Ancient people made clay pottery because they needed it for their survival．They used the pots they make for cooking, storing food, and carrying things from place to place．Pottery was so important to early cultures that scientists now study it to learn more about ancient civilizations．The more advanced the pottery in terms of decoration, materials, glazes, and manufacture, the more advanced the culture itself．
The artisan who makes pottery in North America today utilizes his or her skill and imagination to create items that are beautiful as well as functional, transforming something ordinary into something special and unique．
The potter uses one of the Earth’s most basic materials, clay．Clay can be found almost anywhere．Good pottery clay must be free from all small stones and other hard materials that would make the potting process difficult．Most North American artisan potters now purchase commercially processed clay, but some find the clay they need right in the earth, close to where they work．
The most important tools potters use are their own hands; however, they also use wire loop tools, wooden modeling tools, plain wire, and sponges．Plain wire is used to cut away the finished pot from its vase the potter’s wheel．
After a finished pot is dried of all its moisture in the open air, it placed in a kiln and fired．The first firing hardens the pottery, and it is then ready to be glazed and fired again．
For areas where they do not want any glaze, such as the bottom of the pot, artisans paint on melted wax that will later burn off in the kiln．They then pour on the liquid glaze and let it run over the clay surface, making any kind of decorative pattern that they want．
(1)
What does the passage mainly discuss?
[ ]
A．
Different kinds of clay．
B．
The training of an artisan．
C．
The making of pottery．
D．
Crafts of ancient civilizations．
(2)
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a way that ancient people used pottery?
[ ]
A．
To hold food．
B．
To wash clothes．
C．
To cook．
D．
To transport objects．
(3)
According to the passage, how do most North American potters today get the clay they need?
[ ]
A．
They buy it．
B．
They make it．
C．
They dig it from the earth．
D．
They barter for it．
(4)
According to the author, what do potters use to remove the pot from the wheel?
Nelson Mandela's greatest pleasure, his most private moment, is watching the sun set with the music of Handel or Tchaikovsky playing．
Locked up in his cell during daylight hours, robbed of music, both these simple pleasures were denied him for decades．With his fellow prisoners, concerts were organised when possible, particularly at Christmas time, where they would sing．Nelson Mandela finds music very uplifting, and takes a keen interest not only in European classical music but also in African choral music and the many talents in South African music．But one voice stands out above all - that of Paul Robeson, whom he describes as our hero．
The years in jail strengthened habits that were already fixed：the disciplined eating rule of an athlete began in the 1940s, as did the early morning exercise．Still today Nelson Mandela is up by 4．30am, irrespective of how late he has worked the previous evening．By 5am he has begun his exercise routine that lasts at least an hour．Breakfast is by 6．30, when the day's newspapers are read．The day's work has begun．
With a standard working day of at least 12 hours, time management is critical and Nelson Mandela is extremely impatient with unpunctuality, regarding it as insulting to those you are dealing with．
Mandela accepted the Nobel Peace Prize as an accolade to all people who have worked for peace and stood against racism．It was as much an award to his person as it was to the ANC and all South Africa s people．In particular, he regards it as a tribute to the people of Norway who stood against the racial segregation while many in the world were silent．
(1)
Which of the following music forms does Mandela NOT enjoy?
[ ]
A．
European classical music．
B．
African choral music．
C．
Christmas songs．
D．
South African music．
(2)
Why did not Nelson Mandela enjoy watching the sunset for years?
[ ]
A．
Because he was occupied in the State Affair．
B．
Because he was in prison then．
C．
Because he was busy enjoying different music．
D．
Because he was ready do get a new hobby．
(3)
What's Nelson Mandela's attitude towards time management?
[ ]
A．
Neglecting time means being rude to others．
B．
Time is money and wasting time is killing oneself．
C．
He is impatient with time management．
D．
Unpunctuality should be criticized．
(4)
What can we infer from Paragraph 3?
[ ]
A．
He was once an athlete．
B．
He was forced to form a habit．
C．
He has a strict diet．
D．
He doesn't often think his work much．
(5)
Why does he regard the Nobel Peace Prize as a tribute to the people at Norway?
[ ]
A．
Because he thinks the people of Norway are great．
B．
Because he thinks it was the people of Norway that trust him．
C．
Because he thinks the Nobel Peace Prize is valuable．
D．
Because he thinks the Nobel Peace Prize stands for being against racial discrimination．
阅读快车系列答案