Skill Training
Reading Skill
SCAN FOR THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Scanning in reading is a technique for quickly looking through reading material to locate a particular piece of information—a fact,a date,a name,a statistic.For example,when you find someone’s phone number or address,you are scanning.When you check a train schedule,look up a word in the dictionary,or locate a book on a library shelf,you are scanning.
How to Scan:
1)State the specific information you are looking for.
2)Try to anticipate how the answer will appear and what clues you might use to help you locate the answer.For example,if you were looking for a certain date,you would quickly read the paragraph looking only for numbers.
3)Use headings and any other aids that will help you identify which sections might contain the information you are looking for.
4)Selectively read and skip through sections of the passage.
Practice 1
Scan the following passage and find out the specific information of each paragraph.
Paragraph 1:How many paintings did Van Gogh sell during his lifetime?
Paragraph 2:When did Van Gogh sell his solitary painting?
Paragraph 3:What kind of style did Van Gogh’s brother Theo recommend about his painting with more color?
Paragraph 4:What kind of life did Van Gogh live?
Read the passage again and do the exercises that follow.
Van Gogh:Only One Painting Sold in His Lifetime
[1]Vincent Van Gogh is probably one of the most recognizable names in the history of art.A “starving artist” during his abbreviated life,selling just one painting during his lifetime,his paintings would posthumously realize the highest price ever paid for a work of art.
[2]It seems so unfair that an artist such as Vincent Van Gogh would sacrifice his very life in the name of art.Did he strive for acceptance?What was the driving force behind the acceleration in the last ten years of his life to paint madly and passionately?One can only speculate that it was his love for reproducing nature and his surroundings in the one medium by which he was able to express himself to the fullest—painting.The one solitary painting that Van Gogh sold only a few months before his suicide in 1890 is “Red Vineyard”(1888).It was sold in Brussels for 400 francs.If we convert it to USD at the current exchange rate,it would cost $351.In comparison,Van Gogh’s “Still Life:Vase With Fifteen Sunflowers”sold for over $39 million in 1987.This was,at the time,the highest price ever paid for a work of art.Months later,the record was broken with Van Gogh’s “Irises” selling for more than $53 million.I’m sure Vincent and his brother Theo surely rolled over in their graves.
[3]I ask myself,“How is that possible?” Let’s take a look at the chronology of Vincent Van Gogh’s work.One of his early works,and perhaps his first major painting,is “Potato Eaters”(1885).He used very dark colors,mostly brown.His brother Theo recommended that he paint in the style of the impressionists,with more color.His next significant work was “Still Life:Vase With Twelve Sunflowers”(1888).Many sunflower paintings were to follow,similar but all unique.Some have even been said to be forgeries of the ever-popular theme.“Starry Night”(1889)is to follow,with Van Gogh’s signature swirls and heavy brush strokes of later works.
[4]In conclusion,Van Gogh lived a life filled with depression and unhappiness.His artwork may have been his therapy in coping with his father’s death and other disappointments.He favored the color yellow,which typifies sunshine and life.Many theories have emerged as to his reason for choosing this color.I like to think it’s akin to using a yellow smiley face sticker;it uplifts your spirit and brings you to a happier state of consciousness.Perhaps Vincent Van Gogh did indeed reach a pinnacle with his paintings,unsurpassed by any other artist.
