57
A BRIEF HISTORY OF STEPHEN HAWKING
7.2
5
b
Complete the text below from the webpage with
the words in the box.
had to did not have to could could not
GRAMMAR
HAD TO
AND
COULD
5
a
Look at these sentences about the text. Then
match 1–4 with a–d.
Until 1985, he
could
talk.
Doctors
had
to operate on him.
Many people
could not
understand the book.
He
did not have to
teach. He only
had to
do research.
1
had to
a
was/were not able to do it
2
did not have to
b
it was necessary to do it
3
could
c
it was not necessary to do it
4
could not
d
was/were able to do it
GRAMMAR TIP
There is no past form of
must
. Use
had to
.
You
must
work hard. You
had to
work hard.
¬
Language reference and extra practice, pages 114–115
Hawking learnt that he had the disease ALS (a disease
that affects muscle control) at the age of 21, in his first
year in Cambridge. He only expected to live a few years.
However, he got married and found a job in Cambridge.
In the early stages of his career, his illness got worse, but
he was fortunate that he did not have to teach. He only
had to do research, and this was easier for him.
Until 1985, he could talk, but in that year, doctors had to
operate on him and he lost his speech. Soon, however,
people developed equipment that allowed him to speak.
In spite of his disease,
Hawking does not consider
himself an unlucky man. He
says it has not prevented
him from having a very
attractive family, and being
successful in his work.
He says this is thanks to
the help he has received
from his family and a large
number of other people and
organisations.
Health, work and family life
After the operation
By 1985, Stephen’s speech was getting worse, and only a few
people who knew him well
1
understand him. But at
least he
2
communicate. In 1985, he
3
have an
operation on his throat. After that, he
4
have 24-hour
care by nurses. For a time after the operation, he
5
speak at all, so he
6
communicate by spelling words.
He
7
raise his eyebrows when someone pointed to
the right letter on a spelling card. However, a computer
expert in California (Walt Wotosz) heard of Hawking’s
problem and sent him a computer program. With this
program, Hawking
8
choose words from a menu on
a screen. All he
9
do was press a switch in his hand.
But he
10
also control the program by making a
head or eye movement. In that case, he
11
press the
switch. At first, he
12
run the program on a desktop
computer, but then a man called David Mason fitted a small
portable computer to his wheelchair.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
A black hole is a place in space
where gravity is very strong.
Anything that falls into it
never comes out. Nothing
can escape from it, not
even light. As a result,
it is impossible to see
a black hole.
5
c
Describe some situations in your life when you
had a problem, and explain how you solved it. Use this
form:
I couldn’t …, so I had to … .
After my operation, I couldn’t drive, so I had to go
everywhere by bus.
I couldn’t study at home because my baby sister was
crying all the time, so I had to go to the library.
SPEAKING
6
Discuss these statements about attitudes to science
in small groups.
1
Science has made modern life healthier and more
comfortable.
2
My government should spend more money on
scientific research and less on other things.
3
Science and technology can solve any problem.
WRITING
7
Research a famous scientist and write a paragraph
about his/her life and work. Look back at the summary
in Exercise 2b as a guide.
