TF阅读真题第964篇French Gothic Cathedrals

 

题目：

French Gothic Cathedrals

Gothic-style cathedrals, known for their impressive height. pointed arches, and intricate line patterns, are among the most elaborate stone buildings in the West. The style originated in France with Abbot Suger’s reconstruction of parts of the Basilica of Saint- Denis (specifically the choir and the west facade) from 1135 to 1144 C.E, and even before Suger had turned his attention to the rest of the church, other towns in northern France had begun competing to build cathedrals in the new Gothic style.

A cathedral is the seat of a bishop (a high-ranking church official)and belongs to the city or town in which it is located. In contrast to earlier large medieval churches such as Sainte-Foy, which were often built in rural areas, cathedrals required a more urban setting. Also consistent with increased urbanization in the twelfth century was the development of cathedral schools and universities. These new institutions were competitors in education with the relatively isolated monasteries that had proliferated in the earlier Middle Ages. The construction of a cathedral was the largest economic enterprise of the Gothic era. It had a significant effect on neighboring communities as well as on the city or town itself. Jobs were created for hundreds of masons, carpenters, sculptors, stonecutters, and other craftspeople. When a cathedral was finished, it attracted thousands of pilgrims(religious travelers) and other visitors, and this continual traffic stimulated the local economy. Cathedrals also provided a focus for community activities, secular as well as religious. Above all, they generated an enormous sense of civic pride among the townspeople.  

The town of Chartres is approximately 64 km southwest of Paris. For a town like Chartres, with only 10,000 inhabitants in the thirteenth century, the cathedral dominated the landscape, just as the building of the cathedral dominated the economy. At Chartres, the construction continued off and on from around 1134 to 1510,when the north tower was completed. The most intensive work, however, followed a fire in 1194,when parts of the cathedral-the nave and choir-had to be rebuilt. The cathedral combines the best- preserved Early Gothic (the first phase of Gothic architecture) with High Gothic(the second phase of Gothic architecture), as well as demonstrating the transitional developments in between.  

The bishop and chapter (governing body) of the cathedral were in charge of contracting out the work. The funds, however, came from a much broader cross section of medieval French society. The church itself usually contributed by setting aside revenues from lands it owned. Priests and other church officials living at Chartres agreed in 1194 to give up their stipends(salaries) for three years so that the rebuilding program could begin. When the royal family or members of the nobility had a connection with a particular project, they also helped. At Chartres, Blanche, the mother of Louis IX, King of France, donated funds for the entire north transept facade, including the sculptures and windows. The duke of Brittany contributed to the southern transept. Other wealthy families of the region gave windows, and their donations were recorded by depicting their coats of arms(family symbols) in the stained glass. Guilds(professional associations) representing specific groups of craftspeople and tradespeople donated windows illustrating their professional activities. Pilgrims and less wealthy local inhabitants gave money in proportion to their means, often by buying relics or in gratitude for answers to prayers. These donations went toward general costs rather than to a designated use. There were thus economic and social distinctions not only in the size and nature of the contributions, but also in the degree to which they were publicly recognized.

Chartres was one of the over eighty cathedrals and large abbeys (buildings housing the monks or nuns of a religious order) constructed in the region around Paris in the thirteenth century. Each one was an enormous undertaking fraught with problems, including fires and poor weather. To make matters worse, funds often ran out in the course of a building project, which meant that work came to a halt. Without banks, there was no system for building up capital or long-term financial planning. It also took three to six months for the mortar between bricks to set, depending on the weather. And whenever work stoppages did occur, the workers were dismissed and moved on to other cathedrals that would hire them. As a result, the workforce often lacked continuity, which is reflected in stylistic variations of the finished building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Gothic-style cathedrals, known for their impressive height. pointed arches, and intricate line patterns, are among the most elaborate stone buildings in the West. The style originated in France with Abbot Suger’s reconstruction of parts of the Basilica of Saint- Denis (specifically the choir and the west facade) from 1135 to 1144 C.E, and even before Suger had turned his attention to the rest of the church, other towns in northern France had begun competing to build cathedrals in the new Gothic style.

The word “elaborate”in the passage is closest in meaning to

Vocabulary Questions词汇题

Aimportant

Bcomplex

Cfamous

Doriginal

2

Gothic-style cathedrals, known for their impressive height. pointed arches, and intricate line patterns, are among the most elaborate stone buildings in the West. The style originated in France with Abbot Suger’s reconstruction of parts of the Basilica of Saint- Denis (specifically the choir and the west facade) from 1135 to 1144 C.E, and even before Suger had turned his attention to the rest of the church, other towns in northern France had begun competing to build cathedrals in the new Gothic style.

Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

 

Sentence Simplification Questions句子简化题

 

AAbbot Suger’s reconstruction of the choir and the west facade of the Basilica of Saint-Denis in northern France began in 1135 and ended in 1144 C.E.

BAfter reconstructing the Basilica of Saint-Denis, Abbot Suger turned his attention to other cathedrals, with many towns competing for his work.

CThe Gothic style originated between 1135 and 1144 C.E. with Suger’s reconstruction of the Basilica of Saint-Denis and quickly spread to other French towns.

