Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England in 1821, and moved to New York City when she was ten years old. One day she decided that she wanted to become a doctor. That was nearly impossible for a woman in the middle of the nineteenth century. After writing many letters asking for admission(录取) to medical schools, she was finally accepted by a doctor in Philadelphia. She was so determined that she taught in school and gave music lessons to get money for the cost of schooling.

    In 1849, after graduation from medical school. She decided to further her education in Paris. She wanted to be a surgeon(外科医师) , but a serious eye problem forced her to give up the idea.

    Upon returning to the United States, she found it difficult to start her own practice because she was a woman. By 1857 Elizabeth and her sister, also a doctor, along with another woman doctor, managed to open a new hospital, the first for women and children.  Besides being the first woman physician and founding her own hospital, she also set up the first medical school for women.

1.Why couldn’t Elizabeth Blackwell realize her dream of becoming a surgeon?

A. She couldn’t get admitted to medical school

   B. She decided to further her education in Paris

   C. A serious eye problem stopped her

   D. It was difficult for her to start a practice in the United States

2. How many years passed between her graduation from medical school and the opening of her hospital?

   A. Eight years    B. Ten years      C. Nineteen years           D. Thirty-six years

3. According to the passage, all of the following are “firsts” in the life of Elizabeth Blackwell, except that she ______.

   A. became the first woman physician

   B. was the first woman doctor

   C. and several other women founded the first hospital for women and children

   D. set up the first medical school for women

4.Elizabeth Blackwell spent most of her life in _______.

   A. England       B. Paris      C. the United States      D. New York City

I don’t remember how many years ago ________ people began to grow crops.

   A. it was when           B. it was that          C. was it when          D. was it that

— Isn’t it amazing that I met Francis at the Christmas party?

—Really?For how many years ____ each other?

A.didn’t you seeB.haven’t you seen

C.hadn’t you seenD.don’t you see

— Isn’t it amazing that I met Francis at the Christmas party??

   —Really?For how many years ____ each other?  

   A.didn’t you see             B.haven’t you seen?

   C.hadn’t you seen    D.don’t you see?

“Mama, when I grow up, I’m going to be one of those!” I said this after seeing the Capital Dancing Company perform when I was three. It was the first time that my dream took on a vivid form and acted as something important to start my training. As I grew older and was exposed to more, my interests in the world of dance certainly varied but that little girl’s dream of someday becoming a dancer in the company never left me. In the summer of 2005 when I was 18, I received the phone call which made that dream a reality: I became a member of the company dating back to 1925.

As I look back on that day now, it surely lacks any sense of reality. I believe I stayed in a state of pleasant disbelief until I was halfway through rehearsals (排练) on my first day. I never actually expect to get the job. After being offered the position, I was completely astonished. I remember shaking with excitement.

Though I was absolutely thrilled with the chance, it did not come without its fair share of challenge. Through the strict rehearsal period of dancing six days a week, I found it vital to pick up the material fast with every last bit of concentration. It is that extreme attention to detail (细节) and stress on practice that set us apart. To then follow those high-energy rehearsals with a busy show schedule of up to five performances a day, I discovered a new meaning of the words “hard work.” What I thought were my physical boundaries were pushed much further than I thought possible. I learned to make each performance better than the last.

Today, when I look at the unbelievable company that I have the great honor of being a part of, not only as a member, but as a dance captain, I see a tradition that has inspired not only generations of little girls but a splendid company that continues to develop and grow-and inspires people every day to follow their dreams.

1. How many years has the Capital Dancing Company existed when the author received the phone call from it?

2.How did the author feel when she look back on that day now?

3. Which of the following statement can best interpret the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

4.What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?