A Visit To Cambridge Flashcards
Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so, why?
Yes, the writer was nervous at the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking because Hawking was a renowned and brilliant astrophysicist. Despite being paralyzed and differently-abled, he had authored one of the biggest bestsellers, A Brief History of Time. Additionally, he was a worthy successor to Sir Isaac Newton, having succeeded his chair at Cambridge University.
Did he, at the same time, feel very excited? If so, why?
Yes, the author Firdaus Kanga was super excited to meet Stephen Hawking because he wasn’t expecting that he would be getting an opportunity to have a face to face conversation with such a great personality. He wondered that although Hawking was paralyzed and differently abled, he had achieved great heights and was a worthy successor to Sir Isaac Newton and succeeded his chair at Cambridge University. This made Firdaus aware of the numerous possibilities before him, and he could reach out further than he ever thought he could.
Stephen Hawking said, “I’ve had no choice.” Did the writer think there was a choice? What was it?
The writer thinks that Stephen Hawking had a choice to give up or fight the disease. The choice was to accept the disease and lead a passive life or fight it and lead an active life. Stephen Hawking chose the latter and despite being severely disabled, he lived a very active and productive life.
I could feel his anguish. What could be the anguish?
The anguish refers to the emotional pain and distress that Stephen Hawking felt when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS at the age of 21. The anguish could be due to the following reasons: loss of physical abilities, uncertain future, frustration, and helplessness.
What endeared the scientist to the writer so that he said he was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world?
According to the lesson, “A Visit to Cambridge,” by Firdaus Kanga, what endeared the scientist to the writer was his indomitable spirit, determination, and courage. Despite being severely disabled by a motor neurone disease, the writer was deeply moved by Hawking’s positive attitude, his sense of humor, and his passion for life, which made him appear beautiful to the writer.
Read aloud the description of a beautiful man, which is the most beautiful sentence.
The description of the beautiful man, Stephen Hawking, is: “He was completely paralyzed, unable to move any part of his body except his eyes, which twinkled with humor and intelligence.” This sentence highlights the sparkle in Hawking’s eyes, which conveyed his great intelligence and zest for life, making him a beautiful person despite his physical limitations.
If the lantern is a man, what would its walls be?
If the lantern is a man (Stephen Hawking), its walls would be his body, which was severely paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.
What is housed within the thin walls?
According to the lesson, A Visit to Cambridge, what is housed within the thin walls is one of the brilliant minds of the world.
What general conclusion does the writer draw from this comparison?
The writer compares Stephen Hawking’s severely paralyzed body to his brilliant mind, highlighting the contrast between his physical limitations and his exceptional intellectual abilities.
What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
The message for the disabled is that “physical disability is not a hindrance to achieving great things in life.” Hawking’s own life and achievements serve as a powerful example of this message, inspiring others with disabilities to pursue their goals and dreams.
The writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking. What is the gratitude for?
According to the lesson A Visit to Cambridge, the writer expresses his great gratitude to Stephen Hawking for teaching him that one could lead a full life despite extreme disability.
Why does the writer refer to the guitar incident? Which idea does it support?
Stephen Hawking said that things like the Disabled Olympics were a waste of time, and the writer agreed with him. He remembered the years when he had tried playing a Spanish guitar, which was considerably larger than him. He was very happy when he broke the strings of it one day. This supports his idea that a disabled person should only focus on what they are good at and not take up things that don’t suit them.
