爱因斯坦的“上帝之信”被拍卖，成交价289万美元
A letter penned by one of the greatest minds in history was sold $2.89 million at Christie’s auction house in New York on December 4. Albert Einstein’s 1954 letter to religious philosopher Erik Gutkind is commonly referred to as the “God letter”, and it features Einstein politely but very thoroughly roasting the concept of religion and God in general.
It is considered “one of the statements in the Religion vs Science debate,” said Peter Klarnet, a senior specialist in books and manuscripts at Christie’s auction house. The letter, written in German a year before Einstein’s death, is a reaction to Gutkind’s 1952 book Choose Life: the Biblical Call to Revolt. While Einstein makes it clear he and the philosopher had a lot in common “with regard to the attitude to life and to the human community,” he makes his position on religion clear. “The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still purely legends which are nevertheless pretty childish,” Einstein writes.
Einstein was a German-born Jew who lost his religious faith at a young age. The letter showed his love and shared identity with Jewish people. The letter, which was sold on eBay in 2012, was shown at the Pace Gallery in San Francisco in late November until its December 4 auction in New York City.
It’s not the only missive of Einstein’s that has attracted high interest at Christie’s. In 2002, the auction house sold a typed 1939 letter from Einstein to then-US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The letter warned Roosevelt of the dangers of nuclear bomb technology. It sold for more than $2 million.
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1.What does Einstein’s 1954 letter mainly talk about?
A The dangers of nuclear bomb technology.
B The belief that he firmly held in God.
C The reason why he wrote to Erik Gutkind.
D The opinion of his about the concept of religion and God.
解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句Albert Einstein’s 1954 letter...but very thoroughly roasting the concept of religion and God in general可知这封信主要表达了他对宗教和上帝的观点。故选D。
2.When did Albert Einstein pass away?
A In 1954.
B In 1953.
C In 1955.
D In 1952.
解析：选C。数字计算题。根据第二段第二句的The letter, written in German a year before Einstein’s death可知这封信写于爱因斯坦去世的前一年，而由第一段最后一句可知写信的年份是1954年，由此可推知爱因斯坦于1955年去世。故选C。
3.Which of the following about the letter is NOT true?
A The letter is Einstein’s comments on reading Gutkind’s 1952 book.
B Einstein showed something in common with Gutkind in the letter.
C The letter didn’t show when Einstein lost his religious faith.
D In 2012, the letter was sold at the Pace Gallery in San Francisco.
解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第三段第二句The letter, which was sold on eBay in 2012, was shown at the Pace Gallery in San Francisco in late November until its December 4 auction in New York City. 可知这封信2012年是在eBay上出售，而不是在the Pace Gallery。故选D。
4.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A Einstein had made much money.
B Einstein was concerned about war.
C Einstein’s letters are well welcomed.
D Einstein made friends with Roosevelt.
解析：选C。主旨大意题。根据最后一段的内容可知此段主要讲述了爱因斯坦被拍卖的信件不止一封，他的信件在拍卖行极受关注，十分受欢迎。故选C。