Or sign in with your account on:

Not a member yet? Register

Graded Reading - Pre-intermediate - July 2014

Monday, 23 June 2014
Graded Reading - Pre-intermediate - July 2014 Gregor Mendel by unknown author. This image is in the public domain

Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel is considered the father of genetics. Find out more about him in this month's graded reader at a pre-intermediate level.

(Page 1 of 2) « Prev All Pages Next »

Gregor Johann Mendel

Gregor Johann Mendel (20 July 1822 – 6 January 1884) was an Augustinian priest and scientist.

During his childhood, Mendel worked as a gardener, studied beekeeping, and as a young man went to the Philosophical Institute in Olomouc in 1840–1843. Then he entered the Augustinian Abbey of St Thomas in Brno in 1843 where he studied the inheritance of certain characteristics in pea plants.

Mendel published his study in the “Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Brno” in 1866 but it had little impact on the scientific community. His study was criticised at the time, but now everybody considers it a fundamental work.

He is often called the father of genetics for this study. Mendel showed that the inheritance of certain characteristics in pea plants follows particular laws. The significance of Mendel's work was not recognized until the beginning of the 20th century. Its rediscovery formed the foundation of the modern science of genetics.

Gregor Johann Mendel - Comprehension Questions

1. What did Mendel do when he was a child?

2. What is the name of the Abbey where he entered in 1843?

3. Was his work immediately accepted by the scientific community?

4. What type of plants did he study?

5. What science did he contribute to?

(Page 1 of 2)
« Prev All Pages Next » (Page 1 of 2)
Rate this item
(6 votes)
published in July 2014
Read 19024 times
Last modified on Wednesday, 14 February 2018 13:59

Free English lessons in your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter and receive free grammar lessons and exercises, graded readers with comprehension questions, and tips on how to improve your English. And stay updated on the WeLoveTeachingEnglish services.