1. Name

• Full name: Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie

• Known as: Marie Curie

2. Personal Information

• Born: November 7, 1867, Warsaw, Poland

• Died: July 4, 1934, Passy, France

• Nationality: Polish-French

3. Family Background

• Youngest of five children

• Father: Władysław Skłodowski (teacher of math & physics)

• Mother: Bronisława Boguska (teacher & headmistress)

• Married Pierre Curie (physicist)

• Children: Irène (Nobel Prize winner), Ève (writer)

4. Major Events in Life

• Studied in secret because women weren’t allowed at universities in Poland

• Moved to Paris, studied at the Sorbonne (University of Paris)

• Met Pierre Curie and married in 1895

• Discovered two new elements: polonium and radium

• Won two Nobel Prizes (Physics in 1903, Chemistry in 1911)

• Developed mobile X-ray units during World War I

5. Lifetime Accomplishments

• First woman to win a Nobel Prize

• Only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences

• Pioneered research on radioactivity

• Inspired future generations of women in science

6. Impact on Society

• Opened the door for women in science

• Her discoveries revolutionized physics, chemistry, and medicine

• Legacy: Curie Institutes in Paris and Warsaw (leading medical research centers)

• Symbol of perseverance, dedication, and scientific brilliance

Thesis Statement (Main Idea)

Marie Curie’s groundbreaking discoveries in radioactivity and her trailblazing role as a woman in science transformed the fields of physics and chemistry, while leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire scientists today.

EXERCISE 2:

True / False / Not Given It is not known exactly when Beethoven was born. → True (“Beethoven was born on or near December 16, 1770…” – suggests uncertainty.)

Beethoven suffered cruelty at the hands of his father. → True (“…flogged, locked in the cellar and deprived of sleep…”)

Beethoven was denied hours of sleep as a punishment for poor performance. → False (He was deprived of sleep for extra hours of practice, not as punishment.) Beethoven’s father was also a talented musician. → Not Given (The passage says the father taught him music but doesn't mention his talent.)

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 was inspired by a famous man. → True (Inspired by Napoleon, a famous figure.)

In the early 1800’s Beethoven struggled to follow a conversation. → True (“…at the turn of the century, Beethoven struggled to make out the words spoken to him in conversation.”)