The striving of countries in Central Europe to enter the European Union may offer an unprecedented chance to the continent’s Gypsies (or Roman) to be recognized as a nation, albeit one without a defined territory. And if they were to achieve that they might even seek some kind of formal place—at least a total population outnumbers that of many of the Union’s present and future countries. Some experts put the figure at 4m-plus; some proponents of Gypsy rights go as high as 15m.

Unlike Jews, Gypsies have had no known ancestral land to hark back to. Though their language is related to Hindi, their territorial origins are misty. Romanian peasants held them to be born on the moon. Other Europeans (wrongly) thought them migrant Egyptians, hence the derivative Gypsy. Most probably they were itinerant metal workers and entertainers who drifted west from India in the 7th century.

However, since communism in Central Europe collapsed a decade ago, the notion of Romanestan as a landless nation founded on Gypsy culture has gained ground. The International Romany Union, which says it stands for 10m Gypsies in more than 30 countries, is fostering the idea of “self-rallying”. It is trying to promote a standard and written form of the language; it waves a Gypsy flag (green with a wheel) when it lobbies in such places as the United Bations; and in July it held a congress in Prague, The Czech capital. Where President Vaclav Havel said that Gypsies in his own country and elsewhere should have a better deal.

At the congress a Slovak-born lawyer, Emil Scuka, was elected president of the International Tomany Union. Later this month a group of elected Gypsy politicians, including members of parliament, mayors and local councilors from all over Europe (OSCE), to discuss how to persuade more Gypsies to get involved in politics.

The International Romany Union is probably the most representative of the outfits that speak for Gypsies, but that is not saying a lot. Of the several hundred delegates who gathered at its congress, few were democratically elected; oddly, none came from Hungary, whose Gypsies are perhaps the world’s best organized, with some 450 Gypsy bodies advising local councils there. The union did, however, announce its ambition to set up a parliament, but how it would actually be elected was left undecided.

So far, the European Commission is wary of encouraging Gypsies to present themselves as a nation. The might, it is feared, open a Pandora’s box already containing Basques, Corsicans and other awkward peoples. Besides, acknowledging Gypsies as a nation might backfire, just when several countries, particularly Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, are beginning to treat them better, in order to qualify for EU membership. “The EU’s whole premise is to overcome differences, not to highlight them,” says a nervous Eurocrat.

But the idea that the Gypsies should win some kind of special recognition as Europe’s largest continent wide minority, and one with a terrible history of persecution, is catching on . Gypsies have suffered many pogroms over the centuries. In Romania, the country that still has the largest number of them (more than 1m), in the 19th century they were actually enslaved. Hitler tried to wipe them out, along with the Jews.

“Gypsies deserve some space within European structures,” says Jan Marinus Wiersma, a Dutchman in the European Parliament who suggests that one of the current commissioners should be responsible for Gypsy affairs. Some prominent Gypsies say they should be more directly represented, perhaps with a quota in the European Parliament. That, they argue, might give them a boost. There are moves afoot to help them to get money for, among other things, a Gypsy university.

One big snag is that Europe’s Gypsies are, in fact, extremely heterogeneous. They belong to many different, and often antagonistic, clans and tribes, with no common language or religion, Their self-proclaimed leaders have often proved quarrelsome and corrupt. Still, says, Dimitrina Petrova, head of the European Roma Rights Center in Budapest, Gypsies’ shared experience of suffering entitles them to talk of one nation; their potential unity, she says, stems from “being regarded as sub-human by most majorities in Europe.”

And they have begun to be a bit more pragmatic. In Slovakia and Bulgaria, for instance, Gypsy political parties are trying to form electoral blocks that could win seats in parliament. In Macedonia, a Gypsy party already has some—and even runs a municipality. Nicholas Gheorge, an expert on Gypsy affairs at the OSCE, reckons that, spread over Central Europe, there are now about 20 Gypsy MPS and mayors, 400-odd local councilors, and a growing number of businessmen and intellectuals.

That is far from saying that they have the people or the cash to forge a nation. But, with the Gypsy question on the EU’s agenda in Central Europe, they are making ground.

1.    The Best Title of this passage is

[A]. Gypsies Want to Form a Nation.         [B]. Are They a Nation.

[C]. EU Is Afraid of Their Growth.           [C]. They Are a Tribe

2.    Where are the most probable Gypsy territory origins?

[A]. Most probably they drifted west from India in the 7th century.

[B]. They are scattered everywhere in the world.

[C]. Probably, they stemmed from Central Europe.

[D]. They probably came from the International Romany Union.

3.    What does the International Romany lobby for?

[A]. It lobbies for a demand to be accepted by such international organizations as EU and UN.

[B]. It lobbies for a post in any international Romany Union.

[C]. It lobbies for the right as a nation.

[D]. It lobbies for a place in such international organizations as the EU or UN.

4.    Why is the Europe Commission wary of encouraging Gypsies to present themselves as a nation?

[A]. It may open a Pandora’s Box.

[B]. Encouragement may lead to some unexpected results.

[C]. It fears that the Basgnes, Corsicans and other nations seeking separation may raise the same demand.

[D]. Gyspsies’ demand may highlight the difference in the EU.

5.    The big problem lies in the fact that

[A]. Gypsies belong to different and antagonistic clans and tribes without a common language or religion.

[B]. Their leaders prove corrupt.

[C]. Their potential unity stems from “being regarded as sub-human”.

[D]. They are a bit more pragmatic.

The morning in London was wet, wet, wet. I had to check out from the 36  before noon, and then I would have a few 37  before my conference started near Richmond Park in the 38  . I started early for a literary London 39  with just my two feet, a guidebook and a map and a backpack with purse, camera and 40  .

