考研阅读理解100篇(附答案)

UNIT1TEXTONETescoispreparingalegalbattletoclearitsnameofinvolvementinthedairyprice-fixingscandalthathascostconsumers£270million.Failuretoprovethatithadnopartincollusionwithothersupermarketsanddairyprocessorsmaylanditwithafineofatleast£80million.TheOfficeofFairTrading(OFT)saidyesterdaythatAsda,Sainsbury’sandtheformerSafeway,plusthedairycompaniesWiseman,DairyCrestandCheeseCompany,hadadmittedbeinginacarteltofixpricesformilk,butterandcheese.Theywerefinedatotalofjustover£116millionaspartofaleniencydealofferedbythewatchdogtocompaniesthatownedupquicklytoanti-competitivebehaviour.OfficialsattheOFTadmittedprivatelythattheydidnotthinktheywouldeverdiscoverwhichcompanyorindividualhadinitiatedthepricingformula.Butthewatchdogrecognisesthatatthetimesupermarketswereunderpressurefrompoliticiansandfarmerstoraisethecostofmilktosavedairyfarming,thoughitisnotcertainthatmoneyfounditswaytofarmers.TheOFTclaimedinSeptemberthatithadfoundevidencethattheretailchainshadpassedfuturemilkpricestodairycompanies,whichthenreachedafixedpriceamongthemselves.Theaveragecosttoeachhouseholdisthoughttobe£11.25over2002and2003.Priceswentupanextra3ponapintofmilk,15ponaquarterofapoundofbutterand15ponahalfpoundofcheese.Thereisnodirectrecompenseforconsumers,however,andthemoneywillgototheTreasury.TheNationalConsumerCouncilgavewarningthattheadmissionswoulddentconsumerconfidenceinleadinghighstreetnamesandthatpeoplewouldbecomescepticaloftheirclaims.FarmersForAction,thegroupoffarmersthathasledprotestsoverlowmilkpricessince2000,isseekinglegaladviceonwhetheritcannowbringaclaimforcompensation.TheOFTinvestigationiscontinuing,however,inrelationtoTesco,MorrisonsandthedairygroupLactalisMcLelland,andanylegalactionisexpectedtobedelayeduntilthatiscompleted.Tescowasdefiantandsaidthatitwaspreparingarobustdefenceofitsactions.LucyNeville-Rolfe,itsexecutivedirector,said:“Aswehavealwayssaid,weactedindependentlyandwedidnotcolludewithanyone.Ourpositionisdifferentfromourcompetitorsandwearedefendingourowncasevigorously.Ourphilosophyistogiveagooddealtocustomers.”MorrisonshassupportedtheOFTininquiriesintotheformerSafewaybusinessthatittookover,butinastatementsaidthatitwasstillmaking“strongrepresentations”initsdefence.AspokeswomanforLactalisMcLellandsaidthatthecompanywas“co-operating”withtheOFT.IndustryinsiderssuggestedthatthethreecompaniesweredeliberatelystallingtheOFTinvestigation.Sainsbury’sadmittedyesterdaythatithadagreedtopay£26millioninfines,butdeniedthatithadsoughttoprofiteer.JustinKing,thechiefexecutive,saidhewasdisappointedthatthecompanyhadbeenpenalisedforactionsmeanttohelpfarmersbutrecognisedthebenefitofaspeedysettlement.Asdadeclinedtosayhowmuchitwouldpayinfinesandalsosaidthatitsintentionhadbeentohelpfarmersunderseverefinancialpressure.1.Fromthefirstparagraph,wemayinferthat_____[A]Tescoisthemostresoluteamongalltheretailerstodefenditsreputation.[B]itisalreadyprovedthatTescohascolludedwithAsda,Wiseman,DairyCrestandCheeseCompanyinfixingthedairyprice.[C]Tescoisofferedaleniencydealof£80millionbecauseofitsquickresponsetotheanti-competitivebehaviors[D]Tescoistryingitsbesttoproveitsinnocenceofthescandal.2.Whoismostprobablytheinitiatorofthepricingformula?[A]Retailchains.[B]Farmers.[C]Dairycompanies.