呂品

薛生金出生于1937年，他父親經(jīng)營著平遙老字號“源泰昌”漆店，故他從小就與“漆”字結(jié)下了不解之緣。他憑著極高的天賦和對藝術(shù)的執(zhí)著追求，成為推光漆器藝術(shù)界的泰斗。

1 As? the? ancient? town? became? a? national

financial? center? in? the? Qing? Dynasty，? Pingyaos hand?polished? ?lacquer? （漆器）? art? ?reached? ?its peak. The craft was among the first to be listed as National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006.

2 Xue Shengjin was introduced to lacquer art by his father. In 1953， at the age of 16， Xue started painting. Two years later， he had mastered the skill and was making a living out of it， and that was when he decided to seriously pursue （追求） the handicraft trade.

3 Opportunities came knocking in 1958， when a polished lacquer factory was founded in Pingyao. Xue was among the first artists to be recommended to work at the factory， where he was under the teaching of lacquerware master Qiao Quanyu.

4 “Qiao held nothing back when he taught me， but the learning process wasnt easy，” Xue says. Before they realized， the factory was near bankruptcy （破產(chǎn)）. It was not until 1964， when a Beijing company in foreign trade bought all the lacquerware and placed new orders， that things turned around. By then， Xue was in charge of design and research. Not only did Xue restore lost lacquer art techniques， but he also came up with a dozen new methods.

5 With the rise of local businessmen under the Ming and Qing rulers， Pingyao lacquer products were sold in Russia and Southeast Asian countries. In the 1970s， polished lacquerware from Pingyao became a major contributor to Shanxis foreign?exchange income and made its way to 20 countries and regions. “Sales in France were the largest. The French liked distinct Chinese designs， particularly historical figures and rural scenery，” Xue says.

6 Making lacquerware can be very demanding. Artists need to train for at least three years to grasp basic polishing and painting techniques. According to Xue， more than eight years of practice is necessary to become proficient in the craft.

7 In addition to furthering his own skills， Xue has started passing down his technical know?how to younger generations. “Young people need to be passionate and persistent （堅持不懈的） to understand the essence of lacquer art，” he says.

1. When did Xue take lacquer trade seriously？

A. In 1953. B. In 1955. C. In 1958. D. In 1964.

2. What does paragraph 5 mainly focus on？

A. Qiaos contribution to teaching lacquer art.

B. Xues learning process of lacquer art.

C. Sale of Pingyao lacquer products.

D. History of lacquer products.

3. What can be inferred about making lacquerware？

A. It is an easy job.

B. It requires a long time of practice.

C. It needs few painting skills.

D. It is more suitable for young people to learn.

4. Which of the following may Xue agree with according to the text？

A. The job of being an artist is wonderful.

B. Family backgrounds matter a lot.

C. Choosing a good teacher is important.

D. Young people should learn lacquer art.

Useful expressions

a national financial center 國家金融中心

hand?polished lacquer 推光漆器

reach ones peak 達到巔峰

National Intangible Cultural Heritage 國家非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)

be introduced to 初次了解……

make a living out of 靠……謀生

hold nothing back 毫無保留

demanding 苛求的；要求高的

become proficient in 在……方面變得熟練

the essence of lacquer art 漆器藝術(shù)的精髓

Things turn around. 事情有了轉(zhuǎn)機。