Unit 8 - ART

READING COMPPREHENSION PRACTICE

READING 1: Read the passage and complete the tasks that follow.
I am fascinated by traditional crafts, and I love visiting museums and art galleries. When I go to
these places, I look at the exhibits and try to imagine how they were made. I find that I am often
influenced by what I see. For example, I recently visited the British Museum in London and saw
some beautiful bracelets that had been carved out of bone. I was so inspired by the designs that I
came home and made a bracelet myself. I didn't use bone, though - I used clay! It was great fun,
but it was also very difficult. Making things out of clay is much harder than it looks. In the end, I was
quite pleased with my bracelet, but it wasn't as good as the ones in the museum!
Another time, I went to an exhibition of African art. I was really moved by a sculpture of a woman
and her baby. The artist had used wood, cloth, and beads to make it. I thought it was so beautiful
that I decided to make one myself. I bought some old pieces of wood from a junk shop, and I spent
hours carving them into the shape of a woman. Then I added the cloth and beads. It was a lot of
work, but I enjoyed every minute of it. I gave the sculpture to my mother for her birthday, and she
loved it.
One day, I would like to learn how to make pottery. I think it's amazing how people can turn a lump
of clay into a beautiful vase or bowl. I'd also like to learn how to make jewelry. I've already made
some earrings for myself, but I'd like to make some necklaces and bracelets as well. Maybe I'll take
a course one day.
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. What inspired the writer to make a bracelet after visiting the British Museum?
A. A painting B. A sculpture C. A bracelet D. A necklace
2. What materials did the artist use to make the sculpture of a woman and her baby at the African art
exhibition?
A. Wood, cloth, and beads B. Metal and plastic C. Stone and glass D. Paper and fabric
3. What did the writer use to carve the sculpture of a woman for her mother's birthday?
A. Clay B. Wood C. Metal D. Plastic
4. What craft does the writer express interest in learning in the future?
A. Pottery B. Knitting C. Origami D. Calligraphy
Decide whether these statements are True (T) or False (F).
1. The author enjoys visiting museums and art galleries.
2. The author recently visited the Louvre Museum in Paris.
3. The author made a bracelet out of bone after visiting the British Museum.
4. Making things out of clay is easy.

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5. The author was very disappointed with the bracelet they made.
6. The author was inspired by a sculpture of a woman and her baby at an African art exhibition.
7. The author gave the sculpture they made to their father for his birthday.
8. The author wants to learn how to make pottery.
9. The author has already made necklaces and bracelets for themselves.
10. The author plans to take a jewelry-making course in the future.
READING 2: Read the passage and complete the tasks that follow.
Art is a way of expressing emotions, ideas and beauty through images, music, dance and other
visual or auditory media. Some people think that art is only about creating something beautiful, but
it can also be about expressing an idea or a feeling.
There are many different types of art. Abstract art, for example, doesn't try to represent the real
world. Instead, it uses shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect. Classical
music is another type of art. It was written by composers like Mozart, Beethoven and Bach. It is
usually very complex and has a lot of different instruments playing together.
People have been making art for thousands of years. In fact, some of the first pieces of art ever
made were cave paintings. These were pictures of animals and hunting scenes painted onto the
walls of caves by early humans. Since then, people have used art to tell stories, decorate their
homes, express their feelings and much more.
One of the most important factors in art is creativity. Artists need to be able to come up with new
ideas and think in different ways. They also need to be able to use their visual skills to create images
that communicate what they want to say. Good artists often have a unique style that makes their
work easily recognizable.
Some famous artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. Da Vinci is
best known for his painting the Mona Lisa, while Van Gogh is famous for his dramatic oil paintings
of landscapes and sunflowers. Picasso is considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.
He is particularly well-known for co-founding the Cubist movement and for his painting Guernica,
which shows the horrors of war.
Art is not just for professionals, though. Anyone can make art, whether it's a child drawing a picture,
a student taking photographs or a grandmother sewing a quilt. The most important thing is to enjoy
it and use it to express yourself.
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. What is one purpose of art, as stated in the text?
A. To create something beautiful B. To express emotions and ideas
C. To make money D. To follow strict rules and guidelines
2. How does abstract art achieve its effect?
A. By representing the real world accurately B. By using shapes, colors, forms, and gestural marks