[D]Politicians3.Theword“defiant”(Line1,Paragraph5)mostprobablymeans_____.[A]resisiting[B]angry[C]deficient[D]confident4.WemayinferfromMorrisons’statementthat_____[A]MorrisonsturnouttobethemostdefentivewhendealingwithOFT.[B]MorrisonsisreluctanttosupporttheinquiriesintotheformerSafewaybusiness.[C]industryinsiderssuggestthatMorrisonswastryingtodelaytheOFTinvestigationwithnon-cooperation.[D]Morrisonsindeedrefusestoadmititsinvolvementinthescandal.5.Thewriter’sattitudetoTescocanbesaidtobe_____[A]biased.[B]objective.[C]sympathetic.[D]optimisticTEXTTWOHeemerged,allofasudden,in1957:themostexplosivenewpoetictalentoftheEnglishpost-warera.Poetryspecialised,atthatmoment,inthewrychroniclingoftheeveryday.ThepoetryofYorkshire-bornTedHughes,firstpublishedinabookcalled“TheHawkintheRain”whenhewas27,wasunlikeanythingwrittenbyhisimmediatepredecessors.DrivenbyanalmostJacobeanrhetoric,ithadavisionaryfervour.Itsmosteye-catchingcharacteristicwasHughes'sabilitytogetbeneaththeskinsofanimals:foxes,otters,pigs.Theseanimalsweretherealthingallright,buttheywerealsoarmorialdevices—symbolsofthecountrysideandlifebloodoftheearthinwhichtheywererooted.Itgavehisworkaraw,primalstink.ItwasnotonlyEnglandthatthoughtsoeither.Hughes'sbookwasalsopublishedinAmerica,whereitwontheGalbraithprize,amajorliteraryaward.Butthen,in1963,SylviaPlath,ayoungAmericanpoetwhomhehadfirstmetatCambridgeUniversityin1956,andwhobecamehiswifeinthesummerofthatyear,committedsuicide.Hugheswasvilifiedforlongafterthat,especiallybyfeministsinAmerica.In1998,theyearhedied,Hughesbrokehisownself-imposedpublicsilenceabouttheirrelationshipinabookofloose-weavepoemscalled“BirthdayLetters”.Inthisnewandexhilaratingcollectionofrealletters,Hughesreturnstotheissueofhisfirstwife'sdeath,whichhecallshis“bigandunmanageableevent”.Hefelthistalentmuffledbytheperpetualeavesdroppinguponhiseverymove.Notuntilhedecidedtopublishhisownaccountoftheirrelationshipdidtheburdenbegintolighten.Theanalysisisraw,painedandruthlesslyself-aware.Forallthemoraltorment,thewritingitselfhasthesamerushandvigourthatpossessedHughes'searlypoetry.Somebooksoflettersserveasapersonalisedhistoricalchronicle.Poets'lettersareseldomlikethat,andHughes'sarenoexception.Hisareaboutalifeofliteraryengagement:almostallofthemincludesomemusingonthestateorthenatureofwriting,bothHughes'sownorotherpeople's.ThetrajectoryofHughes'sliterarycareerhadhimmovingfromobscuritytofame,andthen,intheeyesofmany,tolife-longnotoriety.Theselettersarefilledwithhiswrestlingwiththeconsequencesofbeingthepart-private,part-publiccreaturethathebecame,desperatetodevotehimselftohiswriting,andyetsubjecttoendlessinvasionsofhisprivacy.Hughesisanabsorbingandintricatecommentatoruponhisownpoetry,evenwhenheisstandingbackfromitandgood-humouredlycondemninghimselffor“itsfantasticalia,itspretticismsanditsinfiniteverballifications”.Healsobelieved,fromfirsttolast,thatpoetryhadaspecialplaceintheeducationofchildren.“Whatkidsneed”,hewroteina1988lettertothesecretaryofstateforeducationintheConservativegovernment,“isaheadfull[sic]ofsongsthatarenotsongsbutblocksofrefinedandachievedandexemplarylanguage.”Whenthathappens,childrenhave“theguardianangelinstalledbehindthetongue”.Luckyreaders,bigorsmall.1．ThepoetryofHughes’sforerunnersischaracteristicof______[A]itsnatural,crudeflavor.