15.4 Words and Phrases

Vocabulary

Word Meaning Example sentence
physicist a scientist who studies physics Bibha became a noted physicist.
pioneering among the first to do something new Her pioneering work opened new paths.
cosmic rays high-energy particles from space She studied cosmic rays for years.
particle a tiny piece of matter A meson is a kind of particle.
research careful study to discover new facts She devoted her life to research.
barrier an obstacle that blocks progress She broke many a social barrier.
perseverance steady effort despite difficulty Her perseverance led to success.
oppressive harsh and unfairly restrictive She faced oppressive expectations.
recognition public acknowledgement of worth Her work deserved more recognition.
faculty the teaching/research staff of an institution She joined the faculty of TIFR.
nominate to put forward for an award She was nominated for a Nobel Prize.
inspire to fill others with the urge to do something Her life continues to inspire girls.

Phrases and expressions

Expression What it means
break barriers to overcome obstacles, especially social ones
beam of light (here) a guiding inspiration for others
an eye for a special ability to notice or do something
pave the way to make future progress possible for others

Exam Tip This chapter mixes science words (physicist, cosmic rays, particle, meson) with achievement words (pioneering, perseverance, recognition). Learn both groups - exam questions often test the science terms and ask about the qualities that made her great.

Use what you’ve learnt

Fill each blank: physicist, perseverance, barriers, cosmic rays, recognition.

  1. Bibha Chowdhuri was a pioneering ___.
  2. She studied the mysterious ___ from space.
  3. Through ___, she overcame great difficulties.
  4. She broke many social ___ for women.
  5. For long, her work received too little ___.
  1. physicist   2. cosmic rays   3. perseverance   4. barriers   5. recognition