A
A painting of a famous artist could cost several million dollars in the market. This is why many artworks — even those that are housed inside highly guarded museums — go missing. Here is a list of some of the most famous paintings that were lost, stolen or destroyed.
Vincent Van Gogh’s Poppy Flowers
This artwork was housed at the Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo. It was first lost in 1977, but was recovered 10 years after. The second time this same Vincent Van Gogh painting was stolen was in August of 2010. The painting is estimated(估价) to be worth something between $50 and $55 million.
Pablo Picasso’s Le Pigeon Aux Petits
Stolen on May 20,2010, this painting by Spanish painter Pablo Picasso is worth $28 million. It was stolen at the Museed’ Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, along with five other artworks. However, the thieves threw the painting away in a trashcan when they were caught. But that container was emptied before the authorities got there. It was feared that the painting was already destroyed.
Paul Cezanne’s View of Auvers Sur Oise
Lost on December 31,1990, this artwork that used to be on exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford was stolen the night before the city’s Millennium celebration. The thieves planned the robbery in time with the fireworks exhibition during peak of the celebrations. This artwork is estimated to be worth $5 million.
Covert Flinck’s Landscape with an Obelisk
Stolen on March 18,1990, this artwork was at the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum in Boston. This painting by Covert Flinck was previously believed to be a Rembrandt creation. A huge cash reward of $5 million will be given to the person who can provide information leading to the recovery of the painting.
1. In which of the following cities was Le Pigeon Aux Petits stolen？
A. Cairo.
B. Paris.
C. Oxford.
D. Boston.
2. Who was mistakenly thought to create Landscape with an Obelisk？
A. Pablo Picasso.
B. Paul Cezanne.
C. Covert Flinck.
D. Rembrandt.
3. What can we infer about the four artworks mentioned in the text？
A. They are given an approximate price.
B. They are stolen when on exhibition.
C. Some of them are lost nearly 30 years.
D. Some of them have been found so far.
【答案】1. B 2. D 3. C
【解析】
这是一篇说明文。本文主要介绍了在博物馆被盗或被毁的四副绘画作品：梵高的《罌粟花》、毕加索的《鸽子与豌豆》、保罗的《奥维尔风景》以及各瓦特·弗林克的《方尖塔风景》。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章小标题“Pablo Picasso’s Le Pigeon Aux Petits(毕加索
《鸽子与豌豆》)”下的“It was stolen at the Museed’Art Modern de la Ville de Paris, along with five other artworks.(这幅画和其他五件艺术品一起在巴黎市政厅现代艺术博物馆被盗)”可知，《鸽子与豌豆》在巴黎与其他五件艺术品一起被盗。因此，《鸽子与豌豆》被盗的城市是：B项“Paris(巴黎)”符合题意。故选B项。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章小标题“Covert Flinck’s Landscape with an Obelisk (各瓦特·弗林克的《方尖塔风景》) ”下的“This painting by Covert Flinck was previously believed to be a Rembrandt creation.(这幅由各瓦特·弗林克创作的油画曾被认为是伦勃朗的作品)”可知，弗林克的这幅画以前被认为是伦勃朗的作品。因此，被错误地认为创作了《方尖塔风景》的是：D项“Rembrandt(伦勃朗)”符合题意。故选D项。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章第四段“Lost on December 31,1990, this artwork that used to be on exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford was stolen the night before the city’s Millennium celebration.( 1990年12月31日，这件曾在牛津阿什莫伦博物馆展出的艺术品在该市千年庆典的前一晚失窃)”以及最后一段“Stolen on March 18,1990, this artwork was at the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum in Boston.(这幅画于1990年3月18日失窃，收藏在波士顿的伊莎贝拉斯图尔特加德纳博物馆)”可知，保罗的《奥维尔风景》以及各瓦特·弗林克的《方尖塔风景》这两幅作品的失窃时间都是1990年，至今有三十年了。因此，对于文中提到的四件艺术品，我们能推断出：C项“Some of them are lost nearly 30 years(其中一些已经失去了将近30年)”符合题意。故选C项。
