Will there ever be another Einstein? This is the undercurrent of conversation at Einstein memorial meetings throughout the year. A new Einstein will emerge, scientists say. But it may take a long time. After all, more than 200 years separated Einstein from his nearest rival, Isaac Newton. Many physicists say the next Einstein hasn’t been born yet, or is a baby now. That’s because the quest for a unified theory that would account for all the forces of nature has pushed current mathematics to its limits. New math must be created before the problem can be solved. But researchers say there are many other factors working against another Einstein emerging anytime soon. For one thing, physics is a much different field today. In Einstein’s day, there were only a few thousand physicists worldwide, and the theoreticians who could intellectually rival Einstein probably would fit into a streetcar with seats to spare. Education is different, too. One crucial aspect of Einstein’s training that is overlooked is the years of philosophy he read as a teenager—Kant, Schopenhauer and Spinoza, among others. It taught him how to think independently and abstractly about space and time, and it wasn’t long before he became a philosopher himself. “The independence created by philosophical insight is—in my opinion—the mark of distinction between a mere artisan (工匠) or specialist and a real seeker after truth,” Einstein wrote in 1944. And he was an accomplished musician. The interplay between music and math is well known. Einstein would furiously play his violin as a way to think through a knotty physics problem. Today, universities have produced millions of physicists. There aren’t many jobs in science for them, so they go to Wall Street and Silicon Valley to apply their analytical skills to more practical—and rewarding—efforts. “Maybe there is an Einstein out there today,” said Columbia University physicist Brian Greene, “but it would be a lot harder for him to be heard. ” Especially considering what Einstein was proposing.“The actual fabric of space and time curving? My God, what an idea!” Greene said at a recent gathering at the Aspen Institute. “It takes a certain type of person who will bang his head against the wall because you believe you’ll find the solution.” Perhaps the best examples are the five scientific papers Einstein wrote in his “miracle year” of 1905. These “thought experiments” were pages of calculations signed and submitted to the prestigious journal Annalen der Physik by a virtual unknown. There were no footnotes or citations. What might happen to such a submission today? “We all get papers like those in the mail,” Greene said. “We put them in the junk file.”1. What do scientists seem to agree upon, judging from the first two paragraphs?A Einstein pushed mathematics almost to its limits.B It will take another Einstein to build a unified theory.C No physicist is likely to surpass Einstein in the next 200 years.D It will be some time before a new Einstein emerges.2. What was critical to Einstein’s success?A His talent as an accomplished musician.B His independent and abstract thinking.C His untiring effort to fulfill his potential.D His solid foundation in math theory.3. What does the author tell us about physicists today?A They tend to neglect training in analytical skills.B They are very good at solving practical problems.C They attach great importance to publishing academic papers.D They often go into fields yielding greater financial benefits.4. What does Brian Greene imply by saying “... it would be a lot harder for him to be heard” (Underlined, Para. 9)?A People have to compete in order to get their papers published.B It is hard for a scientist to have his papers published today.C Papers like Einstein’s would unlikely get published today.D Nobody will read papers on apparently ridiculous theories.5 When he submitted his papers in 1905, Einstein ____ .A forgot to make footnotes and citationsB was little known in academic circlesC was known as a young genius in math calculationsD knew nothing about the format of academic papers
Will there ever be another Einstein? This is the undercurrent of conversation at Einstein memorial meetings throughout the year. A new Einstein will emerge, scientists say. But it may take a long time. After all, more than 200 years separated Einstein from his nearest rival, Isaac Newton.
Many physicists say the next Einstein hasn’t been born yet, or is a baby now. That’s because the quest for a unified theory that would account for all the forces of nature has pushed current mathematics to its limits. New math must be created before the problem can be solved.
But researchers say there are many other factors working against another Einstein emerging anytime soon.
For one thing, physics is a much different field today. In Einstein’s day, there were only a few thousand physicists worldwide, and the theoreticians who could intellectually rival Einstein probably would fit into a streetcar with seats to spare.
Education is different, too. One crucial aspect of Einstein’s training that is overlooked is the years of philosophy he read as a teenager—Kant, Schopenhauer and Spinoza, among others. It taught him how to think independently and abstractly about space and time, and it wasn’t long before he became a philosopher himself.
“The independence created by philosophical insight is—in my opinion—the mark of distinction between a mere artisan (工匠) or specialist and a real seeker after truth,” Einstein wrote in 1944.
