# PTE SST #5: Hans Krebs and the Krebs Cycle

Summarize Spoken Text #5 - Level 1 - Feeds Writing + Listening

> You will hear a short lecture. Write a summary on what you have just heard from the lecture in your own words.You have 10 minutes to finish this task. Your response will be judged on the Quality of Your writing and on how well your response presents the key points presented in the lecture.

## Answer

The speaker shares Hans Krebs' journey, who discovered the Krebs Cycle in 1937, despite early discouragement. Labeled mediocre by his father and mentor, Krebs proved determination can defy criticism. His story exemplifies how perseverance can lead to scientific achievement, even when early feedback is negative. Hence, belief in oneself matters more than others' doubts.

## Explanation

The correct summary should capture the key points of the lecture: Hans Krebs's discovery of the Krebs cycle, the discouragement he faced from his father and mentor, and the importance of perseverance in scientific achievement.

## Hints

- Focus on the main discovery mentioned in the lecture.
- Note the challenges Krebs faced from his father and his mentor, Otto Warburg.

## Transcript

This is Hans Krebs, who in 1937 published a paper showing the sequence of chemical reactions, by which energy is released in individual cells. It is called the Krebs cycle, which some of you may remember from your chemistry course in your high school. Krebs is a wonderful example to me of how a scientist who is determined can overcome all kinds of human obstacles. Krebs's father constantly discouraged him and told him that he had just mediocre intelligence whenever to anything important in his life, as a teenager. What Krebs remembers in his memoir, his father said to him "you can't make a silk purse at a sow's ear". And later on, when Krebs studied with the great biochemist Otto Warburg, Warburg also told him the same thing. Not the same quote but that he had only mediocre ability and would never be a great scientist. And we all hear about how important it is for parents to encourage their children, but sometimes the children will go on to do great things no matter what we say to them.

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