A
(2015·重庆卷)
The values of artistic works,according to cultural relativism(相对主义),are simply reflections of local social and economic conditions.Such a view,however,fails to explain the ability of some works of art to excite the human mind across cultures and through centuries.
History has witnessed the endless productions of Shakespearean plays in every major language of the world.It is never rare to find that Mozart packs Japanese concert halls,as Japanese painter Hiroshige does Paris galleries.Unique works of this kind are different from today’s popular art,even if they began as works of popular art.They have set themselves apart in their timeless appeal and will probably be enjoyed for centuries into the future.
In a 1757 essay,the philosopher David Hume argued that because “the general principles of taste are uniform(不变的) in human nature,”the value of some works of art might be essentially permanent.He observed that Homer was still admired after two thousand years.Works of this type,he believed,spoke to deep and unvarying features of human nature and could continue to exist over centuries.
Now researchers are applying scientific methods to the study of the universality of art.For example,evolutionary psychology is being used by literary scholars to explain the long-lasting themes and plot devices in fiction.The structures of musical pieces are now open to experimental analysis as never before.Research findings seem to indicate that the creation by a great artist is as permanent an achievement as the discovery by a great scientist.
21.According to the passage,what do we know about cultural relativism?
A.It introduces different cultural values.
B.It explains the history of artistic works.
C.It relates artistic values to local conditions.
D.It excites the human mind throughout the world.
答案:C
解析:细节理解题。由第一段第一句可知,文化相对主义论认为,艺术作品仅仅是对当地社会经济条件的反映。故C项正确。
22.In Paragraph 2,the artists are mentioned in order to show that .
A.great works of art can go beyond national boundaries
B.history gives art works special appeal to set them apart
C.popular arts are hardly distinguishable from great arts
D.great artists are skilled at combining various cultures
答案:A
解析:推理判断题。由第二段可知,莎士比亚的戏剧不断地被译为各大语种,莫扎特出现在日本的音乐会上,这都说明艺术无国界。故A项正确。
23.According to Hume,some works of art can exist for centuries because .
A.they are results of scientific study
B.they establish some general principles of art
C.they are created by the world’s greatest artists
D.they appeal to unchanging features of human nature
答案:D
解析:推理判断题。由倒数第二段第一句中的“thegeneralprinciplesoftasteareuniform(不变的)inhumannature”可知,有些艺术作品存在几个世纪是因为它们符合人类对艺术的不变的品味。故D项正确。
24.Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?
A.Are Artistic Values Universal?
B.Are Popular Arts Permanent?
C.Is Human Nature Uniform?
D.Is Cultural Relativism Scientific?
答案:A
解析:主旨大意题。本文论述了艺术价值是超越时空和地域的限制的,故A项正确。而B项“流行艺术是永久的吗?”,C项“人性是一成不变的吗?”,D项“艺术相对主义科学吗?”均偏离主题。
