A
(2017·浙江)Benjamin West，the father of American painting，showed his talent for art when he was only six years of age.But he did not know about brushes before a visitor told him he needed one.In those days，a brush was made from camel's hair.There were no camels nearby.Benjamin decided that cat hair would work instead.He cut some fur from the family cat to make a brush.
The brush did not last long.Soon Benjamin needed more fur.Before long，the catbegan to look ragged (蓬乱)．His father said that the cat must be sick.Benjamin was forced to admit what he had been doing.
The_cat's_lot_was_about_to_improve. That year，one of Benjamin's cousins，Mr.Pennington，came to visit.He was impressed with Benjamin's drawings.When he went home，he sent Benjamin a box of paint and some brushes.He also sent six engravings (版画)by an artist.These were the first pictures and first real paint and brushes Benjamin had ever seen.In 1747，when Benjamin was nine years old，Mr.Pennington returned for another visit.He was amazed at what Benjamin had done with his gift.He asked Benjamin's parents if he might take the boy to Philadelphia for a visit.
In the city，Mr.Pennington gave Benjamin materials for creating oil paintings.The boy began a landscape (风景) painting.Wiliams，a well－known painter，came to see him work.Wiliams was impressed with Benjamin and gave him two classic books on painting to take home.The books were long and dull.Benjamin could read only a little，having been a poor student.But he later said，“Those two books were my companions by day，and under my pillow at night.”While it is likely that he understood very little of the books，they were his introduction to classical paintings.The nine－year－old boy decided then that he would be an artist.
1．What is the text mainly about?
A．Benjamin's visit to Philadelphia.
B．Williams’ influence on Benjamin.
C．The beginning of Benjamin's life as an artist.
D．The friendship between Benjamin and Pennington.
【答案】 C 考查文章整体把握，文章主要介绍了美国绘画之父Benjamin在成为一名画家之前的生活经历，并介绍了Pennington对Benjamin在绘画道路上的一些帮助，故选C。
2．What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 3 suggest?
A．The cat would be closely watched.
B．The cat would get some medical care.
C．Benjamin would leave his home shortly.
D．Benjamin would have real brushes soon.
【答案】 D 考查文章细节推断，根据第三段“There were the first pictures and first real paint and brushes Benjamin had ever seen”可知Benjamin在剪完猫的毛做刷子后，就很快有了真正的刷子，故选D。
3．What did Pennington do to help Benjamin develop his talent?
A．He took him to see painting exhibitions.
B．He provided him with painting materials.
C．He sent him to a school in Philadelphia.
D．He taught him how to make engravings.
【答案】 B 考查文章细节理解，根据最后一段“Mr.Pennington gave Benjamin materials for creating oil paintings”，可知Pennington为了帮助Benjamin培养绘画天赋，给他提供了一些绘画材料，故选B。
4．Williams' two books helped Benjamin to ________.
A．master the use of paints
B．appreciate landscape paintings
C．get to know other painters
D．make up his mind to be a painter
【答案】 D 考查文章细节理解，根据最后一段“While it is likely that he understood very little of the books，they were his introduction to classical paintings.The nine－year－old boy decided then that he would be an artist，可知：这两本书帮助Benjamin坚定了自己成为一名画家的决心，故选D。
