Std 10 English chapters › Unit 4
In short: The life of Marie Curie, who overcame poverty and hardship to discover radium and polonium and became the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in different sciences.
(मेरी क्युरी यांचे जीवन; गरिबी आणि अडचणींवर मात करून त्यांनी रेडियम आणि पोलोनियमचा शोध लावला आणि दोन वेगवेगळ्या विज्ञान शाखांत नोबेल पुरस्कार मिळवणाऱ्या त्या पहिल्या व्यक्ती ठरल्या.)
- Type: Prose (biographical)
- About: Marie Curie (1867–1934), scientist, born Maria Skłodowska in Warsaw, Poland
- Unit: 4
4.6 A Brave Heart Dedicated to Science and Humanity: English Workshop Question Answers
Answers to every activity in the Std 10 English Kumarbharati textbook (Maharashtra Board), written by a practising English teacher. Read the lesson in your textbook first, then try each activity here before you check the answer.
Chit-chat: science exhibitions and scientists
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- Yes, I visited our taluka-level science exhibition last year.
- I learnt how a solar cooker works and how rainwater harvesting saves water.
- Scientists must work hard for years because experiments often fail. They must repeat them many times, with patience, to find the truth.
- Discovery and invention: A discovery means finding something that already exists in nature, for example radium. An invention means creating something new that did not exist before, for example the telephone.
Warming up 1: Dos and Don’ts in a science laboratory
| Dos | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Handle test tubes and other glass apparatus with care. | Don’t touch chemicals with bare hands. |
| Wear a lab coat and safety goggles. | Don’t eat or drink in the laboratory. |
| Follow the teacher’s instructions carefully. | Don’t smell or taste any chemical. |
| Wash your hands after the experiment. | Don’t leave a burner on without watching it. |
Warming up 2: Object, complement or adverbial?
👉 Choose what follows the verb, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Sentence | After the verb | Why |
|---|---|---|
| He looked upwards. | Adverbial | "upwards" tells where. |
| My brother is injured. | Complement | "injured" completes the verb "is". |
| We scored a goal. | Object | Scored what? A goal. |
| She answered perfectly. | Adverbial | "perfectly" tells how. |
| We beat the opponents. | Object | Beat whom? The opponents. |
| The guests arrived early. | Adverbial | "early" tells when. |
| I shall be happy. | Complement | "happy" completes "shall be". |
| You wrote the address. | Object | Wrote what? The address. |
मराठी टीप: Object = काय/कोणाला? (कर्म); Complement = अपूर्ण क्रियापदाला पूर्ण करणारा शब्द; Adverbial = कसे/कोठे/केव्हा?
Short questions from the lesson (margin questions)
- What qualities do great achievers possess?
Courage, commitment, dedication, singleness of purpose and an indomitable spirit. - What information do you get about Marie’s early life?
She was born Maria Sklodowska in Warsaw, Poland, on 7th November 1867. Her father could not afford to send her to Paris, so she worked as a governess to save money. At the Sorbonne she lived on bread, butter and tea and often fainted for lack of food, yet she topped her class. - What are the signs of poverty suffered by the young couple?
Their flat had almost no furniture: only books, a lamp, a white wooden table and two chairs. Their laboratory was a wooden shed with a leaky skylight and an earthen floor. - Why were the two new substances named Polonium and Radium?
Polonium was named in honour of Marie’s country, Poland. Radium was named for its powerful rays (radiation). - What proves Marie’s will power?
Even when overwork affected her health and her husband begged her to give up, she resolutely refused and carried on her research. - Which gift did she receive from the emperor of Austria, and why was it so precious?
A ton of pitchblende. It was very expensive, and the poor Curies could never have bought so much for their research. - How did the Curies first sight radium? What was its colour?
On a September night in 1902, they went back to the dark laboratory and saw soft, bluish-purple light glowing from the small glass-covered bowls. - How is radium used in the medical field?
It is used to treat cancer and to kill the bacteria of typhus, cholera and anthrax. - What makes Marie Curie an exceptional scientist?
She won two Nobel Prizes, and she refused to patent radium, saying, “Radium belongs to the people, not to me.” - How did Pierre meet with an early death?
In 1906, he was knocked down and killed by a horse-drawn wagon.
