Passage Two
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.
Why do people in many cultures prize the egg?
推理题。第一段指出，春天，母鸡 又开始下蛋了，在冬天结束的时候，带来了受欢迎的蛋白质来源，因此全世界文化都以致敬 鸡蛋的方式来庆祝春天的到来就不足为奇了。由此可知，鸡蛋代表着春天到来，因此在很多 文化中人们都珍视鸡蛋，故答案为 A。B 项与原文不符，原文第一段第一句提到，在冬天结 束的时候，带来了受欢迎的蛋白质来源，并不是鸡蛋是冬季主要的蛋白质来源，故排除。C、 D 项原文均未提及，故排除。
What do we learn about the decorated "eggs" in Russia?
细节题。第二段第二句指出，另外 一些人把鸡蛋提升为一种奇特的艺术，就像 19 世纪开始，俄罗斯人喜欢的满是宝石装饰的 鸡蛋。由此可知，俄罗斯人把装饰鸡蛋看作一种艺术形式来喜欢，故答案为 D。A、B、C 项 原文均未提及，故排除。
Why have contemporary artists continued the egg art tradition?
细节题。第三段第三、四句指出， 当代艺术家们遵循这一传统，创造出了能表达我们这个时代焦虑的鸡蛋：生命是宝贵的，也 是脆弱的。鸡蛋也是如此。由此可知，当代艺术家认为鸡蛋能够反映出我们这个时代的焦虑， 故答案为 C。A、B、D 项原文均未提及，故排除。
Why does Chast enjoy the process of decorating eggs?
推理题。第五段指出，但是这种脆 弱性具有一种吸引力。“这是一种令人厌恶的恐惧，因为知道你带着这种恐惧正行走在边缘， 同时我又有点喜欢，知道它会随时崩溃。”Chast 的图案，例如独自坐在一个小船上的一个忧 心忡忡的人，反映出了那种脆弱。由此可知，Chast 享受装饰鸡蛋的过程是因为她不知道鸡 蛋什么时候会破裂，故答案为 A。B、D 项原文均未提及，故排除。C 项概括过度，并不能解 释 Chast 享受装饰鸡蛋的原因，故排除。
What do we learn from the passage about egg-painting?
推理题。最后一段第一句指出，这 个传统可以追溯到公元前 300 年。由此可知，彩蛋绘画已有 2000 多年的历史了，故答案为 B。A、D 项原文均未提及，故排除。第二段第二句提到了一些人把鸡蛋提升为一种奇特的艺 术，但文中并未提及彩蛋绘画是最古老的奇特艺术形式，故排除 C 项。