Section C: Reading Comprehension

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

Passage One

When is cleaning walls a crime? When you're doing it to create art, obviously. A number of street artists around the world have started expressing themselves through a practice known as reverse graffiti. They find dirty surfaces and paint them with images or messages using cleaning brushes or pressure hoses. Either way, it's the same principle: the image is made by cleaning away the dirt.

Each artist has their own individual style but all artists share a common aim: to draw attention to the pollution in our cities. The UK's Paul Curtis, better known as Moose, operates around Leeds and London and has been commissioned by a number of companies to make reverse graffiti advertisements.

Brazilian artist, Alexandre Orion, turned one of Sao Paulo's transport tunnels into an amazing wall painting in 2006 by getting rid of the dirt. Made up of a series of white skulls, the painting reminds drivers of the effect their pollution is having on the planet. “Every motorist sits in the comfort of their car, but they don't give any consideration to the price their comfort has for the environment,” says Orion.

The anti-pollution message of the reverse graffiti artists confuses city authorities since the main argument against graffiti is that it spoils the appearance of property. Leeds City Council viewed Moose's work as environmental damage. As for Orion's work, the authorities were annoyed but could find nothing to charge him with. They had no other option but to clean the tunnel—but only the parts Alexandre had already cleaned. The city officials then took drastic action: they cleaned every tunnel in Sao Paulo.

46. What do we learn from the passage about reverse graffiti?

A) It uses paint to create anti-pollution images.

B) It creates a lot of trouble for local residents.

C) It causes lots of distraction to drivers.

D) It turns dirty walls into artistic works.

47. What do reverse graffiti artists try to do?

A) Publicise their artistic pursuit.

B) Beautify the city environment.

C) Raise public awareness of environmental pollution.

D) Express their dissatisfaction.

48. What do we learn about Brazilian artist Alexandre Orion?

A) He was good at painting white skulls.

B) He chose tunnels to do his graffiti art.

C) He suggested banning all polluting cars.

D) He was fond of doing creative artworks.

49. What does the author imply about Leeds City Council's decision?

A) It is simply absurd.

B) It is well-informed.

C) It is rather unexpected.

D) It is quite sensible.

50. How did Sao Paulo city officials handle Alexandre Orion's reverse graffiti?

A) They made him clean all the tunnels.

B) They took drastic action to ban all reverse graffiti.

C) They charged him with polluting tunnels.

D) They made it impossible for him to practice his art.

Passage Two

The practice of paying children an allowance became popular in America about 100 years ago. Nowadays, American kids on average receive about $800 per year. But the vast majority of parents tie it to the completion of housework. Although many parents believe this benefits their children, experts express concern that tying allowance closely to chores may not be ideal.

Psychologist Suniya Luthar is against paying kids for chores. She thinks it's important to establish that chores are done because they keep the household running. Her approach is compatible with that of Ron Lieber, who advises that allowances be used to show children how to save, give, and spend. Kids should do chores “for the same reason adults do, because they need to be done, and not with the expectation of compensation.”

Professor David Lancy has studied how families around the world handle chores. At about 18 months of age, most children become eager to help. They begin with simple tasks, and their responsibilities gradually increase without payment. Lancy contrasts this with America: “We deny our children's bids to help until they are 6 or 7, when many have lost the desire. The solution is to get children involved in housework much earlier, when they actually want to do it.”

51. What do some experts think about paying children for doing chores?

A) It may benefit children in more ways than one.

B) It may help children learn the worth of labor.

C) It may not turn out to be the best thing to do.

D) It may not be accepted by low-income parents.

52. According to Suniya Luthar, doing chores will help children learn to

A) share family responsibilities

B) appreciate the value of work

C) cultivate the spirit of independence

D) manage domestic affairs.

53. What does Ron Lieber think should be the goal of giving children allowances?

A) To strengthen family ties.

B) To teach them how to manage money.

C) To motivate them to do more housework.

D) To show parents' appreciation.

54. What does David Lancy say about 18-month-olds?

A) They have a natural instinct to help.

B) They are too young to request money.

C) They should learn to understand responsibilities.

D) They need a little incentive.

55. What does David Lancy advise American parents to do?

A) Set a good example.

B) Make children do housework without compensation.

C) Teach children how to do housework.

D) Accept children's early bids to help.

Answers & Explanations

Passage One: The Art of Cleaning

46. D。题干问关于反转涂鸦我们了解到了什么。第一段末尾指出：the image is made by cleaning away the dirt（这种图像是通过清理污垢形成的），也就是把脏墙壁变成了艺术作品，对应选项 D (It turns dirty walls into artistic works)。

47. C。题干问反转涂鸦艺术家试图做什么。第二段指出：all artists share a common aim: to draw attention to the pollution in our cities（所有艺术家都有一个共同目标：引起人们对城市污染的关注），对应选项 C (Raise public awareness of environmental pollution)。

48. B。题干问关于巴西艺术家 Alexandre Orion 我们了解到了什么。第三段指出：turned one of Sao Paulo's transport tunnels into an amazing wall painting（把圣保罗的一个交通隧道变成了令人惊叹的壁画），对应选项 B (He chose tunnels to do his graffiti art)。

49. A。题干问作者对利兹市议会决定的暗示。第四段提到：Leeds City Council viewed Moose's work as environmental damage（利兹市议会把 Moose 清理墙面的作品视为“破坏环境”），明明是清理污垢却被说成破坏环境，作者暗示这种决定是荒谬的，对应选项 A (It is simply absurd)。

50. D。题干问圣保罗官员如何处理 Orion 的反转涂鸦。最后一段指出：The city officials then took drastic action: they cleaned every tunnel in Sao Paulo（市政府官员采取了极端行动：他们把圣保罗的每一条隧道都清理干净了）。墙都干净了，涂鸦艺术家就无法用“清洗污垢”的方式作画了，对应选项 D (They made it impossible for him to practice his art)。

Passage Two: Chores and Allowances

51. C。题干问一些专家对给孩子付钱做家务的看法。第一段末尾指出：experts express concern that tying allowance closely to chores may not be ideal（专家们表示担忧，将零用钱与家务紧密联系在一起可能并不理想），对应选项 C (It may not turn out to be the best thing to do)。

52. A。题干问据 Suniya Luthar 所说做家务能帮孩子学到什么。第二段指出她认为：chores are done because they keep the household running（做家务是因为要维持家庭的运转），即培养对家庭的责任感，对应选项 A (share family responsibilities)。

53. B。题干问 Ron Lieber 认为给零用钱的目的应该是什么。第二段指出他建议：allowances be used to show children how to save, give, and spend（零用钱应该用来向孩子展示如何储蓄、给予和消费），也就是教孩子理财，对应选项 B (To teach them how to manage money)。

54. A。题干问 David Lancy 对 18 个月大婴儿的看法。第三段指出：At about 18 months of age, most children become eager to help（在大约 18 个月大时，大多数孩子变得渴望帮忙），也就是有一种帮忙的本能，对应选项 A (They have a natural instinct to help)。

55. D。题干问 David Lancy 建议美国父母怎么做。第三段末尾指出：The solution is to get children involved in housework much earlier, when they actually want to do it（解决办法是让孩子们更早地参与家务，在他们真正想做的时候），即接受他们早期的帮忙请求，对应选项 D (Accept children's early bids to help)。