1 . A year after Walt Disney made history with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, its artists were struggling to find the right design for Bambi, the tale of a young deer. The film’s production team realized they needed a style that highlighted almost all of the leaves, flowers and mushrooms in their first feature-length animated(动画的)film.
Soon they got their inspiration from Tyrus Wong, whose work was on display as a new exhibit at New York City’s Museum. In 1938, the Walt Disney Studio hired him to draw the frames between the main drawings of the animators. After reading the story of Bambi, he saw an opportunity to break out of his humdrum job. He said to himself “This is all outdoor scenery. And I’m a landscape painter. This will be great!”
Inspired by Chinese landscape paintings, he used watercolor and pastels(蜡笔)to make sketches that bring the feeling of forest scenes with simple strokes of color and special attention to light and shadow. Wong’s sketches attracted Disney and became the guide for Bambi’s background artists, who were later trained to imitate his style. “His expression was a great leap forward for the medium,” writes John Lasseter, the chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. “Where other films were literal, Bambi was expressive and emotional.” In 2001,Wong was named “Disney Legend”, and he received the recognition as the true lead artist.
He pursued art all his life and still made art during his retirement, including toy animals from recycled materials and handmade kites that he regularly flew off the Santa Monica Pier in California. “People admire his works because of Bambi, but Bambi was just a really small part of his life,” says his youngest daughter. “He considers himself not a great artist but a lucky artist, who was at the right place at the right time.”
1. Why did Walt Disney’s artists notice Tyrus Wong?| A．He was good at drawing cartoon characters. |
| B．He won a prize at a museum in New York. |
| C．His style was suitable for the animated film Bambi. |
| D．His work could be used to advertise Walt Disney’s films |
| A．They were literal and detailed. |
| B．They conveyed thoughts effectively. |
| C．They showed the legend of Walt Disney. |
| D．They displayed the progress of the medium. |
| A．He was devoted to art during his lifetime. |
| B．He had been busy his whole life. |
| C．He gave up art after retirement. |
| D．He liked to purchase toys and kites. |
| A．By analyzing cause and effect. |
| B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following time order. |
| D．By listing examples. |
2 . Evelyn Glennie is a unique musician. She is a percussionist (打击乐手) who plays with classical orchestras. When she performs, she hits the gongs, snare drums, vibraphones, timbales, cymbals, conga drums, bells, and bass drums that are in front of her. Although classical musicians usually wear formal clothes in concert, Glennie performs in bare feet. What really sets her apart, though, is that she is a musician who can not hear. Glennie has been almost totally deaf since she was 12 years old. Despite being deaf, she has become the first solo star to play her type of percussion instruments in classical music.
Glennie was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. At the age of eight, she started taking piano lessons. She found that she preferred the drums, so she began to concentrate on other percussion instruments. Her doctors were never able to find out why she started to lose her hearing. By the time Glennie was 12, most of her hearing was gone. Glennie stayed in her school and learned to read lips. She also continued her music lessons. She learned how to play percussion instruments by using her sense of touch. She learned to feel the difference between high and low notes. She became very sensitive to the vibrations created by different sounds. Glennie took off her shoes to make it easier for her to feel the vibrations made by her instruments.
Glennie was very talented. At 16 she was accepted to the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. She was the music school’s first solo percussion student, graduating when she was 19. To build her career, she performed anywhere she could. There was very little solo music written for her instruments, so she asked for percussion music to be written for her. She then performed the new pieces in her solo concerts. Glennie attracted attention by performing in radio and television concerts. One 1988 concert was recorded live and made into a CD. This recording earned Glennie her first Grammy Award for a classical music performance.
Today Glennie performs all around the world. In addition to classical orchestras, she plays with folk musicians and rock stars. She has written music for movies, television shows, and commercials. Every year more new compositions are written for Glennie to perform. She has even taken up a new instrument: the bagpipes. Glennie considers herself a pioneer in music, not because she is deaf but because she has become a solo percussion star in classical music.
1. What can we infer from the passage?| A．Glennie wears formal clothes when she performs. |
| B．Glennie was talented in music. |
| C．Glennie entered the Royal Academy of Music when she was only 12 years old. |
| D．Glennie hates to play with other musicians. |
| A．She can performs kinds of musicial instruments |
| B．She liked taking off her shoes when she performed. |
| C．She is a musician who can’t hear. |
| D．She is a pioneer in music. |
| A．always perform with other musicians in concert | B．quit playing classical music in concert |
| C．learn to play other musical instruments | D．focus on studying the piano again |
| A．Deaf as she is, Evelyn Glennie is an award-winning solo percussionist who performs mainly classical music. |
| B．When Evelyn Glennie found that there was little music written for solo percussionists, she didn’t give up |
| C．Although classical musicians usually wear formal clothes in concert, Evelyn Glennie performs barefoot. |
| D．Evelyn Glennie lost her hearing at a young age, and doctors were never able to find out why. |
3 . Giorgio Morandi was one of the greatest artists in the history of Italy. He was the eldest of five children born into a middle-class family in Bologna, Italy. His early love of art upset his father, who wanted his son to work with him in his export business. Morandi attempted the business unsuccessfully in 1906.
