1、专业英语四级（政治类阅读理解）模拟试卷 1及答案与解析 0 In the past two decades, mainland Chinas art market has followed the same flight path as the rest of the countrys rocketing economy. Galleries and collectors have flocked in from abroad. But the mainland leaves some things to be desired. Some of them can be found just a
2、cross the funny border crossing that separates the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong from the rest of China. And as the Hong Kong Art Fair closed last week, there was a sense of tides turning. A number of mainland-based galleries are setting up shop in Hong Kong (five are confirmed; a few o
3、thers that are actively considering it). This despites the sky-high prices for commercial real estate, a determinative factor for many galleries. Why? Presumably not for the local breed of democracy. But perhaps for other political qualities? “Art Basel has been looking at Asia for a long time and w
4、e seriously considered three possibilities: Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong,“ according to Marc Spiegler, one of the two directors of Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach. Ease of doing business and a guarantee for the freedom of expression were of paramount importance to Art Basels choice. “If you
5、 want to bring the top international galleries you cant restrict them too much in terms of what they can show. You dont want people to live in constant fear of having their booth shut down or censors come in and telling to take works away,“ in Mr Spieglers words. That stands in the way of Shanghai,
6、at least. Geography plays a role too. “Obviously China is very important for us, but so is South-East Asia, and Japan and South Korea, two of the most sophisticated art markets in Asia, with Taiwan. Australia too is a strong market, as is the Middle East.“ Hong Kong is ideally located to serve them
7、all and “its very user-friendly“ explains Magnus Renfrew, the fairs director since its inception five years ago. “Theres no tax for the import and export of art,“ he adds. Galleries that exhibit in China face tariffs and duties that can add up to as much as 30% of a works value. And there are other
8、forces at play for galleries, beyond the low taxes and easy logistics. As businesses invest significant money and time in bettering their products, galleries invest in their relationships with artists, often at significant cost. Where promising young artists are concerned, a hands-on gallerist can a
9、lso play a role much like that of an old-fashioned patron. Galleries have a vested interest in helping them grow and be seen. Where the rule of law is loose and contractual practices inconsistent, an emerging artist might be easily “poached“ by bigger galleries based in Europe or America, which can
10、show their works to their long-established networks of collectors. Hong Kong is perfectly placed for galleries based on the mainland to venture their first steps abroad. There are power struggles to represent established artists around the world and the rivalry between galleries is intense. One comp
11、etitive advantage besides the more obvious curatorial clout is show space. If one were to extrapolate from one small example (in an industry that has many peculiar traits, admittedly), in the art scene perhaps lies a cautionary tale for the larger China, eager to expand the reaches of its “soft powe
12、r“. Some of the same intangibles that collectors, museums and galleries hold dear are what the rest of the business world craves too, to grow beyond the cheap manufacturing and infrastructural development that has boomed so loudly in the new China. The artists and galleries have tried the mainland a
13、nd found it wanting. Is the central government paying attention? From The Economist, May 30, 2012 1 Why have galleries been choosing Hong Kong over the Mainland? （ A） lower rental prices （ B） larger buyer market （ C） less restriction on art content and expression （ D） a humid climate better suited f
14、or art storage 2 What is not another benefit of Hong Kong as an art center that was mentioned in the article? （ A） ideal Geographical location （ B） no tax on import/export of art （ C） inflationary pressure on commodities （ D） more regulated legal environment 3 What is a risk mentioned in the article
15、 for galleries operating in an unregulated environment? （ A） There is no pricing mechanism for artwork. （ B） Auctions can charge unreasonable high prices. （ C） A lack of artwork insurance products. （ D） Artists will be poached by bigger markets. 4 What is the overall transferable lesson that can be
16、learnt? （ A） China should charge higher prices for top quality work. （ B） China should actively bid and make special policies to attract top galleries. （ C） China internationalize its regulatory and cultural environment. （ D） China should focus more on science and technological development. 5 Why is
17、 Hong Kong an attractive spot for Mainland galleries? (as mentioned in the article) （ A） There are more wealthy customers in Hong Kong. （ B） They see it as a first step to international exposure. （ C） The artwork can command a higher price. （ D） Hong Kong has better art insurance policies. 5 Among t
