Question

It has taken an extremely long time - 161 years - but the National Portrait Gallery finally has the Duke(公爵)of Wellington in its collection after a fundraising campaign reached its £1.3m target.

The gallery announced on Thursday that it had acquired Sir Thomas Lawrence's unfinished final painting of a man regarded as Britain's greatest soldier after a successful appeal.

Nicholas Cullinan, the gallery's director, said the NPG had been looking for a suitable painting of the Duke of Wellington since the gallery was founded in 1856.

He called it “a remarkable painting'', while Lucy Peltz, the gallery's senior manager of 18th-century paintings, said the work was "an inspiring and powerful image of one of the most influential men of the 18ih and 19th centuries”.

The NPG announced last November that it needed to raise £300,000, the final piece of a funding jigsaw(拼图).The Art Fund had already contributed £350,000 and the appeal reached its target thanks to £200,000 from the G&K Boyes charitable trust and £180,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. A further £570,000 came from a public appeal and the gallery's own funds.

It was painted in 1829 when Wellington was prime minister, however, Lawrence died in 1830 leaving the portrait unfinished. The gallery believes it is a more attractive work because of that, with the viewer focusing more on the man himself rather than any clothes of power.

Dan Snow, the historian and broadcaster, said Wellington was a "titanic figure” in British history... the only field greatest prime minister, a man of genius on and off the battlefield. He added: “ This arresting portrait must sit in the national collection and now, following an outpouring of donation, it will do. The artist has caught the Duke's legendary features. Among his many contributions to British life he formed the culture of unbending spirit in the face of difficulty.”

The painting was lent to the NPG in 2015 for an exhibition marking the Battle of Waterloo.

1.Who was regarded as Britain’ greatest soldier in the article?

A. Lucy Peltz.    B. Dan Snow.

C. Sir Thomas Lawrence.    D. The Duke of Wellington.

2.Why did the NPG need to raise £300,000 last November?

A. Because it is aimed at £1.3m to draw a painting of Wellington.

B. Because it is short of fund to include the painting to its collection.

C. Because different organizations donated much money to the NPG

D. Because Lucy Peltz took charge of the gallery's 18th century paintings.

3.What makes the NPG believe the portrait more attractive?

A. The powerful spirit.    B. The unfinished work.

C. The clothes of Wellington.    D. The Battle of Waterloo.

4.What do you know from Dan Snow's words?

A. Wellington was a successful politician and soldier.

B. The owner must donate the painting to the NPG

C. The NPG will display the painting for celebration.

D. The artist removed a unique British culture of bravery.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.B

4.A

【解析】本文是一篇记叙文，主要向我们讲述了一间画廊筹措资金收藏惠灵顿公爵肖像的故事。惠灵顿被认为是英国最伟大的战士，他同时也是一位成功的政治家和军人。

1.细节理解题。根据文中“Dan Snow, the historian and broadcaster, said Wellington was a "titanic figure” in British history... the only field greatest prime minister, a man of genius on and off the battlefield.”历史学家兼播音员Dan Snow说，惠灵顿是英国历史上的“泰坦尼克号”…战场上唯一最伟大的首相，一个有才华的人。可知惠灵顿被认为是英国最伟大的战士。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据文中“The NPG announced last November that it needed to raise £300,000, the final piece of a funding jigsaw”NPG去年十一月宣布，它需要筹集£300000，一个资金的最后一块拼图。可知需要筹措 £300,000是因为这幅画的收藏资金不足。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据文中“however, Lawrence died in 1830 leaving the portrait unfinished. The gallery believes it is a more attractive work because of that”然而，劳伦斯在1830去世，留下的肖像尚未完成。画廊认为这是一个更有吸引力的工作。可知使得NPG相信肖像更具吸引力是因为这幅肖像是未完成的。故选B。

4.细节理解题。根据文中他的评价“Dan Snow, the historian and broadcaster, said Wellington was a "titanic figure” in British history... the only field greatest prime minister, a man of genius on and off the battlefield. He added: “ This arresting portrait must sit in the national collection and now, following an outpouring of donation, it will do. The artist has caught the Duke's legendary features. Among his many contributions to British life he formed the culture of unbending spirit in the face of difficulty.”可以看出他认为惠灵顿是一位成功的政治家和军人。故选A。

【名师点睛】：

细节理解题:

细节题的发问具体，涉及内容五花八门，通常采用以疑问词开头的特殊疑问句或不完全句的形式，有时即便不是以what，which，how many (much，long，etc.)等疑问词引导的问句，也是以变相的问句对这类事实或细节进行提问。如：本文的第1题：

1. Who was regarded as Britain’ greatest soldier in the article?

A. Lucy Peltz. B. Dan Snow.

C. Sir Thomas Lawrence. D. The Duke of Wellington.

解题方法： 

1、整体感知，确定文体，根据文体特点寻找主题句。 

2、如果文中没有现成的主题句，则需依靠衔接过度词、句际关系等把握文章逻辑结构，分辨主题与细节，总结段落大意。 

3、对比选项，谨防常见病症：以偏概全、所概括的内容与文章不相关、概括太笼统等

本文第1题是以疑问词who引导的问句，对这类事实或细节进行提问。通读全文得知从最后一段Dan Snow的评价中我们可以找到关于题目描述问题的答案，在最后一段中找出对这类事实进行描述的关键句，即“said Wellington was a "titanic figure” in British history... the only field greatest prime minister, a man of genius on and off the battlefield.”，句意为惠灵顿是英国历史上的“泰坦尼克号”…战场上唯一最伟大的首相，一个有才华的人。可知可知惠灵顿被认为是英国最伟大的战士，故选D。