1 . To create “Washed Up: Transforming a Trashed Landscape”. Alejandro Duran gathers plastic trash that is washed up on the beaches of Sian Karan, Mexico’s largest federally-protected reserve. The site is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Yet every day, plastic pollution from around the world is washed up onto its shores. These materials inspired Duran to create a series of environmental art pieces, which he re-cords with photos and videos.
Duran was born in Mexico City and is now based in Brooklyn. He said that he had been collecting materials and creating photographs for the past five years, and the work was ongoing. “The project will tell me when to stop.”
Each piece can convey a vastly different mood, from the calm greens of soda bottles to the playful rainbows of toothbrushes. “I’m making art,” said Duran. “It comes from the context and my moods. You can’t say only something dark.” The work reflects and plays with natural forms, exploring how humans influence the environment. The colorful and playful images can be much attention-grabbing. “Beauty is a hook (钩子) to attract people’s attention,” said Duran.
In addition to promoting awareness of the plastic pollution problem, Duran is also involved in educational programs and helps to organize beach clean-ups. He has also made a study of the types of products that are washed ashore in Sian Ka’an, and has identified objects from 50 different countries. Although there’s no way to know where or how these objects were dropped into the sea, their labels show the global nature of the problem.
1. What does Alejandro Duran do with the trash?| A．He moves it away. | B．He collects and burns it. |
| C．He turns it into a form of art. | D．He puts it together for people to see. |
| A．He will stop the project soon. | B．It’s hard to carry on the project. |
| C．He will go on with the project. | D．The project is important to him. |
| A．recycle the trash | B．change his career |
| C．clean up the beach | D．raise public awareness of pollution |
| A．Plastic pollution in the ocean. |
| B．An artist creating environmental art. |
| C．The global nature of the pollution problem. |
| D．Mexico’s largest federally-protected reserve. |
2 . CNN compared dozens of popular masterpieces and made a list of 10 most famous paintings in the world. The top 3 are as below:
1. ‘Mona Lisa’
Artist:Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1503 to 1519
Where to see it: Louyre Museum (Paris)
It should come as no surprise that the most famous painting in the world is that mysterious woman with the mysterious smile.
What’s so special about the Mona Lisa? Did you know? Before the 20th century, historians say the “Mona Lisa” was little known outside art circles. But in 1911, an ex-Louvre employee stole the picture and hid it for two years. That theft helped cement (巩固) the painting’s place in popular culture ever since and exposed millions to Renaissance (文艺复兴) art.
2. ‘The Last Supper’
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1495 to 1498
Where to see it: Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy)
Leonardo, the original “Renaissance Man,” is the only artist to appear on this list twice.
Painted in an era when religious imagery was still a dominant artistic theme, “The Last Supper” catches the last time Jesus broke bread with his students before his crucifixion (十字架刑罚).
The painting is actually a huge fresco (壁画) — 4.6 meters (15 feet) high and 8. 8 meters (28.9 feet) wide, which makes for a memorable viewing
It is Leonardo da Vinci’s legacy. Did you know? The fresco has survived two wartime threats — Napoleon’s troops used the wall on which the fresco was painted as target practice. It also was exposed to the air for several years when bombing during World War II destroyed the roof of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
3. ‘The Starry Night’
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date:1889
Where to see it: Museum of Modern Art (New York City)
The comparatively abstract painting is the signature example of van Gogh’s innovative and bold use of thick brushstrokes. The painting’s striking blues and yellows and the dreamy atmosphere have been attracting art lovers for decades.
1. What is special about the Mona Lisa?| A．A theft made it a household name. |
| B．It has survived two wartime threats. |
| C．It is a classic example of van Gogh’s creativity. |
| D．It shows a mysterious woman with a mysterious smile. |
| A．Broke up with. | B．Quarreled with. |
| C．Had dinner with. | D．Made friends with. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a biography. |
| C．In a textbook. | D．In an art magazine. |
3 . Born in 1975 in a poor neighbourhood in Sao Paulo, Eduardo Kobra began his career at 12 years old and, since then, has become one of the most recognized street artists in the world.
With more than 5,000 murals(壁画) over five continents, he currently holds the record for the largest mural in the world, first for creating his famous mural Las Etnias (The Ethnicities) for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Then a year later he beat his previous record with his monumental work at Cacau Show Headquarters, a masterpiece that took 700 hours to complete and more than doubled his 2016 record. Influenced by the pop-art movement and modern artists, the realism in his designs makes his flat-surfaced extremely colourful wall paintings appear 3-D and alive with life.
