大学英语快速阅读1-50

雅思快速阅读训练

也可供四、六级考试，托福考试使用

内部培训资料，一线在职教师倾力编写

1.ACADEMYAWARDS-THEOSCARS

(TimeLimit:3minutes30seconds)

TheAcademyAwards,affectionately(亲切地)knownastheOscars,aretheoldest,best

known,mostinfluentialandfamousoffilmawards.Theawardshavebeenpresentedannually(the

firstawardsceremonywasheldinMayof1929)byanon-profitprofessionalorganization-the

AcademyofMotionPictureArtsandSciences(AMPAS),basedinBeverlyHills,California,and

foundedin1927.PricewaterhousehasmanagedtheAcademyAwardsballoting(投票选举)process

since1935-allbutthefirstsixyearsoftheOscars.Eversince1941,whentheirnow-famous

confidential(秘密的)envelopesystemwasintroduced,markingthefirstyearofcompletesecrecy,

“theEnvelopePlease“hasbecomeafamiliarphrasethathasbeenassociatedwiththeAcademy

Awardsceremony.

Exceptfortheearlyyearsoftheinstitution,theawardshonoredfilmsmadeduringthe

previous12-monthcalendaryear.Atfirst,tobeeligible(有资格的)foranaward,afilmhadto

openinLosAngelesduringthetwelvemonthsendingonJuly31oftheprecedingyea匚Toallow

eachceremonytocoverfilmsfbrasinglecalendaryear-matchingtheeligibilityperiod,the

1932/33awardswerebasedona17-monthqualifyingperiod.Eversincethen,beginningwiththe

1934awardsceremony,allawardshavebeenbasedonopeningsinthepreviouscalendaryear.

Until1954,theOscarswerepresentedmostlyonaThursdayevening.From1955to1958,they

werepresentedonaWednesday.From1959until1998theOscarswere,withafewexceptions,

presentedonaMondaynight.Onlysince1999hastheAwardsceremonytakenplaceonaSunday

(traditionallyinMarch).In2004,theceremonywasmovedevenearliertoimproveratingsandto

bemorerelevanttotheawards'season\

TheestablishmentoftheAcademy(anditsawardssystem)hashadamajoreffectand

influenceuponthefilmindustry,duetotheenormousboostanomination(提名)oraward(fora

filmoractor)creates,bygivingprestigeandbottom-lineprofitstoastudioorperformer.Studios

haveoftenengagedinexpensivemarketingandadvertisingcampaignstoswayvotes.Although

theAcademyhaswithlimitedsuccess,triedtolimittheinfluencesofpressuregroupsand

promotion,boxofficegrossreceipts,studiopublicrelationsandmarketing,sentimentalityand

personalpopularity,thoseinfluenceshavehadadecidedeffectupontheoutcomeofsomeofthe

pollresults.Especiallysincethe80s,moneymaking'formula-made'successfulfilmshaveoften

beencrowd-pleasingtitans(大片)buttheyhaven'tnecessarilybeengreatfilmswithdepthor

criticalacclaim(赞誉)byanymeasure.

(425words)

ComprehensionExercises

I.Choosethebestanswerstothefollowingquestions.

1.WhenwerethefirstAcademyAwardspresented?

A.1935B.1927.

C.1929D.1934.

2.Whydidthequalifyingperiodofafilmmadein1932lastfor17months?

A.Anewawardssystemstartedtomakesurethatthefilmshadopenedduringthetwelvemonths

endingonJuly31inthepreviousyear.

B.Anewrulewasputintooperationthateachceremonyshouldcoverthefilmsmadeinasingle

calendaryear.

C.Somechangesweremadesothattheceremonywasmovedearliertoimproveratings.

D.Anagreementwasnotreachedonwhentheceremonywasheld.

3.WhichofthefollowingcanberegardedasamajoreffectoftheAcademyAwardsuponthefilm

industry?

