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Benjamin West, the father of American painting, showed his talent for art when he was only six years of age. But he did not know about brushes before a visitor told him he needed one. In those days, a brush was made from camel’s hair. There were no camels nearby. Benjamin decided that cat hair would work instead. He cut some fur from the family cat to make a brush.
The brush did not last long. Soon Benjamin needed more fur. Before long, the cat began to look ragged（蓬乱）. His father said that the cat must be sick. Benjamin was forced to admit what he had been doing.
The cat’s lot was about to improve . That year, one of Benjamin’s cousins, Mr. Pennington, came to visit. He was impressed with Benjamin’s drawings. When he went home, he sent Benjamin a box of paint and some brushes. He also sent six engravings （版画） by an artist. These were the first pictures and first real paint and brushes Benjamin had ever seen.
In 1747, when Benjamin was nine years old, Mr. Pennington returned for another visit. He was amazed at what Benjamin had done with his gift. He asked Benjamin’s parents if he might take the boy to Philadelphia for a visit.
In the city, Mr. Pennington gave Benjamin materials for creating oil paintings. The boy began a landscape（风景）painting. William Williams, a well-known painter, came to see him work. Williams was impressed with Benjamin and gave him two classic books on painting to take home. The books were long and dull. Benjamin could read only a little, having been a poor student. But he later said, “Those two books were my companions by day, and under my pillow at night.” While it is likely that he understood very little of the books, they were his introduction to classical paintings. The nine-year-old boy decided then that he would be an artist.
1. What is the text mainly about?
A. Benjamin’s visit to Philadelphia.
B. Williams’ influence on Benjamin.
C. The beginning of Benjamin’s life as an artist.
D. The friendship between Benjamin and Pennington.
2. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 suggest?
A. The cat would be closely watched.
B. The cat would get some medical care.
C. Benjamin would leave his home shortly.
D. Benjamin would have real brushes soon.
3. What did Pennington do to help Benjamin develop his talent?
A. He took him to see painting exhibitions.
B. He provided him with painting materials.
C. He sent him to a school in Philadelphia.
D. He taught him how to make engravings.
4. Williams’ two books helped Benjamin to ______.
A. master the use of paints
B. appreciate landscape paintings
C. get to know other painters
D. make up his mind to be a painter
talent n . 天资，才能；天才，人才
last v . 保持可用状态；持续
cousin n . 堂（或表）兄弟姐妹
lot n . 命运，运气
impress v . 给……以深刻印象；使铭记
oil painting 油画
classic book 经典著作，经典书目
dull adj . 枯燥无味的；沉闷的；无聊的
companion n . 同伴；伙伴
pillow n . 枕头；垫子
classical painting 古典绘画
1. Williams was impressed with Benjamin and gave him two classic books on painting to take home.
本句是一个双谓语并列句，第一个谓语是被动语态，第二个谓语是动宾结构，其中宾语为双宾语，整个句子结构比较清晰。
（参考译文） 本杰明给威廉姆斯留下了深刻的印象，威廉姆斯送给他两本有关绘画的经典著作，让他带回家去看。
2. While it is likely that he understood very little of the books, they were his introduction to classical paintings.
本句包含一个由while引导的让步状语从句，从句中又包含一个由that引导的主语从句。
（参考译文） 尽管他可能基本上看不懂这些书，但它们却是他古典绘画的启蒙。