Mention sand art and the image that comes to mind is that of an intricately(杂乱的) carved sculpture or design sketched on a beach surface. Though impressive, they are transient(短暂的) masterpieces that disappear with the first large wave or splash of rain. However, 24-year-old Tim Bengel’s sand art is permanent. That’s because the German artist uses the grit(粗砂) to “paint” his masterpieces on canvas. While the final product is certainly beautiful, what is even more so is the way it is created.
Bengel begins by covering a blank canvas with a special adhesive(黏合剂) that dries extremely slowly, giving the artist enough time to draw the desired image. He then begins “painting” with grains of black sand and in some cases, gold foil. It takes the young man anywhere from 200 to 300 hours to complete each work of art.
What is most intriguing about Bengel’s process is that only the artist knows what the final image will be. To the rest of the world, the canvas appears to be a mess of black sand. It is only when Bengel sprinkles white sand over the canvas and then dramatically sweeps off all the excess grit that the masterpiece is revealed!
The talented artist, who is currently studying art at the University of Tubingen, says his interest in the subject began after he visited the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart Art Museum as a child. Bengel was so inspired that he came home and began trying to reproduce the paintings he had seen at the museum. After winning an art competition at this school at the age of 18, Bengel knew that it was the career he wanted to pursue. But the young man also realized that to be successful, he would have to develop his own unique style.
1. From the first paragraph we can see that________.| A．sand art only last for a short time |
| B．Bengel’s works are intricately carved sculptures |
| C．Bengel’s works stretch on the beach |
| D．the creation of sand art is more beautiful |
| A．The artist creates his work on the beach. |
| B．It takes the artist a long time to finish each work of art. |
| C．This kind of art work is very easy to create. |
| D．The artist has to work quickly because of the adhesive. |
| A．when he became a university student |
| B．after he went to an art museum |
| C．after he saw some sand sculptures |
| D．when he was at the age of 18 |
| A．He must visit museums often. |
| B．He must reproduce the paintings. |
| C．He must have his own unique style. |
| D．He must win art competitions. |
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【推荐1】Knorma Claypool is blind. When she was two years old, she had both her eyes removed because she had a brain tumor (脑肿瘤). But instead of feeling sorry for herself, she graduated from a special school for the blind.
Then she worked her way through college and got a graduate degree. She became a teacher for kids with handicaps.
One day she helped a blind 2-year-old baby who had been abandoned by her parents. She made up her mind to adopt the child. A social service agency disagreed because Claypool was blind and single. But she refused to give in and a judge eventually said she could have the child. The child, named Elaine, is now a 23-year-old woman who is studying at a college. “Elaine has brought so much joy to my life,” said Claypool.
Over the years, Claypool has adopted nine other children. Some are blind or deaf, others are retarded (智力迟钝的). She adopted a Chinese baby who born with only half a brain. One of her kids was born blind and has had 19 operations. But she says he has a very high IQ. Another was born healthy but was beaten by his mother and is now retarded.
Claypool retired from teaching in 1981 to devote all her time to her family. It’s not always easy for her to make ends meet. But Claypool believes every child deserves a home, even if the child is handicapped.
“My kids come first, always,” she says. She also believes in teaching her kids to be as generous as she is. Each Christmas she asks them to give one of their favorite toys to a child who is poor.
Claypool is a remarkable person who has made life better for many children whom nobody else wanted.
1. Claypool almost didn’t adopt Elaine because ________ .| A．a judge eventually said she could |
| B．she was a teacher for the handicapped |
| C．a social service agency didn’t want her to |
| D．a judge disagreed because she was blind and single |
| A．she retired from teaching |
| B．her kids always come first |
| C．she makes ends meet |
| D．every kid spends more money than other children |
| A．are helping some poor children | B．are learning to be generous |
| C．will come first, always | D．teach Claypool to be generous |
| A．handicapped children are more generous than other kids |
| B．a remarkable woman has helped handicapped children |
| C．blind people make the best mothers |
| D．a handicapped woman |
【推荐2】Jungle Adventure
One warm summer day I was in the school library with the rest of my class choosing a book to read, when I noticed a book that was about to fall from the shelf. It was called “Jungle Adventures in Chitwan National Park”. I sat down in a corner and started to read when something strange happened. I was getting sucked into the book. I screamed and tried to get out but the book wouldn’t let me go and before I knew it I was in a jungle full of monkeys.
A huge monkey stopped me. “Jason,” he said, “the snakes have taken over the Monkey Museum and are holding the magic pot that gives the power to rule over our land. We need your help because only a human can stop them.” Then the big monkey handed me a silver teapot. “You can use this if you get caught. Pour two drops of magical tea and you will be free.” I wrapped the teapot carefully in my jumper and started my journey to the Monkey Museum.
The Monkey Museum was made of rock and on the walls were carvings of monkeys and weird hieroglyphics. Inside the big cold museum were paintings, pots and lots of interesting artifacts. Suddenly I heard snakes hissing loudly and slithering through the darkness I saw the big snake talking with lots of little snakes. Soon they all disappeared into the darkness and there was nothing but darkness in the hallways.
