Passage 10
（2009 陜西 B）

When people hear a president speak, they seldom think about others helping to shape the presentation（報告）.Today, however, presidents depend on writers such as J.Terry Edmonds to help them communicate（交流）effectively.Edmonds is the first african american ever to work as a full-time speechwriter for a U.S.president; he is also the first african american to serve as director of speechwriting for the White House.His is an all-american story of success.

Edmonds grew up in baltimore, Maryland; his father drove a truck, and his mother worked as a waitress.A great reader, Edmonds showed a gift for writing at his high school, baltimore city college.After graduating in 1967, Edmonds went on to Morgan State University.

Edmonds began his career in business, with jobs in public relations and communications.He joined the world of politics as news secretary for his congressman （國會議員）from baltimore.during bill clinton's presidency, he wrote speeches for Health and Human Services Secretary donna Shalala and worked in a number of jobs in the White House and in governmental departments.President clinton then appointed （任命）him to the office of director of speechwriting.Following the 2000 elections, Edmonds returned to Morgan State University as the school's special assistant to the president for 2001—2002.

1.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?

A. Edmonds proved himself to be good at writing at high school.

B. Edmonds graduated from Morgan State University in 1967.

C. Edmonds was the first full-time speechwriter.

D. Edmonds served the White House after 2000.

2.Edmonds entered the world of politics first as ______.

A. news secretary for a congressman

B. a speechwriter for President clinton

C. news secretary in the White House

D. a speechwriter for Secretary donna Shalala

3.The text is most likely to be found in a book about ______.

A. popular science

B. historical events

C. successful people

D. political systems

【重點詞匯】

shape v.制作，使成形，塑造

effectively adv.有效地

full-time adj.全職的

speechwriter n.演講稿撰寫人

gift n.天賦

public relations 公共關系

communication n.交流，溝通

news secretary 新聞秘書

presidency n.總統的職位（任期）

special assistant 特別助理

【疑難長句】

1.Edmonds is the first african american ever to work as a full-time speechwriter for a U.S.president; he is also the first african american to serve as director of speechwriting for the White House.

本句為并列句結構，前一分句中ever to work as a full-time speechwriter for a U.S.president短語為定語短語，修飾african american，后一分句中的to serve as director of speechwriting for the White House短語也是定語短語，修飾后一個african american。本句中african american的意思是“非洲裔美國人”，ever用來加強語氣，表示“有史以來、迄今為止”，full-time表示“全職的”。

（參考譯文）埃德蒙茲是迄今第一個全職擔任美國總統演講撰稿人的非洲裔美國人，他也是第一個出任白宮撰稿主任的非洲裔美國人。

2.during bill clinton's presidency, he wrote speeches for Health and Human Services Secretary donna Shalala and worked in a number of jobs in the White House and in governmental departments.

本句為雙謂語組成的簡單句，presidency的意思是“擔任總統期間、總統任期”，secretary此處指“部長”，美國政府的部長一般都用secretary一詞，而不用minister，如Secretary of defense“國防部長”；Secretary of commerce“商務部長”等。

（參考譯文）在比爾·克林頓擔任總統期間，埃德蒙茲曾為醫療和人力服務部部長多納·莎拉拉撰寫演講稿，并曾在白宮以及多個政府部門任職。