Passage 2        Andrei Gromyko's career in the Soviet government has spanned well over twenty years. The pressgenerally disliked Gromyko, whom some of them called "Stoncface." fle was not talkative when dealing withthe media, a characteristic that cnraged reporters. At the negotiation table Gromyko was very witty, friendly, andeven charming； however, he could also be an irog-willed negouator, if necessary. It is probably this iron willthat assured his survival as a major political figure in Russia.            Gromyko was born in a Belorussian village, the son of a peasant, and autended an agricultural school inMinsk. Though graduated with a dcgree in economics, he was highly interested in politics. Recognizing thebetter opportunities in the Forcign Ofice, he cniered that branch of the Soviet governunent in 1939, In 1940,Gromyko was sent to Washington, D.C., to scrve in the embassy there. His solid competence and loyalty wonStalin's confidence.        As the war stretched on, Gromyko was trusted more and more. He was with Stalin at the Yalta conference,where the three superpowers of the United States, Britain, and Russia agreed on final strategies for winning thewar. He adjusted quickly to the new relationships between these three powers after the end of the war. Gromykowas a vital member of the postwar conferences. He helped write the founding charter for the United Nations,and was appointed as the first Soviet ambassador to the United Nations. Appointed foreign minister underMalenkov, Gromyko served through the de-Stalinization period and was involved in the events of theKhrushchev years until the coming of the Gorbachev regime in 1985.        The combination of loyalty, competence, long service, and tight-lipped seriousness made Gromyko sounddull, but he was far from dull. He developed a great taste for American and British culture during his years ofservice as ambassador； he became an expert on American and British atfairs, from political and economicdealings down to the popular culture of both countries. Obviously, some of this knowledge was required for hisposition, but he pursued this knowledge with relish. He could read, speak, and write English quite well, and hedelighted in quoting Shakespeare and Robert Frost at well-timed moments. There is much more to thisparadoxical man than we might guess from our occasional glimpses of him as a vague figure in the back groundat press conferences.
【題組】31. Which of the following is the main idca of the passage?
(A) Discussing the virtues of loyalty.
(B) Describing Gromyko's relationship to the press.
(C) Tracing Gromyko's rise to the position of foreign minister.
(D) Explaining Gronyko's adaptability to Westem culture.