Question

Mary Cassatt is one of the first great women American painters. At first her father did not want her to become an artist. But she followed her dreams and became an artist.She was born on

May 22, 1844, and lived in Europe for several years as a child.

   Her family returned to the United States and, at age 16, Mary attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Four years later she decided she couldn't learn anything fresh and practical in Philadelphia, so she returned to Europe. There she studied the skills of the masters in Rome, Seville, Antwerp, and Paris.

   Mary received the chance of a lifetime at the age of 33 when the famous French painter, Edgar Degas, asked her to join a group of painters that included now-famous artists like Manet and Renoir. Their style of painting is called Impressionism. They used primary colors and short brush strokes(筆畫) in their work. They recognized Mary 's spirit and powerful talent and invited her to exhibit in the Impressionist art shows.

   Mary painted what she saw: gardens, and paintings of persons , especially of mothers and children involved in everyday living. One of her paintings, "Young Mother and Two Children," was given to the White House in 1954 where it hangs today.

   Mary never married and, in 1877, her parents and sister moved to Europe to join her. Mary devoted much of her time to them for the next 18 years to their care. Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue. She spent the later years of her life in Paris. She died in 1926 at the age of 82. Unfortunately,all her life, she refused to accept students.

Mary left Pennsylvania for Europe at age 20 mainly because_____.

   A. she wanted to learn another style of paintings

   B. she didn’t learn anything in Pennsylvania

   C. her desire for the learning wasn’t satisfied well

   D. her father didin’t want her to learn painting again

Which year was the most critical to her career and life?

   A. 1860   B. 1864   C. 1877    D. 1914

Which of the statements about Mary Cassatt is supported by the passage?

   A. Her father had a decisive effect on her painting

   B. Her painting featured scenes of everyday living

   C. She used various colors and long lines in her works

   D. She studied the paintings of the masters in U.S.A

Mary Cassatt stopping painting because of_____.

   A. her poor eyesight     B. her old age     C.lack of interest   D. her family

It can be inferred from the passage that _____.

   A. during the last ten year of life, she painted nothing.

   B. the paintings of Edgar Degas belong to realism

   C. her works were controversial though highly recognized

   D. her students showed great respect for her

Answer 1

【小題1】C

【小題2】C

【小題3】B

【小題4】A

【小題5】A

解析:

【小題1】由第二段中Four years later she decided she couldn't learn anything fresh and practical in Philadelphia, so her parents let her return to Europe.可知，她在費城已經學不到新的東西，也就是她的學習欲望得不到滿足。故C項為正確答案。

【小題2】細節理解題。由第三段第一句Mary received the chance of a lifetime at the age of 33 when the famous French painter, Edgar Degas, asked her to join a group of painters that included now-famous artists like Manet and Renoir. 可知1877年對她的繪畫事業來說是個關鍵的時間，由此她的繪畫生涯一步步走向成功。

【小題3】由文章第四段Mary painted what she saw: gardens, and paintings of persons , especially of mothers and children involved in everyday living.可知她的畫以日常生活為素材，故B項正確。由第一段At first her father did not want her to become an artist. But she followed her dreams and became an artist.可知A項錯誤; 由第三段They used primary colors and short brush strokes(筆畫) in their work. 可知C項錯誤;由第二段…so her parents let her return to Europe. There she studied the skills of the masters ... 可知D項錯誤：

【小題4】由最后一段中Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue.可知答案為A。

【小題5】由最后一段Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue.…She died in 1926 at the age of 82. 可以推出在她去世前的10年間,她沒有再畫畫。故答案為A項。由第三段可知Edgar Degas 屬于印象派，故B項錯誤； C項文中沒有提及她的作品存在爭議，故C項表述錯誤；由文章最后一句Unfortunately,all her life, she refused to accept students.可知D項錯誤。