Henry Kissinger, one of the country’s most important foreign policy thinkers for more than half a century, enjoyed a worldwide reputation.
As a secretary of state and national security adviser to Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Henry Kissinger played the major behind-the-scenes role in building the architecture that enabled more manageable relations with the Soviet Union, China, and major Arab nations. At the same time, he was closely associated with some of the most disputed U. S. foreign policy moves in recent decades, by promoting intensive bombing campaigns in Southeast Asia and repeatedly turning a blind eye to human rights abuses by governments perceived to be supportive of U. S. interests.
In America, the young Kissinger worked in a factory during the day and went to school at night, until he was drafted into the U. S. Army. After getting out of the army, he attended Harvard, where his 300-page undergraduate thesis titled “The Meaning of History” brought him to the attention of Richard Nixon. Over the next few years, he directed one of the boldest periods of diplomacy in U. S. history to strengthen its negotiating position. In 1971, Kissinger arranged Nixon’s historic visit to China.
Though he never worked directly under a U. S. president again after Ford left office, Kissinger’s influence was long-lasting. U. S. superpower relations to this day still bear his imprint, and he remained a sought-after voice on international affairs to the end of his life.
“There were other great secretaries of state and a long list of impressive historians, but no one who combined the two pursuits as Kissinger did,” said Richard Haass, president emeritus (荣誉退休的) of the Council on Foreign Relations.
“I remember walking down the street in Manhattan with him, and he would attract a crowd like a movie star, a rock star,” recalled David Rothkopf, who worked for a time as a managing director at Kissinger’s consulting firm. “Everybody, regardless of what they thought of Henry, wanted to see Henry, wanted to be with Henry.
1. According to the 2nd paragraph, which word can best describe Kissinger?A.Brave. | B.Aggressive. | C.Controversial. | D.Devoted. |
A.He shared a strong friendship with Richard Nixon. |
B.He demonstrated diligence in his early work and education. |
C.His thesis earned him a position at Harvard. |
D.He is the boldest negotiator in U. S. history. |
A.His promotion of human rights in Southeast Asia. |
B.His academic thesis as a historian. |
C.His everlasting legacy on international affairs. |
D.His faithful service to President Ford. |
A.The World Ahead. | B.Profile. |
C.The Economist Explains. | D.The World in Brief. |
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【推荐1】Papa, as a son of a dirt-poor farmer, left school early and went to work in a factory, for education was for the rich then. So, the world became his school. With great interest, he read everything he could lay his hands on, listened to the town elders and learned about the world beyond his tiny hometown. "There's so much to learn," he'd say. "Though we're born stupid, only the stupid remain that way. "He was determined that none of his children would be denied (拒绝) an education.
Thus, Papa insisted that we learn at least one new thing each day. Though, as children, we thought this was crazy, it would never have occurred to us to deny Papa a request. And dinner time seemed perfect for sharing what we had learned. We would talk about the news of the day; no matter how insignificant, it was never taken lightly. Papa would listen carefully and was ready with some comment, always to the point.
Then came the moment—the time to share the day's new learning.
Papa, at the head of the table, would push back his chair and pour a glass of red wine, ready to listen.
"Felice," he'd say, "tell me what you learned today."
"I learned that the population of Nepal is ...."
Silence.
Papa was thinking about what was said, as if the salvation of the world would depend upon it. "The population of Nepal. Hmm. Well ..." he'd say. "Get the map; let's see where Nepal is. " And the whole family went on a search for Nepal.
This same experience was repeated until each family member had a turn. Dinner ended only after we had a clear understanding of at least half a dozen such facts.
As children, we thought very little about these educational wonders. Our family, however, was growing together, sharing experiences and participating in one another's education. And by looking at us, listening to us, respecting our input, affirming our value, giving us a sense of dignity, Papa was unquestionably our most influential teacher.
Later during my training as a future teacher I studied with some of the most famous educators. They were imparting what Papa had known all along—the value of continual learning. His technique has served me well all my life. Not a single day has been wasted, though I can never tell when knowing the population of Nepal might prove useful.
