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The values of artistic works, according to cultural relativism （相对主义）, are simply reflections of local social and economic conditions. Such a view, however, fails to explain the ability of some works of art to excite the human mind across cultures and through centuries.
History has witnessed the endless productions of Shakespearean plays in every major language of the world. It is never rare to find that Mozart packs Japanese concert halls, as Japanese painter Hiroshige does Paris galleries. Unique works of this kind are different from today’s popular art, even if they began as works of popular art. They have set themselves apart in their timeless appeal and will probably be enjoyed for centuries into the future.
In a 1757 essay, the philosopher David Hume argued that because “the general principles of taste are uniform （不变的） in human nature,” the value of some works of art might be essentially permanent. He observed that Homer was still admired after two thousand years. Works of this type, he believed, spoke to deep and unvarying features of human nature and could continue to exist over centuries.
Now researchers are applying scientific methods to the study of the universality of art. For example, evolutionary psychology is being used by literary scholars to explain the long-lasting themes and plot devices in fiction. The structures of musical pieces are now open to experimental analysis as never before. Research findings seem to indicate that the creation by a great artist is as permanent an achievement as the discovery by a great scientist.
1. According to the passage, what do we know about cultural relativism?
A. It introduces different cultural values.
B. It explains the history of artistic works.
C. It relates artistic values to local conditions.
D. It excites the human mind throughout the world.
2. In Paragraph 2, the artists are mentioned in order to show that _____ .
A. great works of art can go beyond national boundaries
B. history gives art works special appeal to set them apart
C. popular arts are hardly distinguishable from great arts
D. great artists are skilled at combining various cultures
3. According to Hume, some works of art can exist for centuries because _____ .
A. they are results of scientific study
B. they establish some general principles of art
C. they are created by the world’s greatest artists
D. they appeal to unchanging features of human nature
4. Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?
A. Are Artistic Values Universal?
B. Are Popular Arts Permanent?
C. Is Human Nature Uniform?
D. Is Cultural Relativism Scientific?
artistic adj . 艺术的；有美感的；风雅的
work n . （艺术家、作家、作曲家等的）作品；著作
reflection n . 反映；（关于某课题的）思考
witness v . 目击，见证
pack v . 挤满；塞满
unique adj . 独特的；唯一的，仅有的
set apart 使分离；区别
appeal n . 吸引力，感染力
essentially adv . 大体上，基本上
permanent adj . 永久（性）的，永恒的，不变的
unvarying adj . 不变的，恒久的
apply v . 应用，运用
universality n . 普遍性，通用性；一般性
theme n . 主题
device n . 设计；装置；策略
fiction n . 小说，虚构的文学作品
1. In a 1757 essay, the philosopher David Hume argued that because “the general principles of taste are uniform in human nature,” the value of some works of art might be essentially permanent.
本句的理解难点是由that引导的宾语从句，该从句中又包含了一个because引导的原因状语从句。
（参考译文） 1757年，哲学家大卫·休谟在一篇文章中称，由于“人性对于审美的总体原则是不变的”，因而一些艺术作品的价值可能基本上是永恒的。
2. For example, evolutionary psychology is being used by literary scholars to explain the long-lasting themes and plot devices in fiction.
本句结构并不复杂，是一个现在进行时的被动语态的简单句加上若干修饰成分，但理解上稍有难度。
（参考译文） 例如，进化心理学现在被文人们用来解释小说中一些长盛不衰的主题和情节设计。