Reading Smart Section 1: Unit 2

 Section 1---Unit 2

1. Pre-reading

• Do you consider yourself a lover of art? Why or why not?

• What famous artists do you know? What are they famous for?

• It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What are your thoughts on this?

• Which is more important: following one's dreams or living a safe, practical life? Why?

 

Reading Vocabulary: cubism; fauvism; surrealism; palette; ceramic mural; mural; crescent moon; maroon

 

2. Reading

Miró: The Man behind the Art

When you look at Joan Miró's artwork, the playfulness of a child might spring to mind. His paintings, in particular, are full of abstract shapes, thickly outlined figures, and bright colors. So it may surprise you to learn that this man who painted such carefree and vivid figures was actually very hardworking and serious, and often wore dark business suits to exhibitions of his work.

字詞	程級	釋義
	abstract	第四級	[形容詞] 抽象的
	actually	第二級	[形容詞] actual(實際的;事實上的) 的衍生的副詞
	carefree	第六級	[形容詞] 無憂無慮的;輕鬆愉快的
	exhibitions	第三級	[名詞] exhibition(展覽;展覽會) 的複數
	figures	第二級	[動詞] figure(估計;描繪) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] figure(外形;數字;圖表;(溜冰等)花式) 的複數
	outlined	第三級	[動詞] outline(概述,略述) 的過去式及過去分詞
	paintings	第二級	[名詞] painting(油畫,水彩畫) 的複數
	particular	第二級	[形容詞] 特殊的
	such	第二級	[形容詞] 如此的; [代名詞] 這樣的人(或事物);上述的人(或事物)
	suits	第二級	[動詞] suit(適合;相稱;彼此協調) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] suit(一套衣服;訴訟) 的複數
	vivid	第三級	[形容詞] 鮮豔的;生動的

In fact, Miró almost did not become an artist at all. Born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1893, Miró studied at the Barcelona School of Fine Arts. However, since his parents wanted him to become a businessman, the young Miró took business classes as well.

	artist	第二級	[名詞] 藝術家
	businessman	第二級	[名詞] 商人

He then worked as an accountant for almost two years, until he had a nervous breakdown. Consequently, Miró's parents finally realized that he would be better off pursuing a career in art.

	accountant	第四級	[名詞] 會計師
	better	第二級	[形容詞] 較佳的;更好的;更適當的; [動詞] 改善;提高;超過;變得較好; [副詞] 更好地;更適當地; [名詞] (人或事物)較優者,較好者
	breakdown	第六級	[名詞] 故障;損壞;崩潰;分析
	career	第三級	[名詞] 職業;生涯;歷程
	consequently	第四級	[形容詞] consequent(隨之發生的) 的衍生的副詞
	finally	第二級	[形容詞] final(最終的) 的衍生的副詞
	nervous	第二級	[形容詞] 緊張的
	pursuing	第四級	[動詞] pursue(追求;從事) 的現在分詞
	realized	第二級	[動詞] realize(認知;實現) 的過去式及過去分詞

Finally free to follow his passion, Miró began painting in the styles that were popular at the time, which were fauvism and cubism. Though he enjoyed some success, it was not until he moved to Paris in the 1920s that Miró really began to grow creatively. In Paris, Miró met Pablo Picasso, and in 1924, he was introduced to André Breton, the founding father of surrealism. As a result of these meetings, Miró soon began experimenting with the surrealist style.

	creatively	第三級	[形容詞] creative(有創造力(或想像力)的) 的衍生的副詞
	experimenting	第三級	[動詞] experiment(進行實驗,試驗) 的現在分詞
	finally	第二級	[形容詞] final(最終的) 的衍生的副詞
	founding	第二級	[動詞] found(建立;建造;鑄造;熔化) 的現在分詞
	introduced	第二級	[動詞] introduce(介紹) 的過去式及過去分詞
	painting	第二級	[名詞] 油畫,水彩畫
	passion	第三級	[名詞] 熱情,激情;酷愛
	result	第二級	[動詞] 發生,產生;結果;導致; [名詞] 結果
	style	第二級	[動詞] 稱呼;命名;設計;使成為時髦; [名詞] 時尚;風格;文體
	styles	第二級	[動詞] style(稱呼;命名;設計;使成為時髦) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] style(時尚;風格;文體) 的複數
	success	第二級	[名詞] 成功

