2.4. An Epitome of Courage - Std X - Mah Board - My English Coursebook - Semi English and Marathi Medium
- Jun 17
- 12 min read
Updated: Jun 18
SECTION 1 — Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय
Chapter | Unit 2 — Chapter 2.4: An Epitome of Courage |
Type | Biography |
Author/Subject | Dr. Stephen Hawking / Text compiled by MSBSHSE |
Textbook | My English Coursebook, Std X, Maharashtra State Board |
Board Section | Section II — Reading Skills (Textual) — 20 marks |
मराठी टीप: हा पाठ परीक्षेत Reading Skills Textual विभागात येतो — एकूण 20 गुण.
SECTION 2 — About the Subject / व्यक्ती परिचय
Subject Introduction: Dr. Stephen Hawking Dr. Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford, London, on January 8, 1942, exactly 300 years after the death of the great scientist Galileo. He is globally hailed as one of the greatest scientists of this century and a living legend of Cosmology. Despite being diagnosed at the young age of 17 with ALS—an extremely rare and dreaded disease that severely weakened his muscles and confined him to a wheelchair—he continued his scientific research undaunted. He is most remembered for his groundbreaking study of "Black Holes", inventing "Lie Algebra", and authoring the best-selling book "A Brief History of Time". He stands as the very epitome of courage, optimism, and hope.
मराठी टीप: या पाठात महान शास्त्रज्ञ डॉ. स्टीफन हॉकिंग यांच्या जीवनाचा परिचय दिला आहे. 'ALS' या भयंकर आजारामुळे त्यांचे संपूर्ण शरीर निकामी झाले, तरीही त्यांनी हार न मानता 'ब्लॅक होल' (Black Holes) या विषयावर संशोधन केले. परीक्षेत त्यांचा आजार, त्यांचे संशोधन आणि त्यांची पुस्तके यावर हमखास प्रश्न विचारले जातात.
SECTION 4 — Life and Achievements / जीवन आणि कार्य
1942: Dr. Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford, London, on the eighth day of January. मराठी: ८ जानेवारी १९४२ रोजी ऑक्सफर्ड, लंडन येथे जन्म.
Age 17: He was diagnosed with an extremely rare disease called ALS or LOU Gehrig's disease, which severely affects the nervous system. मराठी: वयाच्या १७ व्या वर्षी ALS या दुर्मिळ आणि गंभीर आजाराचे निदान झाले.
Doctoral Research: Despite a bad prognosis, he continued his Ph.D. research studying the concept of "Black Holes" with renewed vigour. मराठी: आजारावर मात करत त्यांनी 'ब्लॅक होल्स' या विषयावर पीएच्.डी. चे संशोधन सुरू ठेवले.
Scientific Breakthrough: He invented "Lie Algebra" to better explain the scientific concept that the universe began with a "Big Bang". मराठी: विश्वाची निर्मिती 'बिग बँग' (Big Bang) मधून कशी झाली हे सांगण्यासाठी 'Lie Algebra' चा शोध लावला.
Honours: He was bestowed with numerous honorary doctorates, became a Fellow of The Royal Society, and a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences. मराठी: त्यांना अनेक मानाच्या पदव्या मिळाल्या आणि ते 'रॉयल सोसायटी'चे फेलो बनले.
Legacy / वारसा: Dr. Hawking passed away on March 14, 2018, leaving behind a monumental legacy. He is remembered not only for his awesome ideas in physics but as a humble, down-to-earth man who displayed exemplary courage and optimism despite a cruel quirk of fate. मराठी टीप: ते केवळ एक महान शास्त्रज्ञच नव्हते, तर संकटांना धैर्याने सामोरे जाणारे एक अत्यंत आशावादी आणि साधे व्यक्तिमत्त्व होते, हा त्यांचा खरा वारसा आहे.
SECTION 6 — Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये
6A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी
Theme / विषय | How it appears |
Triumph Over Adversity (संकटांवर मात) | Dr. Hawking did not mourn over his disabilities but continued his doctoral research undaunted. |
The Power of the Mind (बुद्धिमत्तेची ताकद) | Though confined to a wheelchair, his mind soared up into space like light, exploring Cosmology. |
Humility (नम्रता) | In spite of being considered Einstein's equal, he wrote books keeping an ordinary layman in mind. |
6B. Values / मूल्ये
Courage (धैर्य) — Dr. Hawking is the very personification of courage, proving that one should not lose heart when faced with a great calamity.
Optimism (आशावाद) — As the quintessence of optimism, he chose to live life for the moment instead of regretting his physical condition.
Perseverance (चिकाटी) — He rapidly lost control of his hands and speech, yet he successfully completed his Ph.D. and made epoch-making statements.
