Herta Muller was born in August 1953 in the traditionally German—speaking Nabat region of Romania．

After studying literature between l 973 and l 976，Muller was fired from her first job after refusing to work for Ceausescu’s（齐奥塞斯库）secret police．It was at this time that she decided to devote her life to literature，but she refused to publish her first book Niederungen（Nadirs）in Romania because of attempts by the authorities to censor（审查）it．The manuscript，describing vividly the boring life under Ceausescu’s rule，was taken secretly into West Germany，where it was published in 1984，with Germany’s Spiegel magazine pronouncing her a “discovery”．After being refused permission to move to West Germany in l 985，she was finally allowed to leave in 1987after her sharp criticism of her native country’s rule earned her death threats from the secret police．

The Berlin International Literature Festival described her work as being focused on the non-conformist（不墨守成规者）life in the smallest unit of the dictatorial（独裁的）state，as well as observations from her childhood and village life anti family．

The novel Reisende auf einem Bein （Travelling On One Leg） describes the difficulties of settling anew in foreign surroundings. Alongside other novels about the Ceausescu rule like Herztier （Land of Green Plums） and Heute waer ich mir lidbernicht begegnet （The Appointment）, she has also written a series of political essays.

Besides the prize for her first book, she has received the European Literary Prize "Aristeion",

the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the Kieist Prize, and the Kafka Prize. Now she has added the 2009 Nobel Literature Prize to her glories.

1. When did Herta Muller decide to focus on writing?

A. Between 1973 and 1976. ~            B. When she was fired from her first job.

C. When she published her first book.     D. After she moved to west Germany.

2. Which of the following statements is not true?

A. Her first book was not published in Romania.

B. Her first application for moving to west Germany was refused.

C. Her novel Herztier describes the difficulties of beginning a new life abroad.

D. She wrote many novels and political essays.

3. How many awards has she got so far according to the text?

A. 4             B. 6              C. 5               D. 7

4. What do you think of Herta Muller according to Paragraph 2?

A. Critical        B. Flexible         C. Fearful          D. Optimistic

5. The best title of the text is

A. Herta Muller’s fleeing life.

B. Herta Muller’s literature works.

C. Herta Muiler’s honours.

D. Nobel Literature Prize winner-Herta Muller.