(2017·浙江高考·A)
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 cat began 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 back 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. William Williams, a well-known painter, came to see him work. Williams 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.
【文章大意】本文是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了美国绘画之父本杰明小时候就展现出了绘画的天赋, 并在堂兄及Williams的帮助下下定决心成为一名画家的故事。
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.
【解析】选C。主旨大意题。通读全文可知, 本文主要讲述的是美国绘画之父本杰明小时候如何最终下定决心要成为一名画家的。故C项可作为文章的主旨。
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.
【解析】选D。句意猜测题。根据第三段中的he sent Benjamin a box of paint and some brushes可知, 本杰明拥有了真正的画笔, 不再需要猫毛制作画笔了。这句的本义是“这只猫的命运即将改善”。
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.
【解析】选B。推理判断题。根据第三段中的he sent Benjamin a box of paint and some brushes可知, 为了开发本杰明的绘画才能, Pennington送给了他一些颜料和画笔, 也就是向他提供了绘画材料。
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
【解析】选D。 细节理解题。根据最后一段中的they were his introduction to classical paintings. The nine-year-old boy decided then that he would be an artist. 可知, 这两本书最终使得本杰明决定成为一名画家。