And he was an accomplished musician. The interplay between music and math is well known. Einstein would furiously play his violin as a way to think through a knotty physics problem.
Today, universities have produced millions of physicists. There aren’t many jobs in science for them, so they go to Wall Street and Silicon Valley to apply their analytical skills to more practical—and rewarding—efforts.
“Maybe there is an Einstein out there today,” said Columbia University physicist Brian Greene, “but it would be a lot harder for him to be heard. ”
Especially considering what Einstein was proposing.
“The actual fabric of space and time curving? My God, what an idea!” Greene said at a recent gathering at the Aspen Institute. “It takes a certain type of person who will bang his head against the wall because you believe you’ll find the solution.”
Perhaps the best examples are the five scientific papers Einstein wrote in his “miracle year” of 1905. These “thought experiments” were pages of calculations signed and submitted to the prestigious journal Annalen der Physik by a virtual unknown. There were no footnotes or citations.
What might happen to such a submission today?
“We all get papers like those in the mail,” Greene said. “We put them in the junk file.”
1. What do scientists seem to agree upon, judging from the first two paragraphs?
A Einstein pushed mathematics almost to its limits.
B It will take another Einstein to build a unified theory.
C No physicist is likely to surpass Einstein in the next 200 years.
D It will be some time before a new Einstein emerges.
2. What was critical to Einstein’s success?
A His talent as an accomplished musician.
B His independent and abstract thinking.
C His untiring effort to fulfill his potential.
D His solid foundation in math theory.
3. What does the author tell us about physicists today?
A They tend to neglect training in analytical skills.
B They are very good at solving practical problems.
C They attach great importance to publishing academic papers.
D They often go into fields yielding greater financial benefits.
4. What does Brian Greene imply by saying “... it would be a lot harder for him to be heard” (Underlined, Para. 9)?
A People have to compete in order to get their papers published.
B It is hard for a scientist to have his papers published today.
C Papers like Einstein’s would unlikely get published today.
D Nobody will read papers on apparently ridiculous theories.
5 When he submitted his papers in 1905, Einstein ____ .
A forgot to make footnotes and citations
B was little known in academic circles
C was known as a young genius in math calculations
D knew nothing about the format of academic papers
题目解答
答案
1. D
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. B
解析
考查要点：
- 主旨理解：文章探讨了“是否会出现新的爱因斯坦”这一问题，分析了当前物理学领域的发展现状及阻碍新天才出现的因素。
- 细节推断：需结合上下文理解科学家观点、爱因斯坦成功的关键因素及现代物理学家的职业选择。
- 隐含含义：通过格雷的比喻句理解其对学术发表环境的批评，以及爱因斯坦1905年论文的特殊性。
解题核心：
- 定位关键句：通过问题关键词（如“unified theory”“education”“physicists today”）快速定位相关段落。
- 逻辑关系：注意因果关系（如“新数学未被创造→无法解决统一理论”）和对比（如爱因斯坦时代与现代物理学界的差异）。
第1题
关键句：
- 第一段末尾：“A new Einstein will emerge, scientists say. But it may take a long time.”
- 第二段：“The quest for a unified theory... has pushed current mathematics to its limits. New math must be created before the problem can be solved.”
结论：科学家认为新爱因斯坦会出现，但需时间（数学未突破）。选项D（“还需要一段时间”）正确。
第2题
关键句：
- 第四段：“One crucial aspect of Einstein’s training... taught him how to think independently and abstractly about space and time.”
- 第五段引文：“philosophical insight... mark of distinction between a mere artisan and a real seeker after truth.”
结论：独立抽象思维是成功关键，选项B正确。
第3题
关键句：
- 第八段：“Today, universities have produced millions of physicists... apply their analytical skills to more practical—and rewarding—efforts.”
结论：物理学家转向高薪领域（如华尔街、硅谷），选项D正确。
第4题
关键句：
- 第九段：“Maybe there is an Einstein out there today... but it would be a lot harder for him to be heard.”
- 第十一段：“What might happen to such a submission today? ‘We all get papers like those in the mail... put them in the junk file.’”
结论：格雷暗示爱因斯坦的论文现在会被视为垃圾，选项C正确。
第5题
关键句：
- 第十二段：“These ‘thought experiments’ were pages of calculations signed and submitted... by a virtual unknown.”
结论：爱因斯坦当时名不见经传，选项B正确。