6C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश
The central message of the chapter is that true handicaps belong to those who refuse to take up challenges; we must draw inspiration from Dr. Hawking's exemplary courage to do our best even under the most trying circumstances.
मराठी टीप: खरा अपंग तोच आहे जो संकटांना सामोरे जाण्यास नकार देतो. आपण आपल्या कमतरतेवर रडत न बसता धैर्याने सर्वोत्कृष्ट काम केले पाहिजे.
SECTION 7 — Vocabulary in Context / शब्दसंग्रह
Word / Phrase | मराठी अर्थ | Example from text |
Epitome | उत्कृष्ट उदाहरण / मूर्तिमंत प्रतीक | "none could predict that he would be the very epitome of courage." |
Undaunted | न घाबरता / निधड्या छातीने | "Dr Hawking continued his research undaunted." |
Exemplary | आदर्श / अनुकरणीय | "His exemplary courage should inspire us" |
Calamity | मोठे संकट / आपत्ती | "not lose heart when faced with a great calamity." |
Quirk of fate | नियतीचा खेळ / अनपेक्षित घटना | "thanks to a cruel quirk of fate." |
Clumsy | अडखळत / अवजड | "he was becoming increasingly clumsy and even fell down" |
Perplexed | गोंधळलेला | "This perplexed him and he went to see his family doctor" |
Prognosis | रोगाचे निदान व भविष्यातील अंदाज | "The prognosis was bad and the doctors said they could not do much." |
Epoch-making | युगप्रवर्तक / अतिशय महत्त्वाचे | "He made many epoch-making statements that shook established theories." |
Bestowed on | प्रदान करणे / सन्मानित करणे | "Numerous honorary doctorates and awards have been bestowed on him." |
Layman | सामान्य माणूस | "keeping a layman in mind." |
Lucid | सोपे / स्पष्ट | "His style is so lucid that non-scientists can also understand him." |
Quintessence | उत्कृष्ट नमुना | "Dr Hawking, the quintessence of optimism and hope" |
Demise | मृत्यू / अंत | "and maybe even predict its ultimate demise." |
Bolt from the blue | अचानक आलेले मोठे संकट | "this disease came as a bolt from the blue." |
SECTION 8 — Extract-Based Questions / उताऱ्यावर
आधारित प्रश्न
Extract 1:
Exactly 300 years after the death of the great scientist Galileo, Dr Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford, London on the eighth day of January 1942. Little did his parents know that one day their little boy would be hailed as one of the greatest scientists of this century. Neither could anybody imagine that his mind would soar up into space like light. More importantly, none could predict that he would be the very epitome of courage. Courage is a wonderful thing. It is that quality, which makes people not lose heart when faced with a great calamity. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Dr Stephen Hawking, a living legend of Cosmology, is the very personification of courage and hope. Except his mind, his whole body is bound to a wheelchair, thanks to a cruel quirk of fate. Yet, he is one of the greatest scientists of this century. An average child, Stephen grew up to be a normal teenager, full of mischief and lots of love for music and mathematics. Even though his father wanted him to study medicine, he was bent on studying mathematics. The University of Oxford, at that time, did not have a course in mathematics so he opted to study physics instead.
Q.(A)(i) — State whether the following are True or False: (2 marks)
Dr. Stephen Hawking was born 300 years after the death of Newton. — False
Stephen's father wanted him to study medicine. — True
Dr. Hawking is considered a living legend of Cosmology. — True
Oxford University had an excellent course in mathematics at that time. — False मराठी टीप: True आणि False नीट वाचून ठरवा — उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.
Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)
Stephen opted to study physics because Oxford did not have a course in... (a) medicine (b) cosmology (c) mathematics (d) chemistry Answer: (c)
The phrase 'quirk of fate' means... (a) good luck (b) unexpected change of destiny (c) a scientific discovery (d) a type of disease Answer: (b)
Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks)
What is courage according to the extract? Answer: According to the extract, courage is a wonderful thing and a highly essential quality. It is the specific quality that ensures people do not lose heart when they are faced with a great calamity in life. मराठी टीप: संकट (calamity) आल्यावर खचून न जाणे आणि धीर न सोडणे या गुणधर्माला धैर्य (courage) म्हणतात.
Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks)
Describe Stephen Hawking as a teenager.
Answer: As a teenager, Stephen Hawking grew up to be quite a normal and average child. He was full of mischief and had a tremendous amount of love for music and mathematics. Despite his father's strong wish for him to study medicine, he was extremely stubborn and entirely bent on studying mathematics instead. मराठी टीप: स्टीफन हॉकिंग हे एका सामान्य किशोरवयीन मुलासारखेच होते. त्यांना खोड्या करण्याची सवय होती आणि संगीत व गणिताची खूप आवड होती.