Q1. Landmark years in the lives of the Curies
| Year | Importance |
|---|---|
| 1895 | Marie and Pierre Curie got married in July. |
| 1902 | The Curies discovered radium. |
| 1903 | The Curies and Henri Becquerel were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. |
| 1906 | Pierre was killed by a horse-drawn wagon. |
| 1911 | Marie won her second Nobel Prize, for Chemistry. |
Q2. Qualities of Madame Curie (web)
determination · courage · hard work · dedication · patience · endurance · selflessness · love for humanity
Q3. Name the following
- Columbus and Vasco da Gama
- Hillary and Tenzing
- Maria Sklodowska
- Warsaw, Poland
- Physics and Mathematics
- French
- Henri Becquerel
- Polonium and Radium
Q4. Match the incidents with the years
👉 Choose the year, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Incident | Year |
|---|---|
| 1. Henri Becquerel discovered the radioactive property of uranium. | 1896 |
| 2. Maria Sklodowska was born in Warsaw, Poland. | 1867 |
| 3. Marie was awarded the Nobel Prize (for Chemistry). | 1911 |
| 4. The Curie couple discovered radium. | 1902 |
| 5. Marie passed away. | 1934 |
Q5. Think and answer in your own words
- Common characteristics: Both were brilliant but poor, loved science deeply and worked very hard in difficult conditions.
- Who was greater? Both were great, but Marie was perhaps greater. She faced extreme poverty and hunger, refused to give up even when ill, continued the work alone after Pierre’s death and won a second Nobel Prize.
- Why the pitchblende was a stroke of luck: Pitchblende was very expensive and the Curies were too poor to buy much. A whole ton allowed them to continue their research and finally obtain radium.
- Other medical uses: Radioactive substances are used in X-rays and scans, to sterilise medical instruments, and in radiation therapy.
- A lover of humanity, not wealth: She refused to patent radium and gave it free to the world, saying, “Radium belongs to the people, not to me.” She remained comparatively poor all her life.
Q6. Words and phrases from the text that mean “brave”
courage · indomitable spirit · indomitably · resolutely · strength of mind · endurance · strength of character
Q7. Proverbs and quotes
| Word | Proverb / quote / slogan |
|---|---|
| Courage | “Fortune favours the brave.” |
| Strength of character | “Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow.” (Abraham Lincoln) |
| Determination | “Where there is a will, there is a way.” |
| Hard work | “There is no substitute for hard work.” (Thomas Edison) |
Q8. Match the branches of science
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Answer key
| Branch | Study of | Pair |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Ecology | living organisms and environment | a – iv |
| (b) Geology | solid earth and rocks | b – vii |
| (c) Meteorology | atmosphere | c – i |
| (d) Anatomy | structure and functions of the body | d – vi |
| (e) Botany | plant life | e – ii |
| (f) Psychology | human mind and emotions | f – v |
| (g) Cosmology | the universe | g – iii |
Writing Skills: Question Answers
Q9. Letter to the Headmaster about laboratory equipment
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Sanjay Sharma
In-charge of Science Committee,
New English High School, Akola
1st January 2018
To
The Headmaster,
New English High School, Akola
Sub: Request for scientific equipment for Std X practicals
Respected Sir,
I am writing on behalf of the Science Committee to request some equipment for our laboratory. The Std X syllabus includes experiments on electricity, light, chemical reactions and the study of cells.
For these, we need a set of ammeters and voltmeters, convex and concave lenses, a compound microscope, test tubes, beakers, burners and the required chemicals. We also need formula charts of physics and chemistry, and a chart of the periodic table. Good-quality, durable equipment would be best, enough for groups of five students each.
With this equipment, every student will be able to perform the experiments himself or herself, understand the concepts better and prepare well for the board practical examination.
I request you to kindly sanction this purchase at the earliest.
Thank you,
Yours obediently,
Sanjay Sharma
Q10. Expand the maxim: “There is no short-cut to success.”
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This maxim means that real success can be achieved only through hard work, patience and honest effort. There is no easy or quick way to reach a great goal. Many people want success overnight. They look for short-cuts like copying in exams or cheating in business, but such success does not last. Marie Curie is a perfect example. She lived in poverty, often went hungry and worked for years in a shabby shed, stirring pots of pitchblende day and night, before she finally discovered radium. Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam also became a great scientist through years of study and hard work. A farmer cannot harvest a crop the day after sowing; he must water and protect it for months. In the same way, a student who studies a little every day does better than one who studies only the night before the exam. Every failure on the way teaches us something new. In conclusion, success is like climbing a mountain. We must climb it step by step. There is no lift to the top.
