Mary Cassatt is one of the first great women American painters. At first her father did not want her to bee an artist. But she followed her dreams and became an artist. She was born on May 22, 1844, and lived in Europe for several years as a child.
Her family returned to the United States and, at age 16, Mary attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Four years later she decided she couldn't learn anything fresh and practical in Philadelphia, so she returned to Europe. There she studied the skills of the masters in Rome, Seville, Antwerp, and Paris.
Mary received the chance of a lifetime at the age of 33 when the famous Frenchpainter, Edgar Degas, asked her to join a group of painters that included now-famous artists like Manet and Renoir. Their style of painting is called Impressionism. They used primary colors and short brush strokes in their work. They recognized Mary’s spirit and powerful talent and invited her to exhibit in the Impressionist art shows.
Mary painted what she saw: gardens and paintings of persons, especially of mothers and children involved in everyday living. One of her paintings, Young Mother and Two Children, was given to the White House in 1954 where it hangs today.
Mary never married and, in 1877, her parents and sister moved to Europe to join her. Mary devoted much of her time to them for the next 18 years to their care. Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue. She spent the later years of her life in Paris. She died in 1926 at the age of 82. Unfortunately, all her life, she refused to accept students.
【小题1】Which year was the most vital to her career and life? A．1877B．1864C．1860D．1914【小题2】Mary left Pennsylvania for Europe at age 20 mainly because .
A. she didn’t learn anything in Pennsylvania
B she wanted to give up painting
C. her desire for the learning wasn’t satisfied well
D. her father didn’t want her to learn painting again
【小题3】 Mary Cassatt stopping painting because of . A．her poor eyesightB．her old ageC．lack of interestD．her family【小题4】 Which of the statements about Mary Cassatt is supported by the passage?
A. Her painting featured scenes of everyday living
B. Her father had a decisive(决定性的) effect on her painting
C. She used various colors and long lines in her works
D. She studied the paintings of the masters in U.S.A.
【小题5】 It can be inferred from the passage that . A．the paintings of Edgar Degas belong to realismB．during the last ten year of life, she painted nothing. C．her works were controversial though highly recognizedD．her students showed great respect for herA
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(答案→)A
解析：本文介绍了Mary Cassatt的生平事迹，她的绘画风格和在绘画方面主要艺术成就。
【小题1】细节理解题。由第三段第一句Mary received the chance of a lifetime at the age of 33 when the famous French painter, Edgar Degas, asked her to join a group of painters that included now-famous artists like Manet and Renoir. 可知1877年对她的绘画事业来说是个关键的时间，由此她的绘画生涯一步步走向成功。选A。
【小题1】推理判断题：由第二段中Four years later she decided she couldn't learn anything fresh and practical in Philadelphia, so her parents let her return to Europe.可知，她在费城已经学不到新的东西，也就是她的学习欲望得不到满足。故C项为正确答案
【小题4】细节理解题。由最后一段中Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue.可知答案为A。
【小题3】推理判断题：由文章第四段Mary painted what she saw: gardens, and paintings of persons , especially of mothers and children involved in everyday living.可知她的画以日常生活为素材，故A项正确。由第一段At first her father did not want her to bee an artist. But she followed her dreams and became an artist.可知B项错误; 由第三段They used primary colors and short brush strokes(笔画) in their work. 可知C项错误;由第二段…so her parents let her return to Europe. There she studied the skills of the masters ... 可知D项错误。
【小题5】推理判断题：由最后一段Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue.…She died in 1926 at the age of 82. 可以推出在她去世前的10年间,她没有再画画。故答案为B项。由第三段可知Edgar Degas 属于印象派，故A项错误； C项文中没有提及她的作品存在争议，故C项表述错误；由文章最后一句Unfortunately,all her life, she refused to accept students.可知D项错误。