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 kinds 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 longlasting 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.
本文是一篇议论文。主要讨论了艺术价值是否是普遍的这个问题。
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．In excites the human mind throughout the world.
答案：C
解析：细节理解题。根据第一段The values of artistic works, according to cultural relativism(相对主义), are simply reflections of local social and economic conditions.可知，文化相对主义把艺术价值与当地条件联系起来。故选C。
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
答案：A
解析：推理判断题。根据第一段末的Such a view, however, fails to explain the ability of some works of art to excite the human mind across cultures and through centuries.可知，“文化相对主义把艺术价值与当地条件联系起来”这样的观点是无法解释某些艺术作品在不同文化和几个世纪中都有着激发人类心灵的能力的。可以推断出在第二段出现这些伟大的艺术家，就是为了说明这些至今还在全世界流行的伟大的艺术作品可以超越时间和国界。下文的例子就是对上文观点的解释。故选A。
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
答案：D
解析：细节理解题。根据第三段中的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.可知Hume认为，一些艺术作品可以存在几个世纪，是因为他们反映了人性不变的特征。故选D。
4．Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?
A．Are Popular Arts Permanent?
B．Are Artistic Values Universal?
C．Is Human Nature Uniform?
D．Is Cultural Relativism Scientific?
答案：B
解析：标题判断题。本文主要讨论了艺术价值是否是普遍的这个问题。特别在文章最后也进行了点题Now researchers are applying scientific methods to the study of the universality of art，由此可知本文最佳标题，故选B。