DIt took Abbot Suger so long to reconstruct the Basilica of Saint-Denis that even before he completed it, other towns succeeded in building new cathedrals in the Gothic style.

3

A cathedral is the seat of a bishop (a high-ranking church official)and belongs to the city or town in which it is located. In contrast to earlier large medieval churches such as Sainte-Foy, which were often built in rural areas, cathedrals required a more urban setting. Also consistent with increased urbanization in the twelfth century was the development of cathedral schools and universities. These new institutions were competitors in education with the relatively isolated monasteries that had proliferated in the earlier Middle Ages. The construction of a cathedral was the largest economic enterprise of the Gothic era. It had a significant effect on neighboring communities as well as on the city or town itself. Jobs were created for hundreds of masons, carpenters, sculptors, stonecutters, and other craftspeople. When a cathedral was finished, it attracted thousands of pilgrims(religious travelers) and other visitors, and this continual traffic stimulated the local economy. Cathedrals also provided a focus for community activities, secular as well as religious. Above all, they generated an enormous sense of civic pride among the townspeople.  

Paragraph 2 supports which of the following statements about the effect that establishing cathedrals could have on communities?

 

Factual Information Questions事实信息题

 

ACathedrals attracted more people to rural areas.

BCathedrals’growing importance led to an increase in the number of monasteries.

CCathedrals increased educational opportunities in cities and towns.

DCathedrals caused people to move out of cities into neighboring communities.

4

The bishop and chapter (governing body) of the cathedral were in charge of contracting out the work. The funds, however, came from a much broader cross section of medieval French society. The church itself usually contributed by setting aside revenues from lands it owned. Priests and other church officials living at Chartres agreed in 1194 to give up their stipends(salaries) for three years so that the rebuilding program could begin. When the royal family or members of the nobility had a connection with a particular project, they also helped. At Chartres, Blanche, the mother of Louis IX, King of France, donated funds for the entire north transept facade, including the sculptures and windows. The duke of Brittany contributed to the southern transept. Other wealthy families of the region gave windows, and their donations were recorded by depicting their coats of arms(family symbols) in the stained glass. Guilds(professional associations) representing specific groups of craftspeople and tradespeople donated windows illustrating their professional activities. Pilgrims and less wealthy local inhabitants gave money in proportion to their means, often by buying relics or in gratitude for answers to prayers. These donations went toward general costs rather than to a designated use. There were thus economic and social distinctions not only in the size and nature of the contributions, but also in the degree to which they were publicly recognized.

The word “means”in the passage is closest in meaning to

Vocabulary Questions词汇题

Adesires

Bpopulations

Cgoals

Dresources

5

The bishop and chapter (governing body) of the cathedral were in charge of contracting out the work. The funds, however, came from a much broader cross section of medieval French society. The church itself usually contributed by setting aside revenues from lands it owned. Priests and other church officials living at Chartres agreed in 1194 to give up their stipends(salaries) for three years so that the rebuilding program could begin. When the royal family or members of the nobility had a connection with a particular project, they also helped. At Chartres, Blanche, the mother of Louis IX, King of France, donated funds for the entire north transept facade, including the sculptures and windows. The duke of Brittany contributed to the southern transept. Other wealthy families of the region gave windows, and their donations were recorded by depicting their coats of arms(family symbols) in the stained glass. Guilds(professional associations) representing specific groups of craftspeople and tradespeople donated windows illustrating their professional activities. Pilgrims and less wealthy local inhabitants gave money in proportion to their means, often by buying relics or in gratitude for answers to prayers. These donations went toward general costs rather than to a designated use. There were thus economic and social distinctions not only in the size and nature of the contributions, but also in the degree to which they were publicly recognized.

Why does the author provide the information that some donations “went toward general costs rather than to a designated use”?

 

Rhetorical Purpose Questions修辞目的题

 

ATo suggest that most of the contributions were needed to pay for general costs

BTo indicate that some people who gave money preferred not to designate how it was used

CTo point out that significant funds were raised by selling relics and accepting donations for prayers

DTo help explain that smaller donations were used in ways that were not ordinarily recognized

6

The bishop and chapter (governing body) of the cathedral were in charge of contracting out the work. The funds, however, came from a much broader cross section of medieval French society. The church itself usually contributed by setting aside revenues from lands it owned. Priests and other church officials living at Chartres agreed in 1194 to give up their stipends(salaries) for three years so that the rebuilding program could begin. When the royal family or members of the nobility had a connection with a particular project, they also helped. At Chartres, Blanche, the mother of Louis IX, King of France, donated funds for the entire north transept facade, including the sculptures and windows. The duke of Brittany contributed to the southern transept. Other wealthy families of the region gave windows, and their donations were recorded by depicting their coats of arms(family symbols) in the stained glass. Guilds(professional associations) representing specific groups of craftspeople and tradespeople donated windows illustrating their professional activities. Pilgrims and less wealthy local inhabitants gave money in proportion to their means, often by buying relics or in gratitude for answers to prayers. These donations went toward general costs rather than to a designated use. There were thus economic and social distinctions not only in the size and nature of the contributions, but also in the degree to which they were publicly recognized.

