Back in the fifteenth century in Nuremberg lived a family with eighteen children. They were so poor that two children, who wanted to pursue their talent for 26 knew their father would never be 27 able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
So they tossed (掷) a coin. Albrecht Durer, the younger, 28 the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous 29 and for the next four years, financed his brother, who did so well that his works were even better than those of most of his 30 . By the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn 31 fees by drawing for wealthy people. When the young artist returned home, at dinner he drank a 32 to his beloved brother for the years of 33 that had enabled him to fulfill his 34 .He said, “Albert, my blessed brother, now it is your 35 to go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you.”
With tears in his eyes, Albert held his hands close to his right cheek and said, “No, brother, I cannot go. Look... look what four years in the mines have done to my 36 !The bones in every finger have been 37 at least once. Lately I have been suffering from arthritis (关节炎) so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a 38 to return your toast, much less make delicate （细腻的）lines with a pen or a brush. No, brother..., for me it is too 39 .”
Deeply moved, Albrecht painstakingly drew his brother’s 40 hands with palms（手掌） together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing 41 “Hands”, to which the entire world immediately opened their hearts and later they 42 it “ the Praying Hands”.
The next time when you see a copy of that 43 creation, take a second look. Let it be your 44 , if you still need one, that no one ever makes it 45 !
【小题1】A．assistanceB．artC．scienceD．dreaming【小题2】A．fundamentallyB．frequentlyC．financiallyD．flexibly【小题3】A．wonB．lostC．endedD．started【小题4】A．mountainsB．oceansC．desertsD．mines【小题5】A．classmatesB．colleaguesC．professorsD．brothers【小题6】A．convenientB．considerableC．considerateD．confident【小题7】A．beerB．drinkC．dropD．toast【小题8】A．selfish donationB．no educationC．hard workD．rich experience【小题9】A．attemptB．ambitionC．appointmentD．assessment【小题10】A．turnB．dreamC．kindnessD．hope【小题11】A．healthB．bodyC．mindD．hands【小题12】A．injuredB．strengthenedC．sharpenedD．used【小题13】A．knifeB．spoonC．glassD．pen【小题14】A．urgentB．unnecessaryC．messyD．late【小题15】A．overusedB．darkC．wideD．fragile,【小题16】A．seriouslyB．simplyC．carefullyD．gently【小题17】A．soldB．boughtC．foundD．renamed【小题18】A．longingB．touchingC．challengingD．disturbing【小题19】A．reminderB．aidC．guideD．coach【小题20】A．alongB．asideC．aloneD．awareB
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(答案→)B
解析：本文讲述了为了让弟弟去学习，哥哥到煤矿里打工，最后弟弟成名归来，报答哥哥的恩情时却发现哥哥的双手已经不能再拿起画笔了，所以他就把哥哥的手画了下来。
【小题1】B考查语境化选词。下文，尤其是第6空所在的句子告诉我们，Albrecht毕业后以画画(drawing)谋生可知答案。their talent for art意思是“他们的艺术天赋”。
【小题2】C 副词辨析。A基础地B频繁地C经济上D灵活地；在经济上他们的父母无法送他们去Nuremberg学习。
【小题3】A 动词辨析。A赢得B失去C结束D开始；兄弟赢得了这次掷硬币，而得到了去Nuremberg的机会。
【小题4】D 名词辨析。A山B海洋C沙漠D矿；指哥哥到矿里打工挣钱给弟弟学习。
【小题5】C考查语境化选词。这里要表达的意思是，他的作品甚至比大部分老师的都要出色。classmates(同学)有很大的干扰性，但比大部分同学出色，无法表达出好到能为有钱人画画赚钱的程度(drawing for wealthy people)。
【小题6】B考查形容词辨析。considerable是“大量”的意思。由下文可知，他要为哥哥提供学习的费用，由此可以看出，他通过给人画画赚了很多钱。considerate“体贴的，考虑周到的”，由于和considerable极其形似，所以极易误选。
【小题7】D考查语境化选词。Albrecht学成归来，向为帮他实现艺术梦想而牺牲了许多的哥哥敬酒致谢。toast在这里是可数名词，意思是“(向某人)敬酒”。
【小题8】C考查名词辨析。由语境可知，哥哥为了弟弟放弃了自己学习的机会，并去了危险的煤矿打工赚钱。这都是为弟弟所做的牺牲“sacrifice”。而donation“捐赠”；education“教育”；experience“经验，体验”。均不符合句意。
【小题9】B考查名词辨析。这里指的是第一段所说的艺术梦想。见7。ambition在这里指远大的理想。下一句也有提示：pursue your dream。
【小题10】A考查名词辨析。“It is one's turn to do sth.”意思是“轮到某人做某事”。句意为：(我的梦想已经实现)，现在该你去实现自己的梦想了。turn指“(依次轮流时各自的)一次机会”。
【小题11】D考查语境化选词。该段第一句有暗示。眼含泪水，他把双手收放到脸的右侧，说：“我不能去了。看，四年来，在煤矿里，我的手(hands)怎么了。”下一句也有提示。
【小题12】A考查动词辨析。在这四个词中，只有injure“伤害”才能使手发生这样的变化。句意为：每只手指的骨头至少受伤过一次。strengthen“加强，使有力”有很大的干扰性。
【小题13】C 名词辨析。A刀B勺子C杯子D笔；我甚至都无法拿起杯子来回应敬酒。
【小题14】D 形容词辨析。指这一切一切都太晚了，我已经没有机会再去学习绘画了。
【小题15】A 形容词辨析。A过度使用B黑色C宽的D易碎的；他就把哥哥过度使用的手画了下来。
【小题16】B考查副词辨析。由他为自己的画取的名字来看，是非常简单的。句意为：他把这幅伟大的作品简单地(simply)称为“双手”，然而，全世界的人都立刻敞开心扉，瞻仰这幅杰作，把这幅爱的作品重新命名为“祈祷之手”。seriously“认真地”；carefully“谨慎地；仔细地”；gently“温和地”。
【小题17】D考查语境化选词。因为作品已有了一个名字，这是再次取名，所以要用rename。
【小题18】B考查形容词辨析。由上文的介绍可以看出，这幅作品是非常感人(touching)的。倒数第二段的第一句话也有提示。longing“渴望的，极想得到的”；challenging“有挑战性的”；disturbing“引起烦恼的，令人不安的”。都不符合句意。
【小题19】A考查名词辨析。这里要表达的意思是：提醒你明白“if you still need one，that no oneno one ever makes it alone！”reminder在这里意思是“提醒物”。句意为：如果你也需要这么一幅画，就让它成为你的提醒。aid“帮助”，guide“指导”，coach“教练；家庭教师”。
【小题20】C考查语境化选词。句意为：没有人——没有人能单枪匹马地获得成功！alone意思是“单独地，独自地”。由上文的介绍可知，这位艺术大师的成功，不是自己独自奋斗的结果，是他哥哥作出了巨大的牺牲，才使他学业有成的。