Question

I would almost rather see you dead, Robert S. Cassatt, a leading banker of Philadelphia, shouted when his twenty-year-old eldest daughter announced that she wanted to become an artist. In the 19th century, playing at drawing or painting on dishes was all right for a young lady, but serious work in art was not. And when the young lady’s family ranked (位列) among the best of Philadelphia’s social families, such an idea could not even be considered.

That was how Mary Cassatt, born in 1844, began her struggle as an artist. She did not fear before her father ’ s anger. Instead, she was against him with courage and at last made him change his mind. Mary Cassatt gave up her social position and all thought of a husband and a family, which was unthinkable for a young lady in those times. In the end, after long years of hard work and perseverance( 堅(jiān)持), she became America’s most important woman artist and the internationally recognized leading woman painter of the time.

1.What in fact was Mr. Cassatt’s main reason in opposing his daughter’s wish?

A. Drawing and painting was simply unthinkable among ladies in those days.

B. He did not believe his daughter wanted to work seriously in art.

C. Ladies of good families simply did not become artists in those times.

D. He believed an artist’s life would be too hard for his daughter.

2.What made Mary Cassatt’s “fight” to become a leading artist especially hard?

A. Her father was against her. B. She was a woman.

C. She had no social position. D. She did not come from an artist’s family.

3.What do we know about Mary Cassatt’s marriage?

A. She never married because she did not want to be just a wife and mother.

B. Her marriage failed because she never gave a thought to her husband and family.

C. After marriage she decided to give up her husband rather than her career.

D. She didn’t marry because for a lady of her social position to marry below her was unthinkable.

Answer 1