Question

She is widely seen as proof that good looks can last for ever. But, at nearly 500 years of age, time is catching up with the Mona Lisa.
The health of the famous picture, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1505, is getting worse by the year, according to the Louvre Museum(盧浮宮博物館) where it is housed.
“The thin, wooden panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted in oil has changed shape since experts checked it two years ago,” the museum said. Visitors have noticed changes but repairing the world’s most famous painting is not easy. Experts are not sure about the materials the Italian artist used and their current chemical state(化學(xué)狀態(tài)).
Nearly 6 million people go to see the Mona Lisa every year, many attracted by the mystery of her smile. “It is very interesting that when you’re not looking at her, she seems to be smiling, and then you look at her and she stops,” said Professor Margaret Livingstone of Harvard University. “It’s because direct vision (視覺) is excellent at picking up detail, but less suited to looking at shadows. Da Vinci painted the smile in shadows.”
However, the actual history of the Mona Lisa is just as mysterious as the smile. Da Vinci himself loved it so much that he always carried it with him, until it was eventually sold to France’s King Francis I in 1519.
In 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre by a former employee, who took it out of the museum hidden under his coat. He said he panned to return it to Italy. The painting was sent back to France two years later.
During World War II, French hid the painting in small towns to keep it out of the hands of German forces.
Like many old ladies, the Mona Lisa has some interesting stories to tell.

1. 1.
   What does the writer mean by “time is catching up with the Mona Lisa”?
   1. A.
      The painting woman is not so beautiful any more.
   2. B.
      Ageing is something that affects us all.
   3. C.
      The painting needs repairing.
   4. D.
      At such an old age, she is no longer popular.
2. 2.
   What makes the repair work difficult?
   1. A.
      The wooden panel is thin and old.
   2. B.
      No one knows exactly what materials were used to create the painting and how it might respond to treatment.
   3. C.
      The health of the painting is suffering.
   4. D.
      Experts can’t agree on how to carry out repairs.
3. 3.
   What makes her so mysterious according to Professor Livingston?
   1. A.
      The materials the Italian artist used.
   2. B.
      The way she smiles.
   3. C.
      The way Da Vinci painted the smile.
   4. D.
      It plays a trick upon the human eyes

Answer 1

CBC
1.推理題：從文章第二段的句子：The health of the famous picture, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1505, is getting worse by the year,說明名畫蒙娜麗莎狀態(tài)越來越差，就是需要修繕了。選 C。
2.細(xì)節(jié)題：從文章的第三段的句子：Experts are not sure about the materials the Italian artist used and their current chemical state(化學(xué)狀態(tài)).說明因為不確定它的化學(xué)成分和現(xiàn)在的狀況所以修起來很難。選B；
3.細(xì)節(jié)題：從這句話：Da Vinci painted the smile in shadows.說明達(dá)芬奇是在陰影里畫她的微笑的。選C。