Condoleezza Rice is used to standing out. It is not only because she holds the position as U.S. Secretary of State. Her youth, gender and skin color have　36　a lot of attention throughout her political career.
Condoleezza Rice,　37　as Condi to her close friends, was born in 1954 in Birmingham. During 1950s,blacks were not treated as　38　citizens in the south. Although slavery was　39　 in 1865,the southern states passed their own laws to continue the　40　of blacks and whites. Despite the discrimination　41　black people, her parents told her she could become 42　she wanted. They taught her to believe that great things were　43　for her.
Rice was a gifted student with a　44　for the piano and she entered college at the age of 15 with the　45　of becoming a concert pianist. Along the way she was　46　by political scientist Josef Korbel, the father of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.Rice　47　 her plans and studied international politics, and in the 1980s she was teaching at Stanford University,　48　her career developed quickly. She　49　on George H. Bush's national security council(顾问) in 1989.Later she　50　to Stanford, and became its youngest, first female and first　51　provost after two years.
In 2001,Rice re-entered the political world,　52　George W. Bush's national security advisor. She has drawn international　53　in this position, and has been the most powerful national security advisors in American　54　.
She held this position until 2005,when　55　Secretary of State.
36.A. directed B. turned C. paid    D. attracted
37.A. known   B. Considered C. Seen   D. accepted
38.A. respectful     B. equal  C. different     D. noble
39.A. finished B. Stopped     C. Prevented   D. ended
40.A. difference     B. disagreement     C. separation   D. division
41.A. against  B. to              C. with    D. towards
42.A. whoever       B. whomever  C. whatever    D. whichever
43.A. desiring B. waiting      C. preparing   D. longing
44.A. talent    B. interest       C. hobby D. favourite
45.A. purpose B. goal    C. intention    D. attention
46.A. effected B. affected      C. impressed   D. influenced
47.A. changed B. postponed   C. cancelled    D. exchanged
48.A. which    B. where C. when  D. that
49.A. acted     B. waited C. served D. called
50.A. paid a visit    B. showed concern C. attended     D. returned
51.A. black     B. white  C. capable      D. efficient
52.A. turning  B. holding      C. becoming   D. taking
53.A. praise    B. approval     C. criticism     D. attention
54.A. politics  B. history       C. culture              D. government
55.A. elected  B. invited       C. appointed   D. succeeded