18、he many examples of mixed media listed on the labels for the streetwise art in “Urban Decay 3“ markers, cast resin, wood, sculpting putty, leather, clay, found objects and photography, along with old-fashioned paint of the oil, acrylic and aerosol varieties you may notice one somewhat less-familiar
19、material: Munny. Dont go running to the dictionary. You wont find the word, which refers to a brand of plastic art-toy. Resembling a featureless, vinyl teddy bear thats meant to be decorated, dressed up or otherwise enhanced by an artist, the Munny doll is the white canvas of the 21st century, a thr
20、ee-dimensional blank slate on which imagination comes to life. There are several Munny dolls on view at the Workhouse Arts Center. Along with other examples of customizable toys and small figurative sculptures, these tabletop delights are the best thing about the energetic and accessible group show,
21、 which celebrates lowbrow art, a lively genre that draws its inspiration from the world of comics, graffiti, music, skateboarding, tattoo and custom-car culture. The shows hands-down master of whats known in art circles as the “urban vinyl“ genre is the artist known as Rsin. Made from an 18-inch Mun
22、ny doll and incorporating elaborately ornamental clay and leather details, Rsins “King Whisper“ is a showstopper. At $3,400, its also at the high end of the shows prices (though it did take the artist 130 hours to make). Most works are priced for less than $500, and several of the customized action
23、figures can be had for $100 or less. Yes, this toy stuff is fun and occasionally very funny but its also serious, grown-up art. Theres a vibrant collector base for the figures. And as a couple of NC-17 rated paintings in the show indicate, “Urban Decay 3“ isnt intended for children. Less an expressi
24、on of Peter Pan-like regression or infantilism, the urban vinyl movement is more about the “recognition of possibility,“ in the words of curator Debra Yarrington. Among the shows more interesting 2-D artists is Asad “Ultra“ Walker, a graffiti painter whose work demonstrates the versatility and sophi
25、stication of the aerosol medium in a pair of almost cubist portraits. Drew Storm Grahams bas-relief wall sculptures, which resemble a cross between oversize tattoos and giant pop-up books, also are a treat. For the most part, the paintings exhibit an anti-establishment nose thumbing. Tyler Coeys “Dr
26、ones Work Hard Before They Die“ a title whose sentiment is expressed in large letters written next to a skull needs no deep interpretation. James Walker contributes two striking pieces: a mixed-media assemblage called “Unfold the Map and Roll Down the Windows“ and “Fetch“, a large photo of a tennis
27、ball and a dogs snout in mid-catch. Both are effective, and even moving,advertisements for the “carpe diem“ philosophy. The emphasis of the “Urban Decay 3“ artists on the thrill of sex, the inevitability of death and the importance of retaining a childlike sense of wonder is brash, unequivocal and,
28、at times, rather beautiful. From The Washington Post, June 15, 2012 6 Which of the following is CORRECT about Munny? （ A） It is the name of the art show at the Workhouse Arts Center. （ B） It includes many art materials, such as markers, cast resin, wood, sculpting putty, leather, clay, found objects
29、 and photography. （ C） It is a kind of art material that artists may embellish the art-toy made with it. （ D） It is a featureless, vinyl teddy bear. 7 Which of the following is INCORRECT about the artist Rsin? （ A） He is a master in the field of “urban vinyl“. （ B） His art of an 18-inch Munny doll i
30、s made without any other materials. （ C） He ornaments the art of “Kings Whisper“ with clay and leather. （ D） One of his arts owns the highest price of the show. 8 What does the word “resemble“ mean? （ A） represent （ B） has （ C） like （ D） work 9 Which of the following artists give the art work by wal
31、l painting? （ A） Asad “Ultra“ Walker （ B） Drew Storm Graham （ C） Tyler Coey （ D） James Walker 10 What does the word “inevitability“ mean? （ A） necessity （ B） importance （ C） possibility （ D） loss 10 Its tempting to call Adam Sandler a rebel. The comedian consistently flouts taste and decency in his
32、movies, which can sometimes be a good thing. The only problem with this notion is that rebels, at some point, usually break a sweat. Sandlers latest vehicle, “Thats My Boy“, is radical only in its extreme laziness. The actor plays Donny, a man trying to reconcile with his estranged son, Todd (Andy S
33、am-berg), whom he fathered with his middle-school teacher as a 13-year-old student. Sandler attempts to mine this disturbing event for comedy, but he also goes after some pretty low-hanging fruit: fat people, the elderly, immigrants, washed-up celebrities, and others. Its technique (to use the word
34、in the loosest possible sense) is a blunt instrument. It wasnt, though writer David Caspe gives no indication of the level of sparkling wit he is capable of (the crass sitcom “Happy Endings“, which he created). Donnys halting, seemingly improvised on-screen speech about love in which he describes th
35、e emotion in such a way that it sounds like the symptoms of a venereal disease is one of many low points in the dialogue. For his part, Sandler seems out to top his performance in last years “Jack and Jill“, which garnered the comic not one but two Razzie Awards (for worst actor and worst actress).