A.Afilm,ifwinningtheAcademyAwards,willdoquitewellattheboxoffice.

B.Studiosoftencarryoutadvertisingcampaignstowinthefavorofthepublic.

C.Thefilmindustryhasputeconomicbenefitsaboveallothers.

D.Astudiooranactorwilltryeverymeanstoaffecttheoutcomeofthepollresults.

4.Theword"sway"inLine9,Para3means.

A.promoteB.influence

C.distributeD.recollect

5.Whatcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraph?

A.TheAcademyAwardshavedonealottorevolutionizethefilmindustry.

B.TheAcademyawardssystemisfairandfreefromanyoutsidepressuresandinfluences.

C.Theaward-winningfilmsarenotalwaysapplaudedbyaudience.

D.Somepeople,includingtheauthor,don'tthinkmuchoftheaward-winningfilms.

II.Completethefollowingsentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.

1.Peopledon'tknowwhowillwintheAcademyAwardsuntilisopened.

2.Studiosoftencarryoutsometopersuadepeopletovotefortheirfilms.

3.StudiosandperformerswillbecomeandwhentheAcademyAwardsgo

tothem.

4.AfilmhastogothroughabeforeitentersthecompetitionfortheAcademyAwards.

5.TheAcademyAwardsceremonyisheldonce.

2.LifeorDeath

(TimeLimit:3minutes10sounds)

Howwouldyoufeelifalovedonewerekilled?Wouldyouwantthemurdererexecuted,or

wouldhavingthekillerinprisonbeenough?Thisquestionhasbeenaskedmanytimes,butpeople

arenotinagreementabouttheultimatepunishment.Weallknowthatitiswrongtotakeahuman

life,butifourgovernmentdoesthekilling,isitstillacrime?Somepeoplesaythatthe

governmentdosenothavetherighttoendsomeone'slife,butseveralreasonscanbeputforward

todefendthedeathpenalty.

Thefirstreasonforallowingthedeathpenaltyisforthesakeofpunishmentitself.The

punishmentoughttoreflecttheseriousnessofthecrime.Itthereforeseemsreasonablethatthose

whocommitthemostseriouscrimesshouldbemadetopaytheultimateprice.

Secondly,topreservethedeathpenaltyisreasonableonfinancialgrounds.Thegovernment

shouldn'thavetospendalotofmoneyoncriminals.Nexttothedeathpenalty,themostsevere

punishmentisalifesentenceinprison,wherethegovernmenthastotakecareofcriminalsuntil

theydienaturally.Thesecriminalsdonotwork,buttheyreceivefreehousingandfood.Itisunfair

tousetaxpayers,moneyforsuchapurpose.

Thelastargumentforcontinuingtheuseofthedeathpenaltyisbasedonthenatureand

purposeofgovernment.Ifthegovernmenthasthelegitimate（合法的）powertomake,judge,and

carryoutthelaws,itshouldalsohavethepowertodecideifcriminalsshoulddie.

Theopponents（反对者）ofthedeathpenaltymightsaythatnobodyhastherighttodecide

whoshoulddie,includingthegovernment.However,whenthegovernmentsendssoldiersintowar,

insomeway,itisdecidingthosesoldiers'fate;somewillliveandsomewillbekilled.Aslongas

thegovernmenthasarighttosenditscitizenstothebattlefield,ithasarighttoputcriminalsto

death.

Thereare,then,manygoodreasonstopreservethedeathpenalty.Ifnopunishmentcan

reformamurder,thenthedeathpenaltyisthebestthingthatcanbedoneforthatpersonandfor

society.

（377words）

ComprehensionExercises

I.Choosethebestanswerstothefollowingquestions.

1.Howmanyreasonsdosethewritergivetopreservethedeathpenalty?

A.3

B.4

C.5

D.6

2.Whatdosethewriterwanttoexpressinthispassage?

A.Peoplearenotinagreementaboutthedeathpenalty.