After that, Morandi entered the Bologna Academy of Fine Arts in 1907. He continued his study with the support of his mother when his father suddenly passed away in 1908, forcing him to support his mother and younger sisters. During that time, he was introduced to Cubism and Futurism, which influenced his early work.
After he graduated from the Bologna Academy of Fine Arts in 1913, Morandi continued his study by traveling around Italy, especially to the Venice Biennale. Those tours would finally prove important, as Morandi seldom traveled overseas after the 1920s, and much of his future exposure (接触) to painters came from published art works. He was especially interested in the work of Impressionists like Claude Monet, as well as following greats such as Georges Seurat and Paul Cezanne. He also traveled within Italy, especially to see galleries and exhibitions, and was far more well-traveled than some historical sources show him to be.
After Morandi finished his traveling, he returned home and lived with his family. For many years, Morandi kept a peaceful daily routine. And he did most of his work in his workshop, a small room in a flat he shared with his mother and sisters.
Life wasn’t easy for him at first, but he quickly established himself as an important modern artist. His skills of color, light and arrangement began to gain notice, shining in the face of current painting in the manner of abstraction (抽象). And he was named “one of the greatest painters living” by Roberto Longhi in 1934.
1. What did Morandi’s father think of his love of art?| A．He was against it. | B．He showed a great interest. |
| C．He had mixed feelings about it. | D．He was neither for nor against it. |
| A．He needed to make money in this way. |
| B．He wanted to learn more about painting. |
| C．He chose to relax after studying for years. |
| D．He was looking for works of Impressionists. |
| A．Learning different skills. | B．Keeping himself very busy. |
| C．Working quietly in his workshop. | D．Thinking for hours in his workshop. |
| A．He was an important modern artist at first. |
| B．He didn’t like creating works of abstraction. |
| C．He was good at color, light and arrangement. |
| D．He didn’t become known until after his death. |
As one of the top contemporary Chinese painters
Fan Yang
After graduating from high school, Fan chose to work at the Nantong Arts and Crafts Research Institute. He applied
In 1978, Fan Yang
During his four years of college life, Fan absorbed the skills and knowledge of his predecessors (先辈)
After many years of
5 . Four Self-Portraits (自画像) by Famous Artists
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)—“Self-Portrait”, 1506
One of the beautiful self-portraits by famous artist Raphael was drawn at the age of 23. It measures around 45cm×33cm and is located at the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. The Italian painter used oil on board to draw his self-portrait, which was the clearest and the most recognizable self-portraits of Raphael himself.
Leonardo da Vinci—“Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk”, 1512
“Portrait of a Man in Red Chalk”is a self-portrait of da Vinci at the age of 60 and measures around 33.3cm×21.6cm, which is on display in Biblioteca Reale, Turin, Italy. It is drawn with red chalk on paper and represents the head of an elderly man in a three-quarter view. In the portrait, the length of the hair is uncommon in Renaissance (文艺复兴) portraits.
Rembrandt van Rijn—“Self-Portrait with Beret and Turned-up Collar”, 1659
Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn painted his self-portrait in 1659 when he was 53 years old. It shows his worried expression that clearly portrays the troubled condition of his mind at that point of his life since the year 1659 was a year of anxiety for him. This self-portrait found its place among the Benjamin Altman Collection, which has been exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art since 1913.
Edgar Degas—“Degas Au Porte-Fusain’”, l855
Edgar Degas made this self-portrait only when he was twenty-one years old. It was one of the most remarkable of his fifteen self-portraits. Degas was seated as seemingly without fear and anxiety. The pose in the painting was formal and academic. The painting is located in the musée d’Orsay, Paris, France.
1. Where should visitors go if they want to admire Raphael’s self-portrait in 1506?| A．Uffizi Gallery. | B．Biblioteca Reale. |
| C．The musée d’Orsay. | D．The Metropolitan Museum of Art. |
| A．The red clothing. | B．The formal pose. |
| C．The long hair. | D．The worried expression. |
| A．Raphael. | B．Edgar Degas. |
| C．Leonardo da Vinci. | D．Rembrandt van Rijn. |
6 . Former Disney child star Jennifer McGill recently shared how, after her mother passed away, she went through an extremely dark period in her life.
Jennifer was born ready for the stage. She grew up in a loving home in Texas. And by age 7, she begged her mom to let her enter contests. Jennifer’s mom was uncertain. But seeing her daughter’s high energy and unshakable love of the stage, she finally supported her daughter’s wish.
Jennifer won many contests, and soon her parents were advised to have her audition (试演) for The New Mickey Mouse Club, a Disney show. Jennifer tried out and landed her dream job.