Paragraph 4 discusses all of the following as sources of funds used to construct cathedrals such as Chartres EXCEPT:

 

Negative Factual Information Questions否定事实信息题

 

AThe church used funds that came from income it received from land that it owned.

BMembers of the nobility donated three years’worth of their salaries to projects.

CWealthy people and guilds donated items such as windows.

DPeople who were not very wealthy bought relics and made donations.

7

Chartres was one of the over eighty cathedrals and large abbeys (buildings housing the monks or nuns of a religious order) constructed in the region around Paris in the thirteenth century. Each one was an enormous undertaking fraught with problems, including fires and poor weather. To make matters worse, funds often ran out in the course of a building project, which meant that work came to a halt. Without banks, there was no system for building up capital or long-term financial planning. It also took three to six months for the mortar between bricks to set, depending on the weather. And whenever work stoppages did occur, the workers were dismissed and moved on to other cathedrals that would hire them. As a result, the workforce often lacked continuity, which is reflected in stylistic variations of the finished building.

According to paragraph 5, which of the following problems affected the construction of cathedrals and abbeys around Paris in the thirteenth century?

Factual Information Questions事实信息题

AA lack of financial systems and institutions meant that construction projects were funded only for the short term.

BPlans to build over eighty cathedrals and abbeys had to be reduced in number because of fires and poor weather at many sites.

CBuilding plans often changed significantly during the three to six months required for the mortar between bricks to set.

DCathedrals such as Chartres often struggled to compete with other regional building projects that relied on the same funding sources.

8

Chartres was one of the over eighty cathedrals and large abbeys (buildings housing the monks or nuns of a religious order) constructed in the region around Paris in the thirteenth century. Each one was an enormous undertaking fraught with problems, including fires and poor weather. To make matters worse, funds often ran out in the course of a building project, which meant that work came to a halt. Without banks, there was no system for building up capital or long-term financial planning. It also took three to six months for the mortar between bricks to set, depending on the weather. And whenever work stoppages did occur, the workers were dismissed and moved on to other cathedrals that would hire them. As a result, the workforce often lacked continuity, which is reflected in stylistic variations of the finished building.

According to paragraph 5, for which of the following reasons were different styles of construction used within a single cathedral or large abbey?

 

Factual Information Questions事实信息题

 

AThe construction of each cathedral and large abbey was influenced by various styles used in other nearby cathedrals and abbeys.

BProblems with one style of construction often caused builders to switch to a different style of construction.

CDifferent planners used different styles of construction to prevent problems caused by fires and poor weather.

DWhen delays brought construction to a temporary halt, workers often left one cathedral or large abbey to go and work on another.

9

[■]Gothic-style cathedrals, known for their impressive height. pointed arches, and intricate line patterns, are among the most elaborate stone buildings in the West. [■]The style originated in France with Abbot Suger’s reconstruction of parts of the Basilica of Saint- Denis (specifically the choir and the west facade) from 1135 to 1144 C.E, and even before Suger had turned his attention to the rest of the church, other towns in northern France had begun competing to build cathedrals in the new Gothic style.

 

[■]A cathedral is the seat of a bishop (a high-ranking church official)and belongs to the city or town in which it is located. In contrast to earlier large medieval churches such as Sainte-Foy, which were often built in rural areas, cathedrals required a more urban setting. [■]Also consistent with increased urbanization in the twelfth century was the development of cathedral schools and universities. These new institutions were competitors in education with the relatively isolated monasteries that had proliferated in the earlier Middle Ages. The construction of a cathedral was the largest economic enterprise of the Gothic era. It had a significant effect on neighboring communities as well as on the city or town itself. Jobs were created for hundreds of masons, carpenters, sculptors, stonecutters, and other craftspeople. When a cathedral was finished, it attracted thousands of pilgrims(religious travelers) and other visitors, and this continual traffic stimulated the local economy. Cathedrals also provided a focus for community activities, secular as well as religious. Above all, they generated an enormous sense of civic pride among the townspeople.  

Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage

The time and place in which the Gothic style emerged can be identified with unusual precision.Insert Text Questions句子插入题

Where would the sentence best fit？Click on a square  sentence to the passage.

10

Gothic-style cathedrals are known for their very impressive features.

 

Prose Summary Questions概要小结题

 

Select 3 answers

AThe Gothic architectural style began to spread as builders adopted features from the Basilica of Saint-Denis for massive church-building projects that were funded by various sources.

BThe nobility competed with guilds to control the construction of cathedrals, while craftspeople, tradespeople, and less wealthy local inhabitants had little influence on how cathedrals were built.

CThe construction of Chartres cathedral was especially prolonged because of the outbreak of fires and because it took a longer time than usual for the mortar between the bricks to set.

DGothic cathedrals, which were built in urban locations, affected their home communities in various ways, including increased economic activity and local residents’sense of pride.

EThe construction of cathedrals progressed slowly and presented many challenges that caused work to stop altogether for periods of time and affected the styles in which they were constructed.

FCathedral construction was centered in the region around Paris because Paris was the only area that had a continuous workforce and do not have sufficient for building up capital.