B.Theuseofthedeathpenaltyshouldservetheinterestsofgovernment.

C.Thegovernmentdoesnothavetherighttoendsomeone\life.

D.Therearesomegoodreasonstopreservethedeathpenalty.

3.Whichofthefollowingismentionedinordertojustifythedeathpenalty?

A.Somemoreseriousmeasuresshouldbetakenagainstakilleroncejailed,sinceputtinghim

inprisonisnotenough.

B.Thedeathpenaltyisthebestwaytoseparatecriminalsfromsociety.

C.Sincethegovernmentcannotaffordfreehousingandfoodforcriminals,itisnecessaryto

preservethedeathpenalty.

D.Sincethegovernmenthasarighttosenditscitizenstowar,ithastherighttoputcriminals

todeath.

4.Whichofthefollowingstatementisfalseaccordingtothewriter?

A.Deathpenaltyistheharshestformofpunishment.

B.Deathpenaltyoughttobegivenwhennopunishmentcanreformacriminal.

C.Thegovernmenthasnorighttotakethelifeofitscitizensunderanycircumstances.

D.Itisreasonabletouseharshpunishmentforthosecriminalswhocommitseriouscrimes.

II.Completethefollowingsentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.

1.Thewriterofthispassagearguesthatshouldbepreservedforanumberofgood

reasons.

2.Thewriterthinksthatitisunfairtousetooffercriminalsfreehousingandfood.

3.Thesecondmostsevereformofpunishmentisa.

4.Thewritersuggeststhatdeathpenaltybepreservedforthosewhohavecommitted.

5.Criminalswhoarepunishedwithlifesentencesinprisonaretakencareofbythegovernment

unitthey.

3.IsGlobalWarmingHarmfultoHealth

（TimeLimit:3minutes40seconds）

Todayfewscientistsdoubtthattheatmosphereiswarming.Mostalsoagreethattherateof

heatingisacceleratingandthattheconsequencesofthistemperaturechangecouldbringabout

moreandmoreproblemsandtroubles.Evenhighschoolstudentscantellsomeprojected

outcomes:theoceanswillwarm,andglacierswillmelt,causingsealevelstoriseandsaltwaterto

overflowsettlementsalongmanylow-lyingcoasts.Meanwhiletheregionssuitableforfarming

willshift.Weatherpatternsshouldalsobecomemoreunpredictableandstormsmoresevere.

Yetlessfamiliareffectscouldbeequallydamaging.Notably,computermodelspredictthat

globalwarming,andotherclimatechangesitinduces,willexpandtheincidence（发病率）and

distributionofmanyseriousmedicaldisorders.Disturbingly,theseforecastsseemtobecoming

true.

Heatingoftheatmospherecaninfluencehealththroughseveralroutes.Mostdirectly,itcan

generatemore,strongerandhotterheatwaves,whichwillbecomeespeciallyharmfulifthe

eveningsfailtobringcoolingrelief.Unfortunately,alackofnighttimecoolingseemstobeinthe

cards;theatmosphereisheatingunevenlyandisshowingthebiggestrisesatnight,inwinterand

atlatitudeshigherthanabout50degrees.Insomeplaces,thenumberofdeathsrelatedtoheat

wavesisprojectedtodoubleby2020.Prolongedheatcan,moreover,enhanceproductionofsmog

andthespreadofallergens（过敏原）.Botheffectshavebeenlinkedtorespiratory（呼吸

的）symptoms.