Although he loved surrealism, Miró did not want to be viewed as a surrealist or to join any specific artistic movement. Thus, by the 1930s, he had begun to develop his own style. He began using simpler forms and a limited palette of strong, bright colors to create his paintings. In addition, Miró brought in elements of folk art from his native Spain that further made his work unique.

	addition	第二級	[名詞] 加;附加
	artistic	第四級	[形容詞] 藝術的
	create	第二級	[動詞] 創造
	develop	第二級	[動詞] 發展
	elements	第三級	[名詞] element(要素,成分) 的複數
	folk	第二級	[名詞] 人們; [名詞] folk(人們) 的複數
	forms	第二級	[動詞] form(形成) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] form(形態;表格) 的複數
	further	第二級	[形容詞] 較遠的;另外的; [動詞] 更遠地;進一步地;促進;助長; [副詞] 而且;再者
	limited	第二級	[動詞] limit(限定) 的過去式及過去分詞
	native	第三級	[形容詞] 本土的,本國的; [名詞] 土著,原住民
	paintings	第二級	[名詞] painting(油畫,水彩畫) 的複數
	specific	第三級	[形容詞] 特殊的,特定的
	style	第二級	[動詞] 稱呼;命名;設計;使成為時髦; [名詞] 時尚;風格;文體
	thus	第二級	[副詞] 如此,這樣
	unique	第三級	[形容詞] 獨特的; [名詞] 獨一無二的人(或事物)
	viewed	第二級	[動詞] view(察看;將...看成是) 的過去式及過去分詞

It was during this period that Miró became known around the world. After moving back to Spain in the 1940s, he began experimenting with different forms of art, including sculpture, ceramics, and murals. He also traveled to the United States around this time and held several one-man shows. The biggest of these was at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1951. In the late 1950s, Miró began one of the most ambitious projects of his career---two large ceramic murals for the UNESCO building in Paris. These two works---Wall of the Moon and Wall of the Sun---are made up of 585 individual hand-painted tiles and show a blue crescent moon and maroon sun.

	ambitious	第四級	[形容詞] 有野心的
	building	第二級	[名詞] 建築物
	career	第三級	[名詞] 職業;生涯;歷程
	ceramic	第六級	[形容詞] 陶器的;製陶藝術的; [名詞] 陶瓷;陶瓷製品
	experimenting	第三級	[動詞] experiment(進行實驗,試驗) 的現在分詞
	forms	第二級	[動詞] form(形成) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] form(形態;表格) 的複數
	including	第二級	[動詞] include(包含) 的現在分詞
	including	第四級	[介系詞] 包括
	individual	第二級	[形容詞] 個別的; [名詞] 個人;個體
	period	第二級	[名詞] 一段時間;一堂課
	projects	第二級	[名詞] project(計畫) 的複數
	sculpture	第四級	[動詞] 雕刻; [名詞] 雕刻品,雕塑品;雕
	states	第二級	[動詞] state(陳述) 的第三人稱單數現在式
	tiles	第五級	[動詞] tile(鋪砌瓦(或瓷磚等)) 的第三人稱單數現在式; [名詞] tile(瓦;瓷磚;地磚;(麻將等的)牌) 的複數
	traveled	第二級	[動詞] travel(旅行) 的過去式及過去分詞
	united	第三級	[動詞] unite(統一;使團結) 的過去式及過去分詞

Because of his success, Miró was able to realize the dream he had since he was a child---to build a large studio where he could focus on his art projects. In 1956, he moved into just such a place on the island of Mallorca, Spain, and worked there for the rest of his life. In 1983, Miró died in bed at his studio. Nine years later, Miró's studio was opened to the public as the Miró Museum, giving people the chance to enjoy the work of this truly great artist.

