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George Walker Bush，the 43rd President of the United States from 2001to 2009，is the eldest son of the 41st President George H.W.Bush，making him the second American president to have been the son of a former president.In a close and controversial election，Bush was elected President in 2000as the Republican candidate，defeating Vice President Al Gore in the Electoral College.A series of terrorist attacks occurred eight months into Bush’s first term as president on September 11，2001.In response，Bush announced the War on Terror，an international military campaign which included the war in Afghanistan launched in 2001and the war in Iraq launched in 2003.In addition to national security issues，Bush promoted policies on the economy，health care，education，and social security reform.Bush successfully ran for re-election against Democratic Senator John Kerry in 2004，in another relatively close election.After his re-election，Bush received increasingly heated criticism from across the political spectrum.In 2005，the Bush Administration dealt with widespread criticism over its handling of Hurricane Katrina.Following this and other controversies，as well as the growing unpopularity of the Iraq War，Democrats won control of Congress in the 2006elections.In December 2007，the United States entered its longest post-World War II recession，prompting the Bush Administration to enact multiple economic programs intended to preserve the country’s financial system.Though Bush was popular in the US for much of his first term，and his popularity declined sharply during his second.He was a highly controversial figure internationally，with public protests occurring even during visits to close allies，such as the United Kingdom.After leaving office，Bush returned to Texas and purchased a home in a suburban area of Dallas.He has written a book about his life entitled Decision Points.

In the general election of 2008Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States，the first African-American President.The inauguration of President Barack Obama took place on Tuesday，January 20，2009.Nine months later，Obama was named the 2009Nobel Peace Prize laureate.“A New Birth of Freedom”，aphrase from the Gettysburg Address，served as the inaugural theme to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth year of Abraham Lincoln.In his speeches to the crowds，Obama referred to ideals expressed by Lincoln about renewal，continuity and national unity.Obama mentioned these ideals in his speech to stress the need for shared sacrifice and a new sense of responsibility to answer America’s challenges at home and abroad.

As president Obama tried to promote the international relations with Russia and European countries by overseas visits.Besides，Obama attempted to improve relations between the Islamic countries and the United States.Therefore the Obama administration gradually withdrew American troops in Iraq，and announced that the United States combat mission in Iraq was over on August 31，2010.Obama’s domestic agenda focuses on bringing about economic recovery，extending health care，and revising tax policy against the financial crisis in America.However，the high unemployment rate and inefficient recovery policies made the Democratic Party lost 63seats in the House of Representatives during the 2010midterm election.On January 25，2011，in his 2011State of the Union Address，President Obama focused strongly on the themes of education and innovation，stressing the importance of innovation economics in working to make the United States more competitive globally.Among other plans and goals，Obama spoke of enacting a five-year freeze in domestic spending，eliminating tax breaks for oil companies and tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans，banning congressional earmarks，and reducing healthcare costs.Looking to the future，Obama promised that by 2015，the United States would have one million electric vehicles on the road and by 2035；clean-energy sources would be providing 80percent of US electricity.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization（NATO）：formery set up on April 4，1949.There were 12founder member nations：the US，the UK，Canada，Belgium，Denmark，France，Iceland，Italy，Luxembourg，the Netherlands，Norway and Portugal.Greece and Turkey joined in 1952，the Federal Republic of Germany in 1955and Spain in 1982.NATO currently consists of 20countries with the entrance of some former Warsaw Pact countries joining the NATO after 1999.

Ⅰ.Choose the correct answer.

1.Between 1935 and 1939，American foreign policy included all of the following except________.

A.the prohibition of the sale of arms or equipment to nations at war

B.the prohibition of loans to belligerent nations

C.cash-and-carry policy

D.active intervention to prevent aggression

2.The US formallyentered the Second World War in________.

A.1937　　　B.1939　　　C.1940　　　D.1941

3.Normandy Landing took place on________.

A.June 6，1944　　　B.July 6，1944

C.April 30，1945　　D.April 12，1945

4.At which conference did Roosevelt，Churchill and Stalin agree to call a conference of all the United Nations in San Francisco in April 1945？

A.The Conference in Teheran，on Nov.28，1943.

B.The Conference in cario，on Nov.23，1943.

C.The Conference at Dumbarton Oaks，in the fall of 1944.

D.Yalta Conference，in Feb.1945.

5.The post-World WarⅡprogram of economic assistance to Western Europe was known as________.

A.containment policy　　　B.Truman Plan

C.Marshall Plan　　　　　 D.Communist prevention

6.Dr.Martin Luther King，Jr.，advocated the philosophy of________.

A.economic equality　　　B.nonviolence

C.military protest 　　　D.black power

7.Thousands of American soldiers were sent toVietnam under the President________.

A.Dwight D.Eisenhower　　　B.John F.Kennedy

C.Lyndon B.Johnson　　　　 D.Richard M.Nixon

8.The formal diplomatic relation at the ambassadorial rank between China and the US was established under the President________.

A.Nixon　　　B.Carter　　　C.Reagan　　　D.Bush

Ⅱ.Fill in the blanks.

1.The cash-and-carry policyallowed US citizens to ________certain nonprohibited goods to belligerent nations as long as those goods were not transported on ________ships.

2.________Act enabled any countrywhose ________the President considered vital to that of the US to receive ________and other ________and supplies by sale，transfer，exchange，or lease.F.D.Roosevelt explained the Act would make the US the ________of world democracy.

3.Civil rights involve government protection of individuals against________ based on their________，________national origin，gender，age，and other factors.Dr.Martin Luther King，Jr.was honored for his effort to fight________.In 1964，he won the Nobel Prize for________.

4.Star Wars program was proposed byPresident ________in________.The program seeks to construct a defensive“shield”against incoming________.The shield would be made of ________and electronic________ that would destroysuch missiles launched to attack________.

5.In 1990，President________ordered Operation Desert Storm to punish________，more than 200，000 US troops were sent to Saudi Arabia，and the US navy________all oil exports from Iraq and all imports except________.

6.Under Clinton，the US enjoyed an economic growth for nine________ years.This phenomenon，hardly seen before，has been termed the“________”by some.The fundamental reason for it is that American economic structure went through essential changes because of the promotion of________and ________progress.