Extract 2:
In the meanwhile, the disease worked its way into Stephen's body and left him disabled. He began studying the concept of "Black Holes", to get his Ph.D. By this time, he was confined to a wheelchair and was rapidly losing control of his hands and speech. The study of "black holes" sparked his imagination with bright ideas. He made many epoch-making statements that shook established theories. Scientists believe that the universe began with a "Big Bang". To explain this concept better, Stephen invented what is known as "Lie Algebra". Though confined to a wheel chair with no control over his body save a finger and with a computer to help him express his thoughts. Dr Hawking is an authority on profound subjects of science. Numerous honorary doctorates and awards have been bestowed on him. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society and a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences. In spite of being considered Einstein's equal in intelligence, Dr Hawking is a very humble man. A simple, down to earth man, he has authored many books dealing with his awesome ideas keeping a layman in mind. His writing is full of wit and humour. His style is so lucid that non-scientists can also understand him. His book, "A Brief History of Time" is one of the best selling books of our times. On being asked, how he feels about having the dreadful ALS, Dr Hawking, the quintessence of optimism and hope, says, "Not very different from the rest. I try and lead as normal a life as possible, and not think about my condition or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not many."
Q.(A)(i) — State whether the following are True or False: (2 marks)
Dr. Hawking lost complete control over his mind and imagination. — False
Stephen invented "Lie Algebra" to explain the "Big Bang" concept better. — True
Dr. Hawking is considered Einstein's equal in intelligence. — True
The book "A Brief History of Time" is very difficult for a layman to understand. — False मराठी टीप: True आणि False नीट वाचून ठरवा — उताऱ्यातील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या.
Q.(A)(ii) — Choose the correct alternative: (2 marks)
What concept did Stephen begin studying to get his Ph.D.? (a) Medicine (b) Black Holes (c) Music (d) The Solar System Answer: (b)
The word 'lucid' in the extract means... (a) complicated (b) full of grammar (c) clear and easy to understand (d) extremely long Answer: (c)
Q.(B)(i) — Answer in 2-3 sentences: (2 marks)
How did Dr. Hawking express his thoughts when he lost control of his speech?
Answer: When the disease left him severely disabled and he rapidly lost control of his speech and body, Dr. Hawking retained control over just a single finger. He brilliantly used a computer to help him type out and express his profound thoughts and awesome ideas to the world. मराठी टीप: वाचा आणि शरीरावरील नियंत्रण गेल्यावर त्यांनी आपल्या एका बोटाच्या आणि संगणकाच्या (computer) मदतीने आपले विचार जगासमोर मांडले.
Q.(B)(ii) — Answer in 3-4 sentences: (2 marks)
What does the extract tell us about Dr. Hawking's writing style?
Answer: Dr. Hawking deliberately authored many books keeping the ordinary layman in mind. His writing style is remarkably lucid, ensuring that even non-scientists can easily understand his profound and complex scientific concepts. Furthermore, his writing is never dry; it is full of sharp wit and engaging humour, which helped make "A Brief History of Time" a massive bestseller. मराठी टीप: त्यांचे लेखन अतिशय सोपे (lucid) आणि विनोदबुद्धीने (wit and humour) भरलेले होते. त्यामुळे सामान्य माणसालाही (layman) विज्ञानातील अवघड संकल्पना सहज समजायच्या.
SECTION 9 — Short Answer Questions / लघु उत्तरे
Q1. What did Stephen's family doctor diagnose him with at the age of 17?
Answer: When Stephen was 17, he became increasingly clumsy and began falling down unexpectedly for no reason. Perplexed by this strange behavior, he visited his family doctor, who diagnosed him as suffering from an extremely rare and dreaded disease called ALS or LOU Gehrig's disease. This fatal disease heavily affects the nervous system and eventually weakens all the muscles of the body. मराठी टीप: वयाच्या १७ व्या वर्षी त्यांना 'ALS' (किंवा LOU Gehrig's disease) या दुर्मिळ आजाराचे निदान झाले, ज्यामुळे स्नायू आणि नसा कमकुवत होतात.
Q2. How did Stephen Hawking react to the bad prognosis given by the doctors? Answer: When the doctors gave a terribly bad prognosis and bluntly stated they could not do much, Stephen remained entirely undaunted. Instead of mourning his fate, he decided to continue his research and even happily got engaged to Jane Wilde. Ironically, he stated that he began enjoying life the most at this dismal stage because he started living fully for the moment. मराठी टीप: डॉक्टरांनी आशा सोडली तरीही ते घाबरले नाहीत (undaunted). त्यांनी आपले संशोधन चालू ठेवले आणि प्रत्येक क्षण आनंदाने जगण्याचा निर्णय घेतला.
