高中英语Unit1ArtSectionIReadingandThinking测试新人教版选择性.docxVIP

SectionIReadingandThinking（1）

阅读理解。

A

Whatisgreatart?Ontheonehand,wecanallseethatgreatartisoldartwhichisconsideredgreat.Buthowdoweknowwhichartofourowntimesisgreat,andwhichwillbeforgotten?Andwhodecides?

Theseareimportantquestions,forthegreatartofthepastoftenwasnotconsideredgreatduringitsowntime.WhenShakespeareandCharlesDickenswerewriting,forexample,mostcriticsconsideredthemmediocre（平庸的）writerswithlittleornoliteraryability.

Similarly,VanGoghandmanyoftheotherImpressionistpaintersofthelatenineteenthcenturywerenotallowedtoparticipateineventsinvolvingwhatwerethoughttobethe“real”paintersofthetime,andoftentheywereverypoor.Yettodaytheirpaintingsoftensellformillionsofdollars,whilethoseso-called“real”paintersarenowbarelyremembered.

Sowhatmakesgreatart?Can,forexample,rockmusicbegreatart?Musicvideos?Cartoonsandcomics?Thosewhocalledthemselvescriticsofthefineartsoftenwerethelasttorecognisegreatartinthepast,andwecanprobablyexpectthistobethesituationtoday.

Criticsoftendontseegreatartforwhatitisbecausetheytendtobeprejudicedagainstwhatispopular,asShakespeareandDickenswereintheirday.Popularworks,whethernovels,movies,orcomics,areusuallyconsideredtobeproducedforthesakeofmoneyonly,andnotforthesakeofart.

Butpopularity,itseemstome,isoneofthreesignsthatapresent-dayworkofartmaycometobethoughtofasgreat.Theothertwoarethatitisgroundbreaking,andthatitisinherently（内在地）beautiful.

Manyworkshaveoneoreventwoofthesequalitiesofbeingpopular,unusual,orbeautiful.Havingallthreeoftenwillmeanthataworkofartwillsomedaybeseentobegreat,thoughitmaytakeagoodspoonfuloftime,suchasacenturyortwo,toknowforsure.

Whatisthepurposeofthefirstparagraph?

Toleadtothefollowing,andarous