MaryCassetteisoneofthefirstgreatfemaleAmericanpainters.Shefollowedherdreamsandbecameanartist.ShewasbornonMay221844andlivedinEuropeforseveralyearsasachild.

HerfamilyreturnedtotheUnitedStatesandattheageof16MaryattendedthePennsylvaniaAcademyofFineArts.Fouryearslatershedecidedshecouldn’tlearnanymoreinPhiladelphiasoherparentssentherbacktoEurope.ThereshestudiedthetechniquesofthemastersinRomeSevilleAntwerpandParis.

Maryreceivedthechanceofalifetimein1877whenthefamousFrenchpainterEdgarDegasaskedhertojoinagroupofpaintersthatincludednow-famousartistslikeMonetandRenoir.TheirstyleofpaintingiscalledImpressionism.Theyusedprimarycolorsandshortbrushstrokes(笔画)intheirworks.TheyrecognizedMary’spowerfultalentandinvitedhertoexhibitintheImpressionistartshows.

Marypaintedwhatshesaw:gardensandportraitsespeciallyofmothersandchildrenineverydaylife.Oneofherpaintings“YoungMotherandTwoChildren”wasdonated(捐赠)totheWhiteHousein1954whereithangstoday.

Marynevermarriedandin1877herparentsandsistermovedtoEuropetojoinher.Marydevotedmuchofhertimetothemforthenext18years.Marypainteduntil1914whenherfailingeyesightmadeitimpossibletocontinue.Shediedin1926attheageof82.

51.WeknowfromthepassagethatMaryCassette_____.

A.didn’tlikepaintinginherchildhood

B.paintedthingsshesawineverydaylife

C.learnedfromalotoffamousartistsintheUS

D.ledapoorlifethroughoutherlife

52.MaryCassettewentbacktoEuropewhenshewas20because_____.

A.shedidn’tlikeAmerica

B.Americanpeopledidn’tlikeherworks

C.shewantedtolearnmoreaboutart

D.shedidn’tliketheteachersinheruniversity

53.MaryCassettestoppedpaintingbecause_____.

A.shelostinterestinpainting

B.shetookanewinterestinwriting

C.hereyesightbecametoopoortocontinue

D.herparentsencouragedhertotravelabroad

54.WhatstyleofpaintingsinfluencedMaryCassettemost?

A.Realism

B.Impressionism

C.Abstract