Even thousands of years before the “selfie(自拍)” was invented, people were concerned with the image o

B
Even thousands of years before the “selfie(自拍)” was invented, people were concerned with the image of themselves they presented to the world. The rulers of ancient Egypt had artists carve portraits of them to decorate their tombs and preserve their images even after death.
King Tutankhamen lived more than 3,000 years ago. He ruled ancient Egypt for 10 years, until his death at age 19. “King Tut” remained practically unknown in the modern world until 1922, when scientists discovered his tomb, buried and forgotten for centuries. The treasures inside gave the world the first detailed picture of ancient Egyptian life.
The ancient Egyptians worshipped(崇拜) many gods. They also believed that all people had a life spirit, called “ka” that needed a place to live after the body died. Tombs inside huge pyramids protected the pharaohs'(法老) ka. The ka could also exist in portrait sculptures like the one of a seated Hatshepsut. The wife of a pharaoh, Hatshepsut took on the role of king after her husband died. Carved from limestone, this Life-size sculpture shows the life force of Hatshepsut's ka. The artist suggests Hatshepsut's strength by placing her feet firmly on the ground and resting her hands on her knees in a firm, powerful pose.
Viewers are meant to look at the sculpture of Hatshepsut from a frontal angle only. But artist Thutmose created his portrait of Queen Nefertiti as a sculpture in the round, meaning viewers should observe it from many points of view. The work is a highly realistic portrait of a queen who ruled beside her husband, a pharaoh. Painted with delicate(精细的) features, the impressive colors in her portrait resemble the makeup Nefertiti probably wore in life.
Long before any of these portraits were created, a huge creature with a lion's body and a human head stood guarding in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. No one knows who created the Great Sphinx, or why, but it is said to resemble an early pharaoh. Carved out of solid rock on a larger-than-life scale, it is possibly the oldest and most imposing portrait in the world.
39. The artist presents Hatshepsut's strength mainly through the ________ of the sculpture.
A. gesture B. material
C. color D. size
40. According to the passage, the portrait of Nefertiti was ________.
A. imaginative B. lifelike
C. threatening D. abstract
41. The Great Sphinx might be ________.
A. a king of animals
B. a guard as brave as a lion
C. a portrait of an early pharaoh
D. a creature owned by a pharaoh
42. What's the passage mainly about？
A. The oldest selfie in the world.
B. Some powerful kings in Egypt.
C. Some portraits of kings in some countries.
D. Some portrait sculptures of ancient Egyptian rulers.
【答案】39. A    40. B    41. C    42. D
【解析】
这是一篇说明文。在“自拍”发明前的几千年，人们就开始关注自己呈现给世界的形象。古埃及的统治者让艺术家雕刻他们的肖像，以装饰他们的坟墓和保存他们的形象。
【39题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段中 “The artist suggests Hatshepsut's strength by placing her feet firmly on the ground and resting her hands on her knees in a firm, powerful pose.”可知，艺术家主要通过雕塑的姿态来表现Hatshepsut的力量。结合选项，故选A。
【40题详解】
细节理解题。根据第四段中 “The work is a highly realistic portrait of a queen who ruled beside her husband, a pharaoh.Painted with delicate(精细的) features, the impressive colors in her portrait resemble the makeup Nefertiti probably wore in life.”可知，这幅作品是一幅非常逼真的肖像画，画中的人物五官精致，令人印象深刻的色彩与娜芙提蒂可能在生活中所化的妆相似。故Nefertiti的肖像画应该是非常逼真的。故选B。
【41题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段中 “No one knows who created the Great Sphinx, or why, but it is said to resemble an early pharaoh.”可知，据说the Great Sphinx很像早期的法老。故可能是法老的肖像画。故选C。
【42题详解】
主旨大意题。根据第一段中 “Even thousands of years before the “selfie(自拍)” was invented, people were concerned with the image of themselves they presented to the world. The rulers of ancient Egypt had artists carve portraits of them to decorate their tombs and preserve their images even after death.”以及下文对雕塑的详细描述可知，本文主要介绍了一些古埃及统治者的肖像雕塑。结合选项，故选D。