【英语时差8,16】伽利略—现代科学之父

 What makes Galileo a science hero? For one thing, he moved human knowledge forward against outstanding prejudice and even persecution¹. Back in 1616, when Galileo argued that Copernicus had been right in suggesting the earth moves around the sun, he was met with hostility² by the Catholic Church. They believed the earth stood still while everything else went around it. And the medieval church was powerful enough to punish and even execute people who disagreed with them!

1 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

2 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。