Stephen Hawking was one of the most famous scientists in this century. He was born in 1942. He's a world well-known on space and time. Stephen is researching some very big questions, such as: How did the universe begin? How will it end?

Stephen was a student at Oxford University. He studied math and science. Then, at the age of twenty, he became sick. He was so young, but the doctors said to his family, “He has only two more years to live.” As a matter of fact, the doctors were wrong—- he didn't die. He can't walk now but he uses a wheelchair(轮椅). He can't feed himself and get in or out of bed himself. But he refused to give in to the condition. He talks with the help of a computer. After Oxford, Stephen went to Cambridge University. Three years later, in 1965, he became a doctor of philosophy(哲学).

    Because of his serious health problems, it was difficult for him to draw diagrams(图表)or to write. So he started to think in pictures. With this new way of thinking, he became one of the most famous scientists in the world. In 1991, he met the Pope(教皇) in Rome. They talked about his ideas. Then in 1998, he wrote his first important book, A Brief History of Time. It sold more than 5.5 million copies in 33 different languages. He was once invited to China, he impressed us with his self-confidence, humorous and witty(风趣的) conversation.

It must have been around nine O'clock when I drove back home from work because it was already dark. As I came near to the gates I turned off the headlamps of the car so as to prevent the beam(光)from swinging in through the window and waking Jack, who shared the house with me. But needn't have done so, I noticed that his light was still on, so he was awake anyway— unless he had fallen asleep while reading. I put the car away and went up the steps. Then I opened the door quietly and went to Jack's room. He was in bed awake but he didn't even turn towards me.

    "What's up, Jack?" I said.

    "For God's sake(看在上帝面上), don't make a noise," he said.

    The way he spoke reminded me of someone in pain who is afraid to talk in case he does himself a serious injury(伤害).

    "Take your shoes off, Neville," Jack said.

    I thought that he must be ill and that I had better humour (迁就)him to keep him happy, "There's a snake here" he explained, "It's asleep between the sheets. I was lying on my back reading when I saw it. I knew that moving was out of the question. I couldn't have moved even if I'd wanted to." I realized that he was serious. "I was relying on you to call a doctor as soon as you came home." Jack went on." It hasn't bitten me yet but I daren't do anything to upset it. It might wake up. I'm sick of this," he said," I took it for granted that you would have come home an hour ago."

    There was no time to argue or apologize for being late. I looks at him as encouragingly as I could and went out to telephone the doctor.

    Jim is a young farmer. He was once put into prison(监狱).

    One day, he got a letter from his mother. "I'm so worried about our farm, "she wrote." It's time to plant potatoes. I can't dig(挖)all the fields(田地)by myself."

    Jim read the letter and became sad. "What can I do?" he thought. Then he had a good idea. He wrote to his mother, "Don't dig the fields. There is much money in the earth. Don't plant potatoes until I come home."

    Some days later, Jim got another letter from his mother. It said, "Two days ago, about ten men came to our farm and dug all the fields. I can't understand it. It seemed that they were looking for something. What should I do?"

    Jim smiled when he read his mother's letter. He wrote a letter to his mother at once. It was very short. Guess what it would say.