Question

    In spring, chickens start laying eggs again, bringing a welcome source of protein at winter’s end. So it’s no surprise that cultures around the world celebrate spring by honoring the egg.

Some traditions are simple, like the red eggs that get baked into Greek Easter breads. Others upgrade the egg into a fancy art, like the heavily jewel-covered “eggs” that were favored by the Russians starting in the 19th century.

One  ancient  form  of  egg  art  is  egg  painting,  which  comes  to  us  from  Ukraine.  For  centuries, Ukrainians have been drawing complicated patterns on eggs. Contemporary artists have followed this tradition and adapted the traditional methods to create eggs that speak to the anxieties of our age: Life is precious, and delicate. Eggs are, too.

“There’s something about their delicate nature that crazily appeals to me,” says New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast. Several years ago, she became interested in egg painting and learned the traditional Ukrainian technique to draw her very modern characters. “I’ve broken eggs at every stage of the process — from the very beginning to the very, very end.”

But there’s an appeal in that  vulnerability. “There’s part of this sickening horror that I kind of like, the horror of knowing you’re walking on the edge with this, knowing that it could all fall apart at any second.” Chast’s designs, such as a worried man alone in a tiny boat, reflect that delicateness.

Traditional Ukrainian decorated eggs also spoke to those fears. The complex and detailed patterns were believed to offer protection against evil.

Egg painting art, dating back to 300 B.C., was later absorbed into the Christian church. The old symbols, however, still survive. A decorated egg with a bird on it, given to a young married couple, is a wish for children. A decorated egg thrown into the field would be a wish for a good harvest.

1.What do we learn about the decorated “eggs” in Russia?

A. They are shaped like jewel cases. B. They are heavily painted in red.

C. They are favored as a form of art. D. They are valued by the rich.

2.Why have contemporary artists continued the tradition of egg painting?

A. Because eggs serve as a symbol of the coming of spring.

B. Because eggs provide a source of protein in winter’s end.

C. Because eggs provide a unique surface to paint on.

D. Because eggs reflect the anxieties of people today.

3.Which of the following best explains “vulnerability” underlined in paragraph 5?

A. Delicateness. B. Technique. C. Fear. D. Anxiety.

4.What is the main idea of the text?

A. Egg painting art preserves traditional and popular symbols.

B. Different cultures have different ways of honoring the egg.

C. Ukrainian egg painting art appeals to contemporary artists.

D. Egg painting art continues and develops in pace with time.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。介绍了俄罗斯一种奇特的艺术形式：蛋画艺术。说明了这项艺术的历史由来，以及背后蕴含的意义。蛋画艺术是随着时代的发展而不断发展的。

1.细节理解题。第二段最后一句Others upgrade the egg into a fancy art, like the heavily jewel-covered “eggs” that were favored by the Russians starting in the 19th century.可知俄罗斯人将装饰鸡蛋作为一种奇特的艺术形式，故选C。

2.细节理解题。第三段倒数第二句Contemporary artists have followed this tradition and adapted the traditional methods to create eggs that speak to the anxieties of our age: Life is precious, and delicate.可知当代艺术家遵循这一传统，采用传统的方法创作蛋画，表达了我们这个时代的焦虑:生命是珍贵的，是微妙的。故选D。

3.词义猜测题。根据后文There’s part of this sickening horror that I kind of like, the horror of knowing you’re walking on the edge with this, knowing that it could all fall apart at any second.可知我有点喜欢这种恐惧，那种知道你带着它走在危险边缘，知道它随时可能破碎的恐惧。即鸡蛋非常脆弱易碎，故划线部分单词意思为“脆弱易碎”，故选A。

4.主旨大意题。根据最后一段第一句Egg painting art, dating back to 300 B.C., was later absorbed into the Christian church. The old symbols, however, still survive.可知蛋画艺术，可追溯到公元前300年，后来被吸收进基督教会。然而，这项古老的象征仍然存在。结合文章内容可知蛋画艺术是随着时代的发展而不断发展的。故选D。