Q: On 17 March 2003, Robin Cook, Leader of the House of Commons and former Foreign Secretary, resigned from the Cabinet in protest against the coming war in Iraq. His resignation speech inspired the first long applause in the history of the House and marked the end of the ministerial career of one of Labor's most brilliant politicians.

For the previous two years, Robin Cook kept a diary, a personal record of the life of Labor's second term, a diary that forms the center of the narrative . The Point of Departureis Robin Cook's plain account of this extraordinary period in our political history, the most important political publication of the decade. Though surprised by his abrupt dismissal as Foreign Secretary, he became determined to bring about some changes in Parliamentary democracy that he believed was essential if Parliament was to move into the 21stcentury. As Tony Blair told him, "This is the job for you."

Drawing on first-hand experiences in the Commons and the Cabinet, of encounters in conferences, and late night conversations, we follow his gathering disillusionment as the political compass of the government changes to directions which he believes to be completely mistaken: from its failure about Lords reform and its unwillingness to provide leadership for social change, to a foreign policy which has led us away from our responsibility in Europe, into closer relationship with the most right-wing government in American history, and participation in Bush's war on Iraq.

This is the story of a government in power and the tensions between those who govern. But above all it is a story of a politician who truly wanted to bring democracy closer to the people, but who saw a government increasingly separated from the values of himself and his party, and who developed a growing belief that on Iraq, its position was morally, diplomatically and politically wrong.

Robin Cook first entered Parliament as MP for Edinburgh Central in 1974. He held a number of senior positions in Opposition -- Shadow Foreign Secretary, Shadow Health and Social Services Secretary -- before becoming Foreign Secretary in 1997. In 2001 he was appointed Leader of the House of Commons, a position from which he resigned in March 2003 in protest against the coming war in Iraq.

Answer the following questions:
1. Who quit?
2. What did he quit?
3. where?
4. What country was he from?
5. What did he do in his last two years of being in the cabinet?
6. What was he protesting?
7. what did he believe?
8. What happened in the House when he spoke his resignation speech?
9. When did he start working for the Parliment
10. What did Tony Blair say?
A: 1. Robin Cook
2. Foreign Secretary
3. Cabinet
4. unknown
5. kept a diary
6. war in Iraq
7. peace
8. applause
9. 1974
10. This is the job for you.

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Zhang Kai is a student at North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power . He has led a group of college student volunteers since last year. They help children at a primary school with their studies and daily lives. "When I was a small child", Zhang said, "I knew March 5 was a day for people to learn from Lei Feng and help others, but I didn't know the real meaning of the spirit of Lei Feng. Now when I see the smiling faces of the kids I have helped, I deeply understand Lei Feng. Helping others makes me happy." Lei Feng (1940-1962) is one of the most famous soldiers in Chinese history. He lost his parents when he was very young. His neighbors brought him up. He died in an accident at 22. He did many good deeds in his short life. For example, he gave his own money to the parents of another soldier. And bought tickets for a woman he didn't know without telling her his name. On March 5, 1963, Chairman Mao called on people to "Learn from Lei Feng" and made the day "Lei Feng Day". Today almost 50 years has passed since Lei's death. Some people say that the spirit of Lei Feng is outdated . But many people think we need to promote that spirit again. There have been many reports about the coldness of people toward strangers. This has made many Chinese people think deeply about themselves. "The most important thing is that we must be ready to help others and make it a habit." said Huang Tianze, a student from Jianlan High School in Zhejiang.

1. Who is Zhang Kai?
2. where?
3. What did he do there?
4. for what?
5. with what?
6. What was special about March 5th?
7. Did he just learn this?
8. Who was Lei Feng?
9. Is he alive?
10. When did he die?
11. how?
12. Was he old?
13. How old was he?
14. He was a nice person?
15. How do you know?
16. What did Chairman Mao do?
17. HAs been a while since his death?
18. how long?
19. What do people think of his spirit?
20. and others?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. a student
2. North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power
3. He has led a group of college student volunteers since last year
4. They help children at a primary school
5. their studies and daily lives
6. It was a day for people to learn from Lei Feng and help others
7. yes
8. one of the most famous soldiers in Chinese history
9. no
10. 1962
11. an accident
12. no
13. 22
14. yes
15. For example, he gave his own money to the parents of another soldier.
16. called on people to "Learn from Lei Feng" and made the day "Lei Feng Day"
17. yes
18. almost 50 years
19. Some people say that the spirit of Lei Feng is outdated
20. many people think we need to promote that spirit again

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

When an NBA player is young he thinks he can win the championship by himself. It is only later when he has aged and been through many battles that he learns an important lesson: there is no "I " in "team".

There is no better example of the value of teamwork than the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were all superstars on three different teams. Yet, none of them had any titles to show for it. Then, last season, they decided to sacrifice money and individual statistics to play together. Garnett and Allen joined Pierce on the Celtics and changed the NBA in the process.

It started in simple ways. Garnett and Allen are two of the most intense athletes in the world. They treat every second of every practice like it is the NBA championship. If you want to play alongside them then you will have to do the same. So, the young guys on the Celtics started giving their full effort too.

Pierce had been the star of the Celtics for many years. He used to shoot the ball many times a game. But with the addition of Allen and Garnett he shot less and focused on defense. His selflessness showed the young players that doing what made the team better was the only thing that mattered.

When the Celtics were winning and the game was almost over, Garnett, Pierce and Allen would come out of the game. But they wouldn't just sit on the bench. Instead, they stood and cheered and screamed for their teammates. They wanted to support their friends and teammates.

Now, the guys who don't play know they can still affect the game by cheering so they scream and cheer when Garnett, Allen and Pierce are playing. The Celtics have developed a strong relationship. They are more than just teammates. They are brothers.

The result: the Boston Celtics won the championship and are considered the favorites to win the Eastern Conference championship again this year.

There is a saying that goes, "A successful team beats with one heart." If that is the case, the Celtics may have the biggest heart in the NBA.

1. What is the important thing to learn?
2. Which one?
3. Who doesn't know this?
4. how so?
5. Does he ever learn this lesson?
6. When?
7. Who are Paul, Ray, and Kevin?
8. Are they on the same team?
9. What did they do?
10. how did they do that?
11. Was Pierce soon to follow?
12. Why not?
13. Was he a bench player?
14. Did he get the ball as much when the others joined the team?
15. What did he do then?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. A lesson
2. There is no "I " in "team".
3. A young NBA player
4. he thinks he can win the championship by himself
5. Yes
6. Later, when he has aged
7. NBA players.
8. Three different teams.
9. Sacrificed their records and money to play together.
10. Garnet and Allen left their teams to go to the Celtics.
11. No
12. He already played for the Celtics.
13. No, a star player.
14. No
15. Shot less and focused on defense.