1 . Mary Shelley bends over her latest creation. Although the carving is only half complete, the image of a waitress holding a plate of eggs comes out from the board. Of Shelley’s nearly seven hundred carvings, many show scenes with cows on farms and people in restaurants.
From memories to carvings
“My work is a visual diary, ” Shelley says. “The carvings describe things I have experienced and felt at different times in my life.”
Every one of her carvings tells a story. Many of the stories in Shelley’s woodcarvings come from memories of her childhood in a rural (乡村的) area outside of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Shelley’s family managed a small farm. Mary was a serious girl who spent a lot of time raising animals, exploring outdoors, and reading. Although Shelley never felt especially artistic as a child, there was always an art project in the works in the Shelley household. Her grandmother painted. Her father was a commercial artist, who drew and wrote to make a living.
______
Shelley attended Cornell University and hoped to become a writer, but an unusual present took her in another direction. At age 23, she received a gift her father had made-a woodcarving of her as a girl on the farm. The gift caught her interest. After gathering boards from a building site where she worked as a carpenter, Shelley bought some tools and taught herself to carve.
Shelley soon realized that she loved the slow, thoughtful process of working with wood and painting. “A carving is like a jigsaw puzzle (拼图游戏),” she explains. “I didn’t know how it would all fit together, but the process of solving the puzzle kept me going.”
The Shelley style
Early in her career, people hired Shelley to carve special pieces that took four or five weeks to complete. The money she received motivated her to try more complicated scenes created by carving deeper in the wood. Over time, Shelley’s art began to have its own style. In a typical Shelley woodcarving, some objects seem to reach out of the frame while others drop back, creating a feeling of depth.
1. What can we infer from the “From memories to carvings” part?| A．Art is from but beyond life. | B．Life is short and art is long. |
| C．It is great art to laugh at your own misfortune. | D．Knowledge without practice makes but half an artist |
| A．Life in School | B．A Dream Come True |
| C．A Life-Changing Gift | D．Jigsaw Puzzles and Carving |
| A．The dream to be an artist in her childhood. | B．Her father’s low-relief carving for her. |
| C．The rugs hooked by her grandmother. | D．Her school life in Cornell University. |
| A．is very popular | B．is very expensive |
| C．has simple scenes | D．creates a feeling of depth |
2 . The music world lost a rock and roll superstar this week when guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away. He was only 65 years old.
Eddie Van Halen was a founding member of the band Van Halen. He formed the group in 1974 with his brother Alex, who played the drums. Van Halen released (发行) its most popular single, the song Jump, in 1983. Jump rose to the top of Billboard Magazine’s list of Hot 100 songs and stayed there for five weeks. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio lists Jump among its “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll”. Eddie Van Halen released at least 15 record albums with his band over the years, selling more than 80 million around the world. In 2007, Van Halen entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Van Halen brothers were born in the Netherlands. Their father was a professional musician. Their mother was from Indonesia. In the 1950s, some Netherlanders did not support the mixed-race (混种族) marriage, so the family moved to the United States. They settled in southern California. Eddie and Alex Van Halen had to learn English in their new land. Both brothers studied piano for years before getting interested in rock and roll.
As a child, Eddie was considered musically gifted. Eddie told a reporter he did not learn to read music. He said he would watch his teacher play and memorize his moves. He also said that he never took a class on playing the guitar, although he studied under Eric Clapton for a time. His father was among the first to recognize Eddie’s guitar skill. “You’ve got it, kid,” Eddie’s father said to him early on.
Eddie’s guitar playing was hard and fast. He was energetic while performing, often jumping like an acrobat (杂技演员) as he played. He was known for the way he tapped on the guitar strings with both hands. It influenced many musicians that followed.
1. What’s paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．Eddie’s band. | B．Eddie’s Jump. |
| C．Eddie’s life story. | D．Eddie’s achievements. |
| A．To make a good living. | B．To escape racial prejudice. |
| C．To receive better education. | D．To experience different cultures. |
| A．To remember a famous musician. |
| B．To express sadness for a superstar’s death. |
| C．To praise Eddie Van Halen for his contributions. |
| D．To show the excellence of Eddie Van Halen. |
3 . 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. |
4 . A Timeless Legacy 2022：Artists of Glacier, Past and Present
Exhibition time：August 27~October 29，2022
Since the first A Timeless Legacy exhibition in 2015, our beloved annual and now biennial (两年一次的) exhibition celebrating the history, life and works of Glacier National Park artists has taken many forms. For the 2022 exhibition，we feature works from both contemporary (当代的) artists working in and around Glacier National Park, as well as historic artworks from the Hockaday Art Museum’s collections.
Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey
Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey lives in a world of color. And she likes to paint that way as well. After living for some years abroad in England and Europe，she eventually returned to the United States and settled down in Montana.
Carole Cooke
Artist Carole Cooke writes, “When I paint on location in remote areas, I feel a sense of excitement beyond description. It is my hope that sharing images of the land, trees and waters will give the viewers a strong sense of connection to nature. ”
Michelle Grant
Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Michelle Grant has been working professionally as an artist since 1994. She currently works in a contemporary realistic style. Her inspiration comes from owning horses and attending lots of horse-related events, which provide reference for her paintings.
Julie Jeppsen
Wildlife artist Julie Jeppsen is known for her paintings combining realism and atmosphere of wild animals in landscape. Julie is a self-taught artist, whose subject matter is a wide range of animals. She has been involved in art all her life and will continue doing it because it’s a major part of who she is.
1. When can people enjoy the exhibits in A Timeless Legacy 2022?| A．On August 25. | B．On October 28. |
| C．On November 29. | D．On December 30. |
| A．She can paint in urban areas. |
| B．She can return to the United States. |
| C．Her works can get people closer to nature. |
| D．Her inspiration can help with wildlife protection. |
| A．Their works focus on trees. |
| B．Their works are connected with animals. |
| C．They own horses. |
| D．They are self-taught artists. |
5 . Stephen Wiltshire is a famous artist.His drawings —often drawn from memory and at great speed—are sketched(素描) on the spot at street level.
Stephen,who was born in London in 1974,didn’t say a word as a small child,and found it hard to relate to other people.At the age of five,Stephen was sent to Queensmill School,London,where it soon became apparent that he communicated through the language of drawing.His teachers encouraged him to speak by taking away his art materials for a short time;eventually he said his first words—“paper” and “pencil”—but didn’t learn to speak fully until the age of nine.
Stephen loved drawing and he was seldom to be found without pen and paper.Once he took part in art competitions, news of his great talent began to spread.Early fans included the late Prime Minister Edward Heath who bought his drawing of Salisbury Cathedral，made when Stephen was just eight.
But Stephen came to wider public attention when the BBC featured him in the programme,The Foolish Wise Ones in 1987,when he was introduced by Sir Hugh Casson(a past president of the Royal Academy),as “the best child artist in Britain”．
After that,Stephen’s reputation grew worldwide.A second BBC documentary in 2001 showed Stephen flying over London in a helicopter and later completing a detailed drawing of London within three hours,which included 12 historic landmarks(地标性建筑)and 200 other structures.
In 2006 Stephen was recognised for his services to the art world,when he was made a member of the Order of the British Empire.Today wherever Stephen goes,people are attracted by his outstanding talent.
1. What problem did Stephen have when he was a small child?| A．No schools wanted him. |
| B．No teachers liked him. |
| C．He couldn’t speak. |
| D．He couldn’t spell. |
| A．After his second BBC documentary. |
| B．After the programme The Foolish Wise Ones. |
| C．After he met with the late Prime Minister Edward Heath. |
| D．After Sir Hugh Casson bought his drawing of Salisbury Cathedral. |
| A．It was his greatest work. |
| B．It was drawn in a helicopter. |
| C．It featured historic landmarks. |
| D．It was finished in a short time. |
| A．a novel | B．a biography |
| C．an official report | D．a history paper |
6 . Unusual Things that Famous People Did
Leonardo Da Vinci And His Sleep Schedule
Da Vinci was a painter, an engineer, a writer, a sculptor, an inventor, an architect, a pioneer in exploring human anatomy, an eager animal lover and possibly one of the most famous vegetarians who ever lived. It seems that there’s nothing that this man did not do. Yet there was, it was sleeping. He wasn’t a fan of it and after conducting careful research and building up his knowledge, he started following the multiphase sleep cycle. To put it in other words, Da Vinci’s sleep would consist of several short naps every 24 hours. Being The Renaissance man is not so easy.
