Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.

　　Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that we’re all hot-tempered single mothers who can’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.

　　These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most complicated duty may be simple to be herself.

　　It won’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis. For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.

　　Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House—mainly showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone—an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉着), confidence and intelligence will go a long way in changing an image that’s been around for far too long.

1.Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?

A.She serves as a role model for African women.

B.She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.

C.She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.

D.She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women.

2.What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?

A.They are victims of violence.

B.They are of an inferior violence.

C.They use quite a lot of body language.

D.They live on charity and social welfare.

3.What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?

A.Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.

B.How Michelle should behave as a public figure.

C.How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.

D.What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House.

4.What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?

A.However many fans she has, she should remain modest,

B.She shouldn’t disappoint the African-American community.

C.However hard she tries, she can’t expect to please everybody.

D.She will give priority to African-American women’s concerns.

5.What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obama will do?

A.Help change the prevailing view about black women.

B.Help her husband in the task of changing America.

C.Outshine previous First Lady.

D.Fully display her fine qualities.

 

阅读理解

　　Happy birthday! Do birthdays really make people happy? Of course they do. Birthdays celebrate the day we were born. What's more, that extra candle on the cake represents another year of growth and maturity (成熟)—or so we hope. We all like to imagine that we're getting wiser and not just alder. Most of us enjoy observing the miracle of growth in others as well. For instance, seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud. For Americans, like people in most cultures, growing up is a wonderful process. But growing old? That's a different story. Growing old is not exactly pleasant for people in youth-oriented American . Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young. As the old saying goes, “You're as young as you feel . ” Older people joke about how many years young they are ,rather than how many years old. People in sane countries value the aged as a source of experience and wisdom. But Americana seem to favor those that are young, or at least “young at heart”. Many older Americans find the“golden years” to be anything but golden. Economically, “senior citizens”often struggle just to get by. Retirement — typically at age 65—brings a sharp decrease in personal income. Social Security Benefits usually cannot make up the difference. Older people may suffer from poor nutrition(营养) , medical care and housing. Some even experience age discrimination.

　　Ironically, the elderly population in America is expanding fast. Why? People are living longer. Fewer babies ere being born. The middle-aged “baby boomers” are rapidly entering the ranks of the elderly, so America may soon be a place where wrinkles(皱纹) are “in” . Marketing experts are already focusing on this growing group of consumers. And even now the elderly have a great deal of political power.

　　A common stereotype(模式化的形象) of older Americana is that they are usually “put away” in nursing homes and forgotten about. Actually, only about 5 percent live on acme type of institution(慈善机构).

　　More than half of those 65 or older live with or near at least one of their children. The vast majority ad the elderly live alone and take care of themselves.

　　In spite of challenges they face, Americans in their “twilight years (暮年)” generally refuse to we up on life. They find a variety of ways to keep themselves active. To help them stay in shape, they may join mall (商业区) walkers club, fitness programs and even the “Senior Olympics” .They can enjoy hours of entertainment at senior centers and adult amusement parks. Many enroll in continuing education programs to maintain their mental skills. For Americans, if you're going to grow old, you might as well do it gracefully.

1．Older people in America ________.

[　　]

A．think it sad to enter the golden age

B．are not popular in the society

C．are respected by all

D．find it happy to have another year of growth

2．Which of the following is NOT the reason why there are more and more older people in America?

[　　]

A．The birthrate is lower.

B．The older people are taken good care of.

C．There are many more middle-aged people than before.

D．The average life-span becomes longer.

3．The underlined part in Paragraph 2 refers to ________.

[　　]

A．the babies

B．baby-boomers

C．the middle-aged

D．the elderly

4．It can be seen from the passage that older people in America ________ .

[　　]

A．are content with their life now

B．are faced with challenges throughout their life

C．have chances to remain active in the society

D．receive continuing education programs to hunt for life

阅读理解

阅读下列短文，从文中所给的四个选项(A，B，C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　How old is “old”? The answer has changed over these years. Two hundred years ago, you were old at 35. That was the average life expectancy then. At the turn of this century, as medical knowledge advanced, the average life span increased to 45. In 1950, 70 - year- olds were really old. Today, a healthy 70 - year- old is looking forward to many more active years.

　　So, how old is “old?” The answer is one you've heard many times, from all sorts of people. “You are as old (or young) as you feel.” The calendar simply tells you how many years you've lived. Your body tells how well you've lived.

　　“Youth,” wrote an author with name not made known, “is not a time of life - it is a state of mind. Nobody grows old by living a number of years; people grow old by deserting their ideals.”

　　Old is a point of view. Alice Brophy, when she was with the New York City Commission for Aging, said, “It bothers me when people say ‘Gee, you look young at your age’. What does that mean? Is there some model that you're supposed to look a certain way at 65 and 75 and 85? You know you can die old at 30 and live young at 80.”

　　There are many myths about aging. These myths stereotype people on the basis of age. Here are some of the more common myths and the facts.

　　Myth: Most old people are in poor health.

　　Fact: Not so. There are neither biological nor physiological reasons to connect poor health with growing older. Older people are more likely to be affected with illness and physical disabilities than you are, but old age itself is not disease. It is possible to remain physically fit throughout your life.

　　Myth: When you get old, you become senile.

　　Fact: Older people can be bright as young minds. Senility is a sign of disease; it is not part of normal aging process. In a 1985 study of men aging 20, 40, 60 and 80 years, one proof was found to indicate that aging was connected with an avoidable drop in intellectual performance, in generally healthy people.

　　Myth: Older people are rigid.

　　Fact: Older people are as different in their life-styles and action as are young and middle aged people. In spite of the large pressure they deal with death of loved ones or job, financial, and family problem - they deal with very well. Older people give up smoking and break other bad habits just as successfully as younger people.

1．From the text we can see that a person is really old ________.

[　　]

A．until he or she is in his or her eighties

B．when he or she is in poor health

C．because he or she has given up her ambitions, aims, jobs and so on

D．if he or she looks old for his or her age

2．The underlined word “rigid” in this passage probably means ________.

[　　]

A．more careless than young men

B．unable to change

C．suffering bad habits

D．thoughtful in making a decision

3．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

[　　]

A．Old people have long formed the bad habits of smoking than the young.

B．Senility has much to do with the change of the power mind to seek and gain knowledge.

C．Most people can stay young at the end of the 21^st century.

D．Many old people are in poor health because they have to deal with a lot of problems in and out of the family.

4．The best title of the passage is ________.

[　　]

A．Standards about Old Age

B．Facts and Myths about Old Age

C．Differences between Old Age

D．Signs of Old Body and Mind