Suddenly a light turned on and the snakes appeared again. This time the gigantic snake saw me with his evil red eyes and I ran for the door. I pushed it open and quickly entered another room. It wasn’t cold anymore but it was muggy, I started to sweat. I looked around and there in the middle of the floor was a golden pot with a monkey etched on it. Excitedly I grabbed the pot and ran down the stairs. I was not quick enough because the snakes were right there. The snake wrapped tightly around me choking me till my face turned blue. Then, wrapping his tail around my feet he slithered across the floor not caring about my cuts and bruises. Finally he sat me down on an uncomfortable metal chair from which I could not get up.
Shortly after the snakes left due to some noise, and I was left alone in the muggy room stuck to a chair with the golden pot. Suddenly I remembered about the teapot. I unwrapped it from my jumper and poured two drops to the ground and “boom!” I was on my feet and out of the museum with the pot. I ran to the monkey and handed him the pot. He gave me a medal and sent me back to the school library. There I was with the book in my hand. I jumped up and placed the book on the shelf and walked outside to play with my friends for the last ten minutes of lunch.
1. What was the author doing when he noticed a book which was about to fall from the shelf?| A．He was visiting the Monkey Museum. | B．He was fighting with some snakes. |
| C．He was crossing the jungle adventure. | D．He was choosing a book with classmates. |
| A．Because he knew the author before. |
| B．Because the author was a human. |
| C．Because the snakes were afraid of the author. |
| D．Because the author could handle the silver teapot. |
| A．The author was not scared of snakes all the time. |
| B．The decoration of the Monkey Museum was familiar to the author. |
| C．The snakes were subjected to the noise eventually. |
| D．The author gave the monkey the teapot in exchange for a medal. |
| A．Anxious. | B．Amused. |
| C．Sorrowful. | D．Relieved. |
【推荐3】As a child I was one of the 125 people at our family gathering for New Year. These days we were a much smaller group in Belle Valley, Ohio. I insisted (坚持要求的) on acting as hostess and wanted to bring back the joy I’d felt at my childhood New Year that filled with love.
As family members arrived at the hall, I handed each one of them a numbered card and said, “Time for the alphabet game.” “What kind of game is that?” one of my great-grandchildren asked. “well,” I said, “who’s got number one?” A cousin raised her hand. “Tell us something you never forget,” I said. “Something that begins with the letter A.” My cousin smiled. “Apple pie!” she said. Great-granddaughter Mindy was next. “B,” she said. “I am impressed by Buckeye Country.” “Cookies!” Number 3 shouted.
Until Number 17, “The next one’s a challenge,” I said. “Who’s got 17?” Ryan, my son, slowly raised his hand. “Q,” he said. “Quaker City Carnival (嘉年华).” The room went silent.
“It’s one of the oldest traditions in Ohio,” Ryan said. “Grandma and Grandpa met there. That’s where they fell in love. That’s where this whole thing started. This whole family.” Ryan looked around the room, making eye contact with everyone. “We wouldn’t be here celebrating New Year together if it wasn’t for Quaker City Carnival.”
The room burst into laughter and was full of the love that had kept us connected to our Ohio traditions. “This is the best New Year we’ve ever had,” a great-grandson said to me secretly. Whatever their New Year would look like when they grew up, they’d remember this one. And for me, I had an unforgettable New Year to treasure — a memory where love started with the letter Q.
1. Why did the author organize the alphabet game?| A．To enjoy the family gathering. | B．To bring joy and love to the children. |
| C．To share moving stories with family. | D．To experience long-lost New Year happiness. |
| A．It is related to guessing. | B．It is one of Ohio’s traditional games. |
| C．It is mainly about numbers and letters. | D．It describes the history of some words. |
| A．It reminded them of a tradition. | B．It was related to their family roots. |
| C．They knew their grandparents better. | D．They understood the meaning of love. |
| A．A Letter Full of Love | B．A Celebration of New Year |
| C．A Family Custom at New Year | D．A Love Story About the Carnival |
【推荐1】Accompanied by typical Jin opera music, a red-faced performer with a long beard showed up at the hall of a high school in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. All the students in the hall stood up and craned (伸长) their necks to get a better look. In their eyes, Jin opera was something from the past.
They are not alone. It goes without saying that kids nowadays are much more familiar with popular music than traditional opera, which is why performing artist Wu Lingyun, together with his colleagues, goes to campuses to promote the art.
Wu Lingyun is best known for his role as Guan Gong, a general during the late Han Dynasty period.
Wu began playing the role in 1985, at the age of 21, and has been associated with it ever since.
Wu was significantly influenced by his parents, both of whom are also famous Jin opera performers. With a natural talent for performing and great effort, Wu was soon recognized by audiences and later awarded the Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award in 2000, the highest award for Chinese drama performing arts.
Given Wu’s considerable fame, one might think he would now prefer to enjoy a life of leisure. However, this is far from the case. Deep down, Wu has a big dream. He pictures a growing future for Jin opera. Wu expected more chances for more people to get to know about the art, hoping Jin opera could become a worldwide art.