Globalwarmingcanalsothreatenhumanwell-beingprofoundly,ifsomewhatlessdirectly,by

revisingweatherpatterns,particularlybyincreasingthefrequencyandintensityoffloodsand

droughtsandbycausingrapidchangesintheweather.Astheatmospherehaswarmedoverthe

pastcentury,droughtsinarid（干旱的）areashavepersistedlonger,andmassiveburstsofrainfall

havebecomemorecommon.Asidefromcausingdeathbydrowningorstarvation,thesedisasters

promotebyvariousmeanstheemergence,returnandspreadofinfectiousdiseases（传染病）。

Thatprospectisdeeplytroubling,becauseinfectiousillnessisagenie（妖怪）thatcanbevery

hardtoputbackintoitsbottle.Itmaykillfewerpeopleinashortwhilethanaragingfloodoran

extendeddrought,butonceittakesrootinacommunity,itisoftenhardtogetridofandcan

invadeotherareas.

Floodsanddroughtsassociateswithglobalclimatechangecouldunderminehealthinother

waysaswell.Theycoulddamagecrops,therebyreducingfoodsuppliesandpotentially

contributingtomalnutrition（营养不良）。Andtheycouldforceentirepopulationsindeveloping

countriestoleavetheirhomeland,leadingtoovercrowdingandthediseasesconnectedwithit,

suchastuberculosis（肺结核）.

（436words）

ComprehensionExercises

I.Choosethebestanswerstothefollowingquestions.

1.Accordingtothethirdparagraph,alackofnighttimecoolingseemstobe.

A.likelytohappen

B.acaseinpoint

C.ridiculous

D.paidattentionto

2.Heatingoftheatmospherecaninfluencehealththroughthefollowingroutes

except_______

A.more,strongerandhotterheatwaves

B.nighttimecooling

C.prolongedheat

D.infectiousdiseasescausedbynaturaldisastersassociatedwithglobalwarming

3.Infectiousillnessisageniethatcanbeveryhardtoputbackintoitsbottle

because______

A.itmaydogreatdamagetohealthofhumanbeingsinashortwhile

B.itcanthreathumanwell-beingonceassociatedwithfloodsanddroughts

C.itmayaddtotroublescausesbyaragingfloodoranextendeddrought

D.itishardtowipeitoutonceittakesrootinacommunity

4.Accordingtothelastparagraph,floodsanddroughtsassociatedwithglobalclimate

changeunderminehealthinfurtherways.

A.two

B.three

C.four

D.five

II.Judgewhetherornotthefollowingstatementagreewiththeinformationgiveninthepassage,

andmarkYforYES,NforNO,orNGifinformationisnotgiveninthepassage.

1.Fewscientistsagreethattherateofheadingisspeedingup.

2.Theforecaststhatglobalwarmingwillexpandtheincidenceanddistributionofmany

seriousmedicaldisordersseemtobecomingtrue.

3.Floodsanddroughtsassociatedwithglobalclimatechangecouldmakecropseasytobe

attackedbypests.

4.Permanentshiftofentirepopulationsindevelopedcountriescouldleadtoovercrowding

andthediseaseconnectedwithit.

4.APreciousMoment

(TimeLimit:3minutes)

“So,howdoyoudeveloparelationship?^^ThisquestionwasaskedofmewhenIwasdoing

aRelationshipServiceseminar(讲座).Ihavetoadmitthatthequestioncaughtmeoffguardfora

briefsecond.Wehadbeentalking“theory“alldayandthiswomanwantedsomepractical

methodsfordevelopinganyrelationship.

Afterpausingforaminutetocollectmythoughts,IstatedthattheonlythingIcoulddowas

totellherthetruthfrommyexperience.Somewhatshyly,Ibegantotellherthestoryofhowmy

wifeandIsavedourrelationship.MymindflashedbacktoatimewhenKarenandIwereata

StateFairandIwontworedvelvet（天鹅）heartsasaprizeinoneofthemidwaygames.Ibroke

apartthetwoheartsandgaveonetoKarenandkeptoneformyself.

Wehadbeenmarried10yearsandweweregoingthroughabitofa“flatspot“inour

relationship.Westilllovedeachother,butsomethingwasmissing.Karendidnotwantthe

“flatness“tocontinue.Soonedayshecameupwithaplan.Shetookoneoftheheartsandhiditin

mytowelwhileIwastalkingashower.WhenIwenttograbmytowel,theredheartspilledout.

