But what really stands out about the giant center is his celebrity(名气). Few, if any, Chinese athletes are as well-known as Yao around the world. People across the globe are fascinated with Yao, not only for his basketball prowess(杰出的才能)also for being a symbol of international commerce.

When Yao joined the Houston Rockets as the No.1 pick in the 2002 NBA draft(选抜)， he was the first international player ever to be selected first. His assets on the court are clear enough—no NBA player of his size has ever possessed his mobility, so he is a handful(难对付的人)for opponents on either end of the court. But what makes Yao invaluable to the Rockets organization is his role as a global citizen and as a bridge to millions of potential basketball fans in China.

When it was announced in February that Yao would miss the rest of the NBA season and possibly the Olympics with a stress fracture(骨折)in his left foot, a collective shudder(震动)spread across China. After considerable debate and discussion, Yao opted to get his foot surgically treated in an operation that placed several tiny screws across the bone, to offer his overburdened foot more support. The surgery was a success, and though the estimated four-month recovery period will leave him little time to prepare with Team China, Yao has vowed to be ready for the Beijing Olympics.

Yao wrapped up a 10-day trip to China, where he underwent a series of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments, hoping to accelerate his recovery process Western experts are generally skeptical of TCM's benefits although new research from the University of Rochester suggests that a certain compound derived from shellfish may indeed stimulate bone repair.

"There is no reason to dismiss TCM," Yao told a press conference in Beijing." It's been used in our country for thousands of years. I don't think that it's short on science."

31.【题干】The word "towering" in Paragraph 1 means_____

A.large.

B.fat.

C.tall.

D.great.

【答案】C

32.【题干】Opponents find it very difficult to control Yao Ming because of his_____

A.mobility.

B.assault

C.defense.

D.celebrity.

【答案】A

33.【题干】Yao Ming had to undergo a series of TCM treatments because_____

A.his right foot had been hurting.

B.he wanted to make a more rapid recovery.

C.the surgical operation had been a failure.

D.he couldn't afford all the medical expenses.

【答案】B

34.【题干】Which statement about Yao Ming is NOT true?

A.He missed the Athens Olympics.

B.He is an NBA player.

C.He fractured his left foot.

D.He is an international figure.

【答案】A

35.【题干】In general, the Western experts' attitude towards TCM is_____.

A.indifferent.

B.positive.

C.negative.

D.doubtful.

【答案】D