Question

Street art can be found on buildings, sidewalks, street signs and even trash cans from Tokyo to Paris to New York City. This special kind of art can take the form of paintings, sculptures, cloth or even stickers. It has become part of a global visual culture. Now, even art museums and galleries are collecting the works of street artists.

It is not easy to provide an exact history of the street art movement. This kind of art has developed in many kinds of ways in places all over the world. Also, because it is illegal to paint on public and private property without permission, street artists usually work secretly. This secretive nature of street art and its countless forms make it hard to define exactly. And people have different opinions about the movement. Some think street art is a crime and destroys property. But others see this art as a rich form of non-traditional cultural expression.

Many experts say the movement began in New York City in the 1960s. Young adults would use paint in special cans to spray their “tag” on walls and train cars around the city. This tag was a name they created to identify themselves and their artwork. This colorful style of writing is also called graffiti (涂鸦). It is visually exciting and energetic. Some graffiti paintings were signs marking the territories of city gangs or illegal crime groups.

Graffiti also became a separate movement expressing the street culture of young people living in big cities. Graffiti art represented social and political rebellion (叛逆). This was art that rejected the accepted rules of culture and power. These artists could travel around areas of the city making creative paintings for everyone to see. Sometimes this street art created a conflict between artists and city officials. Graffiti artists created their images and city officials quickly painted over them.

During the 1980s, two New York painters—Keith Haring and Jean Michel began showing their work in art galleries and museums. This is when street art started to become part of the more general popular culture.

1.What can we infer from the first paragraph?

A. Street art has become popular and is accepted as a kind of culture.

B. Street art is very special compared with other forms of popular art.

C. Many people are beginning to learn street art.

D. Street art is better developed in big cities than in rural areas.

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A.“TAG” was a word created by people to distinguish street artists and the other artists.

B. There are three reasons explaining why it is hard to define the history of street art.

C. The movement of street art began in the 1980s in New York City.

D. All the people don’t think that the street art is a rich form of cultural expression.

3.The city officials used to get rid of graffiti probably because ________.

A. they caused arguments between people

B. they were ugly in someone’s eyes

C. they were not painted under proper guidance

D. they didn’t express traditional culture

4.Which is the best title of the passage?

A. The Way to Become a Street Artist

B. What Does Graffiti Art Stand For?

C. The History of Street Art Movement

D. The Work of Street Artists

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于说明文阅读，主要介绍的是街头涂鸦艺术的发展过程以及在发展过程中人们对这种艺术形式的不同态度。

1.A 推理判断题。根据第一段最后两句. It has become part of a global visual culture. Now, even art museums and galleries are collecting the works of street artists. 可知街头涂鸦艺术已经成为全球文化的一部分，很多博物馆以及艺术展上都有涂鸦艺术。说明它很流行并得到人们的承认。故A项正确。

2. 推理判断题。根据第二段最后两句Some think street art is a crime and destroys property. But others see this art as a rich form of non-traditional cultural expression.可知一些人认为街头艺术是犯罪行为，另外一些人认为这种艺术形式是一种非传统的艺术。说明并不是所有人都认为它是一个文化的表达形式。故D项正确。请特别注意D项是部分否定的用法。

3.D 推理判断题。根据第四段最后两句Sometimes this street art created a conflict between artists and city officials. Graffiti artists created their images and city officials quickly painted over them. 可知街头艺术家和城市管理的官员对于街头涂鸦的观点是不一样的，官员们经常会把这些涂鸦清理掉，因为它们并不是传统的艺术形式，没有被人们广泛接受。故D项正确。

4.

考点：考查说明文阅读