AsIbentdowntopickitup,Iwasovercomewitharushofemotionthatmademeflashbackto

thetimewhenIwontheredheartsandthelovewefeltforeachotheratthatmoment.

Ithenhidtheheartinhersockdrawer.Shehiditinmyunderweardrawer.Ihiditinthe

refrigerator.Shewrappeditinplasticwrapandhiditinthepeanutbutter.Hidingtheheartbecame

asmuchfunasfindingit.Eachtimewehidorfounditwasamomenttobetreasured,Hkethefirst

momentwefellinloveorthefirstmomentwekissedorthefirstmomentwelookedintoour

child'seyes.Eachisacherished（珍爱的）andpreciousmoment.

（350words）

ComprehensionExercises

I.Choosethebestanswerstothefollowingquestions.

1.Whenasked"So,howdoyoudeveloparelationship?”，theauthor.

A.wascautiousandunwillingtoanswerthequestioninabriefmoment

B.waswell-preparedandcouldanswerthequestionquickly

C.wasunpreparedandthuscouldn'tanswerthequestioninabriefmoment

D.hadtoadmititwasadifficultquestion

2.Theauthortoldthewomanhisownexperienceinorderto.

A.provethatit'sfarfromeasytodeveloparelationship

B.showhowpeopledeveloparelationship

C.convinceherthatheandhiswifehadahappymarriage

D.suggestthathecouldn'tofferanyconcretemethodfbrdevelopingarelationship

3.Thesentence“weweregoingthroughabitofa'flatspot,inourrelationship^^inPara.3means

that.

A.theirmarriagerelationshipwasalittledull

B.theyhadasmoothmarriagerelationship

C.theirmarriagerelationshipwassomewhatfunny

D.theyhadatryingtimeintheirmarriagerelationship

4.Karen'splan.

A.wasnotpracticableinanyway

B.turnedoutasuccess

C.refreshedthecouple

D.broughtthecouplebacktotheoldtimes

5.Accordingtothepassage,hidingandfindingtheheart.

A.benefitedthecoupleinallrespects

B.freedthecouplefromworries

C.remindedthecoupleofallthathadexperiencedintheirlife

D.contributedalottotheirmarriagerelationship

ILCompletethefollowingsentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.

1.Thewomanwantedsomefordevelopingarelationship,sosheaskedtheauthor

aquestion“So,howdoyoudeveloparelationship?,,

2.Theauthoransweredthewoman'squestionbytalkingabouthisown.

3.Theauthortoldusastoryabouthowheandhiswifedevelopedtheir.

4.Karenaheartinherhusband'stowelsothathewouldfinditwhengrabbing

histowel.

Accordingtotheauthor,eachtimetheyhidorfoundtheheartwasa.

5.DaVinci-Scientist,Inventor,Artist

（TimeLimit:3minutes45seconds）

LeonardowasbornonApril15,1452,inVinci,Italy,justoutsideFlorence.Hisfathertook

custody（监护）ofthelittlefellowshortlyafterhisbirth,whilehismothermarriedsomeoneelse

andmovedtoaneighboringtown.Theykeptonhavingkidsseparatelyandeventuallysupplied

himwithatotalof17halfsistersandbrothers.

Growingupinhisfather'sVincihome,Leonardohadaccesstoscholarlytextsownedbyfamily

andfriends.HewasalsoexposedtoVinci'slong-standingpaintingtradition,andwhenhewas

about15hisfatherapprenticedhimtotherenownedworkshopofAndreadelVerrocchioin

Florence.Evenasanapprentice,Leonardodemonstratedhisimmensetalent.Indeed,hisgenius

seemstohaveseepedintoanumberofpiecesproducedbytheVerrocchio'sworkshopfromthe

period1470to1475.Forexample,oneofLeonardo'sfirstbigbreakswastopaintanangelin

Verrocchio's"BaptismofChrist,“andLeonardowassomuchbetterthanhismaster'sthat

Verrocchiowassaidtoresolvenevertopaintagain.LeonardostayedintheVerrocchioworkshop

until1477whenhesetuphisown.