Q11. Project: five famous scientists
| Scientist | Famous for |
|---|---|
| Thomas Edison | Invented the electric light bulb and the phonograph |
| Alexander Graham Bell | Invented the telephone |
| Isaac Newton | Laws of motion and the law of gravitation |
| C. V. Raman | The Raman Effect; Nobel Prize in Physics (1930) |
| A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | India’s missile programme; the “Missile Man of India” |
Language Study: Question Answers
1. Prefixes, suffixes and root words
| Word | Prefix | Suffix | Root word |
|---|---|---|---|
| unattainable | un- | -able | attain |
| indomitable | in- | -able | domit (to tame) |
| disheartening | dis- | -en, -ing | heart |
| incalculable | in- | -able | calculate |
| disconsolate | dis- | -ate | console |
| ensuring | en- | -ing | sure |
2 (A). Object, complement or adverbial?
👉 Choose what the predicate contains, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Sentence | Predicate contains | Why |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Madame Curie discovered radium. | Object | Discovered what? Radium. |
| (c) Pitchblende was expensive. | Complement | "expensive" completes "was". |
| (d) The couple took a flat. | Object | Took what? A flat. |
| (e) They moved cautiously; success came finally. | Adverbial | "cautiously" and "finally" tell how and when. |
(b) Pierre was knocked down. The predicate contains an adverbial (“down”).
2 (B). Conjunctions: subordinators or co-ordinators?
👉 Choose the type of each conjunction, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Conjunction | Type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| (a) who | Subordinator | It begins a dependent clause. |
| (b) so | Co-ordinator | It joins two main clauses. |
| (c) After | Subordinator | It begins a dependent clause of time. |
| (d) but | Co-ordinator | It joins two main clauses. |
| (e) that | Subordinator | It begins a dependent clause. |
मराठी टीप: and, but, or, so हे co-ordinators आहेत (दोन स्वतंत्र वाक्ये जोडतात). who, that, after, because, when हे subordinators आहेत.
Live English: Blogging
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Blog: Notes from Std X · Post: “Our School’s Green Campaign”
Posted on 20th October 2026
Last week, our school ran a “Green Campus” campaign, and I want to share how amazing it was! On Monday, all classes planted saplings along the school wall. On Wednesday, the eco-club collected over 20 kg of plastic waste from our village roads. On Friday, we held a poster competition on saving water, and my friend Priya won first prize. The best part was seeing everyone, from Std V to Std X, working together. Our Principal promised that every new student will plant a tree on their first day. I feel proud that our small efforts can make a big difference. What green activities does your school do? Share in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the 'brave heart' in this lesson?
Madame Marie Curie, the scientist who discovered radium and polonium and dedicated her life to science and humanity.
What was Marie Curie's original name?
Her original name was Maria Sklodowska. She was born in Warsaw, Poland, on 7th November 1867.
When did the Curies discover radium?
They discovered radium in 1902, when they saw soft, bluish-purple light glowing from small bowls in their dark laboratory.
Why did Marie Curie refuse to patent radium?
She believed that radium belonged to the people, not to her, and gave it free to the world.
How many Nobel Prizes did Marie Curie win?
Two: the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903, shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, and the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1911.
Summary in English
Maria Skłodowska was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1867. Her dream was to study science in Paris, but her father could not afford it. She worked as a governess to save a little money, and finally went to Paris to study physics and mathematics at the Sorbonne.
In Paris she married the scientist Pierre Curie. Working in a poor, shabby laboratory, the couple studied radioactivity and discovered two new elements, polonium and radium. In 1903 they shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Henri Becquerel.
In 1906 Pierre was killed in a street accident, but Marie carried on their work alone. In 1911 she won a second Nobel Prize, in Chemistry. She refused to patent her discoveries so that everyone could benefit, and her work helped medicine, including the treatment of cancer.
मराठीत सारांश (Summary in Marathi)
मारिया स्क्लोडोव्स्का यांचा जन्म १८६७ मध्ये पोलंडमधील वॉर्सा येथे झाला. पॅरिसमध्ये विज्ञान शिकण्याचे त्यांचे स्वप्न होते, पण वडिलांना तो खर्च परवडत नव्हता. थोडे पैसे वाचवण्यासाठी त्यांनी गव्हर्नेस म्हणून काम केले आणि शेवटी पॅरिसला जाऊन सोरबॉन विद्यापीठात भौतिकशास्त्र आणि गणिताचे शिक्षण घेतले.
