CACBD)

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