Meet the scientist who's trying to travel back in time

題材 體裁 文章詞數 難度 建議用時社會 記敘文 351 ★★★ 7 分鐘

難詞探意

1. stumble /?st?mbl/ v. 跌跌撞撞地走

2. loop /lu?p/ n. 環;回路

3. ponder /?p?nd?(r)/ v. 沉思；考慮

When Ron Mallett was 10, his beloved father died suddenly of a heart attack, which changed the track of his life forever. For years he's been working to fulfill his dream of venturing back in time to see his beloved father again.

About a year after his father's death, a grieving Mallettstumbledacross an illustrated version of the classic sci-fiThe Time Machine. Sixty years later, Mallett became a professor of physics at the University of Connecticut. He's spent his career investigating black holes and general relativity, the theories of space, time and gravity famously explored by Albert Einstein. Mallett first encountered the concept of time travel back in the 1950s. After a couple of years of applying mathematical theories in this practical setting, he joined the University of Connecticut as an assistant professor of physics. He imagined that by twisting time into aloop, one could travel from the future back to the past, and then back to the future. He created a prototype (原型) illustrating how lasers could be used to create a circulating beam of light that twists space and time.It turned out that his understanding about lasers helped him in his breakthrough with understanding how he might be able to find a whole new way for the basis of a time machine.

But when Mallett began speaking openly about his ideas, he found people struck a chord with many others. Serious criticism of Mallett's theory was voiced in 2005. His job was also threatened.Mallett was quick to clarify that his ideas were theoretical. He relished explaining concepts about time travel through cinematic examples.

While his desire to go back to the 1950s isn't anywhere closer to a reality, he remains optimistic,and continues toponderpossibilities.

“The idea that I will actually be able to see my father on the big screen will almost be like bringing him back to life for me,” said Mallett, poignantly.

“While not everyone agrees that his planned device would work, I think it's an interesting enough proposition to go for an experimental trial,” said Brian Clegg，a British science writer.

Reading Check

1. Why does the author mention Ron Mallett's father's death in paragraph 1?

A. To describe what Ron Mallett experienced.

B. To show how deeply Ron Mallett loved his father.

C. To tell why Ron Mallett decided to travel back in time.

D. To illustrate what profession Ron Mallett would choose.

2. What can be inferred from paragraph 2?

A. Ron Mallett got rid of sorrow not long after his father's death.

B. Ron Mallett managed to invent his time machine depending on lasers.

C. Ron Mallett has been working in the University of Connecticut for 60 years.

D. Ron Mallett was inspired by Albert Einstein's theory of space, time and gravity.

3. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A. The situation of Ron Mallett's experiment.

B. The process and principle of his invention.

C. Ron Mallett's challenge and his countermeasure.

D. Ron Mallett's determination to realize his dream.

4. What is Brian Clegg's attitude towards Ron Mallett's effort?

A. Favorable. B. Neutral. C. Objective. D. Opposing.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

It turned out that his understanding about lasers helped him in his breakthrough with understanding how he might be able to find a whole new way for the basis of a time machine.

【信息提取】It turns out that...意為“結果是……；證明是……”，其中it是形式主語，代替that引導的主語從句。

【句式仿寫】結果證明，邁克是個不靠譜的人。