Passage 2
Every year, when the Nobel Prizes are announced there is a great deal of publicity about the winners. They are interviewed and articles are written about them. This is because winning the Nobel Prize is considered by most people the highest honor that can be achieved in certain particular fields of work such as chemistry, physics, medicine, and literature. There is also a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for efforts on behalf of peace.
The curious thing about these prizes is that they were started by a man who did a great deal to help the science of destruction! Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm and lived from 1833 to 1896. Among the things which he invented and patented were dynamite, blasting gelatin (more powerful than dynamite), and a new kind of detonator for explosives.
It may be that having created such deadly explosives, Nobel felt a need to do something "noble" for the world. He was interested in establishing peace, and had a plan he thought would prevent war. By the way, besides being a brilliant scientist, Nobel was also a poet. He thought that literature and science were the most important factors in human progress.
When he died, Nobel left a fund of $9 000 000. The money was to be used in giving prizes to those who made outstanding contributions in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and the advancement of world peace. The prizes averaged about $40 000 each, and were first awarded on December 10, 1901, the anniversary of Nobel.s death.
Since Nobel was a Swede, the Nobel Foundation of Sweden distributed the awards. The organizations selected to determine the winners were: for physics and chemistry, the Royal Academy of Science in Stockholm; for medicine, the Caroline Institute of Stockholm; for literature, the Swedish Academy of Literature; for peace, a committee of five persons chosen by the Norwegian Parliament.
6. What is curious about Nobel Prize?
A. It was started by a man who was a Swede.
B. Its founder is a man with a bad reputation.
C. It was started by a man who helped the development of the science of destruction.
D. Its money was from a scientist.
7. According to the passage, what.s the meaning of "destruction"?
A. instruction
B. destroying
C. stopping
D. breaking out
8. Why did the Nobel Foundation of Sweden distribute the awards?
A. Because Nobel was a Swede.
B. Because Sweden is famous for Nobel.
C. Because the Nobel Foundation of Sweden is located in Sweden.
D. Because Nobel wanted it to do this.
9. Why did Nobel decide to set up this prize?
A. He had too much money.
B. He though he had done more deadly explosives.
C. He wanted to be famous after he died.
D. He was interested in establishing peace.
10. Why were the prizes first awarded on December 10, 1901?
A. It was the anniversary of Nobel.s birth.
B. There was no special reason,
C. Noble arranged it when he was alive.
D. In order to memorize Nobel.
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