My hotel was in Bayswater, and by walking through Kensington Gardens, 41  by the Peter Pan statue, I soon 42  myself in Kensington, former home of many a great 43  .

The more I 44  into literature, the more I want to learn, the more I see 45  I don’t know, what I haven’t 46  . Like Peter Pan. Familiar title, but a book I have never read.

Among my classic favorites are several books 47  Henry James. Some years ago I had some time alone in Roma and I spent a morning 48  for James’ home there, which is now a museum.

My walk 49  . Turning a corner right here, passing a square, looking up to see signs with familiar names, T.S. Elliot, W.M. Thackeray, Ezra Pond… Stopping for a 50  at a small French cafe, trying to 51  my wet and cold feet, writing my diary, then out again. I 52  in paradise（天堂）river, surrounded by images of words and famous writers.

Have you ever tried a literary walk? It is a great way of 53  . You not only see a city or a place like it is today, you can keep on 54  you are back home, reading the books by the authors, imagining their 55  , their places, knowing a tiny little bit more about the man or woman behind the creating hands and mind.

36. A. home                  B. park                  C. museum                   D. hotel

37. A. minutes                     B. hours                C. days                         D. weeks

38. A. dawn                  B. morning            C. evening                    D. midnight

39. A. walk                   B. riding               C. sight                        D. view

40. A. dictionary           B. computer           C. diary                        D. book

41. A. passing               B. flying               C. rushing                    D. sitting

42. A. saw                    B. noticed              C. looked                            D. found

43. A. writer                 B. doctor               C. actor                        D. worker

44. A. put                            B. jump                 C. dive                         D. look

45. A. how                   B. what                 C. where                      D. whether

46. A. written               B. read                  C. seen                         D. done

47. A. with                   B. for                    C. of                            D. by

48. A. searching            B. working            C. asking                      D. advertising

49. A. took on               B. put on               C. kept on                    D. got on

50. A. beer                   B. coffee               C. hamburger                D. tea

51. A. wash                  B. cure                  C. clean                        D. warm

52. A. crossed               B. bathed               C. drank                       D. swam

53. A. learning                     B. reading             C. traveling                  D. visiting

54. A. when                  B. before               C. until                        D. as

55. A. families                     B. lives                 C. experiences               D. habits

Section B
Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrases that best fits the context.
I have been told in China, having a pet, particularly a dog, is often considered to be a status symbol because it shows the family can   36   to have an animal. It is different here.
In Canada it is   37   for people to have pets. Many people have dogs. Many others have cats and there are people who keep fish, birds or rabbits. Some keep what we call exotic pets. These might be ferrets, snakes or almost any other animal you can think of, although keeping   38   pets is often difficult and because it can also be hard on the animal. The keeping of some exotic animals is not allowed by law.
Now, my wife and I live in a small town. We no longer have a   39   --- we live in an apartment. We have a cat named Callie and she never goes out   40   onto the balcony so cars are no longer an issue. She’s about sixteen years old and will probably live to be twenty or more. The   41   will come when she dies and we no longer have a pet. We have had a pet for so long it seems like a natural part of our lives and without a cat around the house it will seem somehow   42  . On the other hand, we are getting older and given that a cat can live about twenty years we wonder if we will ever have another after Callie goes. Cats are cutest, of course, when they are small kittens but a kitten is   43   for a longer time than we may have left.
I think having a pet is very good for a number of reasons. It helps to teach children how to look after a   44   creature, makes them realize that animals have feelings just like we do and that, in many ways, we depend on each other. For older people like me an animal is a   45   and a comfort to have around, a pet, properly treated, returns the favor by   46   unconditional love. Wouldn’t this world be a great place if people could learn how to do that.
36. A. buy                      B. afford            C. supply             D. provide
37. A. common               B. unusual            C. particular          D. public    
38. A. aboard                B. domestic           C. excited              D. exotic
39. A. dormitory            B. home                    C. family              D. house   
40. A. except                B. besides           C. except for          D. beside
41. A. demand                       B. dilemma            C. decision            D. matter
42. A. puzzled               B. confused              C. empty             D. alone
43. A. commitment           B. committee          C. friend               D. follower
44. A. lively                   B. alive             C. live                D. living
45. A. company               B. competitor         C. companion           D. co-worker
46. A. giving out             B. giving in          C. giving back       D. giving off  
47. A. bad                        B. great              C. messy             D. poor   

The purpose of a letter of application(求职信) is to help you to "sell" yourself. It should state   36  the job you want, and should tell what your abilities are and what you have   37 . It should be simple, human, personal and brief without   38  out any necessary facts.
In writing a letter of application, keep in   39  that the things a possible employer is most   40  to want to know about are your qualifications(条件), your achievements and your aims. The opening paragraph is perhaps the most important part.   41  the first few sentences fail to   42  the reader’s attention, the rest of the letter may not be   43  at all. Try to key your opening remarks to the needs or interests of the employer not   44  your own need or desires. For example, instead of beginning with “I saw your   45  in today’s newspaper,” you might say “I have made a careful   46  of your advertising during the past six months” or “I have made a survey in my neighborhood to find out how many housewives   47  your product and why they like it.”
Try to   48  generalities(概述). Be clear about the kind of job for which you are now   49 . College graduates looking for their first positions often ask “What can I  50 in a letter? Employers want experience—which, naturally, no   51 has.” The answer is that everything you have ever done is   52 .
It is important to write a good strong closing for your letter.   53  a specific request for an interview or give the possible employer something definite to do or expect. An excellent   54  is to enclose(内附) a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your letter. That makes it   55  for a possible employer to get in touch with you.