One of the most prevalent characteristics of nature is that it is so versatile. This can be seen in the many different forms of stone.
Stone can be smooth, round and cool It can be sharp,jagged,and 【A1】 w________.It can be tiny particles that are swept dancing into the air bya soft【A2】 br________, or a solid wall that withstands the force of a tornado. It can be dark and somber or as colorful as a rainbow.It can even flash with streaks of【A3】________(glitter) gold and silver. It can keep forever the secrets of the past, making them objects of beauty 【A4】________the form of fossils.
Human beings, versatile themselves, have observed the different ways nature affects stone. They appreciate stone for its beauty in its natural 【A5】sta________ . At the same time, they have developed 【A6】________ (art) uses for stone, including sculpture, architecture, pottery, and sand painting.
The Greeks and Romans were particularly 【A7】fo________ of sculpture. Using stone, and especially marble, they chiseled scenes to commemorate battles, honor great leaders, and glorify the human form.
Every generation has used stone to create beautiful buildings, often cathedrals, temples, and churches, and each used it in a different way to show the styles and techniques of the times. For example, the cathedrals built in the late Middle Ages were of the "Gothic" style, 【A8】________ means they had pointed arches, tall slender pillars, and delicate stone tracery.
Pottery is one of the earliest forms of art. It is also one of the most flexible because, 【A9】________ (like) stonemasons who are restricted by the size and shape of the stone with which they are working, potters can mold their clay into any form they desire. The usual products, however, are bowls and rounded shapes which are particularly easy to make from clay.
Sand painting is usually 【A10】asso________ with Native American people. They created designs by allowing dyed sand to sift through their fingers as they moved their arms.
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