手机APP下载

您现在的位置: 首页 > 英语四级 > 英语四级阅读 > 历年四级阅读真题 > 正文

2017年6月英语四级阅读真题及答案 第1套 仔细阅读2篇

来源:可可英语 编辑:Jasmine   可可英语APP下载 |  可可官方微信:ikekenet

Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.

In spring, chickens start laying 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 elevate 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 comes to us from Ukraine. For centuries, Ukrainians have been drawing complicated patterns on eggs. Contemporary artists have followed this tradition 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 appeals to me," says New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast. Several years ago, she became interested in eggs 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 of knowing you're walking on the edge with this, that I kind of like, knowing that it could all fall apart at any second" Chast's designs, such as a worried man alone in a tiny rowboat, reflect that delicateness.

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

"There's an ancient legend that as long as these eggs are made, evil will not prevail in the world," says Joan Brander, a Canadian egg-painter who has been painting eggs for over 60 years, having learned the art from her Ukrainian relatives.

The tradition, dating back to 300 B. C., was later incorporated into the Christian church. The old symbols, however, still endure. 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.
51. Why do people in many cultures prize the egg?
A.It is a welcome sign of the coming of spring.
B.It is their major source of protein in winter.
C.It can easily be made into a work of art.
D.It can bring wealth and honor to them.

52. What do we learn about the decorated "eggs" in Russia?
A.They are shaped like jewel cases.
B.They are cherished by the rich.
C.They are heavily painted in red.
D.They are favored as a form of art.

53. Why have contemporary artists continued the egg art tradition?
A.Eggs serve as an enduring symbol of new life.
B.Eggs have an oval shape appealing to artists.
C.Eggs reflect the anxieties of people today.
D.Eggs provide a unique surface to paint on.

54. Why does Chast enjoy the process of decorating eggs?
A.She never knows if the egg will break before the design is completed.
B.She can add multiple details to the design to communicate her idea.
C.She always derives great pleasure from designing something new.
D.She is never sure what the final design will look like until the end.

55. What do we learn from the passage about egg-painting?
A.It originated in the eastern part of Europe.
B.It has a history of over two thousand years.
C.It is the most time-honored form of fancy art.
D.It is especially favored as a church decoration.

重点单词   查看全部解释    
shifting [ʃiftiŋ]

想一想再看

n. 转移 adj. 不断改换的 动词shift的现在分

 
fashionable ['fæʃənəbl]

想一想再看

adj. 流行的,时髦的

联想记忆
contemporary [kən'tempərəri]

想一想再看

n. 同时代的人
adj. 同时代的,同时的,

联想记忆
traditional [trə'diʃənəl]

想一想再看

adj. 传统的

 
reflect [ri'flekt]

想一想再看

v. 反映,反射,归咎

联想记忆
gloomy ['glu:mi]

想一想再看

adj. 阴暗的,抑沉的,忧闷的

 
prospects

想一想再看

n. 预期;前景;潜在顾客;远景展望

 
complicated ['kɔmplikeitid]

想一想再看

adj. 复杂的,难懂的
动词complica

 
cliche ['kli:ʃei]

想一想再看

n. 陈腔滥调

 
legend ['ledʒənd]

想一想再看

n. 传说,传奇

联想记忆

发布评论我来说2句

    最新文章

    可可英语官方微信(微信号:ikekenet)

    每天向大家推送短小精悍的英语学习资料.

    添加方式1.扫描上方可可官方微信二维码。
    添加方式2.搜索微信号ikekenet添加即可。