How Did She Conquer the Americans?
African-American talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is the world's most powerful celebrity, according to Forbes magazine. （46）
Winfrey, 51, draws 30 million viewers weekly in the United States. Her talk show reaches 112 countries. She earned US$225 million over the past 12 months to rank second in celebrity riches.
The annual Forbes list gives most weight to annual earnings. （47）
"After 21 years, her exciting chat show still rules the airwaves, it created new celebrities and hundreds of millions of dollars in profits," the magazine said.
Winfrey is most popular with her popular talk show "The Oprah Winfrey Show". She can always attract the superstars and let them open up to her intimate interviewing style.
Last month, American actor Tom Cruise, 42, surprised fans when he celebrated his new romance with 26-year-old actress Katie Holmes. He jumped up and down, shouting "I'm in love." Only a few years ago, Cruise and his ex-wife Nicole Kidman appeared separately on the same show telling the news of their divorce. （48）
Winfrey's approach appears to be simple. She is in pursuit of self-improvement and self-empowerment（自强）. This has proved to be just what people, especially women, want.
Winfrey often talks about her personal secrets on her show. That pulls in viewers. For example, she revealed that she had been sexually abused as a child, and has spoken freely of her struggle with her weight.
Winfrey was born to a poor family in Mississippi in 1954. （49）At the age of 19, she became the youngest person and the first African-American woman to anchor（主持）a news programme.
Her success has not just been on the screen. Her media group includes a women's TV network and websites for women.
Winfrey's work has extended to social change. （50）
She testified before the US Senate to establish a national database of dangerous child abusers. President Bill Clinton later signed "Oprah Bill" into law.
A But it also looks at the celebrity's presence on the Internet and in the media.
B In 1991, she did a lot of work for the National Child Protection Act.
C She was not a very successful woman.
D She began broadcasting while still at high school.
E It placed Winfrey at the top of its annual ranking of the 100 people last week.
F The couple had been tight-lipped about their break-up.
答案：46. E 47. A 48. F 49. D 50. B