[B]itsdistorteddepictionofpeople’sdailylife.[C]itspenetratingsight.[D]itsfantasticalenthusiasm.2.Theword“vilified”(Line4,Paragraph2)mostprobablymeans_____[A]tortured[B]harassed[C]scolded[D]tormented3．Accordingtothethirdparagraph,Hughes’scollectionoflettersare_____[A]theexactreasonresponsibleforbothhisfameandnotoriety.[B]personalizeddescriptionofhisdoubleidentityasapublicandaprivatefigure.[C]reflectionsofhisstrugglebetweenhisliterarydevotionandthereality.[D]hismeditationandexplorationontheliteraryworldandtheessenceofliterature.4.Fromtheletters,wemayfindthecauseofHughes’sinternalstruggleis_____[A]hiseagerandunsatisfiedpassionforliterature.[B]thatheisapart-private,part-publiccreature.[C]thatheisconstrainedbythefearofhisprivacybeingexposedtothecriticismofthepublic.[D]themoraltormentexertedbyhimself.5.By“luckyreaders”inthelastsentence,theauthormeans_____[A]childrenwhoareimpartedwiththebeautyandwisdomofpoetry.[B]childrenwhohaveaheadfulloffantasticandverballyperfectsongs.[C]childrenwhoownblocksofrefinedandachievedandexemplarylanguage.[D]childrenwhoarebelievedtohavetheguardianangelinstalledbehindthetongue.TEXTTHREEControledbleedingorcauterisation?ThatwastheunappealingchoicefacingUBS,aSwissbankwhichhasbeenbadlyhurtbythecarnageinAmerica’smortgagemarket.Thebankoptedforthelatter.Firstitopenedthewound,byannouncingahefty$10billionwrite-downonitsexposuretosubprime-infecteddebt.UBSnowexpectsalossforthefourthquarter,whichendsthismonth.Thencamethehotiron:newsofaseriesofmeasurestoshoreupthebank’scapitalbase,amongtheminvestmentsfromsovereign-wealthfundsinSingaporeandtheMiddleEast.Badnewshadbeenexpected.UBS’sthird-quarterwrite-downofoverSFr4billioninOctoberlookedoverlyoptimisticcomparedwithmoreaggressivemarkdownsatotherbankssuchasCitigroupandMerrillLynch.SteepfallsinthemarketvalueofsubprimedebtsincetheendofthethirdquartermadeitcertainthatUBSwouldtakemorepain,givenitssizeableexposuretotoxiccollateralised-debtobligations(CDOs).AnalystsatCitigroupwerepredictinginNovemberthatwrite-downsofuptoSFr14billionwerepossible.Whythendidthisnewbatchofredinkstillcomeasashock?Theanswerliesnotinthescaleoftheoverallloss,moreinUBS’sdecisiontotakethehitinonego.Thebank’smark-to-modelapproachtovaluingitssubprime-relatedholdingshadbeenbasedonpaymentsdatafromtheunderlyingmortgageloans.Althoughthesedatashowaworseningincreditquality,thedeteriorationisslowerthanmark-to-marketvaluations,whichhavetheeffectofinstantlycrystallisingallexpectedfuturelosses.Thankstothisgradualistapproach,UBShadbeenexpectedtotakewrite-downsinmanagedincrementsofSFr2billion-3billionoveraperiodofseveralquarters.Itnowappearsthatthebankhasincorporatedmarketvaluesintoitsmodel,sendingitsfourth-quarterwrite-downsintoorbit.ThechangeofapproachmaybeontheadviceofauditorsandregulatorsbutitismorelikelytoreflectadesirebyUBS’sbossestoavoidmonthsofspeculationaboutthebank’sexposure,somethingthatMarcelRohner,thechiefexecutive,describedas“distracting”.Inaparticularindignityforabanklongassociatedwithconservatism,concernsaboutthelevelofUBS’scapitalratiohadevenstartedtosurface.Hencethemovestostrengthenitstier-onecapital,animportantmeasureofbanksolidity,bySFr19.4billion,agreatdealmorethanthewrite-down.Themajorityofthatmoneywillcomefromsovereign-wealthfunds,thewhiteknightsofchoicefortoday’sbankindistress.Singapore’sGIC,whichmanagesthecity-state’sforeignreserves,haspledgedtobuySFr11billion-worthofconvertiblebondsinUBS;anunnamedMiddleEasterninvestorwillputinafurtherSFr2billion.UBSwillalsoraisemoneybysellingtreasuryshares,andsavecashbyissuingits2007dividendintheformofshares.Itscapitalratioisexpectedtoendupabove12%inthefourthquarter,astrongposition.Hopefultalkoflinesbeingdrawnunderthesubprimecrisishasbeenafeatureofbanks’quarterlyreportingsinceSeptember.Marryingbigger-than-expectedwrite-downswithbigger-than-expectedbooststocapitallooksliketherighttreatmentinthisenvironment.ButUBSstillcannotbesurethatitsproblemsareover.Furtherdeteriorationinitssubprimeassetvaluesispossible;thebroadereconomicimpactofthecreditcrunchisunclear;andthedamagetothebank’sreputationcannotyetbequantified.Thepatientstillneedswatching.1.Theauthorusesthemetaphor“hotiron”toimplythat_____[A]UBSagainbecomesavictimofAmerica’smortgagemarket.[B]UBS’scapitalbasehasobtainedadequatefinancialsupporttodigestitsdebt.[C]thosemeasureswillforcefullystopUBSfromfurtherloss.[D]goodnewsfromthosemeasureswouldpreventUBSfrombankruptcy.2.Comparedwiththemark-to-marketvaluations,themark-to-modelapproachcould_____[A]slowdowntheworseningincreditquality.[B]presenttheeffectofinstantlycrystallizationofallexpectedfutureloss.[C]showdataagainstaworseningthecreditquality.[D]acceleratethedeteriorationincreditquality.3.ThereasonthatMarcelRohnerthoughtthechangeofapproachwas“distracting”is_____[A]thischangewasunexpectedtotakeplaceinsuchasituation.[B]thischangewasresultoftheadviceofauditorsandregulators.[C]thischangewasnotfavoritetoUBS’sspeculationaboutthebank’sexposure.[D]thischangewastakentomakepeopledispeltheirguess.4.Thephrase“thewhiteknights”(Line4,Paragraph5)mostprobablymeans____[A]richpeople.[B]wealthysaviors.[C]generousinvestors.[D]bravefighters.5.Theauthor’sattitudetowardsUBS’sfutureis______[A]optimistic.[B]pessimistic.[C]uncertain.[D]noneoftheabove.TEXTFOURJustasNormanMailer,JohnUpdikeandPhilipRothwereatvarioustimesregardedasthegreatestAmericannovelistsincethesecondworldwar,JohnAshberyandRobertLowellviedforthetitleofgreatestAmericanpoet.Yetthetwomencouldnotbemoredifferent.Lowellwasapublicfigurewhoengagedwithpolitics—in1967hemarchedshoulder-to-shoulderwithMailerinprotestagainsttheVietnamwar,asdescribedinMailer'snovel“TheArmiesoftheNight”.Lowelltookonsubstantialthemesandenvisionedhimselfasatragic,heroicfigure,fightingagainsthisowndemons.MrAshbery'sverse,bycontrast,ismorebeguilinglycasual.Inhishands,themakingofapoemcanfeellikethetumblingofdiceonatabletop.Visibleonthepageisadelicatelyplayfulstrewingofwords,lookingtoengagewitheachotherinashylypuzzledfashion.AndthereisanelementofDada-likeplayinhisunpredictabilityofaddresswithitsperpetualshiftingoftones.Lowell,whodiedin1977attheageof60,addressedtheworldheadon.Bycontrast,Mr.Ashbery,whocelebratedhis80thbirthdayearlierthisyear,glanceswrylyattheworldanditsabsurdities.Inthiseditionofhislaterpoems,asubstantialgatheringofversesselectedfromsixvolumespublishedoverthepast20years,hispoetrydoesnotsomuchconsistofthemestobeexploredascomicroutinestobeimprovised.Hemockstheveryideaofthegravityofpoetryitself.Histonecanbealarminglyinconsequential,asifthereaderistheretobeperpetuallywrong-footed.Heshiftseasilyfromtheelevatedtothework-a-day.Hispoemsareendlesslydigressiveandthereareoftenechoesofotherpoetsinhiswritings,thoughthesealwayscomelightlyatthereader,asthoughtheywerescentsonthebreeze.Lowellwroteinstrictformalmeasures;someofhislastbooksconsistedofentiresequencesofsonnets.Mr.Ashberycanalsobepartialtoparticularformsofverse,thoughthesetendtobeofafairlyeccentrickind—thecento(apatchworkofotherpoets'works),forexample,andthepantoum(aMalaysianform,saidtohavebeenintroducedto19th-centuryEuropebyVictorHugo).Oftenhewritesinafree-flowing,conversationalmannerthatdependsforitssuccessuponthefactthattheendingoflinesisuntrammeledbyanyconcernaboutwhetherornottheyscan.Withinmanyofhispoems,thereoftenseemstobeagentlyhumorousantagonismbetweenonestanzaandthenext.Mr.Ashberylikesusingsimilesinhispoetry.Thisisoftenthepoet'sstock-in-trade,butheseemstosinglethemoutinordertosenduptheveryideaofthesimileinpoetry,asin“Violetsblossomedloudly/likeaswearwordinanemptytank”.Life,forLowell,wasaseriousmatter,justashewasaseriousman.MrAshbery'sapproach,asevincedbyhispoetry,ismorethatofagentleshrugofamusedbewilderment.UnlikeLowell's,hispoemsareneitherautobiographicalnorconfessional.Hedoesn'ttakehimselfthatseriously.“Isalloflifeatepidhousewarming?”Forapoetthisisatougherquestiontoanswerthanyoumightthink.1.Theword“substantial”(Line5,Paragraph1)mostprobablymeans_____[A]philosophical.[B]grand.[C]indispensable.[D]authentic.2.ThelastwordsofLowellmeanthat_____.[A]theworldshouldgoforwardendlessly.[B]theworldshouldmoveonwithoutabsurdities.[C]theworldshouldfunctionaswellwithouthisexistence.[D]theworldshouldgoonitspathforabrightfuture.3.WhichoneofthefollowingisNOTthecharacteristicsofAshbery’spoetry?[A]Somelinesareborrowedfromtheotherpoets’works.[B]Stanzasaredifferentfromeachotherinonepoem.[C]Wordsarescatteredcasuallyinhispoetry.[D]Tonesarecontinuouslychangingfromthehighbrowtothecommon.4.Mr.Ashbery’ssimilesinpoetryaredifferentfromthatoftheotherpoetsinthat_____[A]helikestosinglethemoutastheyveryessenceofpoetry’stechnique.[B]heusestheminaneccentricwaythatcanhardlybeimitatedbyotherpoets.[C]heusessimiletomakefunofsimile.[D]heusessimiletoexpresshiscomplexdefinitionoftheideaofsimile.5.WhytheauthorthinksthequestionAshberyraisedisatougheroneforapoetthanwemightthink?[A]BecauseasamatteroffactAshbeyismostfocusedontoughmatters.[B]BecauseAshbeyturnsouttobeamoreseriouspoetthanLowell.[C]BecauseAshbeyisabletobetterdiscernthedilemmaofbeingapoet.[D]Becausethethemeoflifeisworththinkingforapoet.考研英语阅读理解精读100篇（高分版）：UNITTWOTEXTONEThebrideandgroom,aguitar-wieldingrockvixenandamuscle-ripplingdragon-slayer,makeanoddcouple—soitishardlysurprisingthatnobodyexpectedtheirmarriage.ButonDecember2ndthevideo-gamecompaniesbehind“GuitarHero”and“WorldofWarcraft”,ActivisionandVivendiGamesrespectively,announcedplansforanelaboratemerger.Vivendi,aFrenchmediagroup,willpoolitsgamesunit,plus$1.7billionincash,withActivision;thecombinedentitywillthenoffertobuybacksharesfromActivisionshareholders,raisingVivendi'sstakeintheresultingfirmtoasmuchas68%.Activision'sboss,BobbyKotick,willremainatthehelmofthenewcompany,tobeknownasActivisionBlizzardinrecognitionofVivendi'smaingamingasset:itssubsidiaryBlizzardEntertainment,thefirmbehind“