题目内容
Have you ever seen a real night sky that looks like Van Gogh’s Starry Night? I hope not! So, why would an artist paint the sky this way? Perhaps I can answer that with another question. When you’re happy, why do you sing instead of speaking? Or when you’re in love, why do you speak of roses and honey? When we do these things, we, too are artists. We’re using something that goes beyond a mere scientific description in order to communicate our feelings more powerfully than straightforward words can. So consider for a moment that Van Gogh might not have been hallucinating on the night he painted this. Maybe he felt something so powerful that he had to go beyond the familiar to express it.
I hope I’m reminding you of something you already know as I describe the experience of being outside at night under a crystal clear sky that makes everything seem clean and refreshing. So you look up. And suddenly you see the sky that you’ve seldom seen before. It’s not just the same old dark night sky tonight. Instead, the blackness is a deep, rich blue that is more bottomless than any ocean. The stars are not spots of light but brilliant, magical diamonds that dance like tiny angels. In just this special moment, the sky is somehow alive, and it seems to speak to you silently about the meaning of infinity.
Now look at the painting again. Can you see something of what makes this such a famous and well-loved image? But there’s more here than that. Van Gogh painted this while he was quite struck down by a mental disease. It is natural to imagine that he frequently battled the fear that he would never escape his prison to true freedom. It is natural for us to imagine this because each of us has faced our own personal prison, whether it be disease, the loss of a loved one, serious financial problems … In such moments it is tempting to give up to despair and collapse in hopelessness.
Looking at this painting, I imagine Van Gogh in just such a moment of despair, when he is struck by the memory of one of those amazing night skies. He recalls the sense that he is not alone, that there is a living, infinite world with rich colorful creatures and scenes all around.
And so the sky flows across the canvas full of vitality and power. The stars don’t just sparkle; they explode. Looking closer, we notice that the earth itself seems to respond to the movement in the sky, forming its own living waves in the mountain and rolling trees. In the sleepy village, the windows of the houses glow with the same light that brightens the universe. The giant trees at the left seem to capture the joy by stretching upwards toward the sky.
What a tremendous message of hope there is in this masterpiece! Even if our troubles persist, the world around us assures us that life is worth living. That’s what the angels sing about. Doesn’t it make you want to sing, too?
1.Looking at the painting Starry Night, we can see all the following except ________.
A. the singing angelsB. the giant trees
C. the sleeping villageD. the sparkling stars
2.Van Gogh does NOT describe a feeling of ________ through the Starry Night.
A. happinessB. vitalityC. powerD. despair
3.What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To explain how Van Gogh painted the Starry Night.
B. To tell us how to appreciate the Starry Night.
C. To prove Van Gogh was in a hallucinating state of mind while painting the picture.
D. To show us the beauty of the sky on a Starry Night.
Welcome to Marksdale State Park Where fun, fitness, and education come together Don’t miss our new summer classes available during May 23- Aug 5! Swimming lessons: Ages 4—adult. Cost: $ 5 per class or $ 15 for one month. Hiking: Have a state park keeper hike through our paths with you and teach you about the park’s wildlife and plants. Soccer: Our youth soccer program is unusual in that it is non-competitive. Different teams are formed every day. The focus is on each player learning to work as a team, not on one team winning it all. Boating: These classes are only for 20-year-olds and above. Fishing is only allowed with a permit. Bicycling: We have special paths built for bicyclists. Signs are posted for self-guided tours of our park. Group cycling is also available with a park guide. Paths range from easy to challenging. A message from the director: Hiking paths! Sport fields! Playgrounds! Campgrounds! Fun activities! Located on McQueeney, Marksdale State Park offers something for everyone. We have a number of plants and animals, which are in danger of dying out, being protected in our park. Sign up for one of our new summer community classes, or take a camping trip with your friends or family! Glen Harwood, Park Director |
1.If you plan to learn to swim from June 1st to July 31st, you should pay ______.
A. $5 B. $15 C. $25 D. $30
2.Which of the following activities is only intended for adults?
A. swimming B. boating C. hiking D. bicycling
3. What can we learn about Marksdale State Park?
A. Many endangered plants can be found there.
B. Special paths will soon be built for bicyclists.
C. It is a park full of fun activities and sea animals.
D. The youth soccer program focuses on how to win.