Nicolaus Copernicus: Moving Astronomy Forward
From Bologna, Copernicus went on to the University of Padua to study medicine, which at the time was closely linked to astrology. While studying how the movements of the heavents' spheres affected a person's health, Copernicus became an expert on the night sky. Settling at the University of Ferrara, his fourth and final university, Copernicus obtained his first and only degree: a doctorate in canon law. With his broad education complete, Copernicus returned to Frombork in 1510 to resume his duties with the church.
The revolutionary astronomer
In Copernicus' day, Europe believed the Earth sat motionless at the center of the universe. People were convinced the sun, moon and planets revolved around the Earth, and the second-century Greek astronomer Ptolemy had "proven" it with mathematics. Although busy with church work: Copernicus made time for his scientific work, finding several problems with Ptolemy's Earth-centered model. More significantly, Copernicus found that a sun-centered model with a revolving Earth fit the data much better. Although centuries of tradition and superstition suggested otherwise, mathematical calculations convinced Copernicus that Earth was not fixed at the universe's center. Instead, he realized Earth moved with the other planets in yearly revolutions around the sun.
resume v. 重新開始/停頓後再繼續
=> start to do it again after a perioud of not doing it
eg: The manager resumed his job right after his surgery.
=> 手術之後，經理就立刻恢復上班。
eg: Bobby resumed reading after he answered the phone.
=> Bobby接電話之後，又開始閱讀。
revolve v. 旋轉/運轉
=> move in a circular motion around a central point
eg: There are many satellites revolving around the Earth.
=> 地球周圍有許多人造衛星圍繞運轉。
eg: The Earth revolves around the Sun once a year.
=> 地球每年繞太陽公轉一次。
revolve around someone or something 以某個對象為中心
eg: Our lives revolve around our kids.
=> 我們的生活以孩子為中心。
superstition n. 迷信/迷信行為
eg: Few people still believe in the old superstition that the number 13 is unlucky.
=> 很少人仍然相信數字第13是不幸的老迷信。
eg: Superstition and ignorance kept the tribes people from communicating with the outside world.
=> 迷信和無知讓這些部落的居民不和外界溝通。
sphere n. 球/球體
canon law 教會法
Ptolemy n. 托勒密
//== Chat room ==//
doctor n. 醫生/博士
a doctor's degree n. 博士學位
= a doctorate n. 博士頭銜/博士學位
= Ph.D.
=> Ph.D 為 Doctor of Philosophy 的縮寫
philosophy 哲學
=> philosophy來自於希臘文的最高學位，意思為愛好智慧
=> 任何一科的最高學位都是 a doctor of philosophy
a Doctor of Philosophy in Literature 文學博士學位
a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics 物理學博士學位
a Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy 哲學博士學位
//== Grammar on the Go ==//
Although busy with various priestly responsibilities, Copernicus made time for his scientlfic work...
=> Although Copernicus was busy with various priestly responsibilitis, he made time for his scientific work.
Although + subject + be + adjective, subject + verb
=> Although + adjective, subject + verb.
eg: Although Andy was angry at his younger brother, he still helped him clean his room.
=> Although angry at his younger brother, Andy still helped him clean his room.
eg: Although Kathy was confused with the map, she didn't want to stop and ask someone for directions.
=> Although confused with the map, Kathy didn't want to stop and ask someone for directions.
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