1 . From woodworker to great artist—this was the course of Qi Baishi’s life. He achieved success by coupling talent with hard work. In 1953, he was honoured with the title “People’s Artist” by the Chinese government.
For most of the general public, his masterpieces are his paintings of shrimps. At the beginning, he painted these small animals by following ancient models. Later, he developed a personal style by using shades of black ink to show a shrimp’s body, giving it an almost real-life feel. Besides, his paintings of flowers and vegetables, indicating rich harvests (丰收), are famous as well. People love these nature-based paintings because the works remind them of the countryside and of their hometowns. The dove is another common image in Qi’s art during his later years, showing his wish for world peace.
Be it landscapes, birds, flowers or figures, Qi’s paintings are rich in expression and detail. Using heavy ink, bright colors and energetic strokes (运笔), he created works in a fresh and lively manner, expressing his love of nature and life. His art reflects an international trend (趋势) in modern art at the time, yet he expressed it in a typical Chinese way.
Qi was hard-working even in his 70s. He kept looking for higher goals, especially as he got older. While many other Chinese artists retire from public life at an old age, Qi actively took on more social responsibilities. He said: “I love my hometown, my country and all the lives there. In recent years, I have realized that what I run after is world peace.”
In 1956, he was awarded the International Peace Prize by the World Peace Council.
1. Why are Qi Baishi’s nature-based paintings popular?
| A．They lift people’s spirits. | B．They touch people’s feelings. |
| C．They inspire people’s passions. | D．They reflect people’s wishes. |
2. What does paragraph 3 focus on about Qi Baishi?
| A．His masterpieces. | B．His influence. |
| C．His painting subjects. | D．His painting style. |
3. Why was Qi Baishi still hard-working at an old age?
| A．To popularize Chinese paintings. | B．To involve the youth in arts. |
| C．To shoulder more social responsibilities. | D．To earn international reputation. |
4. Which of the following words can be used to best describe Qi?
| A．Remarkable and admirable. | B．Passionate and confident. |
| C．Intelligent and generous. | D．Realistic and professional. |
