Every artist knows in his heart that he is saying something to the public. Not only does he want so say it well, but he wants it to be something which has not been said before. He hopes the public will listen and understand - he wants to teach them, and he wants them to learn from him. What visual artists like painters want to teach is easy to make out but difficult to explain, because painters translate their experiences into shapes and colors, not words. They seem to feel that a certain selection of shapes and colors, out of the countless billions possible, is exceptionally interesting for them and worth showing to us. Without their work we should never have noticed these particular shapes and colors, or have felt the delight which they brought to the artist. Most artists take their shapes and colors from the world of nature and from human bodies in motion and repose; their choices indicate that these aspects of the world are worth looking at, that they contain beautiful sights. Contemporary artists might say that they merely choose subjects that provide an interesting pattern, that there is nothing more in it. Yet even they do not choose entirely without reference to the character of their subjects. If one painter chooses to paint a gangrenous(生坏疽的) leg and another a lake in moonlight, each of them is directing our attention to a certain aspect of the world. Each painter is telling us something, showing us something, emphasizing something---all of which mean that, consciously or unconsciously, he is trying to teach us.
1. All artists are common in that _____.
[A] they use shapes and colors instead of words
[B] they are trying to teach the public
[C] what they want to teach is difficult to explain
[D] they want to learn from the public
2. A painter chooses certain shapes and colors out of the countless billions possible because he believes they _____.
[A] are beautiful
[B] can bring delight to him
[C] are worth showing to the public
[D] are particular
3. Contemporary artists choose subjects _____.
[A] without reference to the character of their subjects
[B] that only provide an interesting pattern
[C] that there is no meaning in it
[D] partly for the meaning of the subjects
4. Comparing the painter who paints a gangrenous leg with the one who paints a lake in moonlight,we can draw the conclusion that _____.
[A] both convey the same meaning
[B] both show certain aspects of the world
[C] the latter is more meaningful
[D] the former is more meaningful
5. According to the passage,which of the follwoing statements is true?
[A] The public could share the artist's feelings through their choice of shapes and colors.
[B] The painter should not choose to paint ugly things.
[C] Contemporary artists are completely different from other artists.
[D] All artists are teaching the public consciously.
参考答案：B C B B A
What are the specific traits that will assist executives to climb the ladder of success? Opinions vary widely. Given approximately equal qualifications and circumstances, some claim the success factor is largely a matter of luck — being in the right place at the right time. Others speak of an almost crazy devotion to work, combined with a degree of ruthlessness. One "expert" maintains that it's undoubtedly a matter of how much education your mother had.
To make it big, executives must possess four basic skills:
First, drive. Business success takes an unusual amount of energy. A successful executive—almost by definition—is a striver. He will get tense when he is not striving.
Second, people sense. Some say being able to judge people is more important than a high IQ. The skill can be instinctual(本能的), but in most cases it is painstakingly learned.
Third, communications ability. Different executives make themselves understood in different ways. Some transmit ideas best face to face; others are masters of the telephone call; still others are persuasive writers. One way or another, they all communicate clearly.
Fourth, calm under pressure. No businessman will get very far if he chokes up.
1. Some people claim that besides hard work,the success also requires _____.
[A] equal qualifications
[B] specific traits
[C] much education
[D] a degree of cruelty
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