Grandma Moses is among the most famous twentieth-century painters of the United States, yet she did not start painting until she was in her late seventies. As she once said to herself: " I would never sit back in a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me." No one could have had a more productive old age.
She was born Anna Mary Robertson on a farm in New York State, one of five boys and five girls. At twelve she left home and was in domestic service until, at twenty—seven, she married Thomas Moses, the hired hand of one of her employers. They farmed most of their lives, first in Virginia and then in New York State, at Eagle Bridge. She had ten children, of whom five survived; her husband died in 1927.
Grandma Moses painted a little as a child and made embroidery (刺绣) pictures as a hobby, but only changed to oils in old age because her hands had become too stiff to sew and she wanted to keep busy and pass the time. Her pictures were first sold at the local drugstore and at a market and were soon noticed by a businessman who bought everything she painted. Three of the pictures exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art, and in 1940 she had her first exhibition in New York. Between the 1930's and her death, she produced some 2,000 pictures: detailed and lively portrayals of the country life she had known for so long, with a wonderful sense of color and form. "I think really hard till I think of something really pretty, and then I paint it" she said.
1.According to the passage, Grandma Moses began to paint because she wanted to_______.
A. make herself beautiful
B. keep active
C. earn more money
D. become famous
2.Grandma Moses spent most of her life ________.
A. nursing B. painting C. embroidering D. farming
3.The underlined word “portrayals ” means ________.
A. descriptions B. expressions C.explanations D.impressions
4.From Grandma Moses' description of herself in the first paragraph, it can be inferred that she
was ________.
A. independent B. pretty C. rich D. nervous
5.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Grandma Moses: Her Life and Pictures.
B. The Children of Grandma Moses.
C. Grandma Moses: Her Best Exhibition.
D.Grandma Moses and Other Older Artists.
As a teenager, I felt I was always letting people down. I rebellious(叛逆)on the outside, __1__ on the inside I wanted people to __2__.
Once I left home to hitchhike(搭便车)to California with my friend Penelope. The trip wasn’t __3__, and there were many times I didn’t feel safe. One situation in particular __4__ me grateful to still be alive. When I returned home, I was different-----not so outwardly sure of myself.
I was happy to be home. But then I noticed that Penelope, who was __5___ with us, was wearing my clothes. And my __6__ seemed to like her better than me. I wondered if I would be __7__ if I weren’t there. I told my mom, and she explained that __8__ Penelope was a lovely girl, no one could __9__ me. I pointed out, “She is more patient and is neater than I have ever been.” My mom said these were wonderful __10__, but I was the only person who could fill my __11__. She made me realize that even with my __12__, ------ and they were many-----I was a loved member of the family who couldn’t be replaced.
I became a searcher, __13__ who I was and what made me unique. My __14__ of myself was changing. I wanted a solid base to start from. I started to resist pressure to __15__ in ways that I didn’t like any more, and I __16__ who I really was. I came to feel much more __17__ that no one can ever take my place.
Each of us __18__ a unique place in the world. You are special, no matter what others say or what you may think. So __19__ about being replaced. You __20__ be.
1.A. as B. and C. but D. for
2.A. leave B. replace C. receive D. like
3.A. easy B. hard C. fun D. long
4.A. made B. kept C. left D. forced
5.A. playing B. staying C. eating D. travelling
6.A. family B. friends C. relatives D. neighbors
7.A. loved B. mentioned C. cared D. missed
8.A. since B. as C. while D. unless
9.A. scold B. replace C. compare D. match
10.A. qualities B. girls C. people D. times
11.A. character B. role C. task D. form
12.A. faults B. advantages C. manners D. pities
13.A. looking B. looking back C. giving up D. seeking out
14.A. picture B. view C. sense D. idea
15.A. think B. learn C. change D. act
16.A. hated B. wished C. celebrated D. expected
17.A. sure B. doubtful C. happy D. lonely
18.A. takes B. catches C. seizes D. holds
19.A. talk B. forget C. care D. argue
20.A. mustn’t B. shouldn’t C. can’t D. needn’t
--- What’s the matter with Jason? He looks a bit upset.
--- Didn’t you know? When returning from his holiday last night, he found his house _____.
A. broken in B. broken into
C. broken out D. broken down
To learn more about the book, Saving Ourselves, ________ to www.saving ourselves.com.
A. going B. to go C. gone D. go
She’s in a hopeless situation, ________ we will keep a very close eye on.
A. where B. when C. which D. that
People who exercise _________ are less likely to feel stress.
A. regularly B. formally C. mostly D. publicly
