IntheofficeoftheGermanChancellorAngelaMerkel,thereisapictureofCatherinetheGreat,thelegendaryRussianEmpress.Whenaskedwhyshehasthepicture,Merkelsays,“Shewasastrongwoman”.ManysaythesameofMerkel.Themostp

　　IntheofficeoftheGermanChancellorAngelaMerkel,thereisapictureofCatherinetheGreat,thelegendaryRussianEmpress.Whenaskedwhyshehasthepicture,Merkelsays,“Shewasastrongwoman”.ManysaythesameofMerkel.

　　Themostpowerfulwomanintheworld,accordingtoUSForbesmagazine,wasinChinalastweek.ShecametodiscusstradeandenvironmentalissueswithChina’stopleaders.Germany’sfirstwomanleaderisknownasabraveandpracticalstatesman(政治家).Evensincehertimeatschool,shehadthehabitofgettingeverythinginorder.Everydaybeforedoingherhomeworkshewouldcleanthedeskandthinkaboutwhattodonext.“Ipreferalongtimeforfullpreparationstomakemydecision.ButonceIdecide,IwillstandupforwhatIbelieve,”Merkelsaid.

　　Perhapsitwasgoodhabitsthathelpedherdowellinherstudies.At32,shegotadoctorate(博士学位)inphysicsandthensheworkedasaresearcher.

　　However,thelifeofascholarcouldn’tputoffherloveofpolitics.Whileworkinginlabs,Merkeltooktimeofftoreadpoliticalbooksandatlastjoinedapoliticalparty.“Hercalmnesshelpedherstandoutintheparty.Shecouldalwaysfindawayoutwhileothersfelthopeless,”saidoneofheroldfriends.

　　InherfirstbigpoliticaljobasMinisterfortheEnvironmentin1994,herscientificbackgroundprovedveryuseful.In2005shebecameGermany’syoungestchancellorsincethesecondWorldWar.

　　Nowhalfwaythroughherfour-yearterm,the53-year-oldwomanhasmadeanameforherselfbothinGermanyandabroad.AttheEUsummitin2005whenFrancequarreledwithBritainovertheEUbudget(预算),somepeoplebelievedtheEUwasclosetobreakingdown.ButMerkeldidn’tgiveup.Sheshuttled(穿梭)betweentheheadsofthetwopowersandhadthemreachedanagreement.

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

　　小题1:WhydoesMerkelputapictureofCatherinetheGreatonthewallofheroffice?A．BecauseCatherinetheGreatisbeautiful.B．BecauseMerkelwantstobeastrongwomantoo.C．BecauseMerkellikesthedrawingskillofit.D．Becauseitisveryexpensive.小题2:Whatistheco