托福阅读常考话题及练习题推荐四：艺术（2）

1托福阅读常考话题：艺术练习题

► Paragraph 1：The Navajo, a Native American people living in the southwestern United States, live in small scattered settlements. In many respects, such as education, occupation, and leisure activities, their life is like that of other groups that contribute to the diverse social fabric of North American culture in the twenty-first century. At the same time, they have retained some traditional cultural practices that are associated with particular art forms. For example, the most important traditional Navajo rituals include the production of large floor paintings. These are actually made by pouring thin, finely controlled streams of colored sands or pulverized vegetable and mineral substances, pollen, and flowers in precise patterns on the ground. The largest of these paintings may be up to 5.5 meters in diameter and cover the entire floor of a room. Working from the inside of the design outward, the Navajo artist and his assistants will sift the black, white, bluish-gray, orange, and red materials through their fingers to create the finely detailed imagery. The paintings and chants used in the ceremonies are directed by well-trained artists and singers who enlist the aid of spirits who are impersonated by masked performers. The twenty-four known Navajo chants can be represented by up to 500 sand paintings. These complex paintings serve as memory aids to guide the singers during the performance of the ritual songs, which can last up to nine days.

1.The word “precise” is closest in meaning to

A. colorful

B. exact

C. delicate

D. complex

2. The word “enlist” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. assist

B. require

C. describe

D. recruit

3. What can be inferred from paragraph 1 about the Navajo ritual chants?

A. There is a large number of them.

B. Each of them corresponds to a particular sand painting.

C. They are difficult to remember.

D. They do not take long to perform.

4. According to paragraph 1, all of the following are true of many important Navajo rituals EXCEPT:

A. They involve the creation of large, detailed images.

B. They include performers whose faces are covered.

C. They take place indoors.

D. They are performed without elaborate planning.

► Paragraph 2：The purpose and meaning of the sand paintings can be explained by examining one of the most basic ideals of Navajo society, embodied in their word hozho (beauty or harmony, goodness, and happiness). It coexists with hochxo (“ugliness,” or “evil,” and “disorder”) in a world where opposing forces of dynamism and stability create constant change. When the world, which was created in beauty, becomes ugly and disorderly, the Navajo gather to perform rituals with songs and make sand paintings to restore beauty and harmony to the world. Some illness is itself regarded as a type of disharmony. Thus, the restoration of harmony through a ceremony can be part of a curing process.

5. It can be inferred from the discussion of illness and curing in paragraph 2 that

A. the Navajo consider illness to always have a supernatural cause

B. rituals involving songs and sand paintings may be used to treat an illness

C. when a Navajo is ill, ugly and disorderly sand paintings are made

D. after a serious illness, a Navajo will take part in a ceremony

► Paragraph 3：Men make sand paintings that are accurate copies of paintings from the past. The songs sung over the paintings are also faithful renditions of songs from the past. By re-creating these arts, which reflect the original beauty of creation, the Navajo bring beauty to the present world. As relative newcomers to the Southwest, a place where their climate, neighbors, and rulers could be equally inhospitable, the Navajo created these art forms to affect the world around them, not just through the recounting of the actions symbolized, but through the beauty and harmony of the artworks themselves. The paintings generally illustrate ideas and events from the life of a mythical hero, who, after being healed by the gods, gave gifts of songs and paintings. Working from memory, the artists re-create the traditional form of the image as accurately as possible.

6. The word “faithful” in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. modern

B. accurate

C. wonderful

D. simplified

► Paragraph 3：Men make sand paintings that are accurate copies of paintings from the past. The songs sung over the paintings are also faithful renditions of songs from the past. By re-creating these arts, which reflect the original beauty of creation, the Navajo bring beauty to the present world. As relative newcomers to the Southwest, a place where their climate, neighbors, and rulers could be equally inhospitable, the Navajo created these art forms to affect the world around them, not just through the recounting of the actions symbolized, but through the beauty and harmony of the artworks themselves. The paintings generally illustrate ideas and events from the life of a mythical hero, who, after being healed by the gods, gave gifts of songs and paintings. Working from memory, the artists re-create the traditional form of the image as accurately as possible.

7. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. The Navajo used the symbolism and beauty of their works of art to improve their life in an often-inhospitable environment.

B. The ideas the Navajo hold about symbolism and beauty were influenced by their inhospitable climate, neighbors, and rulers.

C. When they first arrived in the Southwest, the Navajo produced symbolic art forms that promoted harmony.

D. In their works of art, the Navajo emphasized beauty and harmony that can be found even under the most inhospitable circumstances.