Many of Jennifer’s costars on the show went on to run after their careers. But after many years as a Disney child star, Jennifer didn’t feel ready for Hollywood just yet.
“I just needed to grow up and grow wiser in order to be the artist I thought I was meant to be,” she said. Instead, Jennifer chose to go on to college — a decision her mother fully supported.
Jennifer’s parents were supportive throughout her career and schooling. But her mom was her champion — a constant source of support. Unfortunately, when Jennifer was 24 years old, her mom passed away.
“The biggest light and fan was gone, the person who’d reminded me that I was unique and valuable. I was kind of lost,” she said. The next several years grew very dark. She began feeling herself lonely. She felt lifeless and purposeless.
Much as Jennifer still missed her mother, she realized she should get her life back to normal. She’s now pursuing a new career in music. She also spends her time coaching young artists. She encourages them to put fame at the bottom of their list.
1. What do we know about Jennifer from Paragraph 2?| A．She loved her mother deeply. | B．She had a natural talent for acting. |
| C．Her parents didn’t support her acting career. | D．Her mother was for her decision from the very beginning. |
| A．She was much wiser than them. | B．She kept practicing her acting skills. |
| C．She got herself ready for Hollywood. | D．She decided to continue her education. |
| A．The death of her mother. | B．The loss of support from her family. |
| C．The failure to become a Hollywood star. | D．The lack of courage to pursue her career. |
| A．Never forget the social duty. | B．It is important to earn fame in the career. |
| C．Never think too much about being famous. | D．Get away from sorrow as soon as possible. |
7 . Many people want to look away from injustice and other troubling issues. But visual artist Siyan Wong has chosen not to look away. Through her art, she helps us see what is right before our eyes.
Wong, who lives in New York City, was born in China. Her art focuses on women, the elderly, people who are experiencing homelessness, and clothing industry workers.
Wong has loved art since she was a child. Her family didn’t have much money, so she and her sister would draw and cut out paper dolls to play with. This early experience provided Wong with a creative outlet for her emotions.
After graduating from Stuyvesant High School, she went on to college and law school. She is now a workers’ rights lawyer, but her belief in the healing (治愈) power of art remains. “Whenever I’m stressed or sad, I draw,” Wong said. “I express my feelings through art. Art is a comfortable way to bring people together to talk about difficult issues.”
One of Wong’s series is called “Five Cents a Can: Making Visible the Invisible”. I was inspired by the artist’s meetings with an Asian-American woman in her neighborhood. During early morning runs, Wong noticed the woman, who was more than 90 years old, collecting deserted cans and bottles in the dustbins behind her apartment building.
She is currently working on a painting for her “Home and Homeless” series. In the painting, she describes both a person who is homeless and an elderly canner. “The difference between someone who collects cans and someone who is homeless is hope,” Wong said. Her goal is to highlight the difference between the two and bring about questions for the viewer. Why does the elderly canner have hope, while the homeless person doesn’t? How did these individuals end up here?
1. What does Wong’s art focus on?| A．Social problems. | B．Charity projects. |
| C．Natural environment. | D．Her childhood life. |
| A．It can improve her emotions. |
| B．It needs much money to achieve. |
| C．It helps the world present itself clearly. |
| D．It is what people should pay attention to. |
| A．Her profession as a lawyer. | B．Cans and bottles in dustbins. |
| C．Poverty in her neighborhood. | D．An old lady leading a hard life. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Grateful. | C．Favorable. | D．Uncaring. |
1. How many Edward’s books does Marie have?
| A．15. | B．10. | C．5. |
| A．She bought it online. |
| B．She got it from her aunt. |
| C．She borrowed it from the library. |
| A．Monet. | B．Van Gogh. | C．Edward Lear. |
9 . In high school Norman Greenstein was a productive doodler(涂鸦手), and created lots of paintings. When he
After his
With the help of his son, Norman was able to start a
In 2021, an online
| A．showed | B．offered | C．conveyed | D．assigned |
| A．set | B．spit | C．sneeze | D．skip |
| A．still | B．occasionally | C．never | D．frequently |
| A．retirement | B．exhibition | C．graduation | D．marriage |
| A．support | B．remove | C．judge | D．replace |
| A．calling | B．longing | C．praying | D．waiting |
| A．unbelievable | B．dark | C．embarrassing | D．unsolved |
| A．restore | B．refresh | C．realize | D．release |
| A．project | B．request | C．competition | D．reform |
| A．spotted | B．recommended | C．developed | D．regarded |
| A．thrilling | B．plain | C．tough | D．stressful |
| A．drama | B．contest | C．programme | D．gallery |
| A．published | B．copied | C．revised | D．examined |
| A．ending with | B．working on | C．relying on | D．paying for |
| A．salary | B．reward | C．sale | D．allowance |
10 . 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. |
