First lady Michelle Obama turns 50 on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014.

Michelle Obama has spent the first half-century of her life breaking barriers and checking off a series of firsts. Now, as she reaches her milestone birthday Friday, the nation will be watching to see in what other areas she will leave her mark.

Five years after moving into the White House, and without a re-election campaign to worry about, she has more room to relax in her role and, political watchers say, possibly become more vocal (声音的) on political issues in the three years left in office.

So far, critics have complained about Michelle’s silence on issues where they expected to hear her voice: Last year, at the start of her husband's second term, she disappointed advocates for tighter gun-control measures after she failed to push harder on the issue in response to the massacre (残杀) at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. She also disappointed some feminists (女权主义者) who wanted her to defend their causes instead of falling back on her self-described role as the nation’s “mom-in-chief.” Nor did she handle racial issues during her second term, as some had expected.

“The most important thing to remember is, whether you are black, white or Hispanic, you’re the first lady and the president of all the people in the United States. That’s a huge melting pot, so to reinforce (强化)that she's African American over anything else would not be wise,” said Anita McBride, who directs programming and national conferences on the legacies (遗产) of America’s first ladies and their historical influence at American University.

Valerie Jarrett, a top White House adviser and a close friend of the Obamas, said the first lady doesn't want to “spread herself too thin.”

“She really wants to have a maximum impact and to do that in fewer areas,” Jarrett told the Associated Press. “That, she said, “is better than trying to take on every single possible cause.”

But Robert Watson, a Lynn University professor, said he expects Obama to “go a little harder at issues” over the next several years. “Second-term first ladies usually feel more at ease to speak more forcefully about issues close to their heart,” he said.

Myra Gutin, a Ryder University communications professor and frequent lecturer on first ladies, said she expects Obama to continue making both of them a priority in her remaining years in the White House, given their success. Michelle launched the “Let’s Move” campaign in 2010. It in particular has gained widespread support, ranging from the National Football League to the Sesame Street franchise (特许), which even gave permission to the produce industry to use its licensed characters for free on fruits and vegetables.

“There’s no such thing as a traditional first lady, not anymore in this technology-filled world. Is Mrs. Obama cutting edge? Is she an activist? No. As first ladies go, I think she’s been politically careful because she does not want there to be a major flare-up that would require her husband to use his political capital to clean up,” she said. “But she’s not exactly just sitting in the White House pouring tea and having receptions, either.”

1.Critics were disappointed with Michelle because _______.

A. she didn’t put gun-control measures into effect

B. she failed some feminists to stand out to be a career woman

C. she didn’t solve some racial problems

D. she failed to voice her opinion on some issues

2.According to the professors or advisers, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. It’s not wise to reinforce Michelle is African American over anything else.

B. It’s better for Michelle to have a maximum impact than to take on every possible cause.

C. It's expected for Michelle to go a little harder at issues.

D. It’s a tradition for first ladies to stay out of political issues.

3.What does the underlined phrase “spread herself too thin” in Paragraph 6 mean?

A. Try to do a lot of work at the same time.

B. Get very tired.

C. Try to improve physical fitness.

D. Move herself away from others.

4.In Paragraph 9, the campaign “Let’s Move” might be aiming to help people _______..

a. gain widespread support

b. become more physically active

c. have access to healthier foods

d. raise awareness about gun control

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

"Well, we’re in our new house. Let’s get a new pet to get along with," Mrs. Brown said to her husband.

"That sounds like a pretty good idea." he answered. "Do you want to see the ads in the newspaper?"

"Let's go to the animal shelter. Many pets there need homes. Since tomorrow is Saturday, we can both go." she said.

Next morning the Browns met Mr. Snow at the animal shelter. "We want to be sure that the pets here go to good homes." Mr. Snow said. "So I need to ask you some questions."

After they talked for a while, the Browns decided to get a small dog. It wouldn't need a big house or a big yard. A small dog would bark(吠) and warn them if someone tried to break into their house. After Mr. Snow gave the Browns a book on pet care, they chose one named Shadow and wanted to take her home right away. But the animal doctor hadn't checked her yet. So Mr. Snow told them to return on Sunday.

On Sunday afternoon the Browns went to the animal shelter. The animal doctor said, "Shadow has had all of her shots(预防针). She will be healthy. "The Browns thanked the doctor and took Shadow home.

56. The word "shelter" in the third paragraph means________.

A. a place to sell small dogs              B. a place to keep homeless animals

C. a place to study animals               D. a place to sell books on pet care

57. Mr. Snow asked the Browns some questions to__________.

A. see if they had moved to a new house     

B. find out how rich the Browns were

C. know where they would keep their new pet  

D. make sure they would take care of pets

58. The Browns think that a small dog________.

A. doesn’t need a house to keep             B. can help them watch their house

C. eats less food than a bigger one            D. usually has a beautiful name

59. It's clear that________.

A. Shadow will not be easy to gel ill 

B. the Browns were not pleased with Shadow

C. the doctor didn't check Shadow at all         

D. Shadow likes barking a lot

“Well， we’re in our new house. Let’s get a new pet to get along with it，” Mrs Brown said to her husband.

　 “That sounds like a pretty good idea，” he answered. “Do you want to see the ads in the newspaper？”

　 “Let’s go to the animal shelter. Many pets there need homes. Since tomorrow is Saturday， we can both go，” she said.

　 Next morning the Browns met Mr Snow at the animal shelter. “We want to be sure that the pets here go to good homes，” Mr Snow said， “So I need to ask you some questions.”

　 After they talked for a while， the Browns decided to get a small dog. It wouldn’t need a big house or a big yard. A small dog would bark（吠） and warn them if someone tried to break into their house. After Mr Snow gave the Browns a book on pet care， they chose one and wanted to take her home right away. But the animal doctor hadn’t checked her yet. So Mr Snow told them to return on Sunday.

