1 . Arun Kumar Bajaj has a very unusual skill——he can paint with a sewing machine. Technically, it’s embroidering(刺绣), not painting, but his artworks are so detailed that they can pass paintings to the untrained eyes. And the fact that he does it all with a sewing machine just makes it that much more impressive.
Arun was really good at drawing and painting while growing up and dreamed of becoming a famous painter, but his father died suddenly 15 years ago, which destroyed his plans and forced him to give up school in order to run the family business. His father was a tailor and he became one too, but he didn’t let the artist in him die. He started “painting” with needle and thread, but instead of using his hands, he decided on a rather unusual tool—-the sewing machine. It took him a while to master this unique art form, but today he is recognized as the world’s only sewing machine artist. His works become very popular both in India and abroad. It’s easy to see why, just by looking at them, but what really makes his embroideries special is the tool he uses.
“You need to be very careful because once you’ve stitched the cloth, there’s no way you can repair it, ” Arun said. “It’s all done in a single layer to give the painting a neat look. ”
Some of Arun’s most impressive works include a 4x2 feet painting of the court of Ranjit Singh which took the artist over a year to finish. Arun runs a tailoring business in the Adalat Bazar of Patiala, but he devotes a lot of his time to his artistic dream as well.
1. Why do Arun's paintings leave a deep impression on people?| A．They have rich content. | B．They take many years to finish. |
| C．They give people a sense of satisfaction. | D．They are finished with a sewing machine. |
| A．His father’s sudden death. | B．His father’s serious illness. |
| C．His love for sewing machines. | D．Lack of managers in his family business. |
| A．Keep stitching the cloth without interruption. |
| B．Stitch the cloth again when making a mistake. |
| C．Be very careful to make sure paintings look neat. |
| D．Make sure the cloth he uses is very strong. |
| A．Arun’s Wonderful Life Journey | B．Arun’s Most Interesting Works |
| C．Constant Effort Needed to Succeed | D．The World’s Only Sewing Machine Painter |
2 . New England holds some special museums. They are devoted largely or entirely to the work of just one person. And they are the artists’ birthplaces or onetime homes. Here are four examples of such museums.
Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum
The name Cyrus E. Dallin (1861-1944) might not be familiar, but several of the artist’s sculptures (雕塑) are, especially those related to Native Americans. A good example is his “Appeal to the Great Spirit” standing in front of the Museum of Fine Arts. Born in Utah, he lived in Arlington for the final four decades of his life. The museum is in the Jefferson Cutter House, an 1830 Greek styled building.
Norman Rockwell Museum
Rockwell (1894-1978) was America’s well-known artist. The museum, founded in 1969, moved into its present location, Robert A.M. Stern-designed building in 1993. Its 998 paintings and drawings are the largest single collection of Rockwell's artworks.
Kids 16 and under: free; adults: $20; the old: at a 10% discount (折扣)
Edward Gorey House
Edward Gorey (1925-2000) was an artist, but he was also an author and clothes designer. Gorey bought this 18th-century house in 1979 and lived there for the rest of his life. Edward Gorey House is also known as the Elephant House. Gorey had respect for animals. The activities of the house, from art education to exhibits, show Gorey's support of animal well-being.
Gibert Stuart Birthplace and Museum
Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) is responsible for what may well be the most familiar work of any American artist, His drawing of George is the basis of the first president’s portrait (画像) on the dollar. Stuart painted more than a thousand portraits throughout his life.
1. What do we know about Cyrus E. Dallin?| A．He built the Jefferson Cutter House. |
| B．He lived in Arlington for half a century. |
| C．He was best known for his Greek styled sculptures. |
| D．He created famous works related to Native Americans. |
| A．$36. | B．$40. | C．$60. | D．$72. |
| A．Edward Gorey House. | B．Norman Rockwell Museum. |
| C．Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum. | D．Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum. |
3 . Michelangelo (1475-1564) is known as one of the greatest painters and sculptors in history. As a key figure of the High Renaissance, he is specifically celebrated for his ambitious approach to scale and his expertise on anatomy(解剖). While all of his masterworks convey his undeniable talent, his world-famous fresco(湿壁画) on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel stands above the rest.
Painted for the pope, the composition depicts a range of religious iconography(象征手法) in Michelangelo’s distinctive style, making it one of the most cherished masterpieces in the world.
The Sistine Chapel is a large chapel named after Pope Sixtus IV, who oversaw its restoration in the late 15th century. Historically, the chapel has had various important functions. Today, it still possesses its religious role, as it serves as the site where the next pope is elected.
