Passage Two

The swan is mostly silent through its life, unable to sing sweet songs like most other birds, In Ancient times, however, people believed a swan sings the most beautiful song just before it dies. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates talked of this 2, 300 years ago. Socrates explained that the swan was singing because it was happy. T he bird was happy because it was going to serve the Greek God Apollo. Swans were holy to Apollo, the god of poetry and song.

The story of the swan’s last song found a place in the works of other writers, including the early English writers Chaucer and Shakespeare. And the expression “swan song ” has long been a part of the English language. At first, “swan song ” meant the last work of a poet, musician or writer. Now, it means the final effort of any person. Someone’s swan song usually is also considered that person’s finest work.

A political expression with a similar meaning is “the last hurrah”. The expression may be used to describe a politician’s last campaign, his final attempt to win cheers and votes. The last

hurrah also can mean the last acts of a politician, before his term in office ends. Writer Edwin O’Connor made the expression popular in 1956. He wrote a book about the final years in the political life of a long time mayor of Boston. He called his book The Last Hurrah.

Some language experts say the expression came from a name given to noisy supporters of Andrew Jackson, America’s seventh president. They cheered hurrah so loudly for Andy Jackson during his presidential campaign that they became known as the hurrah boys.

Jackson’s hurrah boys also played a part in the election to choose the next president. Jackson’s choice was his vice president, Martin Van Buren. A newspaper of the time reported that Van Buren was elected president: “…by the hurrah boys, and those who knew just enough to shout hurrah for Jackson.” President Jackson really heard his last hurrahs in the campaign of the man who would replace him in the White House.

36. In ancient times, people believed that a swan sings most beautifully _______.

A. before death

B. when is happy

C. for Apollo

D. in front of other birds

37. According to Socrates, swans were __________.

A. holy birds

B. happy birds

C. pets of a Greek God

D. in front of other birds

38. The English expression “swan song”_________.

A. was first used by Chaucer

B. changed its meaning through time

C. means the best song ever created

D. refers to a work of Shakespeare

39. Martin Van Buren _______.

A. was the U.S. president before Jackson

B. served as the eighth U.S. president

C. is the author of The Last Hurrah

D. was a political rival of O’Connor

40. President Jackson’s last hurrah was to ________.

A. express his gratitude to his supporters

B. win the final cheers from his supporters

C. defeat another candidate in the election

D. help his vice president get elected