A
Han Tianheng picked up a carving tool at the age of 6 and never put it down.Today, the 79yearold artist, one of China's most respected living masters of seal carving (印章雕刻)，calligraphy and Chinese painting, still remembers the incident — the first time he held a knife in his hand.
“I cut my thumb badly and was horrified by the bloody sight，”he said, adding that his mother applied ashes because she couldn't afford to take him to a hospital.“The cut left a scar, which is still clear today.”
However, the incident didn't set him back.Instead, it aroused his passion for the ancient art form.He was determined to pursue a path that would lead to a career in seal carving.
The journey of art exploration was a little bumpy (颠簸的) for then the young man in his quest for excellence, and his seal works were harshly criticized by a famous old painter.
Most people would have been crushed by the criticism, not Han.It made him even more determined.After six months' hard work, he visited the painter again.
“That time, he asked me to carve a seal for him.That was positive affirmation，”Han said，“Praise and criticism are what an artist should learn to handle all his life.Praise is candy and criticism is medicine.We can live without candy, but cannot live without medicine when ill.”
Han rose to fame during the early 1960s, famous for bird and insect seal art.Han's seals are an essential ending part on the paintings of a long list of established artists.
“A seal for a good painting is like the buttons for haute couture (高档女子时装)．An experienced tailor always knows how to choose buttons that match the whole style，” Han said.
His seals are full of variety — the grand and solemn style for Liu Haisu's paintings, the light and vivid style for Lu Yanshao's，and the graceful and gentle style for Xie Zhiliu's.
“A good seal carver should keep his own style, and at the same time go well with the painting's style，” he said.
语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了中国印章雕刻大师韩天衡的艺术探索之路。
1．What influence did the incident have on Han when he was six?
A．He got injured very seriously.
B．He learned how to use a knife.
C．It aroused his interest in seal carving.
D．It helped him learn how hard life was.
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据第三段第一、二句可知，这次事故并没有使他退缩，而是唤醒了他对印章雕刻的兴趣。
2．Which best describes Han's journey of art exploration?
A．Smooth and fruitful.
B．Inspiring and lucky.
C．Boring but worthwhile.
D．Tough but rewarding.
解析：选D 推理判断题。根据第四段内容可知，他的艺术探索之路有艰辛，再结合第七段表述的他在二十世纪六十年代初因鸟类和昆虫印章艺术而成名。由此推知，对他的艺术探索之路的评价应是“虽然艰辛但有回报”。
3．In Han's opinion, what do an experienced tailor and a good seal carver share?
A．The huge respect they earn.
B．The flexibility they display at work.
C．The specific customers they serve.
D．The efforts they have to make to succeed.
解析：选B 细节理解题。根据第八段表述的一件好的绘画作品的印章就像是高级女子时装上的纽扣，有经验的裁缝总是知道如何选择纽扣，以搭配整体风格以及尾段中的A good seal carver ...go well with the painting's style可知，有经验的裁缝和优秀的印章雕刻家的共性就是他们在工作上所表现的灵活性。
4．In which section of a newspaper does this text most probably appear?
A．Education. B．Events.
C．Entertainment. D．People.
解析：选D 文章出处题。本文主要讲述了中国印章雕刻大师韩天衡的艺术探索之路，由此推知，本文可能摘自报纸的“人物”版块。
