Question

    George Nakashima always insisted that he was a simple woodworker, not an artist. Even though major museums exhibited his works and the director of the American Craft Museum called him a national treasure, Mr Nakashima rejected the label of artist. For almost fifty years he simply went on shaping wood into beautiful chairs, tables, and cabinets.

Nakashima had a clear goal. He intended each piece of furniture he made to be as perfect as possible. Even making a box was an act of creation, because it produced an object that had never existed before. Initially Nakashima used local wood, sometimes from his own property. Later, he traveled to seek out English oak, Persian walnut, African zebra wood and Indian teak. He especially liked to find giant roots that had been dug out of the ground after a tree was taken down. Nakashima felt that making this wood into furniture was a way of allowing the tree to live again.

Most furniture makers prefer perfect boards, but Nakashima took pleasure in using wood with interesting knots (节疤)and cracks. These irregularities gave the wood personality and showed that the tree had lived a happy life.

He never failed to create an object that was both useful and beautiful. One early piece Nakashima designed was a three-legged chair for his small daughter, Mira, to use when she sat at the table for meals. The Mira chair became so popular that Nakashima later made both low and high versions. Another famous piece, the Conoid chair, has two legs supported by bladelike feet. Always, Nakashima's designs were precise and graceful, marked by a simplicity that revealed his love for the wood.

As the years passed, Nakashima's reputation grew and his work received many awards. His children Mira and Kevin, now adults, joined the team of crafts - people in their father's studio. Nakashima's dream of integrating work and family had come true.

1.Which of the following best describes Nakashima?

A.Generous and outgoing. B.Honest and simple.

C.Capable and friendly. D.Creative and modest.

2.Why was Nakashima called a national treasure?

A.His art work made trees live again.

B.He used precious wood materials.

C.His chairs were beautifully designed.

D.He was devoted to making furniture.

3.What can we learn about Nakashima from the last two paragraphs?

A.He loved his work and family.

B.He made chairs of the same style.

C.He sought for a simple life and art.

D.He was lost in researching the wood.

4.What can be inferred about Mira and Kevin?

A.They had an art studio of their own.

B.They still lacked the ability to create art works.

C.They had a common interest with their father.

D.They enjoyed the same reputation with their father.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.A

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇人物传记。短文介绍了木工兼艺术家的George Nakashima 以 及 他 设 计 的 作 品 的 相 关 信 息。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段“Mr Nakashima rejected the label of artist.”可知，Nakashima 他 拒 绝 艺 术 家 的 称 号。由 此 判 断 出，他 很 谦 虚 。根 据 第 二 段“Even making a box was an act of creation, because it produced an object that had never existed before. ”可知，甚至制作一个盒子也是一种创造行为，因为它制造了一个以前从未存在过的物体。由此判断出，他很有创造性。故选D项。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段“Nakashima felt that making this wood into furniture was a way of allowing the tree to live again.”可知，Nakashima认为，将这种木材制成家具，是让这棵树重获生机的一种方式。所以为什么Nakashima被称为国宝是因为他的艺术作品使树木树重获生机。故选A项。

3.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“One early piece Nakashima designed was a three-legged chair for his small daughter, Mira, to use when she sat at the table for meals. Always, Nakashima's designs were precise and graceful, marked by a simplicity that revealed his love for the wood. Nakashima早期设计的一件作品是为他的小女儿米拉设计的一张三条腿的椅子，供她坐在桌边用餐时使用。一直以来，Nakashima的设计都是精确而优雅的，以一种简单的方式表现出他对木材的热爱。根据最后一段“Nakashima's dream of integrating work and family had come true. Nakashima将工作和家庭融为一体的梦想实现了。由此判断出，他爱他的工作和家人。故选A项。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段“His children Mira and Kevin, now adults, joined the team of crafts - people in their father's studio.”可知，他的两个孩子米拉和凯文，现在已经长大成人，加入了手工艺团队——他们父亲工作室。由此判断出，米拉和凯文和父亲有共同的兴趣。故选C项。