Leo Tolstoy And His Shoes
The giant of the Russian literature, Lev Tolstoy not only wrote historically accurate books, but he himself became of historical importance while still being alive. Despite coming from the highest layers of society, Tolstoy eventually started questioning the moral of society that he lived in and started following his own path. He became a vegetarian, started following a vigorous daily routine and denounced the looks of a rich man. He started wearing peasant clothes and shoes, which, despite not being too skilled, were made by himself.
Ludwig Van Beethoven And The 60 Coffee Beans
Ludwig van Beethoven did write the glorious “Symphony No. 9”, which is now the anthem of European Union, while being already deaf, but, of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of his input into musical history. Yet stellar results require astronomic discipline. Each morning Beethoven counted by hand 60 coffee beans from which he would make his perfect cup of coffee. Also, in order to restart his creative muscles after writing too much music, he would pour cold water on his head.
1. When did Leonardo Da Vinci sleep?| A．He stayed up late everyday. |
| B．He followed strict sleep cycle. |
| C．He went to sleep every twenty-fourth hour. |
| D．He had a rest from time to time every twenty-four hours. |
| A．They didn’t eat any meat or fish. |
| B．They were both dressed in their own style. |
| C．They were both the giant of the European literature. |
| D．They were both the experts in historical exploration. |
| A．He would avoid showering. |
| B．He would count 60 coffee beans. |
| C．He would stay astronomic discipline. |
| D．He would pour cold water on his head. |
7 . Throughout history, many of the world’s greatest artists never achieved tremendous fame until after their death. That’s the case of Vivian Maier, who’s now considered to be one of the most important American street photographers of the last century, alongside famous names like Diane Arbus and Henri Cartier-Bresson. But she remained unknown for much of her life, and it was only a chance encounter with a box of negatives that put her in the spotlight.
Details of her life are unclear, but she was born in New York City in the 1920s to European parents. Maier grew up in France before returning to the U. S., where she spent several decades working as a nanny in Chicago to wealthy families. During her days off Maier is thought to have taken more than 100, 000 photographs of people and city scenes in Chicago, yet she kept the photos to herself-many of them never developed.
Skip ahead to 2007, a Chicago historian and collector, John Maloof, came across Maier’s work by accident after purchasing a box of tens of thousands of undeveloped negatives for $380 Sat an auction (拍卖) . As he developed them, Maloof realized they were more than just photos. He was looking at evocative (唤起) art illustrating a Chicago of the mid-20-century that nobody had never seen. Maloof worked to uncover who the photographer was, acquiring more and more of her work. But before he could locate her, Maier had already passed away in 2009, having slipped on ice and never recovering from her head injury.
While Maloof researched Maier’s work, more details emerged. She kept to herself, her employers said, and she would spend her free days taking photos on the streets of Chicago with a Rolleiflex camera. According to Maloof, the children Maier took care of knew she was constantly taking photos, yet she never showed her photos to anyone. Maier also traveled around the world, as indicated by some of her photos.
Other collectors began to acquire Maier’s photos, but Maloof owns much of her work. He released a book, Vivian Maier: Street Photographer, in 2011, and his documentary, Finding Vivian Maier, came out in 2013.
1. Which word can be used to describe Vivian’s life?| A．Risky. | B．Wealthy. | C．Mysterious. | D．Miserable. |
| A．She was born in France. |
| B．She never developed her photos. |
| C．She enjoyed great fame in her life. |
| D．She took photos of Chicago and other cities. |
| A．He approached Maier’s former employers. |
| B．He managed to meet the artist in the flesh. |
| C．He released a collection of Maier’s work. |
| D．He purchased more developed negatives. |
| A．They were presented to her employers. |
| B．They were meant to earn her a fortune. |
| C．They were taken by a professional artist. |
| D．They were of artistic and historical value. |
8 . Matilda Browne (1869-1947) was a successful artist in the early 20th century. Unfortunately, few people know her name or her art today.
Matilda Browne showed promising artistic talent early in her life. Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, she got an introduction to art by watching her neighbor, painter Thomas Moran. Her parents supported their budding young artist.
Browne loved to paint animals, especially cows and other animals.
Matilda Browne quickly became a respected and successful artist. Her list of honours opened doors that would have been otherwise inaccessible for a female artist of her time. As an adult, she moved to Connecticut, where she painted in Old Lyme.