Wu has also made some changes to the traditional art to bring it up-to-date.“Jin opera should keep pace with the times if we want to bring it back to life and get the young generation to accept it,“ he says. “An art without life can never survive”“
1. How did the students react to the performance at the hall?| A．They became bored. | B．They got disappointed. | C．They felt curious. | D．They looked casual |
| A．He got a top award in 2000. | B．He started his performance in his teens. |
| C．He now enjoys a leisure life. | D．He became famous because of his parents. |
| A．It’ll be studied as a college major. | B．It’ll be officially recognized. |
| C．It’ll have an easier performing form. | D．It’ll be popular across the world. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Kind-minded. | C．Cautious. | D．Devoted. |
【推荐2】Before the camera was invented, the natural world was recorded in paintings and sketches (素描) by artists like John James Audubon.
As a boy growing up in France, Audubon loved the woods and enjoyed hanging out in the wild, collecting avian (鸟类的) curiosities-bird nests and eggs-and made simple drawings. After a period of failed service in the navy, his father sent him to America.
While his father hoped his curious son would make something of himself in mining or some other enterprises, John Audubon was consumed with the natural world. His other main interest was young Lucy Bakewell, who was also enthusiastic about the natural world. Soon, the two fell in love with each other and got married.
Awakened by the need to provide for his wife and children, Audubon tried his hand as a store owner yet failed. His next business also failed. Then he learned fishing from his friend and earned a living by selling fishes. But he got into debt soon. When Audubon paid his debts off, he decided to follow his original passion. He set off into the wilderness, carrying little more than some basic necessities and drawing materials. There, at last, he found his calling in life.
Audubon usually stayed for months at a time in the wilderness, rising long before dawn to observe and returning in full light to paint all afternoon. At one point, he lost over 200 drawings, his entire collection, when rats found their way into his cabin and chewed them up. Again, he started over, just like how he reacted to business failures. After 14 years of tramping (长途跋涉) in the wilderness with his pen and ink, he had his collection of drawings. But the popularity of avian drawings was slow to catch on in America. Still, he refused to give up. He earned enough to pay for the passage to Europe to take his chances there.
Fortunately, he was well received in England. His 435 original works came to be known as the greatest picture book ever created: The Birds of America. Eventually, John Audubon opened our minds not only to the beauty around us but also to the beauty of possibilities-if we just keep trying.
1. What do we know about Audubon as a little boy?| A．He was deeply attracted by wild birds. | B．He enjoyed reading books on ecology. |
| C．He showed interest in photography. | D．He wanted to join the navy. |
| A．To gain financial support for his passion. | B．To support his newly formed family. |
| C．To learn from other businessmen. | D．To follow his father’s dream. |
| A．Stuck and puzzled. | B．Discouraged and hesitant. |
| C．Determined and hopeful. | D．Angry and pitiful. |
| A．Audubon’s unique experiences in the wilderness. |
| B．Audubon’s efforts to pursue his artistic career. |
| C．Audubon’s appreciation of natural scenery. |
| D．Audubon’s attempts to learn drawing. |
【推荐3】Blek le Rat is a French street artist who calls himself "The Man Who Walks Through Walls". He is a pioneer of street art. He began his work as a city decorator in Paris in the early 1980s, when he was twenty. Blek began his artwork in 1981, painting (用模板制成的图案) of rats (老鼠) on the walls of Paris streets.
His real name is Xavier Prou, and he does not draw violent images, only reflective ones, and he says, "My images are a present I make for everyone to enjoy, even children. " He has had a great influence on today's graffiti (涂鸦) art, the main drive of his work being social awareness and his wish to bring art to people. His dream is to be allowed to provide art to the city streets without having any problems. Once he was caught by the police, and afterwards he turned to putting posters instead. They are after all better for the walls, aren't they?
His designs, based on life-size stencils of human beings and animals, don't just decorate cities but awaken people's emotions. Their social observation makes them touching, humorous and political. In 2006 he began his series of images representing the homeless, in attempts to bring attention to what he views as a global problem.
He says that when you go on the street with a spray can (喷漆罐)，and pry your name，you will go back and see it, because when you leave something in the street, you leave part of yourself. Street artists cannot help coming back to admire their own work; it is the main reason for doing it.
The Internet has made street at a global movement, but it is the art of the common people and not of highly paid and respectable artists. There is nothing bigger culturally in the world at the moment than street art. It is taking over the planet Mot cites are covered with it, so much so that it is noticeable when there isn’t any. It is even bring sold, like "real" woks of art.
1. What did Blek le Rat do in 1981?| A．He gave up his job. | B．He took up street art. |
| C．He made his name as an artist. | D．He drew people on the street. |
| A．It is good-sized. | B．Ii violent and black. |
| C．It presents social realities. | D．It employs cartoon characters. |
| A．It attracts well-known artists. | B．It is culturally important. |
| C．It is high-priced in Paris. | D．It becomes less popular. |
| A．The History of Street Art | B．Global Love for Modern Art |
| C．Stencil Art Pioneer Blek le Rat | D．The Big Comeback of Graffiti Art |
