Reading Comprehension 7

The next artist in this survey of American artist is James Whistler; he is included in this survey of American artist because he was born in the United States, although the majority of his artwork was completed in Europe. Whistler was born in Massachusetts in 1834, but nine years later his father moved the family to St. Petersburg, Russia, to work on the construction of a railroad. The family returned to the United States in 1849. Two years later Whistler entered the U.S. military academy at West Point, but he was unable to graduate. At the age of twenty-one Whistler went to Europe to study art despite familial objections, and he remained in Europe until his death.

Whistler worked in various art forms, including etchings and lithographs. However, he is most famous for his paintings, particularly Arrangement in Gray and Black No. 1: Portrait of the Artist’s Mother or Whistler’s Mother, as it is more commonly known. This painting shows a side view of Whistler’s mother, dressed I black and posing against a gray wall. The asymmetrical nature of the portrait, with his mother seated off-center, is highly characteristic of Whistler’s work.

1. The paragraph preceding this passage most likely discusses

     A. A survey of eighteenth-century art

     B. a different American artist

     C. Whistler’s other famous paintings

     D. European artists

2. Which of the following best describes the information in the passage?

     A. Several artists are presented

     B. One artist’s life and works are described

     C. Various paintings are contrasted

     D. Whistler’s family life is outlined.

3. Whistler is considered an American artist because

     A. he was born in America

     B. he spent most of his life in Americat

     C. he served in the U.S. military

     D. he created most of his famous art in America

4. The world “majority” in line 2 is closest in meaning to

     A. seniority

     B. maturity

     C. large pices

     D. high percentage

5. It is implied in the passage that Whistler’s family was

     A. unable to find any work at all in Rusia

     B. highly supportive of his desire to pursue art

     C. working class

     D. military

6. The word “objections” in line 7 is closest in meaning to

     A. protests

     B. goals

     C. agreements

     D. battles

7. In line 8, the “etchings” are

     A. a type of painting

     B. the same as a lithograph

     C. an art form introduced by Whistler

     D. an art form involving engraving

 8. The word “asymmetrical” in line 11 is closest in meaning to

     A. proportionate

     B. uneven

     C. balanced

     D. lyrical

9. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passsage?

     A. Whistler work with a variety of art forms.

     B. Whistler’s Mother is not the official name of his painting.

     C. Whistler is best known for his etchings.

     D. Whistler’s Mother is painted in somber tones.