IfYao Ming is not the biggest sports star in the world, he almost certainly the tallest.At 2.26m, he is the tallest player in the National Basketball Association (NBA)and holds the record as the most towering Olympian ever to competein the Game.
Butwhat really stands out about the giant center is his celebrity (名气). Few, if any, Chinese athletes are as well-known asYao Ming around the world. People across the globe are fascinated with Yao, notonly for his basketball prowess(接杰出的才能)but also for being a symbol of international commerce.
WhenYao joined the Houston Rockets as the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NBA draft he wasthe first international player ever to be selected first. His assets on thecourt are clear enough 一 no NBA player of his size has ever possessed his mobility, so he is ahandful (难对付的人)foropponents on either end of the court. But what makes Yao invaluable to theRockets organization is his role as a global citizen and as a bridge tomillions of potential basket ball fans in China.
Whenit was announced in February that Yao would miss the rest of the NBA season andpossibly the Olympics with a stress fracture (骨折)in his left foot, a collective shudder spread across China. After considerabledebate and discussion, Yao opted to get his foot surgically treated in anoperation that placed several tiny screws across the bone, to offer hisoverburdened foot more support. The surgery was a success, and though theestimated four-month recovery period will leave him little time to prepare withTeam China. Yao has vowed to be ready for the Beijing Olympics.
Yaowrapped up a 10-day trip to China, where he underwent a series of traditional Chinesemedicine (TCM) treatments, hoping to accelerate his recovery process.Westernexperts are generally skeptical of TCM’s benefits, although new research from the University of Rochestersuggests that a certain compound derived from shellfish may indeed stimulatebone repair.
“Thereis no reason to dismiss TCM, “Yao told a press conference in Beijing. “It’s been used in our countryfor thousands of years. I don’t think that it’sshort on science.”
36. The word“towering”inParagraph 1 means
A. large B. fat C. tall D. great
37. Opponents find it very difficult to controlYao Ming because of his
A. assault B. mobility C. defense D. celebrity
38. Yao Ming had to undergo a series of TCMtreatments because
A. he wanted to make a more rapid recovery.
B. his right foot had been hurting.
C. the surgical operation had been a failure.
D. he couldn't afford all the medicalexpenses.
39. Which statement about Yao Ming is NOT true?
A. He is an NBA player.
B. He fractured his left foot.
C. Hemissed the Athens Olympics.
D. He is an international figure.
40. In general, the Western experts' attitudetowards TCM is
A. indifferent B. positive C. doubtful D. negative.
2016年职称英语考试理工A阅读理解真题参考答案：CBACC
