文章大意:这是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了Brian Peterson在认识流浪汉Matt Faris后,他突发奇想成立了一个非营利组织,专注于与社区中无家可归的成员交朋友,并为他们画肖像,通过售卖肖像所得的钱帮助他们重新站起来的故事。
It all started with a simple question: “Can I paint your portrait (画像) ?”
In the summer of 2015, Brian Peterson had just moved to Santa Ana, California. Outside his apartment, a homeless man was often yelling on the street corner, sometimes keeping him awake at night.
One day, Peterson was relaxing at home, reading the book Love Does, about the power of love in action, when his quiet was disturbed by the homeless man. Inspired by the book’s compassionate message, Peterson made an unexpected decision: he was going to go outside and introduce himself.
In that first conversation, Peterson learned that the man’s name was Matt Faris. He’d moved to the city to look for a career in music, but he soon fell on hard times and ended up living on the street for more than a decade.
“It was the strangest thing to me,” Peterson recalled later. “I saw beauty on the face of a man who hadn’t shaved in probably a year. But his story, the life inside of him, inspired me.” And even though Peterson, a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, hadn’t picked up a paintbrush in about eight years, he found himself asking if he could paint Faris’ portrait. Faris said yes.
Peterson’s connection with Faris led him to form Faces of Santa Ana, a nonprofit organization focused on befriending and painting portraits of members of the community who are unhoused.
Peterson sells portraits signed by both subject and artist, putting half into what he calls a “love account” for his model. He then helps people use the money to get back on their feet.
Many of Peterson’s new friends use the donations to secure immediate necessities—medical care and food. But Peterson has learned not to make assumptions about what a person needs most. “I’ve made so many mistakes thinking I knew what people wanted,” he says. “Then I realized: Why don’t we just ask them?”
Faris used the funds to record an album (专辑), fulfilling his musical dreams. Another subject, Kimberly Sondoval, had never been able to financially support her daughter. She asked, “Can I use the money to pay my daughter’s rent?” When the check was delivered, “they both wept in my arms,” Peterson recalls.
4. What made Peterson decide to go outside?
A.The desire to practice love. |
B.The boredom of the routine life. |
C.The yelling of a homeless man. |
D.The dream of changing the situation. |
5. Why did Peterson go back to painting?
A.He was touched by Farris. |
B.He was persuaded by Farris. |
C.He was attracted by huge profits. |
D.He was pushed by his former education. |
6. Which of the following can best describe Peterson?
A.Modest and faithful. | B.Organzied and generous. |
C.Hard-working and humorous. | D.Creative and considerate. |
7. What might be the best title?
A.The Story of Peterson | B.The Art of Friendship |
C.A Nonprofit Organization | D.A Collection of Portraits |