1 . Famous People Who Begin With Difficulties
Oprah Winfrey
Probably having one of the most famous success stories, Oprah was born into a poor family in Mississippi, raised by a single mother living on welfare. She was physically, and mentally abused during her childhood. Despite her initial struggles as a young girl, she turned herself into one of the most successful talk show hosts of our time.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey has been the star of some of the most successful movies of all time. But Carrey grew up extremely poor in Canada. When he was a teenager, his family took security jobs in a factory to help pay the bills. And during his first stand-up comedy performance, he was booed off （喝倒彩） the stage. Not shortly after, he made it big on In Living Color and then went on to star in Dumb & Dumber, The Mask, and Ace Ventura in the same year!
James Dyson
If you thought Thomas Edison’s failures were bad, let me introduce you to James Dyson, the famous inventor of the Dyson vacuums （真空吸尘器） you see all over the television. Dyson developed over 5,000 failed prototypes （原型） before finding the bagless vacuum brand. Not only that, he put his entire savings account into his prototypes over fifteen years! Luckily, the bagless vacuum worked.
Stephen King
Before Stephen King became known as a great living writer—having written over 60 novels, many of which have been adapted for film and television—King was rejected over and over again. In his memoir, On Writing, King describes how he used to post his rejection letters on the wall for inspiration. His first novel, Carrie, was rejected 30 times.
1. What do Oprah and Jim have in common?| A．They were abused by parents. | B．They grew up in poor families. |
| C．They were hired as comedians. | D．They found jobs in a factory. |
| A．He repaired the failed prototypes. | B．He developed over 5,000 brands. |
| C．He put all efforts into marketing. | D．He invented the bagless vacuum. |
| A．Oprah Winfrey. | B．Stephen King. | C．James Dyson. | D．Jim Carrey. |
2 . Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world. Here are some of the famous people buried at Westminster Abbey.
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens, who died in 1870, is buried in Poets’ Corner, the resting place and remembrance location for writers of all kinds.
Dickens is known for many of his works, and A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities are two of his most widely known works. It was popular opinion among the people and his fellow writers that Dickens should be buried in Westminster Abbey.
Stephen Hawking
Hawking was a scientist, physicist, and author, who died in 2018. Carved onto his stone is a series of rings, surrounding a darker central ellipse (椭圆). The ten characters of Hawking’s equation express his idea that black holes in the universe are not entirely black but send out a glow that would become known as Hawking radiation.
His epitaph (墓志铭) reads, “HERE LIES WHAT WAS MORTAL OF STEPHEN HAWKING”.
Laurence Olivier
Famous actor Laurence Olivier is also buried in Westminster Abbey. Born in 1907, his career began on the stage in England, and he eventually became a film legend until his death in 1989.
It’s well known that he had won Academy Awards, while also being honoured with special Oscars. Olivier’s grave is located in the South Transept in Poets’ Corner of the Abbey, in front of Shakespeare’s memorial.
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton is considered one of the most important scientists of all time. He was a physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. He formulated the Law of Motion as well as the Law of Universal Gravitation.
Artist William Kent designed Newton’s complex funerary monument, and it was sculpted by Michael Rysbrack.
1. When did the author of A Christmas Carol die?| A．In 1870. | B．In 1907. | C．In 1989. | D．In 2018. |
| A．They won Academy Awards. | B．They were buried in Poets’ Corner. |
| C．They were praised by Shakespeare. | D．They were famous actors and writers. |
| A．Charles Dickens’s. | B．Stephen Hawking’s. |
| C．Laurence Olivier’s. | D．Isaac Newton’s. |
3 . An Introduction to Four Famous Paintings
Mona Lisa
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1503 to 1519
Where to see it: Louvre Museum(Paris)
It should come as no surprise that a mysterious woman with a mysterious smile. Before the 20th century, Mona Lisa was little known outside art circles. But in 1911, an ex-Louvre employee stole the painting and hid it for two years. That helped strengthen the painting’s place in popular culture ever since.
Las Meninas
Artist: Diego Velázquez
Date: 1656
Where to see it: Museo del Prado(Madrid, Spain)
The complexity of the work has attracted art critics and the public for centuries. The painting serves as a group portrait(画像)of Spanish royalty, but it is also a self-portrait of Velázquez himself at work. Las Meninas was appointed by King Philip IV of Spain, who ruled from 1621 to 1665.
