Question

Vincent Van Gogh was the son of a pastor (牧师) in Holland. Around his early twenties he decided to become an artist. He felt that color was his main influence and he used it to express himself. The way he painted was very unusual during the late 1800s because he paid much attention to colorful abstract art. Van Gogh had many paintings that have changed the way we look at art. His paintings weren’t popular during his lifetime because of an illness that was possibly a mental disorder. However, they are now considered to be the most popular forms of art in the world today. In what ways can we appreciate his paintings?

Learn about the artistic style of expressionism. In Van Gogh’s artwork, the style that he used was expressionism, which was the only one of this kind compared to other paintings.

    Look for key symbols that would help you understand his artwork better such as the background of the objects.

Try to understand the artist’s aims. You can do this by watching the use of colors, perspectives, and the subject. Knowing the artist’s aims, you will be able to understand why he created the work.

Take what you have learned from the artwork and put it in your feelings to see how it affects you and is related to you. This will allow you to make a connection with the artist.

1.The article is mainly about _____.

A. how we should appreciate Van Gogh’s paintings

B. how Van Gogh expressed himself in paintings

C. why Van Gogh wanted to become an artist

D. why Van Gogh wasn’t famous in his lifetime

2.Van Gogh wanted to become an artist because _____.

A. his father was a famous artist    B. he liked to express himself with color

C. he had a serious mental illness    D. he grew up in a religious culture

3.According to the passage, which of the following about Van Gogh is NOT true?

A. Expressionism was usually used to describe his work.

B. He was likely to have suffered from a mental disorder.

C. When he was alive, his artwork wasn’t popular.

D. Like many others, he focused on colorful abstract art.

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Van Gogh’s paintings were difficult to understand.

B. Van Gogh’s illness helped him paint.

C. Only after death can painters become famous.

D. We can’t understand Van Gogh’s feelings from his artwork.

Answer

1. A

2. B

3. D

4. A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，现在梵高的作品非常受人欢迎，我们究竟应该从哪些方面去欣赏他的作品？文章介绍了我们可以从四个方面欣赏梵高的作品。

1.主旨大意题。文章第一段告诉我们现在梵高的作品非常受人欢迎，我们究竟应该从哪些方面去欣赏他的作品？第一段最后一句“In what ways can we appreciate his paintings?”是承上启下的句，在文章2-5段介绍了我们可以从四个方面欣赏梵高的作品。所以本文主要是涉及了我们应该如何欣赏梵高作品。故A项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据第一段2、3句“Around his early twenties he decided to become an artist. He felt that color was his main influence and he used it to express himself.”可知梵高决心要成为艺术家，感觉到颜色是他能影响别人的方面，于是他在作品里用颜色表示自己。故B项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第一段第4句“The way he painted was very unusual during the late 1800s because he paid much attention to colorful abstract art.”梵高的绘画是抽象艺术，与众不同。没有别的画家和他类似，故D项说法是错误的，符合题意。故D项正确。

4.推理判断题。根据文章第一段“His paintings weren’t popular during his lifetime because of an illness that was possibly a mental disorder.”可知梵高活着的时候他的作品不受欢迎，因为他的作品属于抽象艺术，普通人难以理解。故A项正确。