Insearchofnewchallengesandfortunes,heenteredtheserviceoftheDukeofMilanin1482,

abandoninghisfirstcommissioninFlorence.Hespent17yearsinMilan,leavingonlyafterthe

Duke'sfallfrompowerin1499.ItwasduringtheseyearsthatLeonardohithisstride,reaching

newheightsofscientificandartisticachievement.

TheDukekeptLeonardobusypaintingandsculptinganddesigningelaboratecourtfestivals,

buthealsoputLeonardotoworkdesigningweapons,buildingsandmachinery.Hisstudiesfrom

thisperiodcontaineddesignsforadvancedweapons,includingatankandotherwarvehicles,

variouscombatdevices,andsubmarines.Alsoduringthisperiod,Leonardoproducedhisfirst

anatomical（解剖学的）studies.HisMilanworkshopwasactuallyahiveofactivity,buzzingwith

apprenticesandstudents.

Leonardo'sinterestsweresobroad,andhewassooftencompelledbynewsubjectsthathe

usuallyfailedtofinishwhathestarted.Thislackoft<stick-lo-it-ive-ness,,resultedinhis

completingonlyaboutsixworksinthese17years,including“TheLastSupper"and'TheVirgin

ontheRocks,“andheleftdozensofpaintingsandprojectsunfinishedorunrealized.Hespent

mostofhistimestudyingscience,eitherbygoingoutintonatureandobservingthingsorby

lockinghimselfawayinhisworkshopcuttingupbodiesorponderinguniversaltruths

Between1490and1495hedevelopedhishabitofrecordinghisstudiesinwell-illustrated

notebooks.Hisworkcoveredfourmainthemes:painting,architecture,theelementsofmechanics,

andhumananatomy.Thesestudiesandsketcheswerecollectedintovariousmanuscripts(手稿),

whicharenowhungrilycollectedbymuseumsandindividuals.

(451words)

ComprehensionExercises

I.Choosethebestanswerstothefollowingquestions.

1.WhichofthefollowingistrueofLeonardodaVinciduringhis17-yearstayinMilan?

A.Hewasmuchmoretalentedinpaintingthanhismaster.

B.Hemadecontinuousandsteadyprogressinthefieldsofscienceandarts.

C.Hefinisheddozensofpaintingsandprojects,including'TheLastSupper”and44TheVirgin

ontheRocks”.

D.HetriedeverymeanstowintheDuke'sfavor.

2.By,Leonardodemonstratedhisimmensetalentasanapprenticeinthe

Verrocchio'sworkshopfrom1470to1475.

A.creatingacompletelynewstyle

B.startinghisownworkshop

C.designingasubmarine

D.collectingvariousmanuscriptsandsketches

3.Leonardohadsobroadintereststhatheengageshimselfinallthefollowingexcept.

A.cuttingupbodiesinhisworkshop

B.arrangingfestivities

C.designingasubmarine

D.collectingvariousmanuscriptsandsketches

4.Inthesentence"...abandoninghisfirstcommissioninFlorence...”(Line4,Para.3),theword

“commission“means.

A.order

B.occupation

C.profit

D.opportunity

Il.Judgewhetherornotthefollowingstatementsagreewiththeinformationgiveninthepassage,

andmarkYfbrYES,NfbrNO,orNGifinformationisnotgiveninthepassage.

1.LeonardowasstronglyinfluencedbyVinci'slong-standingpaintingtraditionwhenhewasin

histeens.

2.Leonardo'sgeniuscanbetracedinsomepaintingsoftheVerrocchio'sworkshop.

3.Leonardowassopersistentinhisworkthatheneverleftataskunfinished.

