阅读理解

Passage Four

In the North American colonies, red ware, a simple pottery fired at low temperatures, and stone ware, a strong, impervious grey pottery fired at high temperatures, were produced from two different native clays. These kinds of pottery were produced to supplement imported European pottery. When the American Revolution (1775-1783) interrupted the flow of the superior European ware, there was incentive for American potters to replace the imports with comparable domestic goods. Stoneware, which had been simple, utilitarian kitchenware, grew increasingly ornate throughout the nineteenth century, and in addition to the earlier scratched and drawn designs, three-dimensional molded relief decoration became popular. Representational motifs largely replaced the earlier abstract decorations. Birds and flowers were particularly evident, but other subjects—lions, flags, and clipper ships—are found. Some figurines, mainly of dogs and lions, were made in this medium. Sometimes a name, usually that of the potter, was die-stamped onto a piece.

As more and more large kilns were built to create the high-fired stoneware, experiments revealed that the same clay used to produce low-fired red ware could produce a stronger, paler pottery if fired at a hotter temperature. The result was yellow ware, used largely for serviceable items; but a further development was Rockingham ware—one of the most important American ceramics of the nineteenth century. (The name of the ware was probably derived from its resemblance to English brown-glazed earthenware made in South Yorkshire. ) It was created by adding a brown glaze to the fired clay, usually giving the finished product a mottled appearance. Various methods of spattering or sponging the glaze onto to the ware account for the extremely wide variations in color and add to the interest of collecting, Rockingham. An advanced form of Rockingham was flint enamel, created by dusting metallic powders onto the Rockingham glaze to produce brilliant varicolored streaks.

Articles for nearly every household activity ornament could be bought in Rockingham ware: dishes and bowls, of course; also bedpans, foot warmers, cuspidors, lamp bases, doorknobs, molds, picture frames, even curtain tiebacks. All these items are highly collectible today and are eagerly sought. A few Rockingham specialties command particular affection among collectors and correspondingly high prices. 

单选题 Why did the potters discussed in the passage change the kind of pottery they made?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】由第二段第一句the same clay used to produce low-fired red ware could produce a stronger, paler pottery if fired at a hotter temperature可知用烧制低温红色陶器用的黏土以更高的温度烧制， 能烧制出黄色陶器， 更结实、 更白。 而且第二段第一句也提到高温下烧制的粗陶器结实、 不易渗漏。
单选题 The passage suggests that the earliest stoneware.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】由第一段第四、 五句Stoneware, which had been simple, utilitarian kitchenware. . . motifs largely replaced the earlier abstract decorations. 可知， 以前制作的粗陶器上都是些简单、 抽象的图案。
单选题 How did yellow ware achieve its distinctive color?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】根据第二段第一句the same clay used to produce low-fired red ware could produce a stronger, paler pottery if fired at a hotter temperature， 用烧制红色陶器用的黏土以更高的温度烧制， 能烧制成更为硬实的黄色陶器。
单选题 What was special about flint enamel?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】由最后一段末句An advanced form of Rockingham was flint enamel, created by dusting metallic powders onto the Rockingham glaze to produce brilliant varicolored streaks可知搪瓷的特点是有五颜六色的条纹。
单选题 Which of the following kinds of Rockingham ware were probably produced in the greatest quantity?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】碗碟是家家户户都需要的器具， 而且每家需要很多碗碟，因此人们对碗碟的需求量应该是最大的。 人们对便盆、 灯座、 门 把手、 相框的需求一般不如碗碟。 所以推断碗碟的产量应该是最大的。
单选题 The passage would most probably continue with a discussion of.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】文章最后一句A few Rockingham specialties command particular affection among collectors and correspondingly high prices提到， 有一些特别的Rockingham ware十分受收藏者的喜爱， 价格也昂 贵。 因此推断文章接下来可能要讲那些特别的Rockingham ware种类。