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Artist: Johannes Vermeer
Estimated date: 1665
Where to see it: Mauritshuis(The Hague, Netherlands)
The girl wearing a blue and gold turban(头巾)and an oversized pearl(珍珠)earring is the entire focus with only a dark backdrop behind her. It has gone on tour in the United States, Italy and Japan. It drew huge crowds, further supporting its status as one of the world’s most famous works of art.
The Starry Night
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date: 1889
Where to see it: Museum of Modern Art(New York City)
The painting’s striking blues and yellows and the dreamy atmosphere have attracted art lovers for decades. Van Gogh was being treated for mental illness in a hospital in Saint-Remy, France, when he painted The Starry Night. He was inspired by the view from the window of his room.
1. Which painting is the artist’s self-description?| A．Mona Lisa. | B．Las Meninas. |
| C．Girl with a Pearl Earring. | D．The Starry Night. |
| A．Louvre Museum. | B．Museo del Prado. |
| C．Mauritshuis. | D．Museum of Modern Art. |
| A．Sights from the sickroom. | B．A woman’ act of stealing. |
| C．The life of a royal family. | D．The experience of being ill. |
4 . Best of British: Artists’ residences
Get up close with the inspiring places Britain’s most vibrant artists called home.
Red House, London
Nothing better represents the commitment of William Morris, the creative genius of interiors (内饰) to beauty than his striking home in London. From delicate patterns on the doors, to the decorated gardens, the Red House shows a strong medieval style.
The Mackintosh House, Glasgow
Located on the site of the former home of legendary architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, the reconstructed Mackintosh House offers a rare insight into their private lives. Furnished with the couple’s own furniture, everything has been considered in order to recreate the original interior as faithfully as possible.
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Cornwall
Though she was born in Yorkshire, British sculptor (雕塑家) Barbara Hepworth moved to Cornwall and stayed there for the rest of her life. She claimed that there was a quality of inspiration to be drawn from the Cornish skyline and sea view that she simply couldn’t obtain from the city. It was Hepworth’s wish that her home would be turned into a museum of her work.
Henry Moore Foundation, Hertfordshire
Sculptor Henry Moore found his Muse in the beautiful Hertfordshire village of Perry Green and created many of his most famous works there. Unlike traditional galleries, visitors can get close with these impressive structures. Access to Moore’s home is through guided tours only. Visit on a sunny day, take a picnic, and experience the scenic village in person!
1. Which residence is influenced by medieval styles?| A．Red House. |
| B．The Mackintosh House. |
| C．Henry Moore Foundation. |
| D．Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. |
| A．It is the current residence of Mackintosh. |
| B．It is rebuilt to improve Mackintosh’s life. |
| C．It restores the interior design of the Mackintoshs’. |
| D．It reflects Mackintosh’s faith in original furniture design. |
| A．Both sculptors take inspiration from nature. |
| B．Both sites allow close contact with the designers. |
| C．Both residences will be turned into urban museums. |
| D．Both sites allow tours accompanied by the guide only. |
5 . Arun Kumar Bajaj has a very unusual skill — he can paint with a sewing machine (缝纫机). Technically, it’s embroidering, not painting, but his artworks are so detailed that they can pass as paintings to the untrained eyes. And the fact that he does it all with a sewing machine just makes 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 a 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 4×2 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. What was Arun’s ambition when he was growing up?| A．To be a well-known artist. | B．To be expert at embroidering. |
| C．To start a company of his own. | D．To be a famous sewer like his father. |
| A．It runs very well at present. | B．It often lacks a lot of money. |
| C．It has a lot of branches abroad. | D．It is sponsored by the local government. |
| A．By using his feet. | B．By using his mouth. |
| C．With a needle and thread. | D．With a brush and paints. |
| A．Outgoing and generous. | B．Gifted and hardworking. |
| C．Courageous but impatient. | D．Narrow minded and bad-tempered. |
6 . Eeva Simons shows us that a physical disability doesn’t necessarily bar one from dancing on the stage. With skillful handling, she can make her wheelchair do graceful moves and win applause worldwide. The 34-year-old is among a group of four Finnish performers with different physical disabilities.
