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1、ENGLISH FOR GRADUATE STUDENTSScienceSpace and TimeAbout the BookA Brief History of Time is a popular science book written by Stephen Hawking and first published by the Bantam Dell Publishing Group in 1988. It became a best-seller and has sold more than 9 million copies. It was also on the London Sun
2、day Times best-seller list for more than four years.“A Brief History of Time”, published in 1988, has been a landmark volume in scientific writing and in worldwide acclaim and popularity, with more than nine million copies sold. That edition was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the n
3、ature of the universe. Since its publication, however, there have been extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro- and the macrocosmic world, confirming many of Professor Hawkings predictions. Eager to bring to his original text the new knowledge revealed by these observati
4、ons, Hawking has written a new introduction, updated chapters throughout, and added an entirely new chapter on Wormholes and Time Travel.Book ReviewStephen William Hawking, (born 8 January 1942) is a British theoretical physicist. He is known for his contributions to the fields of cosmology and quan
5、tum gravity, especially in the context of black holes. He has also achieved success with works of popular science in which he discusses his own theories and cosmology in general; these include the runaway best seller A Brief History of Time, which stayed on the British Sunday Times bestsellers list
6、for a record-breaking 237 weeks.Hawkings key scientific works to date have included providing, with Roger Penrose, theorems regarding singularities in the framework of general relativity, and the theoretical prediction that black holes should emit radiation, which is today known as Hawking radiation
7、 (or sometimes as Bekenstein-Hawking radiation). He is a world-renowned theoretical physicist whose scientific career spans over 40 years. His books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a lifetime member of the Pontifi
8、cal Academy of Science. On August 12, 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.The World Tree is a motif present in several religions and mythologies, particularly Indo-European religions. The world tree is represented as a colossal tree
9、 which supports the heavens, thereby connecting the heavens, the earth, and, through its roots, the underground. It may also be strongly connected to the motif of the tree of life.Specific World Trees include the one in Hungarian mythology, Yggdrasil (or Irminsul) in Norse mythology, the Oak in Slav
10、ic and Finnish mythology, and in Hinduism the Ashvastha (a Sacred Fig).E.g. 1) I found the experience quite bewildering. 我觉得这次经历令人相当困惑。 2) Changes in society are happening so fast, they sometimes seem bewildering. 社会发展的太快，他们有时候看得都有些眼花缭乱了。 3) Sammy stood rooted to the ground, bewildered by all that w
11、as happening around him, and wouldnt come although we called and called. 萨米站着发呆，周围所发生的一切把他搞糊涂了，虽然 我们又喊又叫但他也不愿过来。1. bewildering confusing, especially because there are too many choices or things happening at the same time 让人困惑的, 令人费解的；使人眼花缭乱的E.g. 1) The war brought infinite harm to the nation. 战争给这个国
12、家带来了无穷的灾难。 2) The universe seems infinite. 宇宙似乎是无限的。 3) She was a woman of seemingly infinite patience. 她似乎是那种有着无穷耐心的女性。2. infinitelimitless or endless in space, extent, or size; impossible to measure or calculate无限的，无穷的E.g. 1) They attempted to placate the students with promises. 他们试图以许诺来安抚学生。 2) H
13、e is a man who doesnt know how to appreciate favors. The more you creep and crawl trying to placate him, the more pleasure he gets in taking it out on you. 他是个不识抬举的人。你越是对他俯首贴耳，竭力安 抚他，他就越要把气往你身上撒，好使他更开心。3. placatemake (someone) less angry or hostile 平息；安抚E.g. 1) They have discounted the rumours. 他们不信
14、那些谣传。 2) His information is not to be discounted. 他的消息不可不重视。 3) Scientists discounted his method of predicting earthquakes. 科学家不相信他预测地震的方法4. discountto regard something as unlikely to be true or important 对（可能性，事实，人）不全信，对不予考虑 E.g. 1) His theory postulated a rotatory movement for hurricanes. 其理论假定飓风是
15、旋转运动的。 2) He postulated that the environmentalists might have a case. 他认定环境主义者可能会有这种情况。 3) Lets postulate that she is a cook. 我们假定她是一位厨师。5. postulateto suggest that something might have happened or be true 假定为真，视为当然E.g. 1) Geographers study the configuration of the mountains. 地理学家研究山脉的地形轮廓。 2) The b
16、road configuration of the economy remains capitalist. 经济制度的大致结构保持资本主义不变。 3) Something resembling this structure in configuration or pattern. 蜂窝状物在外形或结构上类似这种构造的东西6. configurationthe shape or arrangement of the parts of somethingE.g. 1) She confined her activities in educational circles. 她把她的各项活动都限制在教育圈内。 2) She confine
