World champion U.S. figure skater Michelle Kwan convinced （使确信/信服） a five-member monitoring committee this weekend that she is well enough to compete in the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy, in February.

This will be Kwan’s third attempt to win an Olympic contest. She has five world and nine U.S. titles. An Olympic medal escaped her in 1998 and 2002.

She was unable to compete in the national championships two weeks earlier when the rest of the U.S. figure skating team was chosen. At the time, she was suffering from a groin（腹股沟） injury. She asked earnestly for a spot on the team. The U.S. figure skating committee said she had to prove herself during a monitoring session.

“I appreciate the faith and confidence that U.S. Figure Skating has shown in me,” Kwan said after a successful monitoring session. “My injury is now completely healed, I’m working hard, and I will do my very best to make all Americans proud in Torino.”

The U.S. Team

Kwan, 25, will join Sasha Cohen, 21, and Kimmie Meissner, 16, as the top three female figure skaters at the Winter Games. Emily Hughes, 17, will go to the games as an alternate（候补人）. Emily’s sister, Sarah Hughes, won gold in 2002 in an upset.

Despite her age and her injuries, Kwan said she is confident about her chances this year.

“I do have a shot,” she said. “I can’t tell you the percentage of winning the gold, but I have a shot and I’ll take advantage of that shot.”

Questions:

1. How many times has Michelle Kwan competed in the Olympics?

2. What does the sentence “I do have a shot” mean?

3. Who will compete in the Winter Games representing the U.S. Team besides Kwan?

4. Despite her age and her injuries, Kwan said she is confident of her chances this year. (将此句改为让步状语从句)

5. An Olympic medal escaped her in 1998 and 2002.（将此句翻译成汉语）