What the Sistine Chapel is most well-known for, however, is its ceiling. Painted by Florentine fine artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni between 1508 and 1512, the complex and colorful fresco is celebrated for its realistic figures, vast size, and innovative process.
By the early 16th century, Michelangelo were a respected artist known throughout Italy. He was particularly praised for his ability—both in painting and sculpture—figures with lifelike anatomical features, as evident in his famous David statue from 1504. Given the artist’s reputation, it is no surprise that Pope Julius ordered him to decorate the ceiling of Sistine Chapel, whose walls were already decorated with frescoes by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Perugino, and other famed artists.
While the pope’s plans for the ceiling was centered around a depiction of the 12 apostles(门徒), Michelangelo had bigger plans: he would paint several scenes in Bible featuring over 300 figures.
Like many other Italian Renaissance painters, he used a fresco technique, meaning he applied washes of paint to wet plaster(石灰泥). In order to create an illusion of depth, Michelangelo would remove some of the wet medium prior to painting. This method ended in visible “outlines” around his figures—a detail considered characteristic of the artist. As plaster dries quickly, Michelangelo worked in sections, applying planes of fresh plaster each day.
Today, the Sistine Chapel remains both a popular tourist destination and highly religious site. Roughly 25,000 people view the spectacular ceiling each day, proving the lasting legacy of one of Michelangelo’s most well-known works and of the striking art of the High Renaissance.
1. From paragraph 1, we know that Michelangelo ________.| A．had a good knowledge of building |
| B．had a particularly ambitious life goal |
| C．was expert at sculpting |
| D．stood above the chapel while painting |
| A．its production procedures are creative |
| B．the figures shown in the fresco are lifelike |
| C．it is large in size painted in black and white |
| D．it shows a number of scenes in the Bible |
| A．create outlines around the figures in it |
| B．apply all the fresh plaster in the beginning |
| C．remove some paint from the wet plaster |
| D．avoid making an illusion of depth |
| A．The Sistine Chapel, named after Pope Sixtus IV, was built up in the late 15th century. |
| B．The ceiling had partly been painted by other artists before Michelangelo started. |
| C．It was at the age of 33 that Michelangelo finished the seemingly impossible task. |
| D．The chapel maintained its religious function apart from being a scenic spot. |
4 . “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Eleanor Roosevelt once said. If we want to accomplish anything in life, let us remember that we should never give up.
Viennese-born composer Frederick Loewe, whom we remember from his musical scores that include My Fair Lady, Gigi and Camelot, was not always famous. He learned to play the piano with the great masters of Europe and achieved huge success as a musician and composer in his early years.
But when he immigrated to the United States, he failed as a pianist. For a while he tried other types of work. But he never gave up his dream and continued to play the piano and write music. During those years, he could not always afford to make ends meet by playing the piano.
One day, bent over the keyboard, he heard nothing but the music that he played with inspiration. When he finished and looked up, he was surprised to find that he had an audience—three men who were seated on the floor. They said nothing and made no movement toward the piano. Instead they dug into their pockets, took out all the money they had, placed it on the piano and walked out, empty-handed. Deeply touched by the beauty of his music, these men recognized excellence and responded to it.
Whatever you do, try your best. If what you do is worth doing and if you believe that who you are is of value, then you cannot afford to be content with mediocrity (平庸). When you choose the path of excellence through this life, you will bring out the best in yourself and receive the best it can offer in return.
1. What can we learn from Roosevelt’s words?| A．It is difficult to do our best. |
| B．It is important to be successful in life. |
| C．We should be strict with ourselves. |
| D．We should face the future with the most dreams. |
| A．He lost his hearing. | B．He led a hard life for a while. |
| C．He enjoyed great success. | D．He became a famous pianist. |
| A．They were supposed to do that. | B．They wanted to show their sympathy. |
| C．They were moved by his performance. | D．They wanted to make friends with him. |
| A．Practice makes perfect | B．Never give up your dream |
| C．It’s never too old to learn | D．Rome was not built in a day |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Charlie’s childhood was not easy. He was born in the poor family in 1889. His parents were both poor music hall performer. You may find astonishing that Charlie was taught to sing as soon as he could speak and dance as soon as he could walk. Such training was common of acting families at this time, especially when the family income was often uncertain. Unfortunate, his father died, leave the family even worse off. But Charlie spent his childhood on looking after his sick mother and his brother. By her teens, Charlie had, through his humour, became one of the most popular child actors in England.
