Art or Breakfast? 舍不得吃的艺术
by Suzanne Cowan
Egg decorating is a form of art that has been popular for thousands of years.
蛋的彩绘艺术已有数千年历史，而且历久不衰。
Eggs are not just for eating. With a unique shape that is smooth and elegant, they're also perfect for decorating.
_(1)_ decorating them with bright and beautiful colors, eggs can be made into little works of art. This is actually a custom that started thousands of years ago. Throughout history, eggs have represented many different things. The tradition of decorating eggs has often been used as a way to celebrate the things they signify.
People first started decorating eggs in ancient Egypt over 5,000 years ago. To celebrate the coming of the new year, Egyptians would _(2)_ decorated eggs as gifts. They believed that the eggs would bring good luck in the year to come.
Many years later, when Christians began their own tradition of decorating eggs, the practice took on a whole new meaning. Christians used the egg as a religious _(3)_. Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and the egg is used to represent the tomb that he was first placed in. To this day, many people still _(4)_ egg decorating with this meaning.
Today, people from all over the world _(5)_ the tradition of decorating eggs. Using paints and dyes is the most common method. But for experts, the _(6)_ shell can also be carved. Eggs are sometimes decorated with beads by having tiny holes _(7)_ into the shell. Ukrainian egg-decorating uses wax, and the incredible patterned designs of Ukrainian eggs are known worldwide. These are some of the methods that can be used; the rest is up to the artist and the egg.
1. (A) As (B) By (C) With (D) Upon
2. (A) apply (B) replace (C) exchange (D) transfer
3. (A) symbol (B) symptom (C) signal (D) signature
4. (A) mistake (B) compare (C) suspect (D) associate
5. (A) carry on (B) lay off (C) stand for (D) put aside
6. (A) delicate (B) fluent (C) sensitive (D) allergic
7. (A) make (B) making (C) made (D) to be made
原来如此
1. By decorating them with bright and beautiful colors, eggs can be made into little works of art.
理由:
a. (A) As + 表身分的名词, S + V 身为……，……
例: As a teacher, you are supposed to be a role model for your students.
（身为老师，你应该做学生的模范。）
(B) By + V-ing, S + V 借着……，……
例: By asking the right questions, the investigator gets closer to solving the mystery.
（借着提出切要的问题，该调查员离解开谜团更进一步了。）
(C) With + N, S + V 随着∕有了……，……
例: With his help, we were able to paint the house in a few hours.
（有了他的帮忙，我们得以在几个小时内就把房子漆好。）
(D) Upon + N/V-ing, S + V 一……就……
例: Upon exiting the building, Julie fell down the stairs.
（茱莉一出这栋大楼就失足跌落阶梯。）
b. 根据上述，By 置入后符合语意、用法，可知应选 (B)。
2. To celebrate the coming of the new year, Egyptians would exchange decorated eggs as gifts.
理由:
a. (A) apply vt. 运用；涂，抹
apply A to B 把 A 运用在 B 上；将 A 抹在 B 上
例: Mom applies makeup to her face every morning before work.
（妈妈每天上班前都会化妆。）
(B) replace vt. 取代
replace A with B 用 B 取代 A
例: It's time to replace your old toothbrush with a new one.
（是时候把你的旧牙刷换一只新的了。）
(C) exchange vt. 交换
exchange sth as gifts 交换某物作为礼物
exchange sth with sb 和某人交换某物
例: I love to exchange stamps with my friends.
（我喜欢和朋友交换邮票。）
(D) transfer vt. 转移；转调
transfer...to... 把……转到∕调到……
例: My company is transferring me to China.
（公司要把我调到大陆。）
b. 空格后有介词 as，故根据上述，可知应置入动词 exchange，故选 (C)。
3. Christians used the egg as a religious symbol.
理由:
a. (A) symbol n. 象征
as a religious symbol 作为宗教上的象征
as a symbol of... 作为……的象征
例: I gave Mary a ring as a symbol of my love.
（我给玛丽一枚戒指以象征我的爱。）
(B) symptom n. 症状
(C) signal n. 信号
(D) signature n. 签名
b. 根据语意，可知应置入 (A) symbol，表作为宗教上的『象征』，故选之。
4. To this day, many people still associate egg decorating with this meaning.
理由:
a. (A) mistake vt. 误认
mistake A for B 将 A 误认为 B
例: Ray likes to wear his hair long, so people often mistake him for a girl.
（雷喜欢留长发，因此大家常把他误认为女生。）
(B) compare vt. 比较
compare A to/with B 将 A 与 B 作比较
例: My mother always compares me with my brother.
（我妈妈总是拿我和哥哥作比较。）
(C) suspect vt. 怀疑
suspect sb of... 怀疑某人……
例: The police suspected Tommy of having organized the crime.
（警方怀疑汤米策划了这起犯罪活动。）
(D) associate vt. 把……联想在一起
associate A with B 将 A 与 B 联想在一起
例: I usually associate bars with loud music.
（我常常将酒吧和吵闹的音乐联想在一起。）
b. 由于空格后的介词是 with，故 (A)、(C) 不可选，根据语意，可知应置入 associate，表把彩蛋和这层意义『联想』在一起，故选 (D)。
5. Today, people from all over the world carry on the tradition of decorating eggs.
理由:
a. (A) carry on... 继续……
例: If you carry on spending money like that, you'll end up in debt.
