When the research on the effect of electric fields on E．coli was begun in 1962, it was essential that a biologist–specifically, a microbiologist–contributed to the project．She does not want her name used because she did not become a scientific researcher for fame, but rather for the challenge of putting pieces of a scientific puzzle together．
As a girl, she was inspired by the work of great scientists: she read the story of the cure of malaria in the Panama Canal; she also read a biography of Madame Curie．These accounts inspired her to pursue a career in scientific research．After high school, she worked for the Michigan Department of Health, where she did research in biology and microbiology．There, her colleagues saw her talent and encouraged her to pursue science as a career．She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1948 in medical technology．
When she began working at Michigan State in the early 1960s,
she was balancing the demands of scientific research with the needs
of her family．At that time both of her children were in school．She
would work in the lab in the morning while they were at school,
go home to see them at lunch, return to the lab for the afternoon, go
home for dinner, and return to the lab in the evening, if necessary．
At that time, there were fewer women scientists working than
there are today, but she encountered several in her career．At the
Michigan Department of Health, many of her colleagues were women and, consequently, she did not feel isolated because of her gender–nor did she feel that she was treated differently because she was a woman．
While working at Michigan State, she also felt that she was treated with respect by her peers．Her colleagues, among them doctors and Ph．D．chemists, all treated her as an equal．On the whole, she believes that there is not a great deal of difference between men and women in science．
56．Why does the woman scientist refuse to let out her name?
A．Because she is a shy lady．
B．Because she doesn’t mind her fame．
C．Because she never takes pride in her research．
D．Because she never works for her fame．
57．What is the noble lady scientist really interested in?
A．The life stories of other women scientists．
B．Biology and microbiology．
C．The secret of the success of the other scientists．
D．The difference between men and women scientists．
58．Who helped and encouraged her to carry on her scientific research?
A．Her family and friends． B．Madame Curie．
C．Her colleagues and other scientists． D．Some of the officials．
59．What is the whole passage mainly about?
A．The life story of a famous woman scientist with great success．
B．A brief introduction about an unknown great woman scientist．
C．The new development of a special woman scientist．
D．The secret of an infamous woman scientist．