	artist	第二級	[名詞] 藝術家
	focus	第二級	[動詞] 集中; [名詞] 焦點
	projects	第二級	[名詞] project(計畫) 的複數
	realize	第二級	[動詞] 認知;實現
	studio	第三級	[名詞] 工作室,畫室;雕塑室;照相館
	success	第二級	[名詞] 成功
	such	第二級	[形容詞] 如此的; [代名詞] 這樣的人(或事物);上述的人(或事物)
	truly	第二級	[形容詞] true(真實的;正確的) 的衍生的副詞

 

III. Post-reading

1. Reading Skill: Cause and Effect

In the simplest sense, a cause is a reason for an action or state of being. A cause is something that brings about an effect or a result. To know what is the cause of something, ask yourself: "Why did this happen?"

An effect is the unavoidable result of a cause. To determine how a specific cause created a certain effect, we ask the question: "How did it happen?" or simply, "What happened?"

 

For example:

Cause                                                             Effect

It started to rain.                                                  The baseball game was canceled.

The woman was late for work.                      She lost her job.

Water was spilled on the computer.               The computer stopped working.

Michael wanted his daughter to have a pet.   He bought a puppy.

 

In some cases, linking words are used to create relationships between cause and effect. Examples of connecting words and phrases are:

because, so, consequently, therefore, due to the fact, since, as a result, for this reason, for, thus, hence

 

Test Your Skills

1. Combine the above sentences using one of the words or phrases listed. You may change the order of the wording in some cases.

Example: The baseball game was canceled because it started to rain.

2. Read through the article about Joan Miró. Identify 4 effects as well as the events that caused them.

a) Effect: ________________________________________________________________

Cause: ________________________________________________________________

b) Effect: ________________________________________________________________

Cause: ________________________________________________________________

c) Effect: ________________________________________________________________

Cause: ________________________________________________________________

d) Effect: ________________________________________________________________

Cause: ________________________________________________________________

 

II. Reading Comprehension:

(   ) 1. How is Miró's character described?

a. As playful           b. As dishonest        c. As serious                  d. As angry

(   ) 2. When did Miró move back to Spain?

a. Sometime in the 1980s                              b. In the early 1950s

c. In the late 1920s                                  d. In the 1940s

(   ) 3. According to the essay, what made Miró decide to develop his own unique style of art?

a. He didn't want to be considered a surrealist artist.

b. He didn't like surrealism.

c. He had an argument with André Breton.

d. He wanted to mix folk art into his own works.

(   ) 4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as something Miró worked on?

a. Painting               b. Patchwork           c. Sculpture             d. Murals

(   ) 5. Which statement would Miró probably NOT agree with?

a. Miró was one of the greatest surrealists of the 20th century.

b. Miró did not enjoy working as an accountant.

c. Early on, Miró painted in the style of fauvism and cubism.

d. Having a studio was a dream Miró had throughout his life.

 

III. Vocabulary: Fill in the correct missing word in the correct grammatical form.

pursue               artistic               passion             consequently            unique

accountant        exhibition          career                tile                           nervous breakdown

1. The company hired an experienced _______________to handle matters of finance.

2. When he graduates, Tim hopes to find a(n) _______________ in chemical engineering.

3. Jane wants to _______________a career in acting, and her parents think it's a great idea.

4. The summer camp provides many_______________ and musical activities for children.

5. With all her stress from work and problems at home, Cindy felt like she was going to have a(n) _______________.

6. The politician spoke with _______________ to the people about the importance of not going to war.

7. The dirty bathroom _______________ need to be scrubbed with soap and water.

8. My scooter ran out of gas; _______________, I arrived late to work.

9. Marty's new shirt is quite _______________. I've never seen anything like it before.

10. On our trip to Paris, we went to several art _______________.