36、Sporting a mullet wig that looks left over from “The Wedding Singer“ and recycling his trademark accent an annoying hybrid of brain-damaged redneck and dirty old man he packs enough painful screen presence for three people. Once again, Sandler shows himself to be a loyal friend, casting such pals as
37、 Nick Swardson and Peter Dante in tiny parts that drain all evidence of talent from the performers. “Thats My Boy“ also features such has-beens as rapper Vanilla Ice, singer Tony Orlando, veejay Colin Quinn and actors Ian Ziering, Alan Thicke and Todd Bridges, along with fellow “SNL“, veterans Will
38、Forte and Rachel Dratch, miscellaneous Sandler family relatives, vaguely familiar-looking former jocks and other assorted hangers-on from the comedians stand-up days. Sandlers Happy Madison production company is like a one-man employment agency for people who have no other reason to be on camera. Of
39、 that bunch, Vanilla Ice, playing a good-natured caricature of himself, turns in the funniest performance, although its far from professional. So is the movie itself funny? Some people including me managed to appreciate a dumb joke or two. Sandler has his partisans, but the aggressive awfulness of “
40、Thats My Boy“ seems calculated to test even their patience. As one disgruntled-sounding viewer muttered on the way out, “Sure, I laughed, but I didnt feel good about myself afterwards.“ From The Washington Post, June 15, 2012 11 What does the word “vehicle“ in the first paragraph mean? （ A） a car （
41、B） a tool to express someones feeling （ C） motivation （ D） none of the above 12 Which of the following is CORRECT about the character “Donny“? （ A） He is a father who always tries his best to mediate his relationship with his son. （ B） He is a humorous person in that movie. （ C） He is sometimes nerv
42、ous about his life in that movie. （ D） He is constantly misbehaving himself as a father in that movie. 13 Which one is NOT the element that Sandler attempted to add into his act? （ A） fat people （ B） immigrant （ C） elder people （ D） funny kids 14 Which one is INCORRECT about Sandlers Happy Madison p
43、roduction company according to the article? （ A） It is a “one-man“ company. （ B） It is for people who are keen on acting. （ C） It is established by Adam Sandle. （ D） It is a famous acting company in Hollywood. 15 What can we infer from the last paragraph? （ A） The movie is extremely funny in all of
44、the audiences eyes. （ B） The movie has its own emphasis other than the funny part. （ C） Adam Sandler is satisfied with the movie. （ D） The movie is not that funny in audiences eyes. 15 In the next decade, 75 percent of all channels will be born on the Internet. Thats the bold prediction of the day f
45、rom Robert Kyncl, the head of global partnerships for YouTube. In a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Kyncl said the Web is poised to become the premium channel for entertainment distribution within the next decade. YouTube announced in December that it logged 1 trillion hits in
46、2011 and is anticipating an even bigger year ahead as more politicians and newsmakers turn to the site to distribute Web ads, speeches and weekly video casts. On Thursday, Kyncl said all of the entertainment industry should be paying attention to Web video, predicting that soon 90 percent of Web tra
47、ffic will be video. Its not just idle talk. YouTube and Kyncl who came to the company from Netflixare taking a big bet on Web video, pouring $100 million into original content production, in hopes of hitting on the next, big, viral thing. The Web gives established brands to reach out to different au
48、diences. Content partners participating in the channels program include The Onion and Machanima, established online content brands that have found external revenue from their work on YouTube. “All of these channels are only getting started,“ Kyncl said. “They are only scratching the surface.“ The ne
49、w movement not only takes on traditional television head-on by offering another medium to big brands, it also gives a platform to niche content creators those who make videos for crochet fanatics, pet lovers, or classical music aficionados that would likely never see the light of day on traditional media. To cultivate that talent, YouTube has launched not only its partnership network, but also grants and educational programs to help find the next YouTube stars and nurture them to find great audiences on the Web. In a Decem
