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When people hear a president speak, they seldom think about others helping to shape the presentation（报告）. 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 （国会议员） 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
shape v . 制作，使成形，塑造
effectively adv . 有效地
full-time adj . 全职的
speechwriter n . 演讲稿撰写人
gift n . 天赋
public relations 公共关系
communication n . 交流，沟通
news secretary 新闻秘书
presidency n . 总统的职位（任期）
special assistant 特别助理
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.
本句为并列句结构，前一分句中的ever to work as a full-time speechwriter for a U. S. president短语为定语短语，修饰African American，后一分句中的to serve as director of speechwriting for the White House短语也是定语短语，修饰后一个African American。本句中African American的意思是“非洲裔美国人”，ever用来加强语气，表示“有史以来、迄今为止”，full-time表示“全职的”。
（参考译文） 埃德蒙兹是迄今第一个全职担任美国总统演讲撰稿人的非洲裔美国人，他也是第一个出任白宫撰稿主任的非洲裔美国人。
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.
本句为双谓语组成的简单句，presidency的意思是“担任总统期间、总统任期”，secretary此处指“部长”，美国政府的部长一般都用secretary一词，而不用minister，如Secretary of Defense“国防部长”；Secretary of Commerce“商务部长”等。
（参考译文） 在比尔·克林顿担任总统期间，埃德蒙兹曾为医疗和人力服务部部长多纳·莎拉拉撰写演讲稿，并曾在白宫以及多个政府部门任职。