Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking is a renowned physicist. He is known for his research on black holes and for writing books on the universe and space. He has studied and worked on the basic laws that govern the universe.
Hawking was born in Oxford, England. He was curious and eager to know how things worked. As a child, he would often detach or separate the parts of a clock or a radio in order to find out how these gadgets worked. Although he didn't get very good grades, people around him knew that he had a mind of a genius. He showed interest in science and space. Hawking later went to Cambridge to research cosmology, which is the study of the universe. His teachers, and even he himself, realized that he excelled in this field without much effort. Unfortunately, around the age of 21, he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a disease that causes loss of control of the voluntary muscles. Hawking was heartbroken and used to wonder why this happened to him. But when he looked around him, he realized that there were people who were even worse than him. He was determined to not let ALS stop him from trying to realize his dreams and aspirations. Even though doctors did not expect him to live for long, at least not long enough to complete his research, he did not give up hope. He not only completed his research but also delved into new areas of research.
As the years passed, his condition worsened. He became less mobile. His speech became slurred, and eventually, he couldn't speak at all. Although he now used a wheelchair and a speech-generating device, he did not give up. With support from his family and with sheer perseverance, he continued with his research.
Hawking went on to author A Brief History of Time, which brought him worldwide acclaim. Some of his other books include A Briefer History of Time, The Universe in a Nutshell, The Grand Design, and On the Shoulders of Giants. He and his daughter, Lucy Hawking, also authored George's Secret Key to the Universe, which aims to explain the universe to young children. Hawking has several awards and distinctions to his credit, such as the Pius XI Gold Medal for Science, Albert Einstein Award, Hughes Medal from the Royal Society, and Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also has 12 honorary degrees. Hawking made several television appearances. In 2014, the movie The Theory of Everything, depicting his life, was released.
Hawking, though severely disabled, has been highly successful in his scientific research. He has traveled to distant places on Earth, been on a submarine, and has even experienced a zero-gravity flight. His disability did not prevent him from doing what he wanted to do in his life.
Which two sentences convey the main idea of paragraph 2?
o Hawking was intelligent and did not make much effort to excel in his studies.
o Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable, degenerative muscular condition.
o Hawking was born in England and studied at Cambridge.
o Hawking showed lifelong dedication to studying the universe.
o Hawking pursued his research in spite of his disability.