单选题 No doll outshines Barbie's celebrity. If all the Barbies and her family members-Skipper, Francie and the rest-sold since 1959 were placed head to toe, they would circle the Earth more than seven times. And sales are sure to boom in 2009, when the fashion doll celebrates her 50th birthday on March 9th.
Barbie will star at an array of global events honouring her milestone, possibly including a glitzy affair at New York's Fashion Week in February (most of the world's top fashion designers, from Givenchy to Alexander McQueen, have designed haute couture for her). On her birthday, Mattel, the company that makes her, will launch a souvenir doll honouring the original Barbie in her black-and-white striped swimsuit and perfect ponytail. It will be available for purchase only that one day. Another Golden Anniversary doll targets collectors. Barbie fans have planned hundreds of events, including the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Washington, DC, which is already sold out.
When Ruth Handler created Barbie in 1959, a post-war culture and economy thrived but girls still played with baby dolls. These toys limited the imagination; so Handler introduced Barbie the Teen-Age Fashion Model, named after her daughter, Barbara. Jackie Kennedy soon sashayed onto the world stage and Barbie already had a wardrobe fit for a first lady. Barbie bestowed on girls the opportunity to dream beyond suburbia, even if Ken at times tagged along.
Barbie entranced Europe in 1961 and now sells in 150 countries. Every second three Barbies are sold around the world. Her careers are myriad-model, astronaut, Olympic swimmer, palaeontologist and rock star, along with 100 others, including president. Like any political candidate, controversy hit Barbie in 1992 when Teen Talk Barbie said "Math class is tough" and girls' education became a national issue. She has been banned (in Saudi Arabia), tortured (by pre-teen girls, according to researchers at the University of Bath's School of Management) and fattened (in 1997).
Feminists continue to bash Barbie, claiming that her beauty and curves treat women as objects. But others see her as a pioneer trendsetter, crashing the glass ceiling long before Hillary Clinton cracked it.
High-tech entertainment now attracts girls and Barbie also faces fierce competition from various copycats including the edgier, but less glare, Bratz dolls. The Bratz suffered a setback in 2008．Mattel sued MGA Entertainment, Bratz's producer, for copyright infringement. A judge awarded Mattel $100 million in damages.
Mattel has smartly ensured that Barbie products reflect current trends. Through two Barbie websites, girls can design clothes, network and play games. The pink Barbie brand is licensed for products from DVDs and MP3 players to bicycles and even 24-carat gold and crystal jewellery. Barbie collectors fuel an entire global industry on eBay and at conventions. To entice collectors, Mattel regularly releases pricey limited-edition dolls based on characters in films and popular culture.
Industry analysts believe Barbie will remain a bestselling and lasting icon regardless of competition. "Barbie's been out in the world and had fun, and she's ready for her second career," says Rachel Weingarten, a pop culture expert. "I don't see her adopting five children from five different countries, but I could see Barbie with a conscience, activist Barbie. " At 50 Barbie will also be a marvel of plastic surgery and eternal youth. And she still knows how to party.

单选题 What is Ruth Handler's motivation of creating Barbie?
[A] Physical scarcity after World War II.
[B] Unavailability of dolls for teenagers.
[C] Incapacity of education institutions in post-war Europe.
[D] People's desire for a new doll.

单选题 What does "Her careers are myriad" refer to?
[A] Barbie is designed by people with various careers.
[B] Barbie can be used in many different careers.
[C] Barbie is welcomed by people of all professions.
[D] Barbie exhibits images of people in various professions.

单选题 What can you tell from? But others see her as a pioneer trendsetter, crashing the glass ceiling long before Hillary Clinton cracked it"?
[A] Barbie dolls are all contained in glass containers.
[B] Barbie as an icon shows the trend of breaking the gender prejudice.
[C] Barbie dolls factories have glass ceiling.
[D] Hillary Clinton used Barbie doll for her presidency campaign.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】本题较难，此句暗指了希拉里退出总统选举时concession speech里面的句子，“虽然这次我们没有能够打碎那个又高又硬的玻璃天花板，但是谢谢各位，它的上面已经有了一千八百万个裂缝(Although we weren't able to shatter that highest，hardest glass ceiling this time，thanks to you，it's got about 18 million cracks in it．)”，这一用法主要是指美国女性在职业领域中的受歧视问题以及种种制约。要直接理解句意稍显困难，但是根据选项并结合文章也不难选择。A项文中并未提及，而且常识判断也不大可能；B项暂时无法判断，先放在一旁；C项文中也没有提及；D项也没有提及。再结合前一句的女权主义者的说法，那么可以看出芭比娃娃和女权主义也有所关联，那么再进行判断，则B项是合适的。

单选题 According to the text, what competitions does Barbie face?
[A] Girls now do not like Barbie.
[B] Other companies produce similar products as Barbie.
[C] The sales volume is likely to drop in the coming years.
[D] The company is facing serious financial crisis.

单选题 Which is NOT right according to Rachel Weingarten's comment in the last paragraph?
[A] Barbie has already been an icon of a pop culture.
[B] Barbie can still stimulate people's enthusiasm.
[C] Barbie has produced different models in different countries.
[D] Barbie will assume a new role in the pop culture.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】根据最后一段中的评论，可以看出芭比在世界上已经很流行(Barbie's been out in the world and had fun)，在未来将会继续流行(she's ready for her second career)；并没有在各国发展出不同的芭比，而是一个统一的芭比(I don't see her adopting five children from five different countries，but I could see Barbie with a conscience，activist Barbie．)。然后据此参照选项，A项说芭比已经是流行文化的一个象征，这个已经是一个不争的事实，Weignarten的话也可以认为表现出此类事实。B项说可以激发的人的激情，这可以从其第一句评论得出。C项说不同的国家有不同的芭比，这与后半部分的评论相反，故不符合文意。D项的new role也可以与文中的second career对应，故D也符合文意。