【1】Tests Show Women Suited for Space Travel

　　Between 1977 and 1981, three groups of American woman, ___(1)___, between the age of 35 and 65, were given month-long tests to determine how they would respond to conditions resembling those aboard the space shuttle.

　　Though ___(2)___, the women were volunteers and the pay was barely above the minimum wage. They were not allowed ___(3)____ during the tests, and they were expected to tolerate each other’s company at close quarters for the entire period. Among other things they had to stand pressure three times the force of gravity and carry out both physical and mental tasks __(4)__. At the end of ten days, they had to spend a further twenty days absolutely confined to bed, during which time they suffered backaches and other discomforts, and when they were finally allowed up, the more physically active women were especially subject to pains due to a slight calcium loss.

　　Results of the tests suggest that women will have significant advantages over men in space. They need less food and les oxygen and they stand up to radiation better. Men’s advantages __(5)__, meanwhile, are virtually wiped out by the zero-gravity condition in space.

　　EXERCISE:

　　A): to smoke or drink alcohol

　　B) carefully selected from among many applicants

　　C) numbering 27 in all

　　D) in terms of strength and stamina

　　E) those who are physically stronger

　　F) while exhausted from strenuous physical exercise

　　答案:C B A F D

【2】How Did She Conquer the Americans?

　　African-American talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is the world's most powerful celebrity， according to Forbes magazine. (1)Ｗww.KaＯ8.CC

　　Winfrey， 51， draws 30 million viewers weekly in the United States. Her talk show reaches 112 countries. She earned US$225 million over the past 12 months to rank second in celebrity riches.

　　The annual Forbes list gives most weight to annual earnings. (2)

　　“After 21 years， her exciting chat show still rules the airwaves. It created new celebrities and hundreds of millions of dollars in profits，” the magazine said.

　　Winfrey is most popular with her popular talk show “The Oprah Winfrey Show”。 She can always attract the superstars and let them open up to her intimate interviewing style.

　　Last month， American actor Tom Cruise， 42， surprised fans when he celebrated his new romance with 26-year-old actress Katie Holmes. He jumped up and down， shouting “I'm in love.” Only a few years ago， Cruise and his ex-wife Nicole Kidman appeared separately on the same show telling the news of their divorce. (3)

　　Winfrey's approach appears to be simple. She is in pursuit of self-improvement and self-empowerment (自强)。 This has proved to be just what people， especially women， want.

　　Winfrey often talks about her personal secrets on her show. That pulls in viewers. For example， she revealed that she had been sexually abused as a child， and has spoken freely of her struggle with her weight.

　　Winfrey was born to a poor family in Mississippi in 1954. (4) At the age of 19， she became the youngest person and the first African-American woman to anchor (主持) a news programme.

　　Her success has not just been on the screen. Her media group includes a women's TV network and websites for women.

　　Winfrey's work has extended to social change. (5)

　　She testified before the US Senate to establish a national database of dangerous child abusers. President Bill Clinton later signed “Oprah Bill” into law.

　　A But it also looks at the celebrity's presence on the Internet and in the media.

　　B In 1991， she did a lot of work for the National Child Protection Act.

　　C She was not a very successful woman.

　　D She began broadcasting while still at high school.

　　E It placed Winfrey at the top of its annual ranking of the 100 people last week.

　　F The couple had been tight-lipped about their break-up.

　　【参考答案】1. E 2. A 3. F 4. D 5. B