（如果你继续这样花钱，你最后会负债的。）
(B) lay off... 解雇……
例: The company laid off 5,000 employees last month.
（该公司上个月解雇了 5 千名员工。）
(C) stand for... 代表∕象征……
例: Doves stand for peace.
（鸽子代表和平。）
(D) put aside.../put...aside 撇开……
例: You need to put aside your troubles and have some fun.
（你需要把烦恼摆一边，然后去找点乐子。）
b. 根据语意，可知应置入 carry on，表世界各地的人们仍『持续』彩绘鸡蛋的传统，故选 (A)。
6. But for experts, the delicate shell can also be carved.
理由:
a. (A) delicate a. 易碎的
(B) fluent a. 流利的
be fluent in + 语言 会说流利的……（语言）
例: I wish I were fluent in French.
（我真希望我的法文够流利。）
(C) sensitive a. 敏感的
be sensitive to... 对……敏感
例: My friend is very sensitive to criticism.
（我这位朋友对批评非常敏感。）
(D) allergic a. 过敏的
be allergic to... 对……过敏
例: Her brother is allergic to peanuts.
（她哥哥对花生过敏。）
b. 根据语意，可知应置入 delicate，表『易碎的』蛋壳也可以拿来雕刻，故选 (A)。
7. Eggs are sometimes decorated with beads by having tiny holes made into the shell.
理由:
a. 本空格测验使役动词 have 的用法：
1) 使役动词 have 加了受词后，需用原形动词作受词补语。
have + 受词 + 原形动词 叫……做……
例: The boss had the secretary type the letter for him.
（老板叫秘书帮他打那封信。）
2) have 加受词后，其后亦可接过去分词作受词补语，此时的 have 译成『把……』。
have + 受词 + 过去分词 把……（被）……
例: I had my computer fixed.
（我把我的计算机修理好了。）
b. 空格前的受词是 tiny holes（小洞），根据上述第 2 点，可知应置入过去分词 made，故选 (C)。
精解字词词组
1. decorate vt. 装饰
decorate A with B 用 B 装饰 A
例: Let's decorate our room with posters of rock stars.
（咱们用摇滚巨星的海报来布置房间吧。）
2. represent vt. 代表，象征
例: The stars on the American flag represent the fifty states.
（美国国旗上的星星代表美国的 50 州。）
3. signify vt. 象征，表示
例: The crown signifies the king's power.
（皇冠象征国王的权力。）
4. in the year to come 在来年
for days/weeks/months/years to come 在未来几天∕几星期∕几个月∕几年
for generations to come 在未来的世代
例: This singer will be popular for years to come.
（这名歌手在未来几年一定会大红大紫。）
5. take on... 呈现出……（某种性质、外观等）
例: His face took on a sad expression.
（他的脸露出伤心的表情）
6. incredible a. 难以置信的；惊人的
例: Anita has an incredible voice.
（安妮塔有着惊人的美妙嗓音。）
7. be up to sb 由某人决定
例: It's up to you whether you want to stay here or go home.
（你要留在这里还是回家都由你自己决定。）
单字小铺
1. elegant a. 优美的；精致的
2. custom n. 习俗
3. Christian n. 基督教徒
4. tomb n. 坟墓，墓穴
5. dye n. 染料
6. expert n. 专家
7. shell n. 外壳
8. carve vt. 雕刻
9. bead n. 珠子
10. wax n. 蜡
11. patterned a. 有图案（装饰）的
pattern n. 花样，图案
词组小铺
1. rise from the dead 死后重生，复活
= come back from the dead
2. to this day 至今
中文翻译＆标准答案
蛋不仅可以食用，其独特的外形既光滑又典雅，拿来做装饰真是再好不过了。
用明亮美丽的颜料上色装饰，蛋就可以成为小巧的工艺品。这种风俗始于好几千年以前。蛋在历史上曾代表许多不同的事物，而蛋的彩绘传统就常被用来庆祝其所代表的事物。
5 千多年前的埃及人首先开始蛋的彩绘。为了庆祝新年的到来，埃及人会交换彩绘好的蛋作为礼物。他们相信这些彩绘蛋能带来未来一整年的好运。
许多年后，当基督徒开启了自己的彩绘蛋传统，这种习惯便有了新的含义。基督徒利用彩蛋作为宗教上的象征。他们笃信耶稣死而复活，而蛋被用来代表祂第一次下葬的墓穴。至今，许多人仍把彩蛋和这层宗教含义联想在一起。
今天，世界各地的人们仍持续彩绘鸡蛋的传统。最常使用的方式便是用颜料或染料来上色。但对达人来说，易碎的蛋壳也可以拿来雕刻。有时候还会在蛋壳打上小洞放进珠子来作装饰。乌克兰的彩蛋上头则会先上一层蜡，而且乌克兰的彩蛋还因为上头精美的图案设计而闻名于世。这些只是一些可以运用的彩绘方式，其它的方法就得视艺术家本身和鸡蛋而定了。
标准答案: 1. (B) 2. (C) 3. (A) 4. (D 5. (A) 6. (A) 7. (C)
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