पॅरिसमध्ये त्यांनी शास्त्रज्ञ पियरे क्युरी यांच्याशी लग्न केले. एका गरीब, मोडकळीस आलेल्या प्रयोगशाळेत काम करत या दांपत्याने किरणोत्सर्गाचा अभ्यास केला आणि पोलोनियम व रेडियम ही दोन नवी मूलद्रव्ये शोधली. १९०३ मध्ये त्यांना हेन्री बेक्वेरेल यांच्यासोबत भौतिकशास्त्राचा नोबेल पुरस्कार विभागून मिळाला.
१९०६ मध्ये पियरे यांचा रस्त्यावरील अपघातात मृत्यू झाला, पण मेरी यांनी एकटीने काम सुरू ठेवले. १९११ मध्ये त्यांना रसायनशास्त्राचा दुसरा नोबेल पुरस्कार मिळाला. सर्वांना फायदा व्हावा म्हणून त्यांनी आपल्या शोधांचे पेटंट घेण्यास नकार दिला; त्यांच्या कार्यामुळे वैद्यकशास्त्राला, कर्करोगावरील उपचारांसह, मोठी मदत झाली.
Theme and Message (मध्यवर्ती कल्पना)
Hard work, sacrifice and a selfless love of knowledge can overcome poverty and grief, and great discoveries should serve all humanity.
परिश्रम, त्याग आणि ज्ञानावरील निःस्वार्थ प्रेम यांनी गरिबी आणि दुःखावर मात करता येते, आणि महान शोध संपूर्ण मानवजातीच्या सेवेसाठी असावेत.
Useful Words (शब्दार्थ)
| Word | मराठी अर्थ | Use it in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| governess | घरी शिकवणारी शिक्षिका | She worked as a governess for a rich family. |
| radioactivity | किरणोत्सर्ग | Marie Curie studied radioactivity. |
| element | मूलद्रव्य | Radium is a chemical element. |
| patent | एकस्व, पेटंट | He took a patent for his invention. |
| perseverance | चिकाटी | Her perseverance led to success. |
| humanity | मानवता, मानवजात | Doctors serve humanity. |
For the Exam (परीक्षेसाठी)
- Be ready to write about Marie Curie’s qualities (hard work, courage, selflessness) with examples from her life.
- The activities practise object, complement and adverbial, conjunctions and prefixes and suffixes. The lesson also has many passive sentences (for example, “Pierre was knocked down”). Revise Lesson 9: Passive Voice and practise in the passive voice practice set.
Think and Write (विचार करा, लिहा)
- Why did Marie Curie refuse to patent her discoveries? Do you agree with her?
- Write about a woman scientist from India whom you admire.
- Write a paragraph on ‘Science should serve humanity’.
🎮 Practice Games: A Brave Heart Dedicated to Science and Humanity
Extra practice for revision, beyond the textbook activities. Play every game, then check your total score and stars! (उजळणीसाठी खेळ.)
🎬 Marie Curie’s life in order
Put the events in order.
A brave heart
- Maria was born in Warsaw in 1867.
- She worked as a governess to save money.
- She studied physics and mathematics in Paris.
- She married Pierre Curie.
- They discovered polonium and radium.
- They shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903.
- Pierre died in a street accident.
- She won a second Nobel Prize, in Chemistry, in 1911.
🔤 Word meanings
🎯 Tap the English word and its Marathi meaning.
English ↔ मराठी
⚡ Quick quiz
👉 Tap the correct answer.
Which two elements did the Curies discover?
Answer: Polonium was named after Poland, her homeland.
Why did Marie refuse to patent her discoveries?
Answer: Her work was dedicated to humanity.
What was special about her Nobel Prizes?
Answer: Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911).
How did her work help medicine?
Answer: Radium was used in radiation therapy.
Online test · 15 questions
4.6 A Brave Heart Dedicated to Science and Humanity: Lesson Test
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शिक्षकांसाठी: धडा शिकवून झाल्यावर ही test वर्गाला पाठवा. प्रत्येक विद्यार्थ्याचे गुण तुम्हाला आपोआप मिळतील.
These are original study notes and answers by englishresources.in to help you revise. Read the lesson in your Balbharati textbook first: these notes do not replace it. Only short phrases from the lesson and the activities are quoted, for reference.