B

He is a lesson to every boy who ever picked up a basketball and dreamed that it would change his life.

The lights were never brighter and the crowds were never bigger for a homegrown sports hero than they were a quarter-century ago for Ray Hall. But his athletic achievements, as impressive as they are, are to my mind not what is most admirable about the man.

Known as “Sugar Ray” in his teens, Hall was rated among the country’s top 25 high school basketball players. An inner-city kid from a solid family, Hall took on the challenge of lifting Canisius College — still recovering from its failure — back to respectability, rejecting more favorable offers. His status of a savior (救世主) brought more pressure than any 18-year-old should have to handle. However, I watched him mature into the player who led Canisius back to daylight.

After college Hall played professionally in Italy and Greece for over 10 years until a car accident at 32 ended his basketball career. The news that he would never play again shocked Hall but unlike so many others he was ready for life after basketball. When I met Hall — still fit at 46 — for lunch Monday, he wore a cut-sharp gray suit, designer tie and blazing white shirt that screamed Success. “That was always the question — when the cheers end, where do you go? Who do you turn to?” he said. “It starts and ends with that person in the mirror.”

Hall got the concept of academics-first from his parents. He graduated from Canisius a semester early. “No matter how good of an athlete you are, you are just one injury away from losing it all,” he said. “But if you take care of things academically, you are prepared until you leave this earth.”

For the past 14 years, he has been in a computer sales job at Ingram Micro. He married his college sweetheart. They have three kids and a nice house in the suburbs. He figured out early what others learn too late: Athletics is part of a journey, not the destination.

Congratulations, Ray, you made it. In more ways than one.          

1.Ray was regarded as a savior because ________.

A．he liked to take on challenges

B．he helped his team to regain its glory

C．he was faithful to his hometown city

D．he fought hard against failure at a young age

2.According to the writer, which of the following best describes Ray’s success?

A．Unlike other athletes, he was academically superior.

B．He defeated his injury and returned to the playground.

C．He enjoys a successful job and a happy family.

D．He has gained impressive athletic achievements.

3.What’s the right order of the events related to Ray?

a. He was rated among the best high school basketball players.

b. He was in a car accident.

c. He graduated from Canisius College.

d. He started his computer sales job.

e. He gave up his athletic career.

A．a, c, b, e, d         B．a, c, e, b, d         C．c, a, b, d, e         D．c, a, e, b, d

4.We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．Ray was from an academic family

B．Ray was very mature in his teens

C．Ray was once desperate facing the cruel reality

D．athletics was not Ray’s final goal in life

5.What was the writer’s intention in writing this passage?

A．To describe the difficulties of being a professional athlete.

B．To explain the importance of choosing the right college.

C．To emphasize the need for a good education.

D．To warn against playing professional basketball.

 

In the office of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, there is a picture of Catherine the Great, the legendary Russian Empress. When asked why she has the picture, Merkel says, “She was a strong woman”. Many say the same of Merkel.

The most powerful woman in the world, according to US Forbes magazine, was in China last week. She came to discuss trade and environmental issues with China’s top leaders. Germany’s first woman leader is known as a brave and practical statesman(政治家). Even since her time at school, she had the habit of getting everything in order. Every day before doing her homework she would clean the desk and think about what to do next. “I prefer a long time for full preparations to make my decision. But once I decide, I will stand up for what I believe,” Merkel said.

Perhaps it was good habits that helped her do well in her studies. At 32, she got a doctorate (博士学位) in physics and then she worked as a researcher.

However, the life of a scholar couldn’t put off her love of politics. While working in labs, Merkel took time off to read political books and at last joined a political party. “Her calmness helped her stand out in the party. She could always find a way out while others felt hopeless,” said one of her old friends.

In her first big political job as Minister for the Environment in 1994, her scientific background proved very useful. In 2005 she became Germany’s youngest chancellor since the second World War.

Now half way through her four-year term, the 53-year-old woman has made a name for herself both in Germany and abroad. At the EU summit in 2005 when France quarreled with Britain over the EU budget(预算), some people believed the EU was close to breaking down. But Merkel didn’t give up. She shuttled(穿梭) between the heads of the two powers and had them reached an agreement.

“Strength comes from composure(镇定) and courage. Many people say I am a strong woman. But I would rather say I have perseverance,” said Merkel.

Why does Merkel put a picture of Catherine the Great on the wall of her office?

A. Because Catherine the Great is beautiful.

B. Because Merkel wants to be a strong woman too.

C. Because Merkel likes the drawing skill of it.

D. Because it is very expensive.

What is the correct order of the following events?

a. became the German Chancellor

b. got a doctorate in physics and then she worked as a researcher

c. join a political party

d. visit China

e. take part in the EU summit

f. as Minister for the Environment

A. bcafde         B. cbfdae          C. bcfaed           D. cbfaed

Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Merkel usually is hurry to make a decision when facing difficulties.

B. At the EU summit in 2005, the relationship between French and Britain was in tension.

C. Merkel is a well-known leader all over the world.

D. She is outstanding because of her calmness.

What is the best title for the passage?

