阅读理解
Passage Four
Another kinds of distinction that can be made among works of art is whether they were originally intended as objects purely to be looked at , or as objects to be used . The FINE ARTS , such as drawing , painting , and sculpture , involve the production of works to be seen and experienced primarily on an abstract rather than practical level . Pieces of fine art may produce emotional , intellectual , sensual , or spiritual responses in us . Those who love the fine arts feel that these responses are very valuable , and perhaps Especially so in the midst of a highly materialistic world , for they expand our awareness of the great richness of life itself.
In contrast to the nonfunctional appeals of the fine arts , the first purpose of the APPLIED ARTS is to serve some useful function . Lucy Lewis , a traditional potter from Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico , has applied a visually exciting surface decoration to her water jar. But the jar’s main reason for being , however , is to hold water . Some of the people of Acoma , which may be the oldest continually inhabited city in the United States , still follow the old ways , carrying water for drinking , cooking , and washing up to their homes from natural ponds below . The forms of their water jars are therefore designed to prevent spilling and to balance readily on one’s head . The pots must also be light in weight , so Acoma water pots are some of the world’s thinnest – walled pottery . Interestingly , the languages of most Native American peoples do not include a word that means “fine art . ”While they have traditionally created pottery , basketry , and weaving with a good sense of design , these pieces were part of their everyday lives.
The applied art of pottery-making , is one of the crafts , the making of useful objects by hand . Other applied art disciplines are similarly functional . Graphic designers create advertisements , fabrics , layouts for books and magazines , and so on ; Industrial designers shape the mass – produced objects used by high – tech societies , from cars , telephones , and teapots , to one of the most famous visual images in the world : the Coca –Cola bottle . Other applied arts include clothing design , interior design , and environmental design.
单选题
What has the author probably discussed right before the passage ?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析]根据文章第一段第一句“Another kinds of distinction that can be made among works of art is whether they were originally intended as objects purely to be looked at， or as objectsto be used．”可知，其他艺术品区分方式是他们原本是被作为观赏品或是使用对象。诸如素描、绘画和雕塑之类的精细工艺主要涉及在抽象而不是实际水平上观赏和体验的作品的创作。由此推断，此段文章之前作者应该在描述艺术品的区别。所以，答案是C。
单选题
Which of the following is true ?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】[解析]根据文章第二段第一、 二句“In contrast to the nonfunctional appeals of the fine arts，the first purpose of the APPLIED ARTS is to serve some useful function． Lucy Lewis， a traditional potter from Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico， has dpplied a visually exciting surface decorationto her waterjar．”和最后一句“While they have traditionally Created pottery， basketry， and weaving with a good sense of design， these pieces were part oftheir everyday lives．”可知，相比精细艺术的非功能性吸引力，工艺美术的首要目的是提供一些有益功能。露西·刘易斯是新墨西哥阿科马普韦布洛的一个传统陶艺家，他把一个赏心悦目的表面装饰应用于他的水罐。虽然传统上是他们创造了陶器、篮筐和设计良好的编织品，但这些作品都是他们日常生活的一部分。由此看出，精细艺术有很大的用途，使生活丰富。所以，答案是A。
单选题
The water jar mentioned in Paragraph 2 can be described as ___________.
单选题
The Coca –Cola bottle mentioned in Paragraph 3 ______.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析]根据文章第三段中的“Other applied art disciplines are similarly functional．．． Industrial designers shape the mass—produced objects used by high—tech societies， from cars， telephones， and teapots， to one of the most famous visual images in the world：the Coca—Cola bottle．”可知，其他应用艺术学科也有类似的功能……工业设计师设计了为高科技社会使用的需要大规模生产的物品。包括汽车、电话、茶壶和世界上最著名的视觉图像：可口可乐瓶。所以，答案是B。