Q3. What is Dr. Hawking's contribution to the study of the universe?
Answer: Dr. Hawking's contributions to science and cosmology are truly epoch-making. He extensively studied the concept of "Black Holes" for his Ph.D., sparking bright ideas that completely shook established scientific theories. Additionally, to better mathematically explain the concept that the universe began with a "Big Bang", he invented a framework known as "Lie Algebra". मराठी टीप: त्यांनी 'ब्लॅक होल्स' वर संशोधन केले आणि विश्वाची सुरुवात 'बिग बँग' मधून झाली हे स्पष्ट करण्यासाठी 'Lie Algebra' चा शोध लावला.
Q4. Despite his immense intelligence, what kind of person was Dr. Hawking?
Answer: In spite of being globally considered Einstein's equal in sheer intelligence, Dr. Hawking remained an incredibly humble man. He was a simple, down-to-earth person who always wrote his scientific books with the ordinary layman in mind. Furthermore, he was the quintessence of optimism, choosing to lead a normal life without regretting the physical limitations his condition placed on him. मराठी टीप: ते आईन्स्टाईन इतकेच बुद्धिमान असले तरी अतिशय नम्र (humble), साधे (down to earth) आणि सकारात्मक (optimistic) होते.
SECTION 10 — Long Answer Questions / दीर्घ उत्तरे
Q1. Describe the major achievements of Dr. Stephen Hawking and his immense contribution to science.
Answer: Dr. Stephen Hawking is universally hailed as one of the greatest scientists of this century and a true living legend of Cosmology. Despite being severely crippled by ALS and confined to a wheelchair, his brilliant mind soared into space like light. His greatest scientific breakthrough came when he intensely studied the concept of "Black Holes" for his Ph.D., making epoch-making statements that completely shook established scientific theories. Furthermore, to accurately explain the famous "Big Bang" theory of the universe's origin, he brilliantly invented the concept of "Lie Algebra". Beyond pure science, he was an exceptional communicator; he authored "A Brief History of Time", one of the best-selling books of our era, writing in a highly lucid style full of wit and humour so non-scientists could understand profound subjects. For his massive contributions, numerous honorary doctorates were bestowed on him, and he became a highly respected Fellow of The Royal Society and a Member of the US National Academy of Sciences.
मराठी टीप:
सुरुवात: डॉ. हॉकिंग हे या शतकातील महान शास्त्रज्ञ होते.
मुख्य संशोधन: 'Black Holes' वरील संशोधन आणि 'Big Bang' स्पष्ट करण्यासाठी 'Lie Algebra' चा शोध.
लेखन: सामान्य माणसांसाठी 'A Brief History of Time' हे सोप्या भाषेतील पुस्तक.
सन्मान: फेलो ऑफ द रॉयल सोसायटी आणि अनेक मानाच्या पदव्या.
Q2. "Dr. Stephen Hawking is the very personification of courage and hope." Justify this statement using evidence from the chapter.
Answer: It is absolutely no exaggeration to state that Dr. Stephen Hawking is the absolute epitome and personification of courage. True courage is defined as the quality that makes people not lose heart when faced with a great calamity. When Dr. Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at just 17—a dreaded disease that rapidly destroyed his muscle coordination and confined him to a wheelchair—the medical prognosis was terribly bleak. However, instead of hiding behind his disabilities or mourning his unfair fate, he remained completely undaunted. He fearlessly continued his doctoral research with renewed vigour and ironically stated that he began enjoying life the most by living fully in the moment. Even when he completely lost his speech and could only use one single finger to operate a computer, he authored world-changing books and maintained a sharp sense of humour. His philosophy was incredibly simple: he tried to lead a normal life and absolutely refused to regret the things he could not do, proving once and for all that he was the ultimate quintessence of optimism.
मराठी टीप:
सुरुवात: संकटात धीर न सोडणे म्हणजे धैर्य. डॉ. हॉकिंग हे धैर्याचे मूर्तिमंत प्रतीक (personification of courage) आहेत.
आजार आणि संघर्ष: वयाच्या १७ व्या वर्षी ALS झाल्यावर आणि शरीर निकामी झाल्यावरही ते खचले नाहीत (undaunted).
सकारात्मक दृष्टिकोन: त्यांनी आजाराचा बाऊ न करता एका बोटाच्या आणि संगणकाच्या साहाय्याने जगात क्रांती घडवली.
शेवट: ते जे करू शकत नाहीत त्याबद्दल त्यांनी कधीही खंत बाळगली नाही, हा त्यांचा खरा आशावाद (optimism) आहे.
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