Skip to Content

A Truly Beautiful Mind (Q&A)

Thinking About the Text

Q1. Here are some headings for paragraphs in the text. Add subheadings of your own.

  • Einstein’s equation

  • Einstein meets his future wife

  • The making of a violinist

  • A letter that launched the arms race

  • A desk drawer full of ideas

  • Marriage and divorce

Q2. Who had these opinions about Einstein?

(a) He was boring.

Answer: His playmates.

(b) He was stupid and would never succeed in life.

Answer: A headmaster.

(c) He was a freak.

Answer: His mother.

Q3. Explain what the following phrases mean.

  1. Einstein was a world citizen as much as a German Jew.

    Answer: Einstein’s ideas, achievements, and concern for humanity made him belong to the whole world, not just Germany.

  2. Einstein’s desk drawer was ever full of ideas and applications.

    Answer: Einstein constantly thought of new scientific ideas and practical applications, which he kept in his drawer.

Thinking About Language

Q1. Here are some examples from the text of the kind of English in newspapers.

  • “A 12-year-old prodigy.”

  • “A gifted amateur.”

  • “Two years later, the marriage faltered.”

Tell what these mean.

Answer:

  • “A 12-year-old prodigy” → A 12-year-old child with extraordinary talent.

  • “A gifted amateur” → A person with natural talent who is not a professional.

  • “The marriage faltered” → The marriage became weak and unsuccessful.

Extra Questions (for exams)

Short Answer Questions

Q1. What kind of childhood did Einstein have?

Answer: Einstein had a lonely childhood. He spoke very little, looked clumsy, and his playmates found him boring. Teachers thought he was stupid.

Q2. Why did Einstein leave school in Munich?

Answer: Einstein disliked the strict discipline and rote learning at school. A headmaster even told him he would never succeed. So, he left school.

Q3. What was Einstein’s famous theory?

Answer: Einstein’s famous theory was the Theory of Relativity, expressed in the equation E = mc².

Long Answer Question

Q. Why is the title “A Truly Beautiful Mind” suitable for Albert Einstein?

Answer:

The title is suitable because Einstein was not only a genius scientist but also a kind, humble, and peace-loving human being. He worked for science but also spoke strongly against war and violence. His concern for humanity and peace shows that his mind was truly beautiful, not just brilliant.