WorldofWarcraft”,anonlineswords-and-sorcerygamewith9.3msubscribers.Thedealwasunexpected,butmakesexcellentstrategicsense,saysPiersHarding-RollsofScreenDigest,aconsultancy.Activisionhaslongcoveted“WorldofWarcraft”,andVivendigetsabiggergamesdivisionandActivision'stalentedmanagementteamtorunit.Aswellasmakingsenseforbothparties,the$18.9billiondeal—thebiggesteverinthevideo-gamesindustry—saysalotaboutthetrendsnowshapingthebusiness.Thefirstisapushintonewmarkets,especiallyonlinemultiplayergames,whichareparticularlypopularinAsia,and“casual”gamesthatappealtopeoplewhodonotregardthemselvesasgamers.“WorldofWarcraft”istheworld'smostpopularonlinesubscription-basedgameandishugelylucrative.Blizzardwillhaverevenuesof$1.1billionthisyearandoperatingprofitsof$520m.“WorldofWarcraft”isreally“asocialnetworkwithmanyentertainmentcomponents,”saysMrKotick.Similarly,heargues,“GuitarHero”andothergamesthatusenewkindsofcontroller,ratherthantheusualbuttonsandjoysticks,arebroadeningtheappealofgamingbyemphasisingitssocialaspects,sincetheyareeasytopickupandcanbeplayedwithfriends.Socialgaming,saysMrKotick,is“themostpowerfultrend”buildingnewaudiencesfortheindustry.HeisclearlyexcitedattheprospectofusingBlizzard'sexpertisetolaunchanonlineversionof“GuitarHero”forAsianmarkets.Onlinemusicgamessuchas“AuditionOnline”,whichstartedinSouthKorea,are“massiveinAsia,”saysMrHarding-Rolls.Asecondtrendismediagroups'increasinginterestingaming.VivendiownsUniversalMusic,oneofthe“bigfour”recordlabels.Astherecordindustry'ssalesdecline,itmakessensetomoveintogaming,ayounger,faster-growingmediumwithplentyofcross-marketingopportunities.(ActivisionmightraidUniversal'sbackcatalogueformaterialforitsmusicgames,forexample,whichmightinturnboostmusicsales.)Othermediagroupsaregoingthesameway.LastyearViacom,anAmericanmediagiant,acquiredHarmonix,thecompanythatoriginallycreated“GuitarHero”.Ithasbeenpromotingitsnewgame,“RockBand”,usingitsMTVmusicchannel.Viacomhasalsocreatedonlinevirtualworldsthattieinwithseveralofitstelevisionprogrammes,suchas“LagunaBeach”and“PimpMyRide”.DisneyboughtClubPenguin,avirtualworldforchildren,inAugust.AndTimeWarnerisinvolvedingamingviaitsWarnerBrosHomeEntertainmentdivision,whichpublishesitsowntitlesandlastmonthboughtTTGames,theBritishfirmbehindthe“LegoStarWars”games.1.Themergerofthesetwocompaniesareoutofexpectionbecause_____[A]theyaimtodesignmarriagegameswhichsoundreallyweird.[B]itisdifficultforbigcompaniesoftwodifferentnationstoendupinsuccessfulcooperation.[C]theirgamesarebynomeanssimilartoeachotherintermsoftheirstyles.[D]itwouldbeillegalforthemtobuybacktheshares.2.WhyPiersHarding-Rollsthinksthismarriagehasstrategicsense?[A]Activisionhasbeenlongingtocooperatewith“WorldofWarcraft”.[B]VivendicouldgetbiggerportionandbettermanagementresourcesfromActivision.[C]Thisdealisbeneficialtobothsidesfortheycancombinetheirtalentstomakevariousgames.[D]Thisdealmakethembecomedecisivefactorofthisindustry’strendinthefuture.3.Theword“lucrative”(Line3,Paragraph3)mostprobablymeans_____[A]profitable.[B]luxurious.[C]entertaining.[D]populous.4.Thefirsttrendshapingtheindustryis_____[A]pushingpeopleonlinetodeveloptheirowngames.[B]buildingnewaudiencesforthenewnetworkofgames.[C]promotinggameswithnewkindsofcontroller.