Question

Leonardo da Vinci and Nature

In the modern world, art and science are two very separate activities, but in Leonardo’s time they were closely connected. Science meant mathematics and medical studies. 1. Mathematics included practical work like surveying land for making maps as well as measuring the movements of the stars in the sky. An artist might need to measure the different parts of the body. He could also use mathematics to place things in relationship to each other in a drawing or painting so the scene looked correct. 2.

Mathematics was also connected to music because musical sounds have a fixed relationship with each other that can be described in numbers. 3. More than this, though, Leonardo believed that numbers were a part of all things in the world, including music, and he said that “without them nothing can be done.”

“Nature has kindly given us things everywhere to copy,” wrote Leonardo. In all his activities, Leonardo was trying to discover the rules that control nature. In his search for those rules, he looked very carefully at a lot of examples and details. Actual experience was more important to him than opinion, and he worked from facts to ideas. 4. His purpose was to examine the world so he could copy it in beautiful paintings and sculptures. He also wanted to learn from the clever solutions of nature.

5. His quick little sketches (素描), often done while wandering outside, helped him to catch a movement or a shape. More careful drawings would be done at a desk with a pen and ruler. In July 2001, a small drawing by Leonardo was sold for $12 million. It was the most  expensive drawing in the world.

A.Leonardo was always drawing.

B.How could these be connected with art?

C.Leonardo’s ideas were vastly ahead of his time.

D.Mathematicians and doctors worked to discover the unknown.

E.Above all, Leonardo wanted to understand how and why things worked.

F.You will see a good example of such positioning in the painting of The Last Supper.

G.Leonardo himself was a very good musician and liked to play an instrument and sing.

Answer

1.B

2.F

3.G

4.C

5.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了在现代世界，艺术和科学是两个非常独立的活动，但在达芬奇的时代，它们是紧密联系在一起的。文章主要介绍了Leonardo da Vinci对音乐和思想的方面的见解。

1.根据上文In the modern world, art and science are two very separate activities, but in Leonardo’s time they were closely connected. Science meant mathematics and medical studies.可知，在现代世界，艺术和科学是两个非常独立的活动，但在达芬奇的时代，它们是紧密联系在一起的。科学意味着数学和医学研究。由此可知，此处应是提出疑问——科学与艺术有什么联系。故B选项“这些与艺术有什么联系呢？”符合上下文语境。故选B。

2.根据上文He could also use mathematics to place things in relationship to each other in a drawing or painting so the scene looked correct.可知，他还可以用数学来把事物之间的关系画在一幅画或油画中，使场景看起来是正确的。由此可知，本句应当承接上文说明他的哪一副作品体现了这种用数学来联系事物之间的关系。故F选项“你会在《最后的晚餐》这幅画中看到这种定位的一个很好的例子”符合上下文语境。故选F。

3.根据后文More than this, though, Leonardo believed that numbers were a part of all things in the world, including music, and he said that “without them nothing can be done.”可知，不仅如此，Leonardo相信数字是世界上一切事物的一部分，包括音乐。他说：“没有数字，什么也做不成。”由此可知，Leonardo喜欢音乐，他相信数字是世界上一切事物的一部分，包括音乐。故G选项“Leonardo本人是一个非常好的音乐家，喜欢演奏乐器和唱歌”符合上下文语境。故选G。

4.根据上文Actual experience was more important to him than opinion, and he worked from facts to ideas.可知，对他来说，实际经验比意见更重要，他从现实到思想进行工作。由此可知，本句承接上文继续说明Leonardo的思想。上文中ideas可知对应到C选项中Leonardo’s ideas。故C选项“Leonardo的思想远远超前于他的时代”符合上下文语境。故选C。

5.根据后文His quick little sketches, often done while wandering outside, helped him to catch a movement or a shape.可知，他经常在外面闲逛的时候画一些速写，帮助他捕捉一个动作或一个形状。由此可知，本段是在说明Leonardo日常喜欢绘画的情况。故A选项“Leonardo总是在画画”符合上下文语境。故选A。