As the daughter of a painter, Artemisia Gentileschi was afforded access to the art world at a young age. Early on, she was in her father’s workshop mixing paints and he supported her career when he noticed that she was gifted. As a famous painter of the Italian Baroque period, Artemisia Gentileschi did not let her gender hold her back from her subject matter. She painted Biblical and mythological (神话的) paintings, just like male painters.
Angelica Kauffman (1741—1807)Born in Switzerland, Angelica Kauffman was the daughter of the artist Johann Joseph Kauffman. She received artistic training while acting as her father’s assistant from a very young age and copying the works of old masters as they traveled for commissions (委托). As a young woman, she also trained in Italy, where her historical paintings and portraits were well received.
Rosa Bonheur (1822—1899)Like many female artists at the time, Rosa Bonheur’s father was a painter. The French Realist painter is considered one of the most famous female artists of the 19th century, known for her large-format paintings that featured animals. She showed her works regularly at the famous Paris salon and found success abroad in both the United States and Britain.
Berthe Morisot (1841—1895)Considered one of the great female Impressionists, Berthe Morisot had art running through her veins. Born into a noble French family, she was the great-niece of celebrated Rococo painter Jean-Honore Fragonard. Her art often focused on family scenes, and she preferred working with pastels (粉彩), watercolor, and charcoal (木炭).
1. What artistic style do Artemisia Gentileschi’s paintings belong to?| A．Rococo. | B．Baroque. | C．Realism. | D．Impressionism. |
| A．Artemisia Gentileschi. | B．Angelica Kauffman. |
| C．Rosa Bonheur. | D．Berthe Morisot. |
| A．They all learned painting from their fathers. |
| B．They all loved copying classic paintings. |
| C．They were all born into a noble family. |
| D．They all grew up in an artistic environment. |
2 . Top Piano Players in the World
Martha ArgerichMartha Argerich could be considered the next Beethoven, as she is one of the most outstanding pianists ever to play. Argerich preferred being on stage with others instead of performing solo; therefore, she has been performing in a concerto format since the 1980s. Argerich was not one for the spotlight, as she often avoided public appearances such as interviews; however, her great talent was all the publicity she needed, standing out during concertos and sonatas.
Leif Ove AndsnesKnown for his appealing performances of Edvard Grieg’s works, Andsnes has won praise for his performances at some of the world’s most famous concert halls. Andsnes has certainly made his mark in Norway, as he is the founding director of Norway’s Rosendal Chamber Music Festival. Because of his unique voice and interesting approach, he was praised by The New York Times as a “pianist of authoritative elegance, power, and insight.”
Alfred BrendelKnown for his beautiful interpretations of Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert and Mozart, Alfred Brendel was considered one of the greats. He played in various concertos throughout his career and became known for his interpretive coldness in recreating these works. Brendel was considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, as he made his mark in the classical music industry. Brendel was self-taught and learned his love of piano at an early age.
Arthur RubinsteinArthur Rubinstein was certainly one of the greats. His career began in the early 20th century when he began to come into contact with some of the world’s most important composers, such as Maurice Ravel, Paul Dukas, and Jacques Thibaud. He made various trips worldwide and visited nearly every continent, where crowds met him with great praise and encouragement.
1. What does the female pianist focus on in her career?| A．Skills in hosting concertos and sonatas. | B．Cooperation with other musicians. |
| C．Close relationships with the media. | D．Unique ways to interpret music. |
| A．Martha Argerich. | B．Leif Ove Andsnes. |
| C．Alfred Brendel. | D．Arthur Rubinstein. |
| A．He was the director of a Norwegian festival. |
| B．He made a difference in classical music. |
| C．He was the best musician of the 20th century. |
| D．He got in touch with some famous composers. |
3 . A recent study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society suggests that Leonardo da Vinci was more experimental with his well-known “Mona Lisa” than previously thought and was likely the creator of a technique seen in works used a century later.
A team of scientists in France and Britain has detected a rare mineral compound (矿物化合物), plumbonacrite, within the piece. Plumbonacrite forms when lead oxides (铅氧化物) combine with oil. Mixing these two substances is the technique that later artists like Rembrandt used to help the paint dry, according to the study.
Detecting the rare compound in the “Mona Lisa” suggested that Leonardo could have been the original user of this approach, said Gilles Wallez, an author of the study. “Everything that comes from Leonardo is very interesting, because he had lots of ideas, and he was an experimenter, attempting to improve the knowledge of his time,” Wallez said, “Each time you discovered something in his processes, you discovered that he was clearly ahead of his time.”
