Stephen Hawking was regarded as one of the most brilliant physicists in history. His work on the ori

4. B    5. C    6. C    7. A
【解析】
这是一篇人物传记。本文介绍了著名的物理学家、宇宙学家斯蒂芬·霍金。他在21岁生日之前被确诊患有卢伽雷氏病，预计活不了多少年了，但霍金克服了重重困难，在此后的几十年里开辟了通向宇宙的坦途。
【4题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段中His work on the origins and structure of the universe, from the Big Bang to black holes, changed the field greatly.可知，他对宇宙起源和结构的研究，从大爆炸到黑洞，极大地改变了这个领域。由此可知，他对大爆炸和黑洞的研究极大地影响了斯蒂芬霍金研究的领域。故选B。
【5题详解】
词句猜测题。根据第一段中His work on the origins and structure of the universe, from the Big Bang to black holes, changed the field greatly.可知，他对宇宙起源和结构的研究，从大爆炸到黑洞，极大地改变了这个领域。由此可知，他研究宇宙。根据第二段He attended University College, Oxford, where he studied physics, despite his father's urging to focus on medicine, Hawking went on to Cambridge to research cosmology.（他就读于牛津大学学院，在那里学习物理学。尽管他父亲敦促他专注于医学，霍金还是继续到剑桥大学研究。）可知， 霍金一开始在牛津大学学习物理学，后来又到了剑桥大学。再根据第三段Yet, Hawking had overcome great difficulties, not only attaining his Ph. D. but also building new roads into the understanding of the universe in the decades since.（然而，霍金克服了重重困难，不仅获得了博士学位，而且在此后的几十年里开辟了通向宇宙的坦途。）可知，霍金应是在剑桥大学读的博士，并且学习的是与宇宙有关的学科。所以cosmology的意思应与宇宙有关。故选C。
【6题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段第一句In early 1963, just before his 2lst birthday, Hawking suffered from a serious disease, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.可知，1963年初，就在霍金21岁生日前夕，他患上了一种严重的疾病，即通常被称为卢伽雷氏症。由此可知，1963年初，斯蒂芬霍金患上了一种严重的疾病。故选C。
【7题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段中A speech-generating device was constructed at Cambridge, combined with a software program, serving as his electronic voice and allowing Hawking to select his words by moving the muscles in his cheek.可知，剑桥大学制造了一个语音生成装置，结合了一 个软件程序，作为霍金的电子声音，并允许霍金通过移动脸颊上的肌肉来选择词语。由此可知，斯蒂芬霍金最后通过使用语音产生装置来表达自己。故选A。