文章大意:这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了一群艺术家、作家和知识分子在伦敦创建了一所新的“大学”,旨在帮助那些埋头于工作的人们欣赏生活中更加美好的事物,比如艺术、书籍和旅游等。
A group of artists, writers and intellectuals has launched a new “university” in London, designed to help those too tied up with work to appreciate the finer things in life, like art, books and travel.
The School of Life, operating out of a small shop in the arty district of Bloomsbury, describes itself as a “chemist for the mind” that plans to offer “cultural solutions to everyday ailments (疾病)”. It hopes to inspire those who have got out of the habit of reading decent books, cannot keep conversation flowing at dinner parties, or need to expand their holiday horizons. The philosopher Alain de Botton, author of How Proust Can Change Your Life, and Sophie Howarth, a former curator (馆长) at the Tate Modem Gallery, are among the staff members.
The founders believe that people with too little time to spare need instruction in how to live a more fulfilled (有成就感的) existence. Perhaps you have a burning question for a paleontologist(古生物学家). “Perhaps you’re considering a career change and want to talk first-hand to a photographer or landscape designer. The School of Life has a large professional staff who are willing to meet with you for an hour of chat in exchange for a small fee,” the website explains, listing 50 experts.
Among courses being offered later this year are instruction in life, love, work, family and politics. A typical course, in love, will explore why relationships are so complicated and why attraction ebbs and flows. “We draw on ideas from philosophy, psychoanalysis (心理分析), literature and art. We discover what the likes of Plato, Shakespeare, Tolstoy and Freud had to say about compassion , empathy and self-love,” the instructors promise.
Courses run for six weeks and cost 195 pounds.
4. From Paragraph 1 we know the purpose of “the university” is to
.
A.help people live a finer life |
B.tell people how to spend their spare time |
C.make money by setting up a university on the internet |
D.offer education to those who have little chance to go to university |
5. The School of Life offers courses to those who
.
A.pursue a quality life | B.try to improve communicative skills |
C.get into the habit of reading good books | D.seek solutions to their physical diseases |
6. The courses of the School of Life are offered by
.
A.free chatting online with arty people | B.chatting with instructors face to face |
C.making appointments with chemists | D.attending public lectures given by founders |
7. Which of the following can serve as the best title?
A.A new university — solutions to everything | B.A new university — instructions to your career |
C.The School of Life — a chemist for mind | D.The School of Life — a school for health |