A Nobel Prize is considered by most people one of the highest international honours a person can receive.
As you know, the prizes were started by a Swede called Alfred Nobel. He was born in Stockholm, the capital of
Sweden. Alfred Nobel was a great scientist. He made two important inventions, and so he became very rich.
Although he was rich, Nobel was not a happy man. He never married or had children. Also, he was a sick man
during his large part of life. When he died at the age of 63, he left a fund of $9,000,000. The money was to be
used in giving prizes to those who made great achievements in physics,chemistry (化学), medicine and literature
(文学), and for world peace. 
          The first Nobel Prizes were given on December 10,1901, five years after Nobel's death. Since then many
famous people from all over the world have been given Nobel Prizes for their achievements. 
          Each prize has three parts. The first part is a gold medal. Second, a winner of a Nobel Prize is given a
diploma saying that he has been given the prize. The third part of the prize is a large amount of money about
$40,000. 
          Often a prize is given to just one person,but not always. Sometimes a prize is shared. It may be given to
two or more people who have worked together. It is also sometimes true that a prize is not given at all if there
is no great achievement. In 1972, for example, no Nobel Peace Prize was given.

1. When was Alfred Nobel born?

A．In 1938.
B．In 1833.
C．In 1896.
D．In 1906.

2. What kind of person would you say Alfred Nobel was?

3. The underlined word "diploma" in the passage most probably means__________.

A．certificate
B．letter
C．ticket
D．card

4. How many persons is a Nobel Prize given to?

A．Only one person.
B．Two persons.
C．Three persons.
D．Not always one person.