It is a true story behind a wellknown piece of art.
In a village near Nuremberg lived a family with eighteen children. Merely to keep food on the table, the father worked eighteen hours a day. Despite their condition, two of the children had a dream to seek their talent for but they knew well their father would never be able to send of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
The two boys finally worked out an agreement. They would toss (扔) a coin. The would work in the nearby mines to support his brother. Albrecht the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, work at the academy was almost a(n ) success. Albecht's woodcut and oils were much than those of his professors and he soon was earning considerable fees his works.
When the young returned home, the family held a festive dinner. Albrecht rose to toast to his beloved brother, “Now, Albert, it is your to seek your dream and l will support you”．
All heads turned to the far end of the table, where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, while he and repeated, “No...no.” Finally, Albert rose and the tears from his cheeks. He said softly, “I go to Nuremberg, brother. It is too late for me. Look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and I cannot even hold a glass to your toast.”
Today, Albrecht's masterful works in every great museum in the world, but chances are great you, like most people, are familiar with only one of them. Albrecht drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and the stretched skyward. He called it simply “Hands”， but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and his tribute (敬意) of love “The Praying Hands”．
Next time you see that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one ever makes it ！
【小题1】A．hopeful B．luckyC．disappointedD．hopeless【小题2】A．musicB．artC．miningD．farming【小题3】A．allB．bothC．eachD．either【小题4】A．painterB．loserC．winnerD．failure【小题5】A．lostB．gotC．wonD．beat【小题6】A．whoB．hisC．whomD．whose【小题7】A．randomB．immediateC．attractiveD．ordinary【小题8】A．smallerB．worseC．fasterD．better【小题9】A．forB．toC．inD．at【小题10】A．minerB．workerC．artistD．professor【小题11】A．luckB．turnC．moveD．moment【小题12】A．sobbedB．noddedC．smiledD．laughed【小题13】A．recoveredB．swept C．wipedD．handed【小题14】A．can'tB．shouldn't C．canD．should【小题15】A．hold B．returnC．moveD．turn【小题16】A．hangB．representC．presentD．visit【小题17】A．whenB．thatC．whichD．as【小题18】A．figuresB．handsC．fingersD．arms【小题19】A．saidB．lovedC．renamedD．called【小题20】A．yetB．outC．aloneD．beforeD
网友回答
(答案→)D
解析：
文章大意：德国艺术大师Albrecht Durer有一幅名画“祈祷之手”，这幅画的背后有一则爱与牺牲的故事。
【小题1】D 根据上文可知，这个家庭条件很困难。生活尽管窘迫逼人，然而这个家庭其中两个孩子却有一个同样的梦想。他们两人都希望可以发展自己在艺术方面的天分。
【小题2】B 根据下文内容可知，这两个孩子都想要学艺术。
【小题3】D 根据上文可知，父亲不能把他们都送去学艺术。Never… either 表示完全否定。不过他们也了解，父亲无法在经济上供他们俩到纽伦堡艺术学院读书。
【小题4】B 败者则到附近的矿场工作赚钱供另一个人去学艺术。
【小题5】C 赢的人去学校学习。
【小题6】D 定语从句，他的作品很成功。
【小题7】B 他的作品很快就取得了成功，与下文的soon相呼应。
【小题8】D 与上文的success相呼应，他的作品比其他人的作品好。
【小题9】A For 表原因。
【小题10】C 根据故事情节可知，是年轻的艺术家回到了家。
【小题11】B 轮到你去实现你的梦想了。
【小题12】A 与上文的tears相呼应，他哭了。
【小题13】C 擦掉脸上的泪水。
【小题14】C 根据上文可知，把这幅爱的作品重新命名为“祈祷之手”。
【小题15】B 我不能举杯去回敬你
【小题16】A 这幅作品挂在许多博物馆。
【小题17】B 但是很可能你只熟悉其中的一件作品。Chances are (that)…句型表示可能性。
【小题18】C 手指头朝向天空伸展。
【小题19】A 我不能去上学了
【小题20】C 没有人能单枪匹马地获得成功。