Albert Einstein was one of the greatest scientists in history. He made significant contributions to theoretical physics. His discoveries about time, light and gravity have transformed our understanding of the world. In 1922, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics.
  Background
Einstein was born in Germany in 1879. His parents were middle-class Jews. His father and his uncle ran a business that sold electrical equipment. His mother was a housewife. He had a younger sister.
  Early life and education
Einstein attended elementary school and high school in Germany. He did not like the high school that he studied. The teachers there were strict. He was expected to memorise what was taught but not to think. He dropped out of school in 1894 and went to Italy to join his family. Later Einstein re-entered high school in Switzerland. In 1896, he enrolled in the four-year mathematics and physics teaching diploma programme in Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
  Career path and achievements
After graduation, Einstein could not find a teaching job. Instead, he worked as a patent officer in Switzerland in 1902. Einstein was good at his job. He completed his work quickly and left time for his thought experiments during the long office hours.
With steady work at the patent office, Einstein wrote a lot of remarkable articles on physics. 1905 was an amazing year for Einstein. In that year, he was awarded his doctorate and he published four groundbreaking papers on topics on photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, special relativity, the equivalence of mass and energy (E=MC2). Einstein’s publications gained the attention of the academic world.
Einstein left the patent office in 1909 and became a professor at the University of Zurich. He taught at different universities in different countries since then. He became a world-famous scientist. He received his Nobel Prize in 1922 for his contributions to theoretical physics. Einstein also received a lot of honours, prizes and awards from different countries. Many people think that Einstein was a genius.
Einstein went to the United States in 1933. He settled in Princeton and worked in the Institute for Advance Study. Einstein was so devoted to theoretical physics that he kept working until the last days of his life even when he was hospitalised. He died on 18 April 1955.
Einstein left the world with a rich legacy of his discoveries. Some of them were applied to make inventions that changed our daily life while some help us better understand the universe.
      Other information (Hobby)
Apart from physics, Einstein liked music when he was small. He enjoyed playing the violin. His mother was good at playing the piano. They enjoyed playing duets together. Einstein would bring his violin with him when he travelled around the world.
   Other information (Inspiring quotes)
Einstein left us with inspiring quotes, which help us stay positive and proactive. The following are some of his quotes:
  • "The important thing is not to stop questioning."
  • "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
  • "It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer."
  • "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

Suggested answers

Charles Kao’s findings about optical fibre technology transformed telecommunications and paved way for the Internet. (para 1)

Nowadays, many people plan to start an online business through which they can reach a wider market. (para 2)

In order to test the effectiveness of the new drug, scientists have to conduct a lot of experiments. (para 4)

Stephen Hawking’s remarkable / groundbreaking / amazing theory about black holes enriches our understanding of the universe. (para 5)

Apart from Albert Einstein, there are also other scientists who made great contributions to the world, e.g. Isaac Newton and Marie Curie. (para 6)

Mother Teresa was a great person. She devoted her life to helping numerous people in need. (para 7)

Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor with more than 1,000 inventions. (para 8)

Before the spread of COVID-19, my father often travelled to other countries to attend business meetings. ("Other information (Hobby)")

Suggested answers

Why was Einstein an important person?

made significant contributions to theoretical physics

his discoveries have transformed our understanding of the world

Background information – Einstein’s family

Year of birth: 1879

Place of birth: Germany
Mom: housewife   Dad: businessman
Siblings: a younger sister

Early life

did not like the school that he studied

dropped out of school and went to Italy to join his family in 1894
graduated from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in 1900

Important events #1

worked as a patent officer in Switzerland in 1902

completed his work quickly and conducted his thought experiments during the long office hours
published a lot of remarkable articles (on physics)

Important events #2

was awarded his doctorate and published four groundbreaking papers on different topics in 1905

became a professor at the University of Zurich in 1909
taught at different universities in different countries since then

What were his accomplishments?

received the Nobel Prize for his contributions to theoretical physics in 1922

Important events #3

went to the United States and settled in Princeton in 1933

taught in the Institute for Advance Study

Important events #4

kept working on theoretical physics until the last days of his life (even when he was hospitalised)

died in 1955

Quotes

"The important thing is not to stop questioning."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
"It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer."
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

(Accept any reasonable answers.)

Suggested answers

Einstein was famous for ___.
his contributions to theoretical physics
Why didn’t Einstein like his high school in Germany? It was because ___.
(You can choose more than one answer.)
the teachers were strict
he was not expected to think
When did Einstein graduate from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich?
1900
Why could Einstein write a lot of remarkable articles on physics during his stay in the patent office? It was because he ___.
all of the above
What was one of Einstein’s papers published in 1905 about?
photoelectric effect
Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his contributions to ___.
theoretical physics
What was Einstein possibly doing during the last days of his life? He was possibly ___.
working on equations about physics
Apart from physics, what did Einstein like? He liked playing ___.
the violin
In what ways does Einstein’s legacy of discoveries help us?
all of the above

Part A

The following text boxes are about the life events of Albert Einstein. Read the biography of Albert Einstein and fill in the missing information.

Albert Einstein

Why was Einstein an important person?
made significant contributions to  
his discoveries have transformed our  
Background information – Einstein’s family
Year of birth:  
Place of birth:  
Mom: housewife     Dad:  
Siblings: a  
Early life

did not like the school that he studied

dropped out of and went to in 1894
graduated from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in
Important events #1
worked as a in Switzerland in
completed his work quickly and conducted his during the long office hours
published a lot of remarkable
Important events #2
was awarded his doctorate and published on different topics in 1905
became a professor at in 1909
taught at different universities in different countries since then
What were his accomplishments?
received the for his contributions to theoretical physics in
Important events #3
went to the United States and settled in in
taught in the Institute for Advance Study
Important events #4
kept working on theoretical physics until
died in
Quotes
"The important thing is . "
" is more important than knowledge. "
"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I . "
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must . "

(Accept any reasonable answers.)