Question

    The first graffiti was probably drawings on walls appearing in caves thousands of years ago. Later the Ancient Romans and Greeks wrote their names and poems on buildings. Modern graffiti seems to have appeared in Philadelphia in the early 1960s, and by the late sixties it had reached New York. The new art form rally took off in the 1970s, when people began writing their names, or "tags", on buildings all over the city. In the mid-seventies it was sometimes hard to see out of a subway car window, because the trains were completely covered in spray paintings known as "masterpieces".

The term "graffiti" was first used by The New York Times and the novelist Norman Mailer. Art galleries in New York began buying graffiti in the early seventies. But at the same time that it began to be regarded as an art form, John Lindsay, the then mayor of New York, declared the first war on graffiti. By the 1980s it became much harder to write on subway trains without being caught, and instead many of the more established graffiti artists began using roofs of buildings or canvases (油画布).

The debate over whether graffiti is art or vandalism (破坏公物) is still going on. Peter Vallone, on the New York City Committee, thinks that graffiti done with permission can be art, but if it is on someone else's property it becomes a crime. On the other hand, Felix, a member of the Berlin based group Reclaim Your City, says that artists are trying to get it back from advertisers, and that graffiti represents freedom and makes cities more lively.

The Frenchman Blek le Rat and the British artist Banksy have become world-famous by producing graffiti works. Works by Banksy have been sold for over f 10000. Graffiti is now sometimes big business.

1.What might have happened to the subway car window?

A.It was dirty with paint.

B.It was covered by graffiti.

C.It was broken by some children.

D.It was marked with people's names,

2.What do we know about graffiti?

A.Modern graffiti probably started in New York.

B.Art galleries in New York first used the term "graffiti".

C.The mayor of New York considered graffiti as an art form.

D.Graffiti artists were not allowed to paint on subway trains in the 1980s.

3.What is Felix's attitude towards graffiti?

A.Approving. B.Critical. C.Neutral. D.Indifferent.

4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A.Graffiti is developing very fast.

B.All graffiti artists can make a big fortune.

C.Graffiti has earned international fame for some artists.

D.Some graffiti artists produce works to earn much money.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了graffiti（涂鸦）的艺术形式以及它的发展历史。

1.

细节理解题。根据第一段关键句“In the mid-seventies it was sometimes hard to see out of a subway car window, because the trains were completely covered in spray paintings known as "masterpieces".”可知，70年代中期，从地铁的车窗向外看有时很难看到东西，因为车身完全被喷画覆盖着，这里提到的喷画指的是上文提到的graffiti（涂鸦）。由此可推断出地铁的车窗上满是涂鸦。故选B项。

2.

细节理解题。根据第二段关键句“But at the same time that it began to be regarded as an art form, John Lindsay, the then mayor of New York, declared the first war on graffiti.”可知，纽约市长向涂鸦宣战。再根据第二段关键句“By the 1980s it became much harder to write on subway trains without being caught”可知，到了20世纪80年代，在地铁上涂鸦不被抓到变得困难那多了。由此可推断出，在20世纪80年代，涂鸦艺术家不允许在地铁列车上作画，如果在地铁上涂鸦了，就会被抓起来。故选D项。

3.

推理判断题。根据倒数第二段关键句“On the other hand, Felix, a member of the Berlin based group Reclaim Your City, says that artists are trying to get it back from advertisers, and that graffiti represents freedom and makes cities more lively.”可知，Felix认为涂鸦代表着自由，它让城市更加生机勃勃。根据Felix的话可推断出，他对涂鸦这种艺术形式是赞成的。Approving意为“赞成的”，故选A项。

4.

细节理解题。根据最后一段关键句“The Frenchman Blek le Rat and the British artist Banksy have become world-famous by producing graffiti works.”可知，法国人Blek le Rat和英国艺术家Banksy因创造涂鸦作品而闻名世界。由此可推断出，涂鸦为一些艺术家赢得了国际声誉。故选C项。