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C. By telling stories through images D. By imitating classical music
3. What is one example of classical music mentioned in the text?
A. Rock and roll B. Jazz C. Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach D. Electronic dance music
4. What were some of the earliest pieces of art created by humans?
A. Sculptures made of gold B. Cave paintings of animals and hunting scenes
C. Oil paintings of landscapes D. Abstract art pieces
5. What is one important factor in art that artists need to possess?
A. Financial stability B. Creativity and ability to think differently
C. Mastery of only one specific medium D. Ability to copy other artists' work
6. Who is best known for painting the Mona Lisa?
A. Vincent van Gogh B. Pablo Picasso C. Leonardo da Vinci D. Beethoven
7. Which artist is famous for his dramatic oil paintings of landscapes and sunflowers?
A. Pablo Picasso B. Leonardo da Vinci C. Vincent van Gogh D. Mozart
Decide whether these statements are True (T) or False (F)
1. Abstract art aims to represent the real world.
2. Classical music is typically simple and only uses a few instruments.
3. Cave paintings were some of the earliest forms of art created by humans.
4. Creativity is not an important factor in art.
5. Good artists often have a unique style that sets their work apart.
6. Vincent van Gogh is famous for his paintings of animals and hunting scenes.
7. Anyone can create art, regardless of age or skill level.
Answer the following questions.
1. What is the purpose of art according to the text? Art is a way of expressing emotions, ideas and beauty through images, music, dance
and othervisual or auditory media. doesn't try to represent the realworld.
2. How does abstract art differ from other types of art mentioned in the text? art Instead, it uses shapes, colours, forms and
gestural marks to achieve its effect.

3. What are some examples of classical music composers provided in the text? Mozart, Beethoven and Bach

4. How have people been using art throughout history? people have used art to tell stories, decorate theirhomes, express their feelings
and much more. These were pictures of animals and hunting scenes painted
5. Why is creativity considered an important factor in artonto thewalls of caves by early humans.
creation? Because Artists need to be able to come up with newideas and
think in different ways.
6. Can you name three famous artists mentioned in the text and their notable works? Da Vinci:Mona Lisa. Picasso:Guernica.
Vangogh: landscapes and sunflowers
7. How does the text emphasize that art is accessible to everyone? Art is not just for professionals, though. Anyone can make art,
whether it's a child drawing a picture,a student taking
READING 3: Read the passage and complete the tasks that follow.or a grandmother sewing a quilt.
photographs

A BRIGHTER CITY!
The city of Łódź in Poland was another unremarkable industrial city until a few years ago. In 2009,
an organisation called the Urban Forms Foundation was set up by a well-known art historian and an
actress. Their idea was to bring the tired urban landscape to life again.

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The Foundation planned an art project that would change the city’s image and regenerate the centre,
and presented it to the city council. It wanted the council to ask street artists to paint on walls around
the city centre as a permanent outdoor exhibition. The mayor of the city supported the idea and the
Foundation was given permission to go ahead and raise the money needed. Famous street artists
from all over the world were invited by the Foundation to come to Poland to work, including Os
Gemeos from Brazil, Aryz from Spain and Remed from France, as well as local talent like M-City
and Etam Cru. In total, artists from eight countries took part in the project over the next few years,
and more than twenty huge murals were created on the sides of buildings in public spaces.
Łódź is now the second city in the world for street art after New York, and people visit there especially
to see the amazing artworks. With a special map, tourists can walk round the city and view them all
in a couple of hours. Now, once a year, the Foundation organises an art festival which attracts
participants from all over the world. And in the future, the project will be continued with other pieces
of urban art – statues, sculptures and ‘street jewellery’. The transformation goes on!
Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1 Łódź was famous before the work of the Urban Forms Foundation.
2 The Foundation’s art project didn’t cost anything.
3 The project is now completed.
Circle the correct answers.
1 Two people started an organisation in Łódź to
a provide more industry in the city. b rebuild the city centre.
c hold more art exhibitions. d improve the look of the city.
2 The Urban Forms Foundation.
a asked the mayor to help. b needed the city council to agree to the project.
c asked the council for money for their idea. d told the city council what to do.
3 Famous street artists
a weren’t interested at first in the project. b from abroad only were invited.
c were asked to take part in the project. d asked the Foundation for work.
4 Because of the Foundation’s work,
a the city has become famous in the art world. b the city now has more street art then New York.
c tourists are allowed to paint on the city walls. d there is no need for more artwork in the city.
Answer the questions with the information from the text.
1. Who set up the Urban Forms Foundation in Łódź, Poland?
2. What was the main goal of the art project planned by the Urban Forms Foundation?
3. How did the city council react to the Foundation's proposal for a street art exhibition?
4. Which famous street artists were invited to participate in the project in Łódź?
5. How has the city of Łódź transformed since the implementation of the street art project?
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6. Why do tourists visit Łódź specifically to see the street artworks?
7. What are the future plans for the urban art project in Łódź according to the text?

1.was set up by a well-known art historian and an actress.

2. to improve the look of the city and regenerate the city center by creating a permanent outdoor exhibition of street art.

3.The city council supported the Foundation's idea for a street art exhibition.

4.Os Gemeos from Brazil, Aryz from Spain, Remed from France, as well as local talent like M-City and Etam Cru.

5.The city of Łódź has transformed into the second city in the world for street art after New York, becoming famous in the art world.

6.Tourists visit Łódź specifically to see the street artworks because the city has become known for its impressive collection of street art, and there is a
special map for tourists to walk around the city and view the murals.

7. the future plans for the urban art project in Łódź include continuing the project with other pieces of urban art, such as statues, sculptures, and 'street
jewellery.' The Foundation organizes an annual art festival that attracts participants from around the world. The transformation is ongoing.