（湖南省长沙市一中2010届高三第九次月考A篇）

After so much discussion — featured by intense media attention and China's repeated warnings — US President Barack Obama finally met the Dalai Lama at the White House on Thursday. With this latest move to test China's limit of tolerance, Obama has hit a home run to complete his months-long season of a game called "antagonizing (敌对的) China". At least we hope so. After all the recent tensions in Sino-US relations, a half-time break is what both sides desperately need. But it is still too early to have a sigh of relief.

Thanks to his vow to "get much tougher" with China, Obama has struck nearly every note to create the cacophony （嘈杂的声音） against a country that he once promised not to contain. From the US$6.4 billion arms sales to Taiwan to issues related to currency rates and Internet freedom, Obama has criticized China in every possible front. So much that no one can say for sure whether China-US relationship is strong enough to survive all the damages done. It is up to Washington to show its sincerity to begin again the work of repairing the damaged relations.

It usually takes some time for US leaders to learn the rules of their China policy.

Bill Clinton had argued that Washington "should not reward China with improved trade status when it has ... failed to make sufficient progress on human rights". George W. Bush had pledged to do "whatever it took" to defend Taiwan. But it did not take them long to come to terms with reality. China, with a quarter of the world's population and a fast growing economy, means a lot to the US and the world. It does both sides absolutely no good if the two countries collide rather than cooperate. It would have been foolish not to understand this at an early date. In a speech Obama made during his visit to Shanghai in November last year, Obama quoted a Chinese proverb "consider the past, and you shall know the future". Hopefully he really knows what he quoted.

56. What is the most appropriate title according to the passage?

A. US should spare no efforts to defeat antagonizing China

B. President Obama finally met the Dalai Lama

C. All the previous US Presidents didn’t have good terms with China

D. US should move to repair China ties after Dalai meeting

57. What does the underlined word “collide” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A. work together     B. help each other     C. contradict        D. blame

58. From Paragraph 2 we can see Obama’s attitude towards China is getting tougher. Of all the things he did, which of the following is NOT included?

A. Personal donation to Taiwan                B. Arms sales to Taiwan

C. Issues related to currency rates              D. Internet freedom

59. According to the passage, why did the US leaders come to terms with reality?

A. Because China has the largest population in the world and is the largest market.

B. Because China’s economy develops so fast that it gives US more and more help.

C. Because China’s amazing growth makes US Presidents adjust their policies.

D. Because US Presidents are more clever than leaders in any other countries.

60. What does Obama’s quotation during his visit to Shanghai last year “consider the past, and you shall know the future” mean?

      A. History proves US will respect its competitor in the long run.

      B. It will be some time before US gives in to China in the end.

      C. US Presidents daren’t face the reality and are not willing to either.

      D. The future of US will be disappointing in comparison with China.