第一段Michael Faraday (1791--1867) was a great scientist who discovered many important things about electricity. He invented the dynamo (发电机) ,from which we still obtain electricity.
第二段Faraday’s parents were very poor. His father was often ill. He could not afford to send his son, Michael, to school regularly. Sometimes he taught his son reading, writing and arithmetic at home. When Michael was ten years old, he started work as an errand (差使) boy for a kind-hearted bookseller. His employer, Mr Riebau ,had noticed a poor boy in torn clothes reading books on the stall (书摊) in front of his shop. He took pity on the boy and paid him eighty cents a week. Later on, he taught Michael how to bind (装订) books.
第三段While he was working, Michael read many of the scientific papers which he had to bind into books. He went to public lectures by Sir Humphrey Davy, who invented a safety lamp for use in coalmines. Michael made notes for everything Davy said. Then he bound them into a book , together with fine illustrations (插图) of all Davy’s experiments. Michael took the book to Sir Humphrey’s house and wrote a letter applying for (申请) a job.
第四段Davy agreed to interview Michael and was very surprised when a poorly dressed young man arrived. However, he gave him a job as his personal assistant. After this, Davy and Faraday traveled all over Europe, and Faraday met many leading scientists. He also helped Davy with his experiments.
第五段Davy died in 1829, but Faraday continued his own experiments. He taught at London University and worked for the government and private firms. One of his greatest inventions was the dynamo. Faraday discovered that if a wire is moved near a powerful magnet (磁铁) , a current of electricity is produced. The magnet produces an electric current in the wire. Modern vehicles (交通工具) use a type of generator, and many bicycles have a dynamo which is turned by one of the wheels. Power from a bicycle or car engine is used to light lamps at the front and rear (后面). In a car, electricity from the generator can be stored in a battery. Then it can be used to provide light or power (to start the car and for other purpose.).Faraday made many important discoveries and inventions. He was married but he had no children of his own. However, he was a kind man and gave special lectures for young people every Christmas.
第六段To keep his theory alive, these lectures are still given every year in London.