4.Atthattime,manyyoungpeoplecametoLeonardo'sworkshopinMilantotakelessonsin

painting.

5.AllthenewchallengesLeonardometafterhesettleddowninMilanwereexactlythosehehad

expected.6.TheRenaissance

(TimeLimit:2minutes35seconds)

Intheartsandsciencesaswellassocietyandgovernment,Italywasthemajorcatalyst(促进

者)forprogressduringtheRenaissance,therichperiodofdevelopmentthatoccurredinEurope

attheendoftheMiddleAges.Becauseofthenumberofdifferentfieldsinwhichitapplied,

“Renaissance“isawordwithmanylayersofmeaning.Accordingly,Renaissancepaintingcannot

representanyonecommonorclearlydefinablestyle.AsGothicpaintinghadbeenshapedbythe

feudalsocietiesoftheMiddleAges,Renaissanceartwasbornoutofanew,rapidlyevolving

civilization.Itmarkedthepointofdeparturefromthemedievaltothemodernworldand,assuch,

laidthefoundationsformodemWesternvaluesandsociety.

Thename“Renaissance”—meaning“rebirth“一isgiventoaperiodofbroadcultural

achievementspanningthreecenturies.TheideaofrebirthliesattheheartofallRenaissance

achievements:artists,scholars,scientists,philosophers,architects,andrulersbelievedthattheway

togreatnessandenlightenmentwasthroughthestudyoftheGoldenAgesoftheancientGreeks

andRomans.Theyrejectedthemorerecent,medievalpast,whichconstitutedtheGothicera.

Insteadofthis,inspiredbyHumanism,theylookedtotheliteraryandphilosophicaltraditions,and

theartisticandengineeringachievements,oftheancientGreeksandRomans.

SinceRenaissancemeans“newbirth”,itisobviousthatitcannotstandstill.Oncesomethingis

bom,itbeginstogrow.Butneverhastherebeengrowthaslovelyasthatofpaintingasitmatured

intotheHighRenaissance.Herewefindsomeofthegreatestartistseverknown:Leonardoda

Vinci,MichelangeloandRaphael.Thequestforscientificprecisionandgreaterrealismreached

thegreatestheightinthesuperbbalanceofharmonyofthesegreatfigures.Theinfluenceof

Humanismisreflectedintheincreaseofworldlysubjects.InthefinalphaseoftheRenaissance,

Mannerismbecamethedominantstyle.

(314words)

ComprehensionExercise

I.Choosethebestanswerstothefollowingquestions.

1.WheredidtheRenaissancefirstarise?

A.InSpain.

B.InItaly.

C.InGreece.

D.InRome.

2.Whyisthename“Renaissance“giventoaperiodofsocialandculturaldevelopmentthat

occurredinEuropeattheendoftheMiddleAges?

A.Achievementsindifferentfieldsatthattimeresultedfromtherevivaloftraditional

valuesandideasoftheancientGreeksandRomans.

B.Anew,rapidlyevolvingcivilizationemergedonthebasisofthestudyofmedieval

traditions.

C.Moreandmoreworldlysubjectswerefoundinliteratureandartinthatage.

D.TheperiodgavebirthtotheEnlightenment.

3.Whichofthefollowingisamongthecharacteristicsofpaintingsofthegreatestartistsofthe

Renaissance?

A.Greaterrealism.

B.Aclearlydefinablestyle.

C.Precisedescription.

D.Mannerism.

4.WhichofthefollowingisnotmentionedamongthosefieldsinfluencedbytheRenaissance?

A.Government.

B.Art.

C.Architecture.

D.Medicine.

5.Whatdoesthelastparagraphofthispassagesuggest?

A.ThereappearedsomegreatestartistsduringtheRenaissance.

B.RenaissanceartlaidthefoundationsformodernWesternvalues.

C.PaintingintheRenaissanceattainedalevelneverknownbefore.

D.ArtistsintheRenaissancetendedto