Marie Curie and Radioactivity
Written by Studio AM.
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Marie Curie was born in Poland in 1867, when women there had few opportunities to attend university. Determined to learn, she moved to Paris to study science. Money was scarce, and she combined demanding studies with a very modest daily life.
In Paris she met and married the physicist Pierre Curie. Henri Becquerel's discovery of radiation from uranium inspired her research. She investigated how certain materials released energy without being heated or lit, and used the name radioactivity for this property. Working together, Marie and Pierre identified two previously unknown elements: polonium, named after her homeland, and radium.
In 1903, Marie and Pierre shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Becquerel. Marie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. In 1911 she received the chemistry prize for work on polonium and radium. Winning prizes in two scientific fields was a remarkable feat, reflecting the importance of both the physical and chemical questions she studied.
Yet knowledge of radiation's hazards lagged behind its scientific uses. Prolonged exposure could seriously damage health, and early laboratory protection was limited. The work took a physical toll on the researchers. Curie's story connects determination and discovery with the need to understand the risks of new techniques. Her research changed science, while her university career also challenged restrictions on women's participation.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?
The answer is B: Curie made major discoveries despite barriers and danger.
The passage centers on her determination, her discoveries, and the obstacles and risks she faced.
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Question 2 of 4
What did Marie Curie name the property of elements that gave off energy on their own?
The answer is C: Radioactivity
The text says she named the property radioactivity; polonium and radium were elements.
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Question 3 of 4
What can the reader conclude about the dangers of her work?
The answer is B: Research advanced before its hazards were fully understood.
Knowledge of the hazards lagged behind the uses, and early protection was limited. Useful discoveries did not mean the methods were safe.
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Question 4 of 4
As used in the passage, "feat" most nearly means:
The answer is A: a remarkable achievement
The passage calls winning Nobel Prizes in two scientific fields a remarkable feat: an important, difficult achievement.
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