# The life and work of Marie Curie: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 9, Test 4, Reading Passage 1

Source: Passage, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 9, Test 4, Reading Passage 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | FALSE | was then sole winner of the 1911 Nobel Prize for Chemistry |
| 2 | NOT GIVEN | From childhood, Marie was remarkable for her prodigious memory |
| 3 | TRUE | on the understanding that Bronia would, in turn, later help her to get an education ... In 1891 this promise was fulfilled and Marie went to Paris |
| 4 | FALSE | failed to interrupt her scientific work |
| 5 | TRUE | she was appointed to the professorship that had been left vacant on her husband's death |
| 6 | NOT GIVEN | the Radium Institute, where her sister Bronia became director |
| 7 | thorium | She discovered that this was true for thorium. |
| 8 | pitchblende | she found her interest drawn to pitchblende |
| 9 | radium | In 1911 she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the isolation of a pure form of radium. |
| 10 | soldiers | used for the treatment of wounded soldiers. |
| 11 | illness | not only to treat illness but also to maintain an abundant supply for research. |
| 12 | neutron | This work prepared the way for the discovery of the neutron by Sir James Chadwick and |
| 13 | leukaemia | Marie Curie died as a result of leukaemia caused by exposure to radiation. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. FALSE.** The statement says Pierre shared both of Marie's Nobel Prizes. The opening paragraph says he shared the 1903 Physics prize, but she was the sole winner of the 1911 Chemistry prize. One prize was hers alone, so the statement is FALSE.

**2. NOT GIVEN.** The question is about when Marie became interested in science. Paragraph B talks about her childhood, but only says she had a remarkable memory and won a gold medal at school. Nothing says when her interest in science began, so the answer is NOT GIVEN.

**3. TRUE.** Marie paid for Bronia's medical studies on the understanding that Bronia would later help her get an education. Paragraph C then says this promise was fulfilled when Marie went to Paris to study at the Sorbonne, so her sister's support made it possible. TRUE.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/reading/the-life-and-work-of-marie-curie/answers).

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