阅读理解IntheofficeoftheGermanChancellorAngelaMerkelthereisapictureofCatherinetheGreatthelegendaryRussianEmpress．WhenaskedwhyshehasthepictureMerkelsays“Shewas

　　阅读理解

　　IntheofficeoftheGermanChancellorAngelaMerkelthereisapictureofCatherinetheGreatthelegendaryRussianEmpress．WhenaskedwhyshehasthepictureMerkelsays“Shewasastrongwoman”．ManysaythesameofMerkel．

　　ThemostpowerfulwomanintheworldaccordingtoUSForbesmagazinewasinChinalastweek．ShecametodiscusstradeandenvironmentalissueswithChina'stopleaders．Germany'sfirstwomanleaderisknownasabraveandpracticalstatesman(政治家)．Evensincehertimeatschoolshehadthehabitofgettingeverythinginorder．Everydaybeforedoingherhomeworkshewouldcleanthedeskandthinkaboutwhattodonext．“Ipreferalongtimeforfullpreparationstomakemydecision．ButonceIdecideIwillstandupforwhatIbelieve”Merkelsaid．

　　Perhapsitwasgoodhabitsthathelpedherdowellinherstudies．At32shegotadoctorate(博士学位)inphysicsandthensheworkedasaresearcher．

　　Howeverthelifeofascholarcouldn'tputoffherloveofpolitics．WhileworkinginlabsMerkeltooktimeofftoreadpoliticalbooksandatlastjoinedapoliticalparty．“Hercalmnesshelpedherstandoutintheparty．Shecouldalwaysfindawayoutwhileothersfelthopeless”saidoneofheroldfriends．

　　InherfirstbigpoliticaljobasMinisterfortheEnvironmentin1994herscientificbackgroundprovedveryuseful．In2005shebecameGermany'syoungestchancellorsincethesecondWorldWar．

　　Nowhalfwaythroughherfour-yeartermthe53-year-oldwomanhasmadeanameforherselfbothinGermanyandabroad．AttheEUsummitin2005whenFrancequarreledwithBritainovertheEUbudget(预算)somepeoplebelievedtheEUwasclosetobreakingdown．ButMerkeldidn'tgiveup．Sheshuttled(穿梭)betweentheheadsofthetwopowersandhadthemreachedanagreement．

　　“Strengthcomesfromcomposure(镇定)andcourage．ManypeoplesayIamastrongwoman．ButIwouldrathersayIhaveperseverance”saidMerkel．

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　　WhydoesMerkelputapictureofCatherin