The “Mona Lisa”, like many other paintings from the 16th century, was created on a piece of wood that required a thick base layer. The researchers believed that Leonardo had made his mixture of lead oxide powder with linseed oil to produce the thick coat of paint needed for the first layer, while unknowingly creating the rare compound.
Nowadays, researchers aren’t allowed to take samples from the masterpiece, which resides at the Louvre in Paris and is protected behind glass. Using a microsample that had been taken from an area of the artwork just behind the frame, however, scientists were able to analyze the paint by using a high-tech machine. “These samples have a very high cultural value,” Wallez said. “You can’t afford to take big samples on a painting.”
1. Why is Rembrandt mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To demonstrate his unique talent for painting. |
| B．To explain how he used the technique correctly. |
| C．To stress what made him different from other painters. |
| D．To show the technique was useful for drying the paint. |
| A．Independent. | B．Strict. | C．Pioneering. | D．Friendly. |
| A．By accident. | B．With other painters’ help. |
| C．By reading many books. | D．Through various attempts. |
| A．It didn’t contain plumbonacrite. | B．Analyzing its paint is invaluable but costly. |
| C．It was created in the 17th century. | D．Taking its samples is an easy task now. |
4 . Black and white mountains and rocks covered in colorful mist—the combination of Chinese and Western painting styles—attracts Michela Millstein at an art exhibition in San Francisco.
“I think there are a lot of meanings behind the paintings. You can tell that it’s trying to show cultural things and not just a picture,” Millstein says. Having studied Chinese for three years, Millstein, a high school student in the San Francisco Bay Area, says she loves Chinese culture.
The exhibition, The Flying Colors, presented more than 60 pieces of Chinese ink paintings by a local artist, Arthur Ku, at San Francisco City Hall recently.
“Arthur Ku is a well-known painter, calligrapher, and artist; his endless devotion to the art community has undoubtedly contributed to the vitality (活力) of San Francisco,” the mayor said in the announcement.
Ku was born in Guangdong province in 1941 and settled down in the United States in 1977. He has been exploring the “splash ink and color” style, which is a technique of working with splashy (泼墨), colorful washes to create an abstract, expressive style. Ku’s artistic talent in traditional Chinese brush and ink painting inspired a unique style of down-to-earth and creative freedom, which created a critical attempt of traditional Chinese brush painting into modern and contemporary art, according to mayor’s statement.
Ku is also keen to promote cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the US to improve art and friendship. He has successfully held several joint painting exhibitions in the US for artists from China.
“I think inclusiveness brings unity and diversity brings vitality. We are now living in the most challenging times. So, I think it’s important for us to embrace more inclusiveness and diversity, to have more cultural dialogue, so that we can communicate better and respect each other more.” said Arthur Ku.
1. What can we learn from Millstein’s words in paragraph 2?| A．The exhibition held recently. |
| B．The beauty of artistic works. |
| C．The passion for artistic works. |
| D．The cultural significance of the works |
| A．Innovative. | B．Traditional. | C．Costly. | D．Inimitable. |
| A．To promote cultural and artistic exchanges. |
| B．To found an international charity organisation. |
| C．To enhance the reputation of some Chinese artists. |
| D．To introduce the history of Chinese traditional arts. |
| A．The learning process of a Chinese artist. |
| B．An artist furthering cultural communication. |
| C．The guidance on communicating and respecting. |
| D．An art exhibition held at San Francisco City Hall. |
5 . Born in Pennsylvania in 1894, Martha Graham was one of the most famous dancers in the world. She brought modern dance to a new level of popularity in American culture.
Earlier in her life, however, she did not know that she would become a dancer. Her family was very religious and were members of the upper class. She saw a dance performance accidentally when she was 16, and then decided to become a dancer. Martha’s parents, however, did not approve of her desire to dance. At that time, people saw American dance as a lower art form. Yet Graham chose to follow her dream in her early twenties, even though she was considered too old to begin dancing.
In school, Graham worked very hard to improve her ability to dance. She performed for several years before moving to New York City where she wanted to make greater experiments with dance. She cooperated with music composer L.H. until 1964.Later, Graham created “Chronicle,” one of her most significant dances. It was influenced by current events including the Great Depression and the Spanish Civil War. At that time, displaying strong emotions in dance was very rare. Graham also created dances based on ancient Greek tragic stories and famous heroines.
