Passage One
For most of the world，2002 was a gloomy and tense year as nations struggled with slumping economies and watched nervously for the twin threats of terrorist attacks and war with Iraq．
Many hoped the US would not attack Iraq，but resigned them selves to the possibility．Only Britain and a few allies gave strong support to Washington's tough stance on Iraq．
The world mourned the anniversary of the September 11attacks—convinced more would come．Terrorism struck heavily in Russia，Kenya and Indonesia．
After the roaring 90s， economies slumped as stock markets fell，business faltered and banks struggled with bad debt．
The year in Europe was a search for expansion and the healing of old divi- sions．NATO invited seven of its former Communist opponents to join as the scars of the Cold War healed．The 15-nation European Union moved to add 10 more countries．
But European domestic politics were less harm onious．The far right appeared to be making unprecedented gains as Europeans reacted fearfully to a flood of illegal immigrants．
Jean-Marie Le Pen stunned the world by winning a place in the runoff of the French presidential election．In Germany，Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder narrowly won re-election，only to see the continent's largest economy falter．
The terror Europeans feared allyear struck in Moscow in October whena theatre siege by Chechen rebels ended in a raid by special forces that left at least 129 hostages dead．
The US continued its war on terrorism，claiming to have made important arrests．It also pressed the hunt for Osam a bin Laden，who was blamed for the September 11attacks．
It was a year of crisis and stalem ate in the Middle East．Israel's battle with the Palestinians deepened with a cycle of suicide bom bings and Israeli military sweeps．Some younger Palestinian leaders for the first time questioned the wisdom of continuing an uprising more than two years old．
In Latin American，Brazil，the region's powerhouse，took a historic step as leftist Luiz Inacio Lula was elected president．Economic instability，or the threat of it，hung over many nations as Argentina buckled under massive debt．
In Africa，the AIDS epidemic continued its merciless ravages，and drought，floods and bad government raised anew the threat of famine．Ivory Coast—once held up as a model—faced civil war，and other conflicts sputtered on unresolved．
And yet，the world's poorest continent saw signs of hope．
“We are starting a new chapter in the history of our continent，”South African President Thabo Mbeki said．
Answer the following questions．
1．The word“resigned”（Para．2）probably means __________ ．
2．After the September 11，where did the next terrorists'attack happen？
3．It is implied in the passage that the rightists in Europe are __________ to immigrants．
4．The crisis mentioned in the Middle East refers to ________________________________________ ．
5．Argentina is faced with the problemof __________ ．
Passage Two
The two dozen junior high students playing hoops on the outdoor courts at the Nike Basketball Garden share a dream and a hero．
They want to play in the NBA，just like Houston Rockets rookie Yao Ming．
“Someday，there'll be no Americans left in the NBA，”said 12-year-old Xing Tao．“The players will all be Chinese，like Yao！”
To China，Yao is a homegrown superstar who helped pry open the doors of the world's premier basketball league to Chinese players．
But，to the NBA and companies like Nike and Reebok，the 2．23-metre center offers an opening of a different sort—into the world's largest untapped market．
Excited about reaching 1．3 billion potential fans，the NBA more than doubled the number of its games broadcast in China this season．The total is expected to run up to 170，with 30 involving the Rockets．
Yao's NBA debut against the Indiana Pacers in October，carried by China Central Television，reached 287 million house-holds．By contrast，there are only about 105 million TV households in the United States．
That game might have been a bit of a letdown to Yao's fans：He played just 11of the 48 minutes，had two rebounds and did not make a basket．
Compare that with his perform ance last Wednesday night，also against Indiana：29 points，10 rebounds and 6 blocked shots．
“This was one of the most exciting games I've had，”Yao said after Houston's 95-83 victory．
The NBA has to be excited about hison-court success．Maturing with each game，it seems，he's averaging 12．7 points and 7．7 rebounds，quite solid for a rookie．And he leads the league in shooting percentage（59．9）．
“Yao Ming has brought the NBA closer to the Chinese，”said NBA spokeswoman Cheong Sau Ching in Hong Kong．“That makes the dream seem achievable for other Chinese．”
The 22-year-old Yao is not the country's first player in the NBA；Wang Zhizhi broke that barrier as a role player with the Dallas Mavericks in April 2001．But Yao's combination of modest demeanor and serious Rookie of the Year candidacy makes him a favourite back home．
Despite his popularity，Yao has onlya minor advertising presence in China，appearing in few TV commercials or on bill-boards．He has only one endorsement deal with Nike，and that dates to his days with the Shanghai Sharks of China's pro league．
Some companies try to capitalize on the Yao phenomenon in less direct ways．
For instance，Coca-Cola signed on as chief sponsor of NBA games broadcast on Shanghai Television immediately after Yao joined the NBA．
“Yao Ming is a source of pride for millions at home，”a senior TV producer Ye Li said．
Answer the following questions．
1．Why do Chinese students want to play in the NBA？
2．To the big companies like Nike and Reebok，Yao Ming means __________．
3．Yao's NBA debut against the Indiana Pacers turned out to be __________ ．
4．As far as popularity is concerned， Yao Ming is __________ than another NBA Chinese player Wang Zhizhi．
5．Give a proper title for this passage．
答案：
Passage One
1．hand themselves over to
2．Russia，Kenya and Indonesia．
3．unfriendly
4．Israel's battle with the Palestinians
5．heavy debt
Passage Two
1．Because they would like to follow Yao Ming's example．
2．the world's largest market
3．a little disappointed
4．much better
5．Yao Ming Opening Up The Chinese Market