Browne was a successful artist throughout her life. She won numerous awards and exhibited in many important shows. However, very few people know about her today. This is a more common story for female artists than one might think. So, why has Browne faded into being unknown?
| A．She was the only woman accepted into the male artists’ circle there. |
| B．It was her artistic style that hadn’t aroused people’s interest. |
| C．Her impressive skill brought her under everyone’s notice. |
| D．She also painted many flowers in colorful garden landscapes. |
| E．It could result from her double minority — in gender and nationality. |
| F．Her mother took her to Europe for training while she was quite young. |
| G．Either way, her great skill as a painter made these other artists take notice. |
9 . Michael Morgan was six years old when his father moved a neighbor’s unwanted piano into their living room. “And that’s really where the whole thing started,” he says. “My mother and grandmother had played the piano a little bit, but my father just thought it was a good thing to have in the house.” Young Michael started piano lessons, but it was when he saw a conductor (指挥) leading an orchestra on television that he realized what he really wanted to do.
At age eight, he began reading The Joy of Music by conductor and composer (作曲家) Leonard Bernstein and got to know how to direct with a baton (指挥棒) .
When Michael entered junior high, he joined an orchestra and band and learned to play many instruments. He was just 12 years old when his instructor asked him to compose and conduct a concert piece. And that was only the beginning. Throughout high school, he continued to develop his artistic talent, and after graduating, he headed to Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Morgan is dedicated (致力于) to offering kids a chance to explore classical music. In his hometown of Oakland, California, he started to volunteer in local schools, conducting student orchestras and talking with kids about music. Later, Morgan developed MUSE (Music for Excellence), a music education program for kids.
He brings musicians from Oakland Symphony into classrooms to teach kids. He also works with teachers in after-school programs to teach students who can’t afford lessons.
Morgan says his work is mostly about providing young people with an entrance into music. “Instruments are a way for kids to express their feelings, and give them an interest they can carry with them through life,” he says.
1. Why did Michael’s father move a piano into their house?| A．It was a gift from their neighbor. | B．It was his mother and wife’s favorite. |
| C．He just wanted to have one in the house. | D．He wanted to give Michael piano lessons. |
| A．After he developed MUSE. |
| B．After he read The Joy of Music. |
| C．After he was asked to compose a concert piece. |
| D．After he studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. |
| A．Get the chance of entering college. | B．Become world-class musicians. |
| C．Receive music education. | D．Join Oakland Symphony. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By expressing opinions. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By following time order. |
10 . This painting Spring Bouquet has a precise structure. The flowers spill over into the lower left-hand corner, with an imbalance as free and as wild as nature. But at once the artist responds to this unbalance. To the right of the vase, Renoir has developed a heavy shadow area, rich in purples and sharply contrasted with the light below it. The placing of the straight line in the lower right side is necessary. If the reader covers this line, he will see that the composition becomes unbalanced.
The Impressionist technique had not yet developed when Renoir painted this picture. Yet the painting with light and color indicates Impressionism is around the corner; there is something of that school in the feeling of the out-of-doors that Renoir has acquired. The texture (纹理) of the flowers is described. Above all, one can’t help saying the very nice smell of the flowers is there, too.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born in 1841. He began working as a young painter of porcelain and textiles. At age 21, Renoir entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and went on to study under the instructions of painter Charles Gleyre’s. Even though his paintings had been initially rejected by the Academy and the public, with time he became one of the most admired artists of his generation.
Unfortunately, in 1899, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (风湿性关节炎). It is a disease that causes a lot of pain. In addition, the person affected by it may also have deformities (畸形). Consequently, his movements became very limited and each movement was a big and certainly painful effort.
His son, Jean Renoir, writes in the book Renoir, My Father after his father passed away, the reaction of the people to the painting of the father, after seeing his hands:
Visitors who were unprepared for this could not take their eyes off his deformity. Though they did not dare to mention it, their reaction would be expressed by some such phrase as “It isn’t possible!” With hands like that, how can he paint those pictures? There’s some mystery somewhere.
1. What can readers see in the painting?| A．A vase in the left corner. | B．A shadow to the vase’s right. |
| C．A straight line at the bottom. | D．A natural light in the middle. |
| A．The painting material. | B．The color choice. |
| C．The smelly flower taste. | D．The impressive feeling. |
| A．Renoir, My Father. | B．Spring Bouquet. |
| C．Rheumatoid arthritis. | D．Renoir’s bravery. |
| A．Patience Is a Lifetime Practice | B．Pain Passes, but Beauty Remains |
| C．Impressionism Is a Unique Technique | D．Work hard, and You Will Catch Up |