A. An excellent lecturer               B. Germany’s iron lady

C. The change of a scholar           D. The youngest chancellor

In the office of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, there is a picture of Catherine the Great, the legendary Russian Empress. When asked why she has the picture, Merkel says, “She was a strong woman”. Many say the same of Merkel.

The most powerful woman in the world, according to US Forbes magazine, was in China last week. She came to discuss trade and environmental issues with China’s top leaders. Germany’s first woman leader is known as a brave and practical statesman(政治家). Even since her time at school, she had the habit of getting everything in order. Every day before doing her homework she would clean the desk and think about what to do next. “I prefer a long time for full preparations to make my decision. But once I decide, I will stand up for what I believe,” Merkel said.

Perhaps it was good habits that helped her do well in her studies. At 32, she got a doctorate (博士学位) in physics and then she worked as a researcher.

However, the life of a scholar couldn’t put off her love of politics. While working in labs, Merkel took time off to read political books and at last joined a political party. “Her calmness helped her stand out in the party. She could always find a way out while others felt hopeless,” said one of her old friends.

In her first big political job as Minister for the Environment in 1994, her scientific background proved very useful. In 2005 she became Germany’s youngest chancellor since the second World War.

Now half way through her four-year term, the 53-year-old woman has made a name for herself both in Germany and abroad. At the EU summit in 2005 when France quarreled with Britain over the EU budget(预算), some people believed the EU was close to breaking down. But Merkel didn’t give up. She shuttled(穿梭) between the heads of the two powers and had them reached an agreement.

“Strength comes from composure(镇定) and courage. Many people say I am a strong woman. But I would rather say I have perseverance,” said Merkel.

1. Why does Merkel put a picture of Catherine the Great on the wall of her office?

A. Because Catherine the Great is beautiful.

B. Because Merkel wants to be a strong woman too.

C. Because Merkel likes the drawing skill of it.

D. Because it is very expensive.

2.What is the correct order of the following events?

a. became the German Chancellor

b. got a doctorate in physics and then she worked as a researcher

c. join a political party

d. visit China

e. take part in the EU summit

f. as Minister for the Environment

A. bcafde         B. cbfdae          C. bcfaed           D. cbfaed

3.Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Merkel usually is hurry to make a decision when facing difficulties.

B. At the EU summit in 2005, the relationship between French and Britain was in tension.

C. Merkel is a well-known leader all over the world.

D. She is outstanding because of her calmness.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A. An excellent lecturer                     B. Germany’s iron lady

C. The change of a scholar                D. The youngest chancellor

 

 

In the office of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, there is a picture of Catherine the Great, the legendary Russian Empress．When asked why she has the picture, Merkel says, “She was a strong woman”．Many say the same of Merkel．

The most powerful woman in the world, according to US Forbes magazine, was in China last week．She came to discuss trade and environmental issues with China’s top leaders．Germany’s first woman leader is known as a brave and practical statesman（政治家）．Even since her time at school, she had the habit of getting everything in order．Every day before doing her homework she would clean the desk and think about what to do next．“I prefer a long time for full preparations to make my decision．But once I decide, I will stand up for what I believe,” Merkel said．

Perhaps it was good habits that helped her do well in her studies．At 32, she got a doctorate （博士学位） in physics and then she worked as a researcher．

However, the life of a scholar couldn’t put off her love of politics．While working in labs, Merkel took time off to read political books and at last joined a political party．“Her calmness helped her stand out in the party．She could always find a way out while others felt hopeless,” said one of her old friends．

In her first big political job as Minister for the Environment in 1994, her scientific background proved very useful．In 2005 she became Germany’s youngest chancellor since the second World War．

Now half way through her four-year term, the 53-year-old woman has made a name for herself both in Germany and abroad．At the EU summit in 2005 when France quarreled with Britain over the EU budget（预算）, some people believed the EU was close to breaking down．But Merkel didn’t give up．She shuttled（穿梭） between the heads of the two powers and had them reached an agreement．

“Strength comes from composure（镇定） and courage．Many people say I am a strong woman．But I would rather say I have perseverance,” said Merkel．

1.Why does Merkel put a picture of Catherine the Great on the wall of her office?

       A．Because Catherine the Great is beautiful．

       B．Because Merkel wants to be a strong woman too．

       C．Because Merkel likes the drawing skill of it．

       D．Because it is very expensive．

2.What is the correct order of the following events?

       a．became the German Chancellor

       b．got a doctorate in physics and then she worked as a researcher

       c．join a political party

       d．visit China

       e．take part in the EU summit

       f．as Minister for the Environment

       A．bcafde         B．cbfdae          C．bcfaed           D．cbfaed

3.Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

       A．Merkel usually is hurry to make a decision when facing difficulties．

       B．At the EU summit in 2005, the relationship between French and Britain was in tension．

       C．Merkel is a well-known leader all over the world．

       D．She is outstanding because of her calmness．

4.What is the best title for the passage?

       A．An excellent lecturer                            B．Germany’s iron lady

       C．The change of a scholar                       D．The youngest chancellor