With his project Greenpincel(2011), Kobra showed his strong will to the environmental cause. Climate change, water pollution, deforestation, predatory(掠夺性的) fishing, and mistreatment of animals became strong themes present in his work .In Stars of Peace, Kobra describes individuals who have given hope to the world through their lives, such as Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Malala Yousafzai, and Anne Frank.
Kobra is involved in social causes, such as food collection campaigns and activities aimed at bringing art to poor communities, especially children who have no access to basic facilities.
In 2021, he started the Kobra Institute, which aims to bring art to vulnerable(脆弱的) people in Brazil.During the pandemic(大流行病), he led an activity together with the private sector to raise funds to build oxygen plants for COVID-19 patients.
1. Which of Kobra’s works made him set the second world record?| A．Las Etnias. | B．The Ethnicities. |
| C．Stars of Peace. | D．A work at Cacau Show Headquarters. |
| A．Social causes. | B．Famous individuals. |
| C．Painting skills. | D．Environmental protection. |
| A．He was born into an artistic fanily. |
| B．He specializes in romantic painting. |
| C．He devoted himself to helping the poor learn art. |
| D．He made a great fortune in 2016 Rio Olympics. |
| A．Sensitive. | B．Admirable. | C．Humorous | D．Adaptable. |
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 . Sakamoto Ryuichi, who died on March 28 after a long battle with cancer, once described his musical method thus: “I open my ears to the world.” But what Mr. Srakamoto heard, few others could. As a member of the Japanese techno-pop band Yellow Magic Orchestra, he helped pioneer modern electronic music. As a composer, he brought the work of directors such as Bernardo Bertolucci to life. His passing brought about mourning from the whole music world.
Mr. Sakamoto was born in Tokyo in 1952 and took to music early. He graduated from one of Tokyo’s top colleges of music, where he studied Western classical music, and explored an interest in the traditional music of Japan’s Okinawa as well as in that of India and Africa. Early in his career, Mr. Sakamoto trained his ears on the sound of technology. Yellow Magic Orchestra, a group he formed in 1978,used synthesisers(合成器)in instrumental songs intended for dancing - a novel combination at the time. “Errors or noises absorb me and I wonder if new musical currents could come from this imperfection,” Mr. Sakamoto said. That was exactly what happened: Mr. Sakamoto’s music helped inspire what would later become techno and hip-hop. Then he turned towards the sound of nature. He listened to the wind blowing, the water dropping, the rocks moving and the leaves falling, which he introduced into his music.
Unusually for a Japanese musician, Mr. Sakamoto used his fame to speak out on social and political issues, including environmental preservation and nuclear(原子核的)power. In 2011, an earthquake and tsunami rocked northeast Japan and set off a nuclear meltdown in Fukushima. In the wake of the disaster, Mr. Sakamoto travelled often to the region to support local residents.
In 2014, the cancer shook Mr. Sakamoto’s life. But even that could not weaken his longing to hear more. In the next few years, he composed the score for “The Revenant”, and produced a film about sound called “Coda”.
1. What’s paragraph 1 mainly about?| A．The style of Sakamoto Ryuichi’s music. |
| B．Sakamoto Ryuichi’s comments on music. |
| C．Sakamoto Ryuichi’s contributions to music. |
| D．The influence of Sakamoto Ryuichi’s music. |
| A．He liked nature scenery. |
| B．He got inspired from noises. |
| C．He created techno and hip-hop. |
| D．He became interested in music at college. |
| A．Intelligent and frank. | B．Talented and caring. |
| C．Generous and enthusiastic. | D．Determined and humorous. |
| A．A musician: making sounds into music |
| B．Sounds of nature: sources of music composition |
| C．Yellow Magic Orchestra: memories of generations |
| D．Sakamoto Ryuichi: speaking out for the common people |
6 . Born in 1887 in a Russian-Jewish town, Chagall started painting at the age of 19. Disappointed with the colors of traditional Russian art, he loved to paint with strong blues, reds and yellows.
So in 1911, he moved to Paris, France, where artists from around the world were creating novel art forms and he acquired fresh ways of painting eagerly. He stayed true to his childhood memories. While others chose modern subjects, he painted scenes of fantasy based on an older, farmer-like way of life. Blue dogs, yellow skies and red trees were all creations of his imagination.
Chagall went through two world wars and personal sufferings. In 1941, because his family were Jewish, the Chagalls had to leave France to escape the Nazis during World War Ⅱ. In 1944 came another blow. Chagall’s beloved wife Bella died of an illness. Despite the hardships, his passion for painting never faded. In the 1950s, he returned to France and continued to make his dreamlike paintings.
