Most of us know about the Nobel Prize, especially the Nobel Peace Prize, but few of us know anything about the man who set them up. His name was Alfred Nobel. He was a great scientist and inventor himself. Besides, he had a big business. His business may surprise you. He made and sold explosives. His companies even made and sold weapons. Isn’t this something that surprises you? The man who made money from weapons should set up the Peace Prize?
Though Alfred Nobel had a lot of money from weapons, he hated war. He hoped that there would be no war in the world. He was one of the richest in Europe. When he died in 1896, he left behind him a lot of money and his famous will. According to his will, most of his money was placed in a fund. He wanted the interest from the fund to be used as prizes every year. We know them as the Nobel Prizes. The Nobel Prizes are international. Alfred Nobel wanted the winners to be chosen for their work, not the country they came from.
Alfred Nobel had given his whole life to his studies and work and to the benefits of mankind. He made money all by his own efforts, but he left the world share his wealth. His inventions and wealth stay with the world for ever.
1. Alfred’s business was _____.
A. making and selling explosives B. not making and selling weapons
C. making explosives and selling weapons D. making weapons and selling explosives
2. Nobel wanted to set up the Nobel Peace Prize because _____.
A. he made enough money
B. he hated war
C. he wanted to get more interest from the fund
D. he liked to live in a peaceful world
3. Nobel Prizes come from _____.
A. all Nobel’s money in the fund
B. all Nobel’s money in his company
C. all the interest from the fund
D. some of the interest in the fund
4. Nobel was a (an) _____ person in the world.
A. interesting B. unselfish C. kind-hearted D. richest
5. Which statement of the following is Right according to the passage?
A. Nobel set up his company to sell clothes.
B. Most of Nobel’s money was used for the world Wars.
C. Nobel Prizes are only for some people from some special countries.
D. Nobel worked hard in his life and saved lots of money for the world to share.