New Words and Expressions
recognizable /ˈrekəɡˌnaɪzəb（ə）l/ adj.可辨认的
starving /ˈstɑː（r）vɪŋ/ adj.饥饿的；挨饿的
abbreviated /əˈbriːviˌeɪtid/ adj.简短的
posthumously /ˈpɒstjʊməsli/ adv.于死后
sacrifice /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/ vt.牺牲；献祭
in the name of 以……的名义
strive for 争取；奋斗
acceptance /əkˈseptəns/ n.接受
acceleration /əkˌseləˈreɪʃ（ə）n/ n.加速；促进
passionately /ˈpæʃ（ə）nətli/ adv.热情地
speculate /ˈspekjʊleɪt/ vi.推测
reproduce /ˌriːprəˈdjuːs/ vt.再生；复现
medium /ˈmiːdiəm/ n.媒体；媒介
solitary /ˈsɒlət（ə）ri/ adj.孤独的
suicide /ˈsuːɪsaɪd/ n.自杀
Brussels /ˈbrʌs（ə）lz/ n.布鲁塞尔（比利时首都）
franc /fræŋk/ n.法郎
convert /kənˈvɜː（r）t/ vt.使转变；转换
comparison /kəmˈpærɪs（ə）n/ n.比较；对照
grave /ɡreɪv/ n.墓穴；坟墓
chronology /krəˈnɒlədʒi/ n.年表；年代学
impressionist /ɪmˈpreʃ（ə）nɪst/ n.印象派画家
significant /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/ adj.重大的
style /staɪl/ n.风格
unique /juːˈniːk/ adj.独特的；稀罕的
forgery /ˈfɔː（r）dʒəri/ n.伪造；伪造罪；伪造物
signature /ˈsɪɡnətʃə（r）/ n.署名；签名；标志；特征
swirl /swɜː（r）l/ n.漩涡；打旋；涡状形
stroke /strəʊk/ vt.（用笔等）画
depression /dɪˈpreʃ（ə）n/ n.沮丧
emerge /ɪˈmɜː（r）dʒ/ vi.浮现；摆脱
sticker /ˈstɪkə（r）/ n.张贴物；贴纸
uplift /ʌpˈlɪft/ vt.提高；抬起
consciousness /ˈkɒnʃəsnəs/ n.意识；觉悟
pinnacle /ˈpɪnək（ə）l/ n.卓越
unsurpassed /ˌʌnsə（r）ˈpɑːst/ adj.无可超越的
roll over 翻滚
akin /əˈkɪn/ adj.类似的；同类的；同族的
Practice 2
Answer each of the following questions with the information from the text.
1.What made Van Gogh devote his whole life to the art?
2.Which painting was sold in Van Gogh’s lifetime?
3.How much was “Red Vineyard” sold for?
4.What is the style of Van Gogh’s early works?
5.Why did Van Gogh favor the color yellow?
Practice 3
Read the text in more detail and decide whether the following statements are True(T)or False(F).
( )1.The one solitary painting that Van Gogh sold only a month before his suicide in 1890 is “Red Vineyard”.
( )2.“Still Life:Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers” bids the highest price paid for a work of art.
( )3.Van Gogh used very dark colors,mostly brown in his “Potato Eaters”.
( )4.“Starry Night” has even been said to be forgeries of the ever-popular theme.
( )5.Van Gogh favored the color yellow,which typifies sunshine and life.
( )6.Only one of Van Gogh’s paintings is sold.
Reading More
Scan the below QR code,read the passage,and do the practices online.
New Words and Expressions
exceed / ɪkˈsiːd / vt.超过；超越
resonate / ˈrezəneɪt / vi.共鸣；共振
asylum / əˈsaɪləm / n.精神病院；（政治）庇护
asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole 保罗精神病院
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence 圣雷米（法国普罗旺斯的小镇）
attend / əˈtend / vt.陪伴；出席
withdraw into 蜷缩；躲避到……
relapse / ˈriːlæps ，rɪˈlæps / n.（医）再发；旧病复发
hallucination / həˌluːsɪˈneɪʃn / n.幻觉；幻想；错觉
plunge / plʌndʒ / vi.陷入；跳入；全心投入
tonal / ˈtəʊnl / adj.色调的；声调的；调性的
incorporate / ɪnˈkɔːpəreɪt / vi.吸收；合并
dominate / ˈdɒmɪneɪt / v.支配；影响；占有优势
blend / blend / vt.混合；（使）调和；协调
outline / ˈaʊtlaɪn / vt.画轮廓；打草图
brush strokes 笔触
swirl / swɜːl / vi.旋转；打旋
dab / dæb / n.少许 vt.轻而快地涂上（或点上）
cypress / ˈsaɪprəs / n.柏树
rigid / ˈrɪdʒɪd / adj.刚硬的；严格的
inflexibility / ɪnˈfleksbɪləti / n.刚性；顽固
religiously / rɪˈlɪdʒəsli / adv.笃信地；虔诚地
attribute / əˈtrɪbjuːt / vt.认为……是；把……归于
divine / dɪˈvaɪn / adj.神的；天赐的
divide / dɪˈvaɪd / v.分开；分隔
comprehension / ˌkɒmprɪˈhenʃn / n.理解；理解力
spire / ˈspaɪə（r）/ n.螺旋；塔尖