Pasteur

Level: B2

Louis Pasteur, another of the world’s brilliant scientists, was born in 1839, just eight years before Edison. While still a young boy, Louis made his decision to become a scientist. He spent much of his lifetime studying the diseases of cattle, chickens and other domestic animals. His wife learned to assist him in his work. Almost everyone knows that Pasteur is the man responsible for finding a way of keeping milk from spoiling. Not many people know he was the first to suspect and prove that the air we breathe is full of germs. One of his greatest successes was finding a treatment for people and animals to prevent a disease called rabies. Louis Pasteur won many honours and could have acquired large amounts of money. But Pasteur preferred to live simply. The real happiness of this remarkable man came from his work.

Glossary

acquire v. to obtain (something): She acquired an original painting by Van Gogh.

assist v. to help: We assisted the firefighters in extinguishing the blaze.

brilliant adj. extremely clever or highly skilled: Her mother was a brilliant scientist.

decision n. the ability to decide quickly and positively, with a clear result: She acted with decision, closing the bank account and phoning the police.

domestic adj. of the home, house or family: Many women feel they cannot apply for the top jobs because of domestic commitments.

prefer v. to choose or want (one thing) rather than another because it would be more pleasant or suitable: We have tea and coffee, but perhaps you'd prefer a cold drink.

remarkable adj. unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning: Nelson Mandela is a truly remarkable man.

responsible adj. having the job or duty of doing something or taking care of somebody or something so that you may be blamed if something goes wrong: All the members of the Cabinet are collectively responsible for the decisions taken.

suspect v. to think or believe (something) to be true or probable: So far, the police do not suspect foul play.

treatment n. the application of medical care or attention to a patient: In the UK you get free dental treatment while you're pregnant.

Synonyms

acquire- obtain; come by; get; receive; gain; procure; earn; win; secure; take possession of; gather; collect; pick up; achieve; attain; appropriate; amass.

assist- assist the police: help; aid; lend a hand; succour; support; cooperate/collaborate with; abet; work with; play a part.

brilliant- 1) brilliant children: bright; clever; intelligent; smart; brainy; intellectual; gifted; talented; accomplished; educated; scholarly; learned; erudite; cerebral; precocious. 2) a brilliant course of action: clever; intelligent; smart; astute; cute; acute; masterly; resourceful; inventive; discerning.

decision- come to a decision: resolution, conclusion, determination, settling, settlement.

domestic- a domestic animal: domesticated; tame; pet; house-trained; trained; not wild.

prefer- 1) prefer cheese to dessert: like better; favour; be more partial to; incline towards; choose; select; pick; opt for; go for; plump for; single out; (inf.) fancy. 2) prefer to go by bus: like better; would rather; would sooner; favour; choose; opt; elect; wish; want.

remarkable- a remarkable achievement: out of the ordinary; extraordinary; unusual; uncommon; conspicuous; singular; signal; rare; exceptional; outstanding; striking; impressive; considerable; notable; noteworthy; memorable; pre-eminent; significant; important; momentous; phenomenal; wonderful.

responsible- responsible for any damage or injury: in charge of, in control of, at the helm of, accountable, amenable, answerable, liable.

suspect- 1) I suspect you could be right: feel; have a feeling; be inclined to think; fancy; surmise; guess; conjecture; have a suspicion that; speculate; have a hunch; suppose; believe; think; conclude. 2) suspect the truth of his statement: doubt; have doubts about; harbour suspicions about; have misgivings about; be sceptical about; distrust; mistrust.

treatment- wounds responding to treatment: medical care; medication; medicament; therapy; doctoring; nursing; first aid; care; ministration; cure; remedy; drugs; therapeutics.

Collocations

make your decision to do something

assist somebody in (doing) something

(be) responsible for something

a treatment for (a disease)

prefer to do something