One day, during a walk in a village, he discovered a 700-year-old church (教堂), where he saw a stained-glass (彩色玻璃) window that contained a green horse. It looked as if Chagall might have created it himself. Here was a sure sign, he thought, that he should create his own stained-glass windows.
Then Chagall devoted all his energy and time to the work. As we know, many stained-glass windows are made of flat colors, but Chagall used various techniques to create the effects he wanted. He made flexible use of bright colors, putting light into the works. He painted images on glass, then had them fired to high temperatures, making the lines and colors part of the glass.
Chagall created the stained-glass windows for churches and other buildings around the world until his death in 1985. He gave them as gifts to the world and often refused payment. Today, people are still amazed at how his stained-glass creations shine and change with the sun.
1. Why did Chagall choose to go to Paris?| A．To learn new painting skills. | B．To publicize his new ideas about art. |
| C．To experience the colorful local life. | D．To participate in modern art exhibitions. |
| A．Desire to let in more sunlight. | B．Intention to improve the quality of glass. |
| C．Encouragement from some famous artists. | D．Inspiration from an ancient church window. |
| A．Chagall’s working attitude. | B．The images Chagall created. |
| C．Chagall’s artistic experiences. | D．The features of Chagall’s works. |
| A．Imaginative and honest. | B．Generous and easy-going. |
| C．Creative and strong-willed. | D．Energetic and traditional. |
7 . Imagine a typical day in our lives, where our relationship with technology is a constant rollercoaster ride. Onemoment, we’re frustrated and burdened, convinced we can’t bear it any longer. But within moments, we realize its necessary presence and how interconnected it has become with our existence.
Back in 1989, pop artist Keith Haring saw this relationship better than most. A complete set of limited-edition Pop Shop III Haring produced in 1989 reflects that understanding. The set recently sold for S125, 000 at Heritage Auctions (拍卖). The four images tell a story of people struggling with technology. In one image, a giant pair of scissors cuts the wire to a computer. In another, a person gets pulled into the machine trying to fix it. Yet another shows a person crazily trying to help.
It’s not surprising that Haring would predict our challenging relationship with the digital revolution. His art, with its seemingly simple style and its deeper themes of love, death, war, and social harmony, is desired by collectors.
The most paid for a Haring painting is $6.5 million for the piece Untitled (1982) in 2017.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Haring was best known for striking graffiti-inspired drawings that took him from New York City’s streets, subways and clubs to museums and public spaces around the world. Haring created a unique drawing style based on the importance of the line. He filled his works with recognizable images like dancing figures, “radiant babies,” barking dogs, and flying objects, and integrated it with uncommon energy and optimism. Much like his teacher Andy Warhol, the focus of Haring’s career was to make art accessible to the public.
Haring died in 1990 at the age of 31, but his work — and our struggle with technology — lives on.
1. Why is the imaginary typical day mentioned in paragraph one?| A．To present a fact. |
| B．To clarify a concept. |
| C．To introduce the topic. |
| D．To make a prediction. |
| A．It was Haring’s most paid artwork. |
| B．It was Haring’s best known artwork. |
| C．It shows Haring’s personal experience. |
| D．It reflects people’s relationship with technology. |
| A．Easily accessible and abstract. |
| B．Singly-themed and plain. |
| C．Socially conscious and expressive. |
| D．Simply-styled and realistic. |
| A．Haring and his artworks. |
| B．Haring’s prediction about technology. |
| C．Our love-hate relationship with technology. |
| D．Haring and his life-long struggle with technology. |
8 . Colette Maze has been playing the piano for over a century. She practices four hours a day and her fingers never tire. Music is her spiritual food. The piano, her passion and her friend, instills (注入) a sense of wonder in life each day, making her a source of inspiration to all.
Colette Maze was born in Paris in 1914. She started playing the piano at the age of five. As a young student, she was taught a technique by the legendary piano master Alfred Cortot, which focuses on relaxing the arms and hands when playing. To this day, the manner in which Colette Maze touches the piano while playing the tender music of Robert Schumann and Claude Debussy is still unusual and attractive.
Contrary to the social conventions of the times, Maze decided to pursue music as a career. “She decided she was an artist, a musician, not a housewife, so she married the piano,” said her son Fabrice Maze. Later she became a piano teacher and a single mother with great difficulty. The piano always brings her solace. “Music is an affective language and a poetic language. In music, there is everything—nature, emotion, love, dreams,” Colette Maze said.
