A
Hawking died early Wednesday at his home in England at the age of 76. Throughout his career as one of the world's most recognizable cosmic (宇宙的) thinkers, he regularly threw himself into pop culture's comedic ring with cameos(客串)on programs such as The Simpsons and Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
These appearances defined(使明确)Hawking's personal life as much as his universe－shaking theoretical work. Humor, however, was not just one side of his personality, but a key to overcoming the disease he struggled against since 1963.
“Keeping an active mind has been vital to my survival, as has been maintaining a sense of humor，” Hawking said in a 2013 documentary. “I am probably better known for my appearances on The Simpsons and on The Big Bang Theory than I am for my scientific discoveries.”
At 21, Hawking was diagnosed with a condition similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(肌萎缩性侧索硬化症), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. According to the ALS Association, “Half of all people affected with ALS live at most three or more years after diagnosis. Twenty percent live five years or more; only ten percent will live more than ten years.”
The disease would eventually shut down Hawking's motor functions, making him speechless and unable to move without a wheelchair. Doctors initially(最初) said he would be dead in two years. His condition, however, proved to be a rare slow－acting version.
But Hawking fought through his worse physical state, rising to a position as a celebrated professor of mathematical at the University of Cambridge and altering the popular conception of physics with his 1988 bestseller, A Brief History of Time.
“When I turned 21, my expectations were reduced to zero，” he said in a TV show. He added, “It was important that I came to appreciate what I did have. It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can lose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general.”
文章大意：本文是一篇记叙文。主要介绍了英国著名的科学家霍金性格幽默且意志坚定，积极面对稀有疾病，最终成为了世人敬仰的伟大科学家。
1．What was Hawking like according to the text？__B__
A．He was kind and brave.
B．He was humorous and strong－minded.
C．He was friendly and adventurous.
D．He was shy and uncommunicative.
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句“Humor, however, was not just one side of his personality, but a key to overcoming the disease he struggled against since 1963.”可知霍金非常幽默。根据倒数第二段“But Hawking fought through his worse physical state, rising to a position as a celebrated professor of mathematical at the University of Cambridge”可知霍金勇敢地和肌萎缩性侧索硬化症做斗争，说明他意志坚定。故B项正确。
2．How did Hawking deal with ALS？__C__
A．He did further research into the disease.
B．He did more exercise and spoke a lot with others.
C．He kept a positive attitude towards his disease.
D．He went to hospital to have a health check regularly.
解析：推理判断题。根据文章最后一句“It was important that I came to appreciate what I did have. It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can lose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general.”可知虽然霍金并没有对生活失去希望，而是微笑面对一切困难。说明他对待生活的态度很积极。故C项正确。
3．What can we know from the text？__D__
A．ALS is a common disease in England.
B．Doctors once gave up treatment for Hawking.
C．Playing roles in comedy was Hawking's favorite.
D．It's almost a wonder that Hawking can survive the disease.
解析：推理判断题。根据第四段最后两句According to the ALS Association, “Half of all people affected with ALS live at most three or more years after diagnosis. Twenty percent live five years or more; only ten percent will live more than ten years.”可知患有肌萎缩性侧索硬化症的人很少能够活过10年以上，而霍金在21岁就患上此病，直到76岁才去世，这的确是一个奇迹。故D项正确。
4．What can be learnt from the story of Hawking？__B__
A．Lost time is never found again.
B．Laughter is the best medicine.
C．Everything comes to him who waits.
D．A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
解析：推理判断题。根据第二段最后一句“Humor, however, was not just one side of his personality, but a key to overcoming the disease he struggled against since 1963.”可知幽默不仅仅是霍金的性格，也是它战胜肌萎缩性侧索硬化症的关键。充分说明笑对健康的积极作用。B项“笑是最好的药物”。符合文章内容。故选择B项。
