Drawing is the foundation of art. But becoming a stellar sketcher takes practice. It begins by mastering the fundamentals. ___1___

Fundamental #1: Learn about lines. Lines are expressive, and not all line weights convey the same thing. Thick lines, for instance, indicate weight and shadow. Learning how and when to use certain line weights will give your drawing depth, both technically and conceptually.

Fundamental #2: Use multiple types of supplies. ___2___ A carpenter wouldn’t use just one tool in their toolbox, and neither should an artist. Pencils, pens, and even the right eraser will set you up for success.

Fundamental #3: Try out new techniques. Lines are just one approach to drawing, but there’s so much more. Stippling, for instance, is the act of making countless tiny dots to build volume in a piece. ___3___

Fundamental #4: Use shapes to help plan your drawing. ___4___ If you’re struggling to sketch a still life, for instance, it’s made infinitely more approachable when you first draw circles, squares, and triangles, and build from there.

Fundamental #5: Learn to draw from a reference photo. Even if you have no desire to draw realistically, everyone can benefit from copying a reference photo. It helps you judge your work from a technical viewpoint.

After learning these skills, you may want a guide to help you put them into practice. ___5___ Taught by illustrator Marghreita Cole, the instructor takes you through the basics in a fun, approachable way. You’ll leave the online class with the skills and confidence to sketch any subject you like.

A. Good tools are necessary for an artist.

B. You can take the online course Drawing 101.

C. Using thick lines can make your drawing look more attractive.

D. Everything can be broken down into simple shapes.

E. You should try different methods to discover the most suitable one for yourself.

F. This means you need professional training if you want to be an artist.

1