单选题 In the art of the Middle Ages, we never encounter the personality of the artist as an individual; rather, it is diffused through the artistic genius of centuries embodied in the rules of religious art. Art of the Middle Ages is a sacred script, the symbols and meanings of which were well settled. The circular halo placed vertically behind the head signifies sainthood, while the halo impressed with a cross signifies divinity. By bare feet, we recognize God, the angels, Jesus Christ and the apostles, but for an artist to have depicted the Virgin Mary with bare feet would have been tantamount to heresy. Several concentric, wavy lines represent the sky, while parallel lines represent water or the sea. A tree, which is to say a single stalk with two or three stylized leaves, informs us that the scene is laid on earth. A tower with a window indicates a village; and should an angel be watching from the battlements, that city is thereby identified as Jerusalem. Saint Peter is always depicted with curly hair, a short beard and a tonsure, while Saint Paul always has a bald head and a long beard.
Through this system, even the most mediocre talent was elevated by the genius of the centuries. The artist of the early Renaissance broke with tradition at their own peril. When they are not outstanding, they are scarcely able to avoid insignificance and banality in their religious works; and even when they are great, they are no more than the equals of the old masters who passively followed the sacred rules.

单选题 The primary purpose of the passage is to ______.

A. theorize about the immediate influences on art of tile Middle Ages
B. explain why artists of the Middle Ages followed the rules of a sacred script
C. discuss some of the important features of art of the Middle Ages
D. contrast the art of the Middle Ages with that of the Renaissance

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】本文的主要目的是讨论中世纪艺术的一些重要特征。作者在第一段前三句概括了中世纪艺术的特征。这三句话的意思是：就中世纪的艺术而言，我们从未遇到过艺术家的个性。准确地说，艺术家的个性散布在许多世纪以来体现宗教艺术准则的艺术思潮中。中世纪的艺术是神圣的，其符号和意义是不变的。

单选题 All of the following are mentioned in the passage as elements of the sacred script EXCEPT ______.

A. abstract symbols such as lines to represent physical features
B. symbols such as halos and crosses
C. clothing used to characterize individuals
D. symmetrical juxtaposition of figures

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】作者在第一段提到了A，用平行线表示水或大海；提到了B，用圆环和十字架表示神性，含蓄地提到了C，用于体现个人特征的衣服。作者在第一段说，根据赤脚，我们可以辨认上帝、天使、耶稣基督及其信徒。但是，艺术家若把圣母玛利亚描绘成光着脚丫的样子，就等于是异端邪说。也就是说，圣母玛利亚应该总是穿着鞋子。没有提到D。

单选题 The passage would most likely be found in a ______.

A. sociological analysis of the Middle Ages
B. treatise on the influence of the Church in the Middle Ages
C. scholarly analysis of art in the Middle Ages
D. preface to a biography of a Renaissance artist

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】本文对中世纪艺术进行了学术分析。第一段主要讲中世纪的艺术家缺乏个性；第二段讲艺术家由于缺乏个性而造成的后果。

单选题 By the phrase "diffused through the 'artistic genius of centuries," the author most likely means ______.

A. the individual artists of the Middle Ages did not have serious talent
B. great works of art from the Middle Ages have survived until now
C. an artist who faithfully followed the rules of religious art was not recognized during his lifetime
D. the rules of religious art, developed over time, left little freedom for the artist

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】宗教艺术的准则经历了很长时间才得以形成，它们没有给艺术家留下多少自由。根据第一段的第一句，就中世纪的艺术而言，我们从未碰到过艺术家的个性。还可以根据第二段的第二句选择正确答案D，这句话的意思是：文艺复兴时期的艺术家冒着风险才能摆脱传统的东西。