A
Between about 1910 and 1930, new artistic movements in European art were making themselves felt in the United States. American artists become acquainted with the new art on their trips to Paris and at the exhibitions in the famous New York gallery “291” of the photographer Alfred Stieglitz. But most important in the spread of the modern movements in the United States was the sensational Armory Show of 1912-1913 in New York, in which the works of a number of progressive American painters were shown.
Several of the American modernists who were influenced by the Armory Show found the urban landscapes, especially New York, an appealing subject. Compared with the works of the realist painters, the works of American modernists were much removed from the actual appearance of the city; they were more interested in the “feel ” of the “Ash Can School” and the later realists were still tied to nineteenth-century or earlier styles, while the early modernists shared in the international breakthroughs of the art of the twentieth century.
The greatest of these breakthroughs was Cubism, developed most fully in France between 1907 and 1914, which brought about a major revolution in Western painting. It overturned the rational tradition that had been built upon since the Renaissance. In Cubism, natural forms were broken down analytically into geometric shapes. No longer was a clear differentiation made between the figure and the background of a painting: objects represented and the surface on which they were painted became one. The Cubism abandoned the conventional single vantage point of the viewer, and objects depicted from multiple viewpoints were shown at the same time.
【语篇概述】本文主要介绍了美国现代艺术界的情况。
1. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. The development of Cubism.
B. Modern art movements in the US.
C. Contemporary artists in the US.
D. The influence of photography.
【解析】选B。主旨大意题。 综合分析整篇文章, 本文主要是介绍了美国现代艺术界的情况。结合各个选项的内容, 可知应选B。
2. American artists learned about new artistic movements through the following means EXCEPT ______.
A. lessons from successful artists
B. the Armory Show of 1913
C. trips to Europe
D. the exhibitions at the gallery “291”
【解析】选A。细节理解题。根据第一段中的 “American artists become acquainted with the new art on their trips to Paris and at the exhibitions in the famous New York gallery “291” of the photographer Alfred Stieglitz. But most important in the spread of the modern movements in the United States was the sensational Armory Show of 1912-1913 in New York”, 可知B、C、D三个选项的内容都在这两个句子中有所讲述, 故应选A。
3. Why does the author mention Alfred Stieglitz?
A. To show photography was the major influence in modern art.
B. To compare him to the other artists of his time.
C. To point out many artists learned from him.
D. To give an example of someone who influenced modern art.
【解析】选D。推理判断题。根据Alfred Stieglitz所出现的语境(第一段第二句), 可知作者利用 “Alfred Stieglitz” 作为一个例子来介绍现代艺术的一种形式, 故应选D。
4. According to the author, which of the following was a favorite subject for American modernists?
A. Portraits of famous people.
B. Country scenes.
C. Pictures of buildings’ interiors.
D. City landscapes.
【解析】选B。细节理解题。根据文章第二段中的 “Several of the American modernists who were influenced by the Armory Show found the urban landscapes, especially New York, an appealing subject. Compared with the works of the realist painters, the works of American modernists were much removed from the actual appearance of the city”, 可知美国现代派的艺术家钟爱的是乡村的景色。故答案为B。