Simons has been bound to a wheelchair since jumping from a roof in a suicide attempt that ended her dancing career 16 years ago. She said that for a long time she had been depressed, with no idea how to adapt to her changed conditions. “The incident had a big effect on me,” she said. “I had never thought what it would be like to be a wheelchair user. It was difficult.”
But positive changes came several years later when she met a group of disabled people at a community centre. Their interest in alternative ways of movement lighted her love for dance and life again.
Simons joined the PAA troupe, which experimented with new approaches to performing. In 2000, the group put on their first show. Although many professional dance moves are not possible, the show has been running more than 10 countries in Europe and won the “Theatre Event of the Year 2000” award in Finland.
Simons said her part required the upper part of her body to be strong, especially her arms, which had to perform everything from hand gestures to powering the wheelchair. “It is a challenge. We use our creativity to think of alternative ways to find beauty,” she said.
In one moving scene about her post-accident mental condition, the frustrated Simons sits on the floor, before crawling to a wheelchair and accepting her new tool. Director Paasonen said the dancers were sharing their life experiences, feelings, states and thoughts with audience and that the show was very personal.
“They are people with bodies that have stories to tell,” he said. “The show is about transformation, and how people deal with change, including how to deal with the transformation of our own body after it becomes disabled.”
1. The underlined word “bar” in the first paragraph means ________.| A．save | B．protect | C．encourage | D．prevent |
| A．became disabled accidentally. |
| B．once lost her hope for life. |
| C．learned how to dance after the incident. |
| D．wanted to kill herself to end her dancing career. |
| A．They are creative dancers. |
| B．Most of them are young. |
| C．They are able to do all professional dance moves. |
| D．They are discouraged by their disability. |
| A．A Special Troupe. |
| B．Disabled Dancers. |
| C．New Approaches to Dancing. |
| D．A Wonder in a Wheelchair. |
7 . Wang Fang, a Suzhou native, has given her heart and soul to Kunqu Opera. Wang, who has twice won the Plum Performance Award — China’s top award for theater and opera performances-started to learn the traditional art form in 1977.
Born with a melodic voice, Wang loved to sing and dance when she was little. She performed frequently, and was recruited by the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe (剧团) when she was in middle school. However, her parents refused the troupe’s invitation, insisting that she should concentrate on her studies and not drop out of school. After members of the troupe visited the parents repeatedly and showed great sincerity,Wang’s parents finally agreed.
Learning the traditional art form was never easy. She started to learn how to pronounce words, sing them lyrically and make gestures gently. As an actress playing martial artists roles at first, she had to spend extra time practicing kung fu movements. Years later, Wang used the word “unimaginable” to describe how hard the days were when she first learned Kunqu. She was soaked in sweat when practicing movements in summer, while in winter she often had chilblains (冻疮) on her hands when training in shabby classrooms with broken windows. “But I was young and determined at the time. No matter how difficult, I always got up early the next morning to practice,” Wang recalls.
Wang says she did not love Kunqu at first, but in her early 20s,when she watched the show Peony Pavilion performed by Zhang Jiqing, a master of the art form, it clicked. “I was shocked,” Wang says. “Her every movement was full of elegance and delicacy. Each of her lines and songs was perfect. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of Kunqu for the first time in my life, and it has stayed with me since.” Now, Wang has herself become a master of Kunqu. Her performances have impressed generations and helped to promote the art form among young people.
1. Why did Wang’s parents turn down the troupe’s invitation at first?| A．They didn’t think Wang had artistic talent. |
| B．They saw no future in learning Kunqu Opera. |
| C．They didn’t want Wang to ignore her studies. |
| D．They regarded members of the troupe as insincere. |
| A．Wang has made great efforts to learn Kunqu well. |
| B．Artists should be given more attention and care. |
| C．Traditional culture needs to be further promoted. |
| D．Wang has played a key role in the development of Kunqu. |
| A．Winning the Plum Performance Award. |
| B．Joining the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe. |
| C．Watching Zhang’s masterly performance. |
| D．Being greatly admired by the audience. |
| A．It is never too late to learn. | B．Rome was not built in a day. |
| C．Doing is better than saying. | D．Don’t judge a book by its cover. |
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