1.第一节（共10小题；每小题2.5分，满分25分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该项涂黑。
Benjamin West,thefather of American painting, showed his talent for art when he was only sixyears of age. But he did not know about brushes before a visitor told him heneeded one. In htose days ,a brush was made from camel’s hair. There were nocamels nearby. Benjamin decided that cat hair would work instead. He cut somefur from the family cat to make a brush.
The brush did nottlast long. Soon Benjamin needed more fur. Before long, the catbegan to lookragged （蓬乱）. His father saidthat the cat must be sick. Benjamin was forced to admit what he had been doing.
The cat’s lotwas about to improve. That year, one of Benjamin’s cousins,Mr.Pennington, came to visit. He was impressed with Benjamin’s drawings. Whenhe went home, he sent Benjamin a box of paint and some brushes. He also sentsix engravings （版画）by an artist. Thesewere the forst pictures and first real paint and brushes Benjamin had everseen.In1747，whenBenjamin was nine years old，Mr.Penningtonretured for another visit .He was amazed at what Benjamin had done with hisgift.He asked Benjamin’s parents if hemight take the boy to Philadelphia for a visit.
In the city, Mr.Pennington gave Benjamin materials for creating oil paintings.The boy began a landscape (风景)painting. Wiliams , a well-known painter, came to see him work . Wiliams was impressed with Benjamin and gave him two classic books on painting to take home.The books were long and dull. Benjamin could read only a little, having been a poor student. But he later said,”Those two books were my companions by day, andu nder my pillow at night.”While it is likely that he understood very little ofthe books,they were his introduction to classical paintings.The nine-year-old boy decided then that he would be an artist.
(21) What is the text mainly about?
A. Benjamin’s visit to Philadelphia.
B. Williams’ influence on Benjamin.
C. The beginning of Benjamin’s life as an artist.
D. The friendship between Benjamin and Pennington.
(22) What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 3suggest?
A. The cat would be closely watched.
B. The cat would get some medical care.
C. Benjamin would leave his home shortly.
D. Benjamin would have real brushes soon.
(23) What did Pennington do to help Benjamin develophis talent?
A. He took him to see painting exhibitions.
B. He provided him with painting materials.
C. He sent him to a school in Philadelphia.
D. He taught him how to make engravings.
(24) Williams’ two books helped Benjamin to________.
A. master the use of paints
B. appreciate landscape paintings
C. get to know other painters
D. make up his mind to be a painter