1. What do we know from the first paragraph?A.The author's father was born in a worker's family. |
B.Those born stupid could not change their life. |
C.The town elders wanted to learn about the world. |
D.The poor could hardly afford school education. |
A.one new thing | B.a request | C.the news | D.some comment |
A.enjoyed talking about news |
B.knew very well about Nepal |
C.felt regret about those wasted days |
D.appreciated his father's educational technique |
【推荐2】A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I made up my mind to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P. E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn’t do either well. He later informed me that I was “not athletic”.
The idea that I was “not athletic” stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn’t even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.
Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces (鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!
At mile 3, I passed a sign: “GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!”
By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
By mile 21, I was starving!
As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.
Make a firm decision, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels (世俗标签). I can now call myself a “marathon winner”.
1. How did the author feel a month before the marathon?A.Confident. | B.Tired. | C.Determined. | D.Hopeless. |
A.To share a precious memory. | B.To show he was not talented in sports. |
C.To amuse the readers with a funny story. | D.To acknowledge the support of his teacher. |
A.He made it. | B.He quit halfway. |
C.He got the first prize. | D.He walked to the end. |
A.One is never too old to learn. | B.Failure is the mother of success. |
C.A winner is one with a great effort of will. | D.A man owes his success to his family support. |
【推荐3】Some time ago, in my class I was about to fail a student for his answer to a physics question when the student claimed he deserved a better score. The examination question sounded “safe”.
“Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the aid of a barometer(压表).” The student had answered: “Take the barometer to the top of the building, attach a long rope to it, lower the barometer to the street, and then bring it up, measuring the length of the rope. The length of the rope is the height of the building.”
I argued that a high grade should prove his competence in physics, but the answer did not confirm this. I suggested that the student have another try. Immediately, he worked out his answer: A second best way is to take the barometer to the top of the building. Drop the barometer, timing its fall with a stopwatch. Then, using the formula to calculate the height of the building.
I was shocked by his answer. His method gave me not only a broken barometer but a U-turn in my teaching philosophy. I gave him full marks.
On his leaving my office, I recalled that he suggested there could be a better answer. So I asked him what it was. “Oh, yes,” said the student, “There are many ways. Probably the best,” he said, “is to take the barometer to the basement and ask the superintendent (楼管). You speak to him as follows: Mr.Superintendent, here I have a fine barometer. If you tell me the height of this building, I will give it to you.
At this point, I asked the student if he really did not know the conventional answer to this question. He admitted that he did, but said that he was fed up with high school instructors’ trying to teach him how to think, and to use the so-called “scientific method”. He just wanted to solve the problem in a practical manner, not just answer the question in an expected way. Hearing this, I really had nothing to do but give the boy a firm handshake, feeling thankful that I hadn’t failed him in the first place and even more thankful, neither had he.
1. Why did the author want to fail the student in the first place?A.The student challenged his authority. |
B.The student’s answer was not practical. |
C.The student didn’t show his academic ability. |
D.The student had a poor performance in physics class. |
A.Without love, there is no education. |
B.A man becomes learned by asking questions. |
C.Teaching is to make two ideas grow where only one grew before. |
D.You can lead your horse to the river, but you can’t make it drink. |
A.Lack of physics-related knowledge. |
B.Ignorance of the teacher’s expectation. |
C.Intention to deeply impress his teacher. |
D.Disapproval of existing teaching concepts. |
A.The superintendent was a greedy person. |
B.School education restricted this student’s thinking. |
C.The teacher appreciated the student’s answers finally. |
D.The examination question is a lough physics problem. |
【推荐1】Who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years in the western world?
Jane Addams (1860 - 1935)
Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She created shelters, educational opportunities and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907 - 1964)
Rachel Carson was born in the rural river town of Springdale, Pennsylvania in America. The popular 1962 book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson made people realize the dangers and the harmful effects (影响) of pollution on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Angela Merkel (1954 - )
In 2005, Germans chose Angela Merkel as their first woman head of the country. She had been a scientist in the past. As Germany’s leader, she has had an effect on the whole world.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930 - )
When Sandra Day O’Connor finished her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work because she was a woman. However, she became the first woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court (最高法院) in 1981 after years of hard work.
Margaret Thatcher (1925 - 2013)
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first woman Prime Minister (首相). She served until 1990, which made her the first British leader to serve three terms in a row. Because of her high standards and strong will, people called her Britain’s Iron Lady.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Polish-born scientist Marie Curie discovered that some types of metal give off energy called radiation (辐射能). Her research led to new medical treatments and arms. She received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and in Chemistry in 1911.
