It is a true story behind a wellknown piece of art.
In a village near Nuremberg lived a family with eighteen children. Merely to keep food on the table, the father worked eighteen hours a day. Despite their ___ condition, two of the children had a dream to seek their talent for ____ but they knew well their father would never be able to send ____ of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
The two boys finally worked out an agreement. They would toss (扔) a coin. The ____ would work in the nearby mines to support his brother. Albrecht ____ the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, ____ work at the academy was almost a(n ) ____ success. Albecht's woodcut and oils were much ____ than those of his professors and he soon was earning considerable fees ____ his works.
When the young ____ returned home, the family held a festive dinner. Albrecht rose to toast to his beloved brother, “Now, Albert, it is your ____ to seek your dream and l will support you”.
All heads turned to the far end of the table, where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, while he ____ and repeated, “No...no.” Finally, Albert rose and ____ the tears from his cheeks. He said softly, “I ____ go to Nuremberg, brother. It is too late for me. Look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and I cannot even hold a glass to ____ your toast.”
Today, Albrecht's masterful works ____ in every great museum in the world, but chances are great ____ you, like most people, are familiar with only one of them. Albrecht drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and the ____ stretched skyward. He called it simply “Hands”, but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and ____ his tribute (敬意) of love “The Praying Hands”.
Next time you see that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one ever makes it ____!
A.hopeful B.lucky C.disappointed D.hopeless
A.music B.art C.mining D.farming
A.all B.both C.each D.either
A.painter B.loser C.winner D.failure
A.lost B.got C.won D.beat
A.who B.his C.whom D.whose
A.random B.immediate C.attractive D.ordinary
A.smaller B.worse C.faster D.better
A.for B.to C.in D.at
A.miner B.worker C.artist D.professor
A.luck B.turn C.move D.moment
A.sobbed B.nodded C.smiled D.laughed
A.recovered B.swept C.wiped D.handed
A.can't B.shouldn't C.can D.should
A.hold B.return C.move D.turn
A.hang B.represent C.present D.visit
A.when B.that C.which D.as
A.figures B.hands C.fingers D.arms
A.said B.loved C.renamed D.called
A.yet B.out C.alone D.before