Colette Maze’s talent and enthusiasm are priceless, especially during the times of the pandemic. “She helps improve morale (士气). Though at an old age, she is in good form for she has passion and can look after herself. Her sense of humor, her joy, and her love of life make other people smile,” Fabrice Maze said.
Colette Maze explained that life is not about being old or young. “Youth is inside us. Life is all about staying passionate and curious. You can’t let that slip away. If you appreciate what’s beautiful around you, you will find a sense of wonder in it,” she said. Every day she plays the piano, and her fingers lightly touch the keys, embracing life and engaging with the love and tenderness of her music.
1. How did Alfred Cortot influence Colette Maze?| A．He presented her with a special piano. | B．He invited famous pianists to train her. |
| C．He took her to enjoy some piano concerts. | D．He taught her a unique way to play the piano. |
| A．Pity. | B．Comfort. | C．Glory. | D．Trouble. |
| A．Colette has given up a lot for music. | B．Colette is highly spoken of by music lovers. |
| C．Colette inspires others to live with strength. | D．Colette feels concerned about other people’s life. |
| A．Be active and passionate about life forever. | B．Family support is important to career success. |
| C．Experience helps to promote excellence. | D．It’s never too old to learn. |
9 . Works by George Balanchine, with the music of George Gershwin, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Igor Stravinsky, the innovative genius of George Balanchine is brought to the forefront. The following is the introduction of the four artists.
Artist 1: George Balanchine
It is difficult to overlook the influence of choreographer (舞蹈编剧), George Balanchine. Called the Father of American Ballet, he combined the classical training he received as a boy in St. Petersburg with originality to modernism. He transformed ballet into a 20th century art form.
Artist 2: George Gershwin
George Gershwin was amongst one of the most significant and popular music composers for Broadway musicals. He wrote music for both Broadway and classical pieces that connected him to the wider public.
Artist 3: Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky was a Russian-born composer whose works had a revolutionary (革命性的) impact on musical thought. He was honored with the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal in 1954 and the Wihuri Sibelius Prize in 1963.
Artist 4: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is the very foundation of classical ballet. Russian-born Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable melodies (旋律) and innovative harmonies make his music loveable. Ballet audiences are fortunate to hear not only the works he intended for dance, such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, but also a wide variety of pieces that have been created by great dance-makers.
1. Which of the following is the achievement of George Balanchine?| A．He made ballet an art form of the 20th century. |
| B．He was thought as the Father of World Ballet. |
| C．He was good at giving classical training. |
| D．He combined music with modernism. |
| A．He was born in Russia. |
| B．He was a famous composer. |
| C．He influenced musical thought greatly. |
| D．He created music for Broadway musicals. |
| A．George Balanchine. | B．George Gershwin. |
| C．Igor Stravinsky. | D．Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. |
10 . Carmen Herrera: “Every painting has been a fight between the painting and me. I tend to win. But you know how many paintings I threw in the garbage? I wouldn’t have anything were it not for my husband. He didn’t have a hand in anything? But no, they say that behind every great man there is always a woman. Well, behind a great woman there is always a man. You need it; I was very lucky. You don’t decide to be an artist; art gets inside of you. Before you know you are painting, you are so surprised. It’s like falling in love.”
Born in Cuba in 1915, Carmen Herrera lived in New York and Paris and eventually settled in New York where she lived till now. Through the years, she worked quietly and created a huge quantity of paintings. While living in New York in the 1950s, she made reductive, hard-edged abstractions that predate(早于) the works of artists such as Lygia Clark in Brazil and Ellsworth Kelly in the US. Her works also proved her foresight as Minimalism and Op Art took hold in the 1960s, and with later developments in the works of American painters such as Brice Marden Agnes Martin, both of whom are represented in the collection.
It wasn’t until 2004, at the age of 89, that Carmen Herrera sold her first painting; like many women artists of her generation, her works were overlooked despite her friendships and associations with great male artists like Barnett Newman. Now, however, the artist and her works are now receiving much-deserved attention in and beyond the US. Herrera’s paintings have entered the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Hirshhorn Museum, and the Tate Modern; the Walker’s acquisition is special in that.
1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?| A．Carmen is addicted to drawing. |
| B．Carmen’s husband objects to her drawing. |
| C．It’s easy for Carmen to be famous. |
| D．Carmen sold her first picture at $1,000. |
| A．Carmen is successful finally. |
| B．Carmen has sold her first painting. |
| C．Carmen has a good husband supporting her. |
| D．Carmen thinks she has a gift for drawing. |
| A．Kindness. |
| B．Love for family. |
| C．Passion. |
| D．The museum’s help. |