1. Who once won the Nobel Prize?A.Jane Addams and Marie Curie. |
B.Jane Addams and Margaret Thatcher. |
C.Marie Curie and Angela Merkel. |
D.Marie Curie and Rachel Carson. |
A.help the poor |
B.spread geographic knowledge |
C.protect the environment |
D.protect the rights of women |
A.Jane Addams. | B.Sandra Day O’Connor. |
C.Rachel Carson. | D.Margaret Thatcher. |
A.Great women | B.Famous scientists |
C.Strong leaders | D.Ways to success for women |
【推荐2】It is said that Lincoln’s ghost(幽灵) often appears in the White House. He appears in the room where the Lincoln bed is kept. Harry Truman once responded to a 3 o’clock knock on his door and found no one there. He attributed the knock to Lincoln.
Lincoln is said to return to the White House when the safety of the country is at risk. He walks up and down the second floor hallway, gently knocks at doors, and stands by certain windows with his hands put behind his back. One staff member firmly said that he had seen Lincoln sitting on his bed pulling on his boots.
A guard to President Harrison was kept awake many nights trying to protect the president from strange footsteps he heard in the hall. He grew so tired and worried; he finally attended a séance(降神会) to beg President Lincoln to stop so that he could get enough sleep to properly protect the president!
Abigail Adam’s ghost was seen wandering through the closed doors of the East Room to hang the laundry(洗衣店) during the Taft administration.
A gardener said that he had spoken to the ghost of Dolly Madison, who was angry with him for trying to remove the rose bushes she had planted over a hundred years ago.
In the 1930’s Andrew Jackson’s ghost could be heard laughing in the Rose room.
In 1952, complete repairs were done to the second floor of the White House. Since then, the ghosts have not walked so actively.
1. How many people’s ghosts appear in the white house?A.Four. | B.Five. | C.Six. | D.Seven. |
A.Harrison’s. | B.John Adam’s. | C.Andrew Jackson’s. | D.Dolly Madison’s. |
A.Harry Truman had heard Lincoln’s footsteps. |
B.Lincoln always returns to the White House when he misses his people. |
C.President Harrison was not afraid of Lincoln’s ghost at all. |
D.The rose bushes were planted by Dolly Madison. |
A.The White House Ghosts |
B.American Presidents’ Ghosts |
C.The White House |
D.American Presidents |
【推荐3】Clara Barton, born on Christmas in 1821, is widely known as one of the most honored women in American history. She began teaching school when most teachers were men at that time. Later, she became one of the first women ever to be employed by the government.
Her career in helping the sick began when her brother David became her first patient. He fell down from the roof of a house when Clara was just 11 years old. She stayed by his side and looked after him for three years, learning how to give him all his medicines.
When the Civil War began in 1861, she immediately recognized that the poorly equipped soldiers needed help. Instead of waiting for others to step in, Clara collected necessary things on her own, asked the public for donations and learned how to store and distribute them to soldiers. She also read to the soldiers and wrote letters for them.
After the Battle of Cedar Mountain in northern Virginia in 1862, Clara arrived at a field hospital at midnight with a vehicle full of supplies. A doctor named Paul Smith at that hospital would later write, “I thought heaven had sent out an angel that night her assistance arrived at exactly the right time.”
In 1869, Clara went to Europe and learned about the International Committee of the Red Cross. Upon her return to the United States, she successfully founded the American Red Cross. She led the organization for the next 23 years. Her last field mission(使命) as president of the American Red Cross was to help the victims of the 1900 Galveston hurricane. She did not retire(退休) from the American Red Cross until she was 83. True to her nature, Clara always went to where the need was the greatest.
Today, the American Red Cross continues the mission Clara started more than 100 years ago. With the help of thousands of volunteers, the American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters, as well as helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to all sorts of emergencies.
1. We can learn from Paragraph 2 that Clara Barton was ________.A.honest | B.caring |
C.talented | D.modest |
A.joined the army and fought bravely |
B.went to Europe for further study |
C.continued to work as a teacher |
D.did a lot to help soldiers |
A.excited and grateful | B.proud and joyful |
C.shy and nervous | D.sad and sorry |