[originaltext] Barbara Jordan was a lawyer, educator and member of Congress.

Barbara Jordan was a lawyer, educator and member of Congress. She was well known for her powerful, thoughtful speeches. Barbara Charline Jordan was born in the southern city of Houston, Texas in 1936. Her father was a Baptist minister.(30)In high school, Barbara heard a speech from a black woman lawyer. She decided to become a lawyer herself. Later, Miss Jordan attended the all-black college, Texas Southern University in Houston. She led a championship debating team and became known for her speaking skills. She finished at the top of her class. Then she went onto Boston University law school in Boston, Massachusetts. After she finished law school, Miss Jordan returned to Texas. She began to work as a lawyer. She also discovered she was interested in politics. In 1966, she decided to seek a seat in the Texas Senate and won. Barbara Jordan became the first black person to serve in the Texas Senate since 1883. After 8 years in the Texas Senate, Miss Jordan campaigned for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. She won easily. She became the first woman and first black to be elected to Congress to represent Texas.(31)In Congress, Miss Jordan spoke for the poor, for women, for African-Americans and Latin-Americans. She believed strongly, however, in being loyal to her state and her political party. She considered the interests of the people of Texas before those of any other group. Then, in 1977, Miss Jordan returned to Texas.(32)Barbara Jordan began teaching about political values at the University of Texas. Her classes were so popular that students had to be chosen from a long list.
29. What’s the passage mainly about?
30. Why did Barbara Jordan decide to become a lawyer?
31. What do we learn about Barbara Jordan when she was in Congress?
32. What did Barbara Jordan do after she returned to Texas in 1977?