What is art? According to one definition, it is the creation of something that appeals to our sense of beauty. This definition may include painting, drawing, sculpture, and architecture, or performing arts such as music and drama. Cultural and historical influences, as well as one’s own consciousness of what is aesthetically(审美地 )pleasing, play a role in what one believes to be art. To some people, art is the description of an object--- a painting or sculpture of a person, for example. For others, art may be a blank canvas, or a piece of chalk.
In order to talk about the different artistic styles that have existed over time, art historians have classified these styles into different periods and organized them in chronological order. The works of art produced within each period mirror the culture and events of that time.
The earliest forms of art, from the prehistoric era(时代), include simple cave paintings and figures made from stone. These were followed by the sculptures and carvings of Ancient Civilizations era. Styles of the later Classical era (800 B.C. to 200 A.D.), reflect the culture of the time--- one that favored simplicity and balance. The period of the Middle Ages followed, and was succeeded by a revival（复兴） of classical styles in the Renaissance era, beginning around 1400. Well-known artists of this time include Michelangelo and da Vinci. One hundred years of Baroque style, and then fifty years of Rococo followed the 200-year Renaissance. The start of the nineteenth century saw the rise of the Premodern era, followed by the Modern era, a period that lasted until 1945. This was followed by Postmodern era that characterizes the present day.
In addition to differences in artistic styles between eras, there are also differences within each era. The Postmodern era, for example, has featured innovative（创新） artistic styles such as Pop Art ( which includes work by Andy Warhol), Minimalism, and Conceptualism. Since the 1960s, Conceptualism has grown in popularity. This style focuses more on the idea or ‘concept’ of art using realistic objects, rather than on art that is created using traditional materials such as paint, canvas, stone, or clay. Whereas Warhol used a can of beans as the basis for a painting, for example, a conceptual artist might say that the can itself is a work of art.
Conceptualism has become an increasingly controversial（有争议的） art style, particularly as result of numerous conceptual artists winning the Turner Prize. This ￡20,000 award is presented annually to a British artist under the age of fifty, in recognition of an outstanding work. Sponsored by the Tate Gallery of Britain, it is recognized as one of Europe’s most prestigious awards for visual arts. Its aim is to promote discussion about contemporary British art. In 2002, pop music icon Madonna presented the Turner Prize to conceptual artist Martin Creed.
【小题1】 One of the artistic styles that many people today discuss and arguing about is ______.

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·Put sunscreen on before going out in the sun.

·Take it with you.

Use it

—after a swim.

—every hour or so while playing outdoors.

—if you get sweaty(出汗).

·Cover up when the sun is overhead

—10 am –2 pm.

—especially at lunch time.

·Get your suntan(晒黑)gradually and not too much.

·Controlled exposure(暴露)to sunshine helps avoid(避免)skin cancer.

Ask your chemist to recommend(推荐)

A suitable sunscreen.

Queensland Cancer Fund

P.O Box

Spring Hill, QLD. 4000

Phone(07)839 7077

Provided for community awareness

By the Queensland Cancer

1．This passage is most likely to be ________

[　　]

A．An article from. a student text book ________

B．An instruotion from a bottle of medicine

C．An advertisement from a newspaper

D．A suggestion from a chemist

2．Which of the following is true?

[　　]

A．You should frequently put on sunscreen while playing outdoors.

B．You'll never have skin cancer with controlled exposure.

C．You mustn't stay outside from 10 am to 2 pm.

D．The more you get sunshine, the better your health will be.

3．According to the passage we can see that Queensland Cancer Fund wants to ________.

[　　]

A．sell sunscreen, shirt and hat

B．help people protect against skin cancer

C．encourage people to play in the sun

D．make money out of sunscreen

4．If you want a sunscreen, you should ask ________ for advice.

[　　]

5．Sunscreen is used when you ________.

[　　]

All over the world people enjoy sports. Sports help to keep people healthy, happy and help them to live longer.

Sports change with the season. People play different games in winter and summer.

Games and sports often grow out of people’s work and everyday activities. The Arab use horses or camels in much of their daily life; they use them in their sports, too.

Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in all countries near the sea or in those with many rivers.

Some sports or games go back thousands of years, like running or jumping. Chinese boxing, for example , has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new. Neither one is a hundred years old yet. People are inventing new sports or games all the time.

People from different countries may not be able to understand each other, but after a game they often become good friends. Sports help to train a person’s character(性格品质). One learns to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace（体面）.

1.According to this passage we know that ________.

2.According to the passage, which of the following isn’t true?______

3.The writer didn’t tell us in this passage that ______.