I first met Einstein2 in 1926. The great scientist had been invited to California3 to lecture.
I received a telephone call from Universal studios,4 saying that Professor Einstein would like to meet me; I was so thrilled I gladly accepted the invitation. So we met at the Universal studios for lunch, the Professor, his wife, his secretary and his Assistant Professor.5 Mrs Einstein spoke English very well, in fact better than the Professor. She was extremely proud of him and frankly enjoyed being the wife of the great physicist. She did not even try to hide the fact.
After lunch, while Einstein was being shown around the studio, Mrs Einstein took me aside and whispered: "Why don't you invite the Professor to your house? I know he will be delighted to have a nice quiet chat with just ourselves." It was to be a small affair, and I invited only two other friends. At dinner she told me the story of the morning when the theory of relativity first came to his mind.
"The Doctor6 came down in his dressing-gown as usual for breakfast but he hardly touched a thing. I thought something was wrong so I asked what was troubling him. 'Darling!' he said, 'I have a wonderful idea.' And after drinking his coffee, he went to the piano and started playing. Now and again he stopped, reached for his pencil, made a few notes, then repeated: 'I've got a wonderful idea, a marvelous7 ideal' "I said: 'What's the matter with you? Why don't you tell me what it is?'
"He said, 'I can't tell you yet. I still have to work it out.'"
She told me he continued playing the piano and making notes for half an hour, then he went upstairs to his study, telling her that he did not want anyone to disturb him, and remained there for two weeks.
"Each day I sent him up his meals," she said, "and in the evening he walked a little for exercise,8 then returned to his work again."
"At last," she said, "he appeared looking very pale and tired. In his hand he held two sheets of paper. 'That's it!' he told me, putting the sheets of paper on the table. And that was his theory of relativity."
(Adapted)
NOTES
1. Charles Spencer Chaplin, an American actor and film director, was born in 1889 in a poor family in the London East End and at an early age became famous all over the world as a comedian. His most famous films are "A Dog's Life", "The Kid", "The Gold Rush", "City Lights", "Modern Times", and "Limelight". He died in 1977.
2. Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, a great man of science, made famous by his theories of relativity. He was born in Ulm, Germany; received a Nobel prize in physics in 1921, for his work in quantum theory. In 1933 he had to leave his country because of the nazis; he went to the USA where he became a professor at Princeton University.
3. California: the most important of the Pacific States, USA, its capital is Sacramento. The state has several universities.
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4. Universal studios: the Universal Film studios in Hollywood.
5. Assistant Professor (AmE): (BrE) Senior Lecturer
6. Doctor: the highest degree given by a university; eg Doctor of (Medicine, Law, etc
7. marvelous (AmE): (BrE) marvellous. It should be noted that there are certain differences in spelling usage between American and British English. Compare:
| AmE: | traveler; | dialog; | color; | BrE: | traveller; | dialogue; | colour; |
| neighbor; | theater; | defense; | neighbour; | theatre; | defence; | ||
| organize, | etc. | organise, | etc. |
8. exercise: In this meaning the noun is uncountable.
VOCABULARY
discover vt 1. , discover an island (a new continent; a new deposit of oil, coal, gold, etc); 2. ; discover a mistake (the truth, facts, etc) We discovered that it was too late to catch the train; discovery n Phr make a discovery
law n 1. ; Laws tell people what they must do and what they must not do. Phr observe (break) the law () ; 2. , international law, law of nations ; law merchant ; 3. ( ) study law; a law department; a law student
first adv 1. , When did you first meet him (= When did you meet him for the first time)? Phr at first , I didn't like the place at first; 2. , First we shall have lunch and then talk. Phr first of all ,
scientist n ; science n ; scientific
invite vt invite sb to dinner (one's house, a conference, the cinema, etc); He invited me to take part in the experiment.
receive vt 1. receive a letter (an invitation, an answer; money, news, etc); 2. (-) receive a visitor (delegation, guest, etc); reception n 1. ; 2. , Phr hold a reception
accept vt , () accept help (money, a plan, an offer, a suggestion, an invitation; prices, etc); acceptance . ; ; (un)acceptable ( The price for the goods is acceptable to us.
proud a proud man (look, etc) Phr be proud of sb (sth) He is proud of his son; pride n Phr take pride in sb (sth) - (-)
frank , , a frank face (look, smile, etc) Phr be frank with sb () -; frankly adv Phr frankly speaking
hide vt/vi (hid, hidden) (), () hide a letter (a book; one's feelings; the truth; a person, etc); What is he hiding from us? Where is she hiding?
whisper vi/vt , You don't have to whisper, say it out loud; whisper sth in sb's ear; whisper n Phr in a whisper
affair n ; Don't discuss your personal affairs with strangers. Phr international affairs ; home (domestic) affairs ; public affairs ; Ministry of Foreign Affairs ; Ministry of Home Affairs
hardly adv 1. , was so tired that he could hardly move; 2. , ; , This is hardly the truth. She hardly ever goes visiting now.
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touch vt 1. , , didn't let anybody touch his books. He touched me on the shoulder (arm). She hasn't even touched the food; 2. (), () Her sad story touched us deeply; touchy She is very touchy; touching a a touching story (incident, episode, etc)
trouble vt/vi (), () What is troubling you? Don't trouble about it; trouble n ; is having a lot of trouble with his car. Phr be in trouble ; get into trouble ; get sb out of trouble - ; give trouble
reach vt/vi 1. ; () reach home (school, the Institute, a town, the station, etc); The news reached them on the next day. He has reached good results. Phr reach an agreement ; His words reached my ears; 2. , () Can you reach the ceiling? Phr reach for sth -
disturb vt , Don't disturb him when he is at work.
remain vi After the fire very little remained of the house. He remained unchanged (unhurt, etc). Phr It remains to be seen. .
appear vi 1. appeared quite unexpectedly; 2. , Many new towns have appeared in the North of our country; 3. , ; ( ) When did this newspaper first appear?
disappear vi ; appearance n 1. ; ; 2. , His appearance was very unusual.
hold vt (held) 1. ( ) hold a bag (a book, newspaper, cigarette, etc); 2. , , (, ) Phr hold first (second, etc) place(in sth) , ( . .) ( -); 3. (, . .) hold a meeting (conference, competition, exhibition, etc)
WORD COMBINATIONS
I'd (he'd, etc) = I would (he would, etc) like (to do sth) ( . .) (- )
show sb around (about) (a factory, a place, a town, etc) - ( . .)
take sb aside , -
be delighted (with sb/sth) , (-/-)
now and again = now and then ,
make notes
work sth out 1. , -; 2. -
that's it ( ) ;
EXERCISES
COMPREHENSION
