① We often think of drawing as something that takes inborn talent, but this kind of thinking stems from our misclassification of drawing as, primarily, an art form rather than a tool for learning.
② Researchers, teachers, and artists are starting to see how drawing can positively impact a wide variety of skills and disciplines.
③ Most of us have spent some time drawing before, but at some point,most of us stop drawing. There are people who don’t, obviously, and thank god for that: a world without designers and artists would be a very shabby one indeed.
④ Some argue that so many adults have abandoned drawing because we’ve miscategorized it and given it a very narrow definition.In his book, Stick Figures:Drawing as a Human Practice, Professor D.B. Dowd argues that we have misfiled the significance of drawing because we see it as a professional skill instead of a personal capacity.We mistakenly think of “good” drawings as those which work as recreations of the real world, as realistic illusions.Rather, drawing should be recategorized as a symbolic tool.
⑤ Human beings have been drawing for 73,000 years. It’s part of what it means to be human. We don’t have the strength of chimpanzees (大猩猩) because we’ve given up animal strength to manipulate subtle instruments，like hammers, spears, and—later—pens and pencils. The human hand is an extremely dense network of nerve endings. In many ways, human beings are built to draw.
⑥ Some researchers argue that doodling（涂画) activates the brain’s so-called default circuit—essentially, the areas of the brain responsible for maintaining a baseline level of activity in the absence of other stimuli. Because of this, some believe that doodling during a boring lecture can help students pay attention. In one study, participants were asked to listen to a list of names while either doodling or sitting still. Those who doodled remembered 29 percent more of the names than those who did not.
⑦ There’s also evidence that drawing talent is based on how accurately someone perceives the world. The human visual system tends to misjudge size, shape, color, and angles but artists perceive these qualities more accurately than non-artists. Cultivating drawing talent can become an essential tool to improve people’s observational skills in fields where the visual is important.
⑧ Rather than think of drawing as a talent that some creative people are gifted in,we should consider it as a tool for seeing and understanding the world better—one that just so happens to double as an art form. Both absent-minded doodling and copying from life have been shown to positively affect your memory and visual perception, so complain loudly the next time your school board slashes the art department’s budget.
1.1. What do people generally think about drawing?
A It is a gift creative people are endowed with.
B It is a skill that is acquired with practice.
C It is an art form that is appreciated by all.
D It is an ability everyone should cultivate.
解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据题干定位至第一段(We often think of drawing as...)。第一段指出人们将绘画主要当作一种艺术形式而非学习工具,因而常常认为绘画需要天赋(something that takes inborn talent...an art form)。换言之,在人们看来,绘画是艺术创造者与生俱来的禀赋,并非人人都能通过学习/实践而获得的技能,故A项正确。
2.2. What do we learn about designers and artists?
A They are declining gradually in number.
B They are keen on changing shabby surroundings.
C They add beauty and charm to the world.
D They spend most of their lives drawing.
解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据题干定位至第三段末句(...designers and artists...)。第三段末句指出,没有设计师和艺术家的世界会是一个极为粗陋的世界(very shabby)。即设计师和艺术家的存在为世界增色,使世界变得更加美丽迷人，故C项正确。
3.3. What does Professor D.B.Dowd argue in his book?
A Everybody is born with the capacity to draw.
B Drawing is a skill that requires special training.
C The value of drawing tends to be overestimated.
D Drawing should be redefined as a realistic illusion.
解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据题干中的人名定位至第四段(Professor D.B. Dowd argues that...)。第四段介绍 D.B.多德教授的看法:我们错把绘画视作一种专业技能(professional skill)，而非个人能力(personal capacity)。换句话说,教授认为绘画并非艺术家专有,而是每个人都拥有的能力。第五段则从生理进化的角度对这种个人能力予以解释:人类双手高度灵活,可操控精巧工具,人人都是天生的画者(are built to draw)。可见A项正确。
4.4. What have some researchers found from one study about doodling?
A It is a must for maintaining a base level of brain activity.
B It can turn something boring into something interesting.
C It is the most reliable stimulant to activate the brain.
D It helps improve concentration and memory.
解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据题干中 one study...doodling 定位至第六段③④句(one study...doodling...Those who doodled...)。第六段③句介绍研究方法:受试者涂画或静坐的同时记人名。④句明确研究发现:边涂画边记者比边静坐边记者多记住了 29%的人名。improve concentration and memory准确概括此发现,D项正确。
5.5. What is characteristic of people with drawing talent?
A Sensitivity to cognitive stimulation.
B Subtlety of representation.
C Accuracy in categorization.
D Precision in visual perception.
解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据题干定位至第七段(drawing talent、Cultivating drawing talent)。第七段①句指出,绘画禀赋是基于人对世界的感知准确度。②句举常见现象予以说明:人类的视觉系统通常会误判事物的大小、形状、颜色和角度,而艺术家比非艺术家更能准确地感知这些属性综合两句可知,绘画禀赋高者的视觉感知更加准确，D项正确。
