The Voice of America began during the World War Ⅱ. When Germany was broadcasting a radio

program to get international __31__ , American officials believed they should reply the German broadcast with words that they thought were the facts of world events. The first VOA news report began with words in __32__. “The news may be good or bad, but we shall tell you the truth.” Within a week, other VOA __33__ were broadcasting in Italian, French and English.

After the World War Ⅱ ended in 1945, some Americans felt VOA’s purpose had to be changed, __34__ the Soviet Union became enemy of America. They wanted to __35__ Soviet listeners. Then VOA began broadcasting in Russian.

In the early years VOA began adding something new to its broadcast that was called “Music USA”. Another new idea came along in 1959.VOA knew that many listeners did not know __36__ English to completely understand its normal English broadcast. So VOA __37__ a simpler kind of English, which uses about 1,500 words and is spoken __38__ of course, it is special English.

In the opinion of most VOA listeners, the most __39__ program is the news report. News from around the world flies into the VOA news rooms in Washington 24 hours a day. It comes from VOA reporters in __40__ cities and also from other broadcasts like BBC.VOA writers and editors use these materials to prepare news reports, which are being broadcast in 43 languages.

31. A. business B. culture C. support D. information

32. A. same B. short C. English D. German

33. A. stations B. news C. announcers D. officials

34. A. if B. supposing C. considering D. in order that

35. A. reach B. satisfy C. attack D. support

36. A. American B. British C. standard D. enough

37. A. invented B. discovered C. taught D. stopped

38. A. slowly B. rapidly C. normally D. loudly

39. A. difficult B. important C. various D. common

40. A. all B. major C. American D. news