At first, people did not react well to Graham’s style of dancing for it was quite: distinct from European ballet, which was more commonly accepted. Graham’s dances were powerful, with strong and sharp movements. In 1951,Graham established the dance program at the Juilliard School in New York City. Many of her students became famous dancers. She also taught movement to many famous people, including singers, actresses and film directors.
Martha Graham received many awards during her lifetime. She was the first dancer to receive the country’s highest civilian honor. In 1998, Time magazine listed her as The “Dancer of the Century”. Her dances are still performed in New York and around the world.
1. Why did Martha’s parents oppose her dream to be a dancer?| A．Their religion forbade any art form. |
| B．It was too late for her to begin dancing. |
| C．Their family belonged to the upper class. |
| D．They didn’t consider dance as an art form. |
| A．It focuses on current events. |
| B．It conveys intense human feelings. |
| C．lt talks about ancient Greek heroines. |
| D．It was created by Graham and L.H. |
| A．They enjoyed popularity once they appeared. |
| B．They were well accepted by celebrities. |
| C．They were mainly designed at the Juilliard School. |
| D．They have common features with European dancing. |
| A．Not all that shines is gold. |
| B．Actions speak louder than words. |
| C．when in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| D．Nothing is impossible to a willing mind. |
6 . 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. |
7 . Four Most Famous Paintings in the World
The Starry NightArtist: Vincent Willem van Gogh
Where to see it: the Museum of Modern Art (New York, US)
Being treated for mental illness in hospital and inspired by the view from the window of his room, Van Gogh painted The Starry Night. The painting is famous for Van Gogh’s creative use of thick brushstrokes (笔画). The painting’s striking blues and yellows and the dreamy atmosphere have attracted art lovers for decades.
The ScreamArtist: Edvard Munch
Where to see it: the National Museum and the Munch Museum (Oslo, Norway)
The Scream is not a single work of art. According to a British museum’s blog, there are two paintings, two pastels (彩粉画) and a number of prints, The paintings are in the National Museum and the Munch Museum, and in 2012, one of the pastels was sold for almost 120 million.
Mona LisaArtist: Leonardo da Vinci
Where to see it: the Louvre Museum (Paris. France)
It should come as no surprise that one of the most famous paintings in the world is a woman with a mysterious smile. It is the earliest known Italian painting to focus closely on the sitter in a half-length portrait (像) , according to the Louvre, where it was first exhibited in 1804.
The Last SupperArtist: Leonardo da Vinci
Where to see it: Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy)
Leonardo is the only artist to appear on this list twice. The Last Supper is about the last time Jesus had dinner with his followers. The painting is actually a huge wall painting-4. 6 meters high and 8. 8 meters wide, which makes for a memorable viewing experience.
1. Where is The Starry Night exhibited?| A．In the Louvre Museum. |
| B．In the Munch Museum. |
| C．In the Museum of Modern Art. |
| D．In Santa Maria delle Grazie. |
| A．It is exhibited in three museums. |
| B．It includes a series of works of art. |
| C．It is famous for a smile in the painting. |
| D．It was painted in a mental hospital. |
| A．They feature religious figures. |
| B．They both belong to wall paintings. |
| C．They are exhibited in the National Museum. |
| D．They were painted by Leonardo da Vinci. |
8 . According to Michael Gelb, the author of ‘Think Like Da Vinci’, any living person can bring out their inner Da Vinci by committing themselves to several ‘Da Vincian’ principles.
According to Gelb, although not everyone is born with the gifts and the abilities of Leonardo Da Vinci, it is possible for any person to use the fundamentals of Da Vinci’s approach to learning to guide us to toward the realization of our own full potential.
Leonardo possessed an intense curiosity about the world around him. It was this undiscouraged curiosity that began in childhood and continued throughout his life that drove Leonardo into becoming one of the greatest thinker’s humanity.
The young Leonardo loved nature. Leonardo would wonder around the Tuscany countryside asking questions he did not himself yet understand. Questions such as: Why shells exist on the tops of mountains alongside seaweed usually found in the sea. Why lightning is visible whereas thunder is not and takes a longer time to travel.
Keeping a journal or notebook – Leonardo always carried a notebook with him so that he could jot down ideas, thoughts, impressions and observations as they occurred.
Asking questions - Making a list of a hundred questions in your notebook on any given topic that comes into your head.
Be willing to make lots of mistakes – Leonardo was not afraid to make mistakes and appear foolish.
| A．Curiosity can be developed. |
| B．Why so many important families live in Tuscany. |
| C．But don’t think Leonardo was a man of thought alone. |
| D．Here, we are going to look at one key principle: curiosity. |
| E．Leonardo relied only on himself to answer his own questions. |
| F．Actually, Leonardo embraced the feelings of unfamiliarity and foolishness. |
| G．But do not be fooled into thinking that Leonardo did not make any mistakes. |
9 . The exact location in France where Dutch master Vincent van Gogh painted his last work of art has been discovered.
