Talk Show Queen Oprah Winfrey

CHICAGO (AFP) International talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who rose from a childhood of abuse and poverty to become a globally-recognized star, will end her show in 2011. Her production company released a statement that read, "The sun will set on the Oprah show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011." The Oprah Winfrey Show, which is currently syndicated in 145 countries, has transformed Winfrey into a cultural phenomenon. She is credited with changing the way people talk to each other, having popularized a confessional interview style that has coaxed secrets, revelations, and often tears from guests. She has earned a reputation for being able to score interviews with the most highly sought-after celebrities.

Born into poverty in Mississippi, Winfrey is now estimated to be worth US$2.7 billion and is regularly ranked among the world's most powerful women, celebrities, and media personalities. She is known as an influential tastemaker, whose recommendation of a book or product has an immediate and enormous effect. Through her televised book club she popularized books ranging from Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Her stamp of approval on the latter carried so much weight that she managed to convince the reclusive McCarthy to appear on her show for his first-ever television interview.

In 2008, she broke with a precedent of staying out of politics and endorsed Barack Obama's presidential bid. Her support was estimated by University of Maryland researchers to have brought in a million additional votes and helped Obama win both the Democratic nomination and the presidency.

1.  The purpose of this article is to _____.

(A) give a preview of the new season of The Oprah Winfrey Show

(B) announce that Oprah's show will be off the air next year

(C) let fans know that Oprah will be working for the White House soon

(D) promote Oprah's new TV show in 2011

2.  What happens to a book that is endorsed by Oprah?

(A) There is no real effect on the book.

(B) It will be bitterly criticized because of its popularity.

(C) It will instantly become a best-seller.

(D) It will be out of print forever.

3.  Which of the following statements is true about Oprah?

(A) Oprah's influence on the world is waning.

(B) Oprah has political ambitions.

(C) Oprah doesn't have much time to read books.

(D) Oprah's interviews with big stars are always highly anticipated.

　　（法新社――芝加哥电）国际脱口秀主持人欧普拉‧温芙蕾童年饱受虐待及贫困，到后来却成为全球知名的明星，她将在 2011 年挥别自己的节目。欧普拉的制作公司发出声明表示：『《欧普拉脱口秀》将于 2011 年 9 月 9 日，播满 25 季之后告别荧光幕。』《欧普拉脱口秀》目前于 145 个国家播出，这个节目使欧普拉成为文化名人。她改变了人们谈话的方式，也让引出来宾秘密、真相以及常挟带着眼泪的自白式访谈风格变得大为流行。她也因能够访谈到最受欢迎的名人而出名。

　　出生于密西西比的贫困家庭中，欧普拉现在身价据估达 27 亿美元，并经常名列世上最具权威的女人、名流及媒体人之一。她也是众所皆知极具影响力的潮流先驱，她对书或产品所做的推荐，都能产生立即且强烈的效果。透过她节目中的『读书俱乐部』，使得从加西亚．马奎斯所著的《爱在瘟疫蔓延时》到戈马克．麦卡锡的《长路》等书大受欢迎。她对《长路》的肯定影响甚巨，因此她设法说服了隐遁的麦卡锡上她的节目，接受有史以来首次的电视访谈。

　　在 2008 年，欧普拉打破了不碰政治的惯例，表态支持巴拉克‧欧巴马竞选总统。根据马里兰大学研究学者的估计，她的背书带进了 100 万张额外的投票，帮助欧巴马赢得民主党党内提名以及总统职位。

标准答案: 1. (B)　2. (C)　3. (D)

For Your Information

欧普拉 17 岁时受雇于田纳西纳什维尔的 WVOL 电台，开始了她真正的播音生涯。她在 1985 年成为《欧普拉脱口秀》主持人。同期，她涉猎影视界，在电影《紫色姐妹花》中表演出色，获得奥斯卡和电影金球奖最佳女配角提名。之后，她成立了电影电视制作公司并运作成功。1988年，欧普拉成为历史上第一位属自己所有并独立制作脱口秀节目的女性。1991 年，对自己童年性歧视记忆犹新的欧普拉，提出建立有关对儿童性虐待宣判和取证的国家数据库的提案。1993 年，美国总统柯林顿签署了昵称为『欧普拉法案』的儿童保护法案，使之在全国执行。（数据源：百度百科）