[D]expandingthereignoftraditionalgamesandcreatingnewmarket.5.Fromthetwotrendswecaninferthat_____[A]thismergerisagreatsuccessbecauseitgoesalongwithbothtrends.[B]thisdealcanstrengthenbothpartiestosurpasstheothermediagiants.[C]thisalliedgroupispowerfulenoughtoshapetheindustry’strends.[D]itisindeedofstrategicsensetohaveinitiateandcarryoutthemerger.TEXTTWOThehauntingpaintingsofHeleneSchjerfbeck,onshowinthefinallegofatravellingtourthathasalreadyattractedthousandsofvisitorsinHamburgandTheHague,maycomeasasurprisetomany.FewoutsidetheNordicworldwouldrecognisetheworkofthisFinnishartistwhodiedin1946.Morepeopleshould.The120workshaveattheircore20self-portraits,halfthenumbershepaintedinall.Thefirst,dated1880,isofawide-eyedteenagereagertoabsorbeverything.Thelastisasightingoftheartist'sghost-to-be;Schjerfbeckdiedtheyearafteritwasmade.Togetherthisseriesisamongthemostmovingandaccomplishedautobiographies-in-paint.Precociouslygifted,Schjerfbeckwas11whensheenteredtheFinnishArtSociety'sdrawingschool.“TheWoundedWarriorintheSnow”,ahistorypainting,wasboughtbyaprivatecollectorandwonherastatetravelgrantwhenshewas17.SchjerfbeckstudiedinParis,wentontoPont-Aven,Brittany,whereshepaintedforayear,thentoTuscany,CornwallandStPetersburg.Duringher1887visittoStIves,Cornwall,Schjerfbeckpainted“TheConvalescent”.Achildwrappedinablanketsitsproppedupinalargewickerchair,toyingwithasprig.Thepicturewonabronzemedalatthe1889ParisWorldFairandwasboughtbytheFinnishArtSociety.Toamoderneyeitseemsalmostsentimentalandisredeemedonlybythesomewhatstunned,melancholyexpressiononthechild'sface,whichmayhavebeeninspiredbySchjerfbeck'searlyexperiences.Atfour,shefelldownaflightofstepsandneverfullyrecovered.In1890,SchjerfbecksettledinFinland.Teachingexhaustedher,shedidnotliketheworkofotherlocalpainters,andshewasfurtherisolatedwhenshetookonthecareofhermother(wholiveduntil1923).“IfIallowmyselfthefreedomtoliveasecludedlife”,shewrote,“thenitisbecauseithastobethatway.”In1902,Schjerfbeckandhermothersettledinthesmall,industrialtownofHyvinkaa,50kilometresnorthofHelsinki.IsolationhadonedesiredeffectforitwastherethatSchjerfbeckbecameamodernpainter.Sheproducedstilllivesandlandscapesbutaboveallmoodyyetincisiveportraitsofhermother,localschoolgirls,womenworkersintown(profilesofapensive,aristocraticlookingseamstressdressedinblackstandout).Andofcourseshepaintedherself.ComparisonshavebeenmadewithJamesMcNeillWhistlerandEdvardMunch.Butfrom1905,herpicturesbecamepureSchjerfbeck.“Ihavealwayssearchedforthedensedepthsofthesoul,thathavenotyetdiscoveredthemselves”,shewrote,“whereeverythingisstillunconscious—thereonecanmakethegreatestdiscoveries.”Sheexperimentedwithdifferentkindsofunderpainting,scrapedandrubbed,madebrightrosyredspots;doingwhateverhadtobedonetocapturethesubconscious—herownandthatofhermodels.In1913,Schjerfbeckwasrediscoveredbyanartdealerandjournalist,GostaStenman.Onceagainshewasasuccess.Retrospectives,touringexhibitionsandabiographyfollowed,yetSchjerfbeckremainedlittleknownoutsideScandinavia.Thatmayhavehadsomethingtodowithherindifferencetoherrenown.“Iamnothing,absolutelynothing”,shewrote.“AllIwanttodoispaint”.Schjerfbeckwaspossessedofauniquevision,anditistimetheworldrecognisedthat.Schjerfbeck’spaintingsmaycomeasasurprisetomanybecause_____[A]herpaintingsarerarelyknownoutsi