托福阅读tpo62R-2原文+译文+题目+答案+背景知识.pdf

托福阅读TPO62R-2TheUseofJadeandBronzeinChina

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译文5

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原文

TheUseofJadeandBronzeinChina

①JadeandbronzewerechosenearlyinChinashistoryasthe

materialsforsocietysmostpreciousobjects.Themainreasonforthis

isverystraightforward.Bothmaterialsarebeautifultotheeyeand,in

thecaseofjade,alsotothetouch.Jadeisadensestonethatcanbe

groundtosmooth,softsurfacesandglowsinsubtlegreens,grays,and

browns.Bronze,analloyoftinandcopper,isalight,brightgoldcolor

whenpolished.

②Jadewasemployed(c.4500B.C.)forexceptionallyelegantversions

ofutilitarianstonetools,bronzewasthechoice(c.1650B.C.)forthe

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highest-qualitycookingpots.Madeinjade,thetoolswerenotfordaily

usebutfordisplaysofstatusandpower,andthebronzecookingpots

werenotforordinarymealsbutwerereservedforofferingsoffood

andwinetoancestors.Jadeandbronzewerethususedforspecial

ritualorceremonialversionsofstandardeverydayitems.

③Thematerialsthemselveswerescarcerandrequiredmorelaborto

workthanordinarystoneandceramic.Thatthiswasthecasemust

havebeenasclearinthepastasitistodayandmusthavemarkedthe

objectsasinsomewayexceptional.Notonlythematerialsbutalsothe

waysinwhichtheywereworkeddemonstratedtheirexaltedfunctions.

Jadescepters(ceremonialobjectsofvariousshapesthatwerecarried

byinfluentialpeopleassymbolsofauthority)weregroundmorethinly

thanthestonetoolstheycopied,suchasaxesorreapingknives.Had

theybeenusedtochopdownatree,theywouldhavebroken.Bronze

cookingpotsweremadeinintricateforms,withextraknobsand

handlesanddensedecoration,allofwhichwouldhavebeen

impracticableoneverydayceramics.

④Therewouldbenopointinusingthesescarceandlabor-