　 On Sunday afternoon the Browns went to the animal shelter. The animal doctor said， “Shadow has had all of her shots（预防针）。 She will be healthy.” The Browns thanked the doctor and took Shadow home.

　 36. From the reading we learn that _______.

　 A. the Browns have never had a pet before.

　 B. the Browns knew about Shadow from the newspaper.

　 C. Shadow is a small and healthy dog.

　 D. Mr Brown didn’t quite agree with his wife.

　 37. The word “ shelter” in the reading means _______.

　 A. a place to sell small dogs

　 B. a place to keep homeless animals

　 C. a place to study animals

D. a place to sell books on pet care

　 38. Mr Snow asked the Browns some questions to _______.

　 A. see if they had moved to a new house

　 B. find out how rich the Browns were

　 C. know where they’d keep their new pet

　 D. make sure they’d take care of pets

　 39. The Browns think that a small dog _______.

　 A. doesn’t need any room to keep

　 B. can help them watch their house

　 C. eats less food than a bigger one

　 D. usually has a beautiful name

　 40. It’s clear that _______.

　 A. Shadow will not be easy to get ill

　 B. the Browns were not satisfied with Shadow

　 C. Mr Snow didn’t check Shadow at all

　 D. Shadow likes barking a lot

“Well, we’re in our new house. Let’s get a new pet to go along with it,” Mrs. Brown said to her husband.
“That sounds like a very good idea,” he answered. “Do you want to see the ads in the newspaper?”
“Let’s go to the animal shelter. Many pets there need homes. Since tomorrow is Saturday, we can both go.” she said.
The next morning the Browns met Mr. Snow at the animal shelter. “We want to be sure that the pets here go to good homes,” Mr. Snow said, “So I need to ask you some questions.”
After they talked for a while, the Browns decided to get a small dog. It wouldn’t need a big house or a big yard. A small dog would bark and warn them if someone tried to break into their house. After Mr. Snow gave the Browns a book on pet care, they chose one and wanted to take her home right away. But the animal doctor hadn’t examined her yet. So Mr. Snow told them to return on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon the Browns went to the animal shelter. The animal doctor said, “Shadow has had all of her shots（预防针）. She will be healthy.” The Browns thanked the doctor and took Shadow home

1. 1.

   Which of the following statements is true?

   1. A.
      The Browns have never had a pet before
   2. B.
      The Browns knew about Shadow from the newspaper
   3. C.
      Shadow is a small and healthy dog
   4. D.
      Mr. Brown didn’t quite agree with his wife
2. 2.

   The word “shelter” in the reading means _________

   1. A.
      a place to sell small dogs
   2. B.
      a place to keep homeless animals
   3. C.
      a place to study animals
   4. D.
      a place to sell books on pet care
3. 3.

   Mr. Snow asked the Browns some questions to _________

   1. A.
      see if they had moved to a new house
   2. B.
      find out how rich the Browns were
   3. C.
      know where they’d keep their new pet
   4. D.
      make sure they’d take good care of pets
4. 4.

   The Browns think that a small dog _________

   1. A.
      doesn’t need any room to keep
   2. B.
      can help them watch their house
   3. C.
      eats less food than a bigger one
   4. D.
      usually has a beautiful name

Competition. It’s a simple word, yet a very complex word that covers many angles when it comes to how gasoline prices are determined. It seems so easy to explain, but don’t let that trick you—it’s incredibly difficult to explain and adequately understand.

Say you’re on a Sunday afternoon drive, and notice a gas station near you charging $3.50. Down the road a few miles, that price could easily be 10 or more cents higher or lower. The question is “how” or “why” is that? Think of it this way. Are you more likely to get a better deal on a car if there are two similar car dealers next to each other? Perhaps, because the dealers are too close. Say there is a third similar car dealer miles away. Is he going to be at the same level of competition and sell his cars for the same price as the two dealers next to each other? Likely not. He may charge more or less. Maybe people don't know there are two other dealers down the road. Maybe the dealer is almost outside of the city and the land value isn't as high, so his taxes aren't as high.

These situations do take place at gas stations. And more factors can impact what a station will charge. Timing can greatly impact what price a station charges as well! Many motorists fail to realize that the price a station pays for gasoline changes daily. If one station gets lucky and buys gas on Monday and the cost goes up Tuesday, the station that bought on Monday doesn’t necessarily have to raise prices like the station that bought on Tuesday. Maybe the station that got caught buying for a higher price on Tuesday will pass that higher cost on by raising its gas price.

Perhaps the difference is what brand the station is---branded stations usually pay a slightly higher cost for their gasoline. In return for paying a higher cost, those stations are guaranteed first supply in case of emergency situations. Independent stations don’t pay as much, but aren’t guaranteed supply.

While competition sounds easy to understand, there are always a large number of factors that could influence what one station charges. Keep in mind how many variables there are next time you fill up.

1.What could be the best title for the passage?

A．How Competition Impacts Gas Prices

B．Gas Prices Go Up or Down

C．Competition---a Very Complex Word

D．We Can’t Stress Enough the Need for Competition

2.The example of car dealers is used to show _________.

A．car prices are determined by car dealers

B．location is an important factor in pricing

C．the quality of service matters most

D．dealing strategy should be flexible

3.The gas prices of a station always change partly because _________.

A．a gas station always wants to charge more

B．the gasoline is in great demand

C．the cost of the gas the station buys varies daily

D．gas is in greater need on Monday

4.According to the passage, branded stations _________.

A．spend less money on their gasoline

B．have more staff than independent stations

C．charge less for high quality oil

D．offer a steady oil supply