多活了50年
A family spokesman confirmed in a statement that Stephen Hawking had died early Wednesday at his home in Cambridge, England, at the age of 76.
一位家族發言人證實，史蒂芬霍金於週三早晨在英國劍橋家中過世，享年76歲。
confirm(v.)證實
As a theoretical physicist, Hawking’s insights have shaped modern cosmology and inspired millions of people worldwide.
身為理論物理學家，霍金的見解形塑了現代宇宙學，啟發了全球數百萬人。
theoretical physicist理論物理學家experimental physicist實驗物理學家cosmology(n.)宇宙起源論;宇宙學
He is best known for work on the origins of the universe and the properties of black holes.
他最有名的是關於宇宙起源和黑洞屬性的研究。
property(n.)特性;屬性
Other than trying to unravel the mysteries of the universe, Hawking was also one of the world’s most popular science authors, trying to make physics comprehensible to the layman.
除了試圖破解宇宙之謎之外，霍金也是世界最受歡迎的科學書作者，他試著讓外行人也能讀懂物理學。
other than~除了…之外，還有…=in addition to~unravel(v.)揭開、解開(謎題等)、闡明comprehensible(adj.)容易理解的=easy to understandlayman(n.)外行;門外漢
Hawking rose to stardom after his book “A Brief History of Time” sold 10m copies and was translated into 40 different languages.
霍金的著作《時間簡史》暢銷1千萬本，被翻譯成40種不同的語言，讓他聲名大噪。
rise to stardom=rise to fame成名
Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, at age 21.
霍金21歲時被診斷出罹患漸凍人症。
be diagnosed with~被診斷出患有…amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 肌萎縮性脊髓側索硬化症、漸凍人症
At the time, doctors predicted he would live for only two more years. But he defied medical science and lived 50 years longer than a person afflicted with the muscle-degenerating disease is supposed to.
當時醫師預測他只能再活兩年，但他打破了醫學史的紀錄，比一般漸凍人多活了50年。
defy(v.)對抗;違抗;反抗be afflicted with~罹患…疾病=suffer from~muscle-degenerating(adj.)肌肉退化的
The disease eventually confined him in a wheelchair and took away his ability to speak.
這個疾病最後使得他必須靠輪椅行動，也使他失去說話的能力。
confine(v.)把…侷限在，限制
He had to rely on a computer and a voice synthesizer to communicate. But the scientist had an absolute determination not to let anything get in his way.
霍金必須仰賴電腦和語音合成器溝通，但他有十足的決心，任何事都阻擋不了他。
determination(n.)決心、毅力=resolution=willpower
Hawking said his physical limitations had ignited a fresh sense of purpose for his life and freed his mind to develop brilliant new theories.
霍金説身體的侷限為他的人生點燃了新的明確目標，讓他的心靈解放，發展出許多精彩的新理論。
limitation(n.)限制、侷限ignite(v.)點燃、使燃燒、激起=spark=inspire
“Although there was a cloud hanging over my future, I found, to my surprise, that I was enjoying life in the present more than before. I began to make progress with my research,” he once said.
霍金曾說，雖然烏雲籠罩著我的未來，但我發現，令我驚訝的是，我比起以往更享受當下的人生，我開始在研究上有了突破。