Claude Monet’s paintings were quite different from the art styles that were popular in the 1870s France. Traditional artists always did their artwork in a studio and their paintings looked exactly like the real world. Claude Monet was part of a group of painters who were called Impressionists (印象派画家). Their paintings gave an impression of what the real world looked like.

Knowing that trains were interesting subjects and stood for modern progress (进步), Claude Monet painted a series of Impressionist paintings of trains from January to March of 1877.

Monet’s friend, Pierre Auguste Renoir, told the following story to his sons about Claude Monet and painting the trains. Monet needed permission (允许) to stay on the train platform and paint what he saw in his impressionistic style. One day Monet dressed himself in his very best clothes. It seemed that he was a rich gentleman but in fact he really was a poor painter.

He showed the clerk (职员) at the train office his calling card which introduced him as Claude Monet, Painter. He asked to see the station master. The clerk quickly allowed this fine gentleman to enter the station master’s office. The station master gave Monet permission to paint on the train platform. He even stopped trains from leaving on time so Monet could complete a scene even though passengers complained.

Was it all worthwhile (值得)? Monet’s train scenes turned his career into a success and for the station master, made his train station famous until even now.

Claude Monet

Introduction

◆Claude Monet was one of the Impressionist painters whose paintings were not the 1. as the popular art styles in the 1870s France.

◆Impressionist paintings gave an impression of 2. the real world looked.

A story of painting

◆At that time trains were subjects that could keep people’s 3. and represented modern progress.

◆He dressed himself as a wealthy gentleman to 4. the station master’s trust.

◆In order to help Monet complete a scene, the station master even made trains leave 5. than they should do.

Result

◆His train scenes made not only his career successful but also the train station famous.

This year has been a busy year of travelling for me, and the end of the year is no exception. I booked an early morning flight so I had to get up at 4:30 am to get to the airport. The thought of such an early flight made me not very happy, but then I started to think about the people who would make that early journey possible for me: my taxi driver, check-in agent, security staff, gate agents, flight crew, etc. They all do their jobs at an early hour so I can get to my destination safely, often for very little money.

When that trip came, I realized I had a choice: I could be angry about having to take an early flight, finally showing my anger to everyone I see. Or I could choose to be grateful to this modern machine of safe air travel and the people who made it possible. Just thinking about the latter choice got my mind working about how I could show my thanks, and I decided to do a little “experiment”: what if I got a little gift for every worker I met my journey? How many gifts would I end up giving out?

Then I started to think about what kind of gift would be good for such an experiment.

The payback from this experiment started immediately. For the first time in years I actually looked forward to getting up at 4:30 am! I ended up giving a gift cards to my taxi driver, airport security agent, two gate agents, and four fight attendants, and all of them said thank you and smiled sweetly. And, instead of arriving tired and sad after four hours of sleep and a long flight, I was excited and happy to share my story.

Change your attitudes( 态度)and choose to do something good for others can help yourself feel good, too.

1.At first, the writer felt when she thought of getting up so early.

A.worried B.unhappy C.excited D.nervous

2.What is "payback" of the writer's experiment?

A.She spent some money on some postcards.

B.She showed thanks to the people around.

C.She felt great towards the coming travelling.

D.She got lots of presents from the other people.

3.What's the passage mainly about?

A.The reasons why the writer don't like travelling early in the morning.

B.How the writer's attitudes towards her travelling changed.

C.Why we should be thankful for others help.

D.The writer's most wonderful travelling experience.

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