تمرین مکالمه

The Eureka Moment

Sometimes our best ideas come when we least expect them.

When do our best ideas come? Sometimes our best ideas come when we least expect them.

For Greek mathematician, Archimedes, this happened during a trip to the local baths.

For Archimedes, did this happen during a trip to the local market? No, it happened during a trip to the local baths.

The king of Syracuse had put him in charge of finding out how to detect fraud in the manufacture of a golden crown.

What did the king of Syracuse put Archimedes in charge of finding out? He put him in charge of finding out how to detect fraud in the manufacture of a golden crown.

The king suspected his goldsmith was leaving out some of the gold and substituting it with silver.

Did the king suspect his goldsmith was leaving out some of the sliver and substituting it with gold? No, he suspected his goldsmith was leaving out some of the gold and substituting it with silver.

As Archimedes relaxed, he saw that the more his body sunk into the bath, the more the level of the water rose.

As he relaxed, what did Archimedes see in the bath? He saw that the more his body sunk into the bath, the more the level of the water rose.

He suddenly realized that the volume and purity of the crown could be measured using water displacement.

Did he slowly realize that the volume and purity of the crown could be measured using water displacement? No, he suddenly realized that the volume and purity of the crown could be measured using water displacement.

Silver weighs less than gold, so if the crown wasn’t pure gold, but actually a mixture of silver and gold, it would displace more water.

Which weighs less, silver or gold? Silver weighs less than gold. And if the crown wasn’t pure gold, would it displace more or less water? If the crown wasn’t pure gold, it would displace more water.

At that moment, he jumped out of the bath and ran home naked, crying “Eureka! Eureka!” meaning “I’ve found it! I’ve found it!”

What did Archimedes cry when he jumped out of the bath? He cried, “Eureka! Eureka!” What does eureka mean? Eureka means ‘I’ve found it.’

To this day, having a sudden flash of insight into a difficult problem is called a eureka moment.

What is a Eureka moment? Having a sudden flash of insight into a difficult problem is a eureka moment. Have you ever had a eureka moment?

The history of science and invention is chock full of eureka moments.

Is the history of science and invention devoid of eureka moments? No, the history of science and invention is chock full of eureka moments.

Sir Issac Newton, while sitting under the shade of a tree, was suddenly struck in the head by a falling apple.

What happened to Sir Issac Newton? While sitting under the shade of a tree, he was suddenly struck in the head by a falling apple.

In that moment, Newton came up with the theory of gravity.

In that moment, what did Newton come up with? In that moment, Newton came up with the theory of gravity.

Albert Einstein, after many months of trying to solve intense math problems, let his imagination wander.

Was Einstein trying to solve intense chemistry problems? No, he was trying to solve intense math problems. What did Einstein do after many months of trying to solve intense math problems? After many months of trying to solve intense math problems, Einstein let his imagination wander.

He saw a moving train being struck by two bolts of lightning at the same time, one at the front and one at the back.

What was happening to the moving train in Einstein’s imagination? The moving train was being struck by two bolts of lightning at the same time, one at the front and one at the back.

He then wondered if a person standing beside the track and a person on the train would see the strikes as simultaneous. In that instant, the theory of relativity was born.

What was born in that instant? In that instant, the theory of relativity was born.

While we may never have the kind of grand realizations that Newton and Einstein had, eureka moments happen to us all the time.

How often do eureka moments happen to us? Eureka moments happen to us all the time.

Do you remember the last time you suddenly got the punchline of a joke, or remembered a person’s name that was on the tip of your tongue? That’s a eureka moment.

Give two examples of a eureka moment. Getting the punchline of a joke or remembering a person’s name that was on the tip of your tongue are examples of Eureka moments.

Studies by neuroscientists show that the kind of insight contained in a eureka moment is actually the result of a much longer creative process.

What is the kind of insight contained in a eureka moment the result of? The kind of insight contained in a eureka moment is actually the result of a much longer creative process.

We first use our analytical minds to turn a problem over and over in search of a solution with no success. But when we finally relax, give up thinking, and turn our attention inward, the insight suddenly arrives.

When does the insight in a eureka moment suddenly arrive? When we finally relax, give up thinking, and turn our attention inward, the insight suddenly arrives.

So the next time you are struggling with a difficult problem, maybe it is best to be patient, do something relaxing, and let the solution come to you. Either that, or go sit under an apple tree. Coconut trees are not recommended.

The next time you are struggling with a difficult problem, what might be the best thing to do? The next time you are struggling with a difficult problem, maybe it is best to be patient, do something relaxing, and let the solution come to you. Why are coconut trees not recommended?