SHANGHAI-Famed Chinese scientist Qian Weichang died here on Friday morning, saddening millions of his countrymen.
He was 98.
Qian, a pioneer in mechanics and applied mathematics in modern China, was one of the three famous "Qians" in China's science and technology field. He was well known alongside Qian Xuesen, the father of China's space program, and Qian Sanqiang, a nuclear physicist who oversaw the development of China's nuclear program.
Wu Shuqing, former president of Peking University, said Qian was an internationally well-known scholar whose modesty and conduct has set a good example for following generations.
After learning about Qian's death, millions of Chinese people offered their condolences (吊唁) online.
Many students from Shanghai University, where Qian was a former president, burst into tears after hearing the news, saying it was a great loss to the university and to China.
For those off campus for the summer vocation, many visited their university website, which had been turned gray. Some said they planned to return to the campus to mourn him.
Many of those still on campus voluntarily joined preparations for a mourning (哀悼) service that will begin at the university on Saturday.
The university has set up two mourning halls at two of its campuses and publicized the mourning time and phone numbers at the two sites.
Qian was born in Wuxi, Jiangsu, in 1912. Although he was initially not good at science, he chose to study physics at Tsinghua University because he believed science and technology were the keys to strengthening China in the 1930s.
He graduated from Tsinghua in 1935, and earned his PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Toronto in Canada in 1942.
He returned to China in 1946 and became a mechanics professor and later vice-president at Tsinghua University.
Qian made great contributions to the engineering applications of sciences, such as the fluttering of airplanes, armor penetration, the design of instruments and pipe systems.
He is an academician (院士) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
36. Qian Weichang used to work at ______.
A. Tsinghua University and Peking University
B. Shanghai University and Toronto University
C. Peking University and Shanghai University
D. Tsinghua University and Shanghai University
37. According to the passage, the students expressed their sadness to Qian's death in the following ways EXCEPT that they ______.
A. held mourning meetings in the university
B. could not stop crying for losing him
C. went to the university to mourn him themselves
D. offered their help to the mourning service
38. The passage tells us that ______ made Qian Weichang aim at science in his university time.
A. his talents at study
B. his failures at science
C. the family's expectation
D. his love to the country
39. Which of the following statements is WRONG according to the passage?
A. Qian Weichang graduated from Tsinghua University.
B. Qian Weichang used to work side by side with Qian Xuesen and Qian Sanqiang.
C. Qian Weichang spent at least four years studying and living abroad.
D. Qian Weichang was not good at science before he went to university.
40. What is the best title of this passage?
A. Respected Scientist Passes on at 98
B. The Great Life of the Scientist-Qian Weichang
C. The Whole Nation Mourn Qian Weichang
D. A 98-year Old Man Passed in Shanghai
