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Two women in their 50s
stand beholding in front of Guanyin of the South China Sea, an ancient Chinese sculpture
in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. Over the past 20 years,
they have been visiting the museum, describing the "mother Buddha" as
"beautiful and tranquil, a symbol of religious traditions in China". Measuring
2.4 meters high, 1.68 meters wide and 1.1 meters thick, the larger-than-life sculpture
was carved from the trunk of a single poplar tree, which has created a sense of
calm and warmth in the hall.
Since its launch in 1933,
the museum has been actively collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting works
of Chinese art, ranging from ceramics to furniture, and from paintings to sculptures.
And its Chinese art collection contains masterpieces in various historical stages.
An exhibition on the theme
of Lively Creatures—Animals in Chinese Art was held at the museum, displaying tens
of Chinese ancient paintings with images of animals in many art forms. The creatures
on the paintings represented celebration, personal messages, and even political
and religious agendas.
Organizers of the exhibition
produced a set of cards, with images of animals on one side and their cultural meanings
in Chinese artistic tradition on the other. The cards are provided for visitors
for free.
"I find it very interesting,
and the way that the things are drawn is very cool," says 17-year-old high
school student Camden Lombard after visiting the exhibition. "I want to go
to China someday to find more," he adds.
"It's kind of eye-opening
and we're bringing the world together," says Makar, an educator with the school
outreach and education programs of the museum. "There are so many similarities
as well as beautiful differences, and we are just trying to understand and appreciate
one another."
"We're in a moment
when it's sometimes hard to look outside of your own personal viewpoints,"
says Howard, manager of volunteer engagement at the museum. "I think having
access to seeing what other cultures have created, what they valued and appreciated,
and what was important to them, is really important in building that understanding
about all the people we share this planet with."
(1)
The two women kept visiting the Nelson-Atkins Museum for ________.
A . the grand appearance of the exhibition hall
B . their affection for Chinese religious traditions
C . the great size of the ancient Chinese sculpture
D . their curiosity about the delicate artistic carving
(2)
What can we learn about the exhibition Lively Creatures?
A . The organizers gained a handsome profit.
B . The cards reflected multinational cultures.
C . The visitors had rich travel experiences in China.
D . The paintings displayed the charm of Chinese culture.
(3)
How does Makar describe the visit to the museum?
A . Instructive and romantic.
B . Imaginary and fascinating.
C . Informative and multicultural.
D . Educational and entertaining.
(4)
What's the purpose of setting up the museum according to Howard?
A . To bridge different cultures.
B . To popularize religious symbols.
C . To exchange personal viewpoints.
D . To demonstrate Chinese paintings.
答案: B
D
C
A