UNIT 1. LIFE STORIESPART I. PHONETICS

Exercise 10. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer

to each of the questions.

Theresa May, the second female Britain's prime minister following Margaret Thatcher,

revealed in 2013 that she had been given a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, a condition that requires

daily insulin injections. Asked later how she felt about the diagnosis, she said her approach to it was

the same as toward everything in her life: “Just get on and deal with it.” That kind of steeliness

brought her to center stage in the aftermath of Britain's vote to leave the European Union and the

feuding that erupted in the Conservative Party over who would succeed David Cameron.

Ms. May, 59 years old, is the country's longest-serving home secretary in half a century, with

a reputation for seriousness, hardwork and above all, determination. She is one of a growing number

of women in traditionally male-dominated British politics rising to the upper position of leadership.

Born in 1956, Ms. May grew up mainly in Oxfordshire, an only child who was first drawn to

the Conservative Party at age 12. As a conscientious student, she never rebelled against her religious

upbringing and remains a regular churchgoer. Tellingly, her sports hero was Geoffrey Boycott, a

solid, stubborn cricketer who specialized in playing the long game.

Like many other Britain's prime minister including Tony Blair, Sir Robert Peel and Margaret

Thatcher, she won a place at Oxford. But while almost every other political leader got there by way

of Eton College and joined Oxford's hedonistic Bullingdon Club, she attended a state secondary

school and had a more sedate university career. After unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the

House of Commons in 1992 and 1994, she finally became an MP in 1997 general election.

May is known for a love of fashion and in particular distinctive shoes. She even wore leopard-

print shoes to her final Cabinet meeting as Home Secretary in early 2016. However, she has been

quite critical of the media focusing on her fashion instead of her achievement as a politician. May

also describes cooking and walking as primary hobbies, and if someone is raising questions about

why walking can be classified as a hobby, she elaborates in a column for Balance magazine, in which

she wrote of her battle with diabetes.

123. According to the passage, who is the prime minister coming before Theresa May?

A. Tony Blair B. Margaret Thatcher C. Sir Robert Peel D. David Cameron

124. The most prominent characteristic of Theresa May is________.

A. stubbornness B. seriousness C. determination D. hard work

125. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. British political life is conventionally controlled mainly by men.

B. The number of women in politics is increasing.

C. Conservative Party didn't have to discuss about who would be the next prime minister.

D. Theresa May's toughness was one of the reasons for the Party to choose her for the prime

minister position.

126. Which of the following facts is TRUE about Theresa May?

A. She graduated from Eton College.

B. As a child, she was quite rebellious.

C. She didn't work part time as a university student.

D. She used not to be a home secretary.

127. She first became a member of parliament in________.

A. 1992 B. 1994 C. 1997 D. 2013

128. Her reason to consider walking as one of her main hobbies is________.

A. she is quite critical B. it helps her fight diabetes

C. someone asks about it D. it is written on Balance magazine

129. The word approach in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to________.

A. means B. advance C. technique D. trick

130. The word hedonistic in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to________.

A. ordinary B. luxurious C. economical D. simple

Part VI. WRITING