Hillary Clinton’s popularity as a presidential candidate is dropping in opinion polls. At the same time, her competition is gaining. The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll says more Americans are viewing her unfavorably. Another poll says people use the words "liar," "dishonest," and "untrustworthy" to describe her.

A Republican-led committee is investigating her use of private email when she was secretary of state. And reports say Vice President Joe Biden could join the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. But her biggest problem, say political observers, is Bernie Sanders, a 73-year-old senator from the northeastern state of Vermont. He is gaining in popularity every day.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll was taken at the end of August. The survey found that 53 percent of the general population said they had an unfavorable view of Ms. Clinton. However, Eighteen percent of Democrats still viewed her in a good or favorable way, it found. Quinnipiac University released another poll last month. Ms. Clinton's Democratic support dropped to 45 percent in that survey. Senator Sanders came in second place with 22 percent. Eighteen percent of those questioned said they support Vice President Biden.

Earlier this year, a U.S. congressional inquiry found that Hillary Clinton used a private email server to conduct government business as Secretary of State. Ms. Clinton says that she did not break any rules by using the private server. When asked by a reporter whether she had wiped the server, she responded, "What, like with a cloth or something?"

She was not the first public official to use private email. Colin Powell, a former secretary of state, also used private email. So did Karl Rove, a White House official, who served in the administration of President George W. Bush.

As the presidential race gets tighter, the former Secretary of State has admitted that her use of private email "wasn't the best choice." She added, "I should've used two emails: one personal, one for work. And I take responsibility for that decision." 

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1.Why do people think Hillary Clinton dishonest and untrustworthy?

A She is less popular than Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders.

B Her Democratic support dropped to 45 percent.

C She was not responsible for government business.

D She used a private email when she was secretary of state.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据文章第二段首句可知，在希拉里任国务卿时使用了私人邮箱，这件事的曝光使得她的支持率下降，人们认为她不诚实，在竞选中撒了谎。

2.What is the percentage of the people questioned showing support to Vice President Biden?

A 45%.

B 18 %.

C 53%.

D 80%.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第三段最后一句Eighteen percent of those questioned said they support Vice President Biden可知，民调显示，当前副总统拜登的支持率为18%。

3.What can be implied in the passage?

A Ms. Clinton insisted that she hadn’t wiped the private server.

B One can use a cloth to wipe the server to protect his private email.

C Ms. Clinton didn’t know what she could do to wipe a server.

D Ms. Clinton’s dishonesty affects her popularity among supporters.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据文章第四段What, like with a cloth or something可知，希拉里认为删除服务器不那么容易，希望公众不要质疑她，她并没有删除服务器，她做事是坦坦荡荡的。

4.What is the author’s attitude towards Ms. Clinton’s present situation?

A Regretful.

B Hopeful.

C Concerned.

D Optimistic.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据文章中的dropping, her competition is gaining, unfavorably等表达消极意义的词汇可知，作者对于当前希拉里的处境很担心，各种挑战使得当初似乎独霸天下的总统候选人目前处于非常被动的地位。