A Dutch researcher figured out that a scene described in the artist’s last work, Tee Root, was visible on a postcard showing a man standing next to a bicycle on a back street of the village Auvers-sur-Oise. Van Gogh spent the last weeks of his life in the village. Helpfully, the card even included the name of the street.
Researchers were given a unique glimpse (体验) into the famous painter’s final hours. He was at work right up to the end.
Wouter van der Veen, scientific director of the Van Gogh Institute in France, made the discovery. While stuck at home, van de Veen used the extra time to organize the numerous files and documents on van Gogh, including images such as the old postcard from Auvers-sur-Oise. One day in late April, he saw the card on his computer screen and it suddenly struck him that he was looking at the location of Tree Roots. Next to the man and his bicycle, roots and trees are clearly visible. He took a virtual trip down the site using Google’s Street View.
“Villagers know the spot and the main tree root well, even giving it the name ‘the elephant’ because of its shapes,” van der Veen said. “It was really hiding in overt sight.”
The discovery provides tourists with an extra reason to visit Auvers-sur-Oise. “They travel a lot just for one reason — to walk in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh. Now they can stand at the very place where he painted his last painting,” van der Veen said. “And that’s a very moving thing for a lot of people. So I’m very happy to be able to share that with all those who love van Gogh.”
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．What the postcard revealed. | B．How Tree Roots was discovered. |
| C．Why Auvers-sur-Oise became known. | D．Where van Gogh painted his works. |
| A．He studied a picture of Auvers-sur-Oise. |
| B．He organized his data on van Gogh. |
| C．He traveled to France to see for himself. |
| D．He paid a visit to the spot online. |
| A．Mixed. | B．Obvious. | C．Lovely. | D．Strange. |
| A．They enjoy exploring how to paint. | B．They share their love for van Gogh. |
| C．They admire van Gogh very much. | D．They want to experience the life there. |
10 . A huge, 12-pointed star has been fixed on top of one of the towers of Antoni Gaudí’s famous Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona. This means the construction work, begun 139 years ago, nears completion. It is scheduled to be completely finished in 2026 — marking 100 years since the architect’s death.
When Gaudí died in 1926, less than a quarter of the exterior was complete. Since then construction has been stopped every now and then for various reasons from Spanish civil wars to funding problems. Though in 2005 the church was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the construction work was claimed to be illegal in 2016, and regained its building permit in 2019.
Born in 1852, Gaudí grew up fascinated by geometry and the natural wonders of the countryside. After studying architecture in school, he eventually formed his own style. In his opinion, form and function were inseparable: Beauty should be part of structure, which rules the natural world. “Nothing is art,” he concluded, “if it does not come from nature.” On his graduation ceremony, his director said the words that became famous later: “I do not know if we have awarded this degree to a madman or to a genius; only time will tell.”
Time has obviously given the answer. In fact, Gaudí’s work over the years has permanently influenced Barcelona architecture like none other before or after. The city is considered the best outdoor modernist Museum of Europe mostly because of Gaudí.
On the 10th of June 1926, Gaudí was knocked down by a tram (有轨电车) while he was doing his usual evening walk. He lost consciousness, and nobody recognized that this disheveled (蓬乱的) old man was the famous architect until he was taken to the hospital. He was buried two days later in the unfinished Sagrada Familia, following a funeral attended by thousands of people: most of the citizens of Barcelona came out to bid a final-farewell to the most universal architect that the city had ever known.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．A 12-pointed star was set on a Gaudí’s church. |
| B．Barcelona is well known for Gaudí’s architecture. |
| C．Gaudí’s famous church will be finished at last. |
| D．The 100h anniversary of Gaudí’s death will come. |
| A．It was to memorize Gaudí. | B．It suffered frequent delays. |
| C．It was a World Heritage Site. | D．It didn’t get its building permit. |
| A．His style was too special in his time. | B．He was not qualified for the degree. |
| C．His attitude to others was crazy. | D．He was too talented to be taught. |
| A．Sagrada Familia — Gaudí’s Unfinished Work |
| B．Barcelona — a City of Antoni Gaudí |
| C．Antoni Gaudí — a Genius Architect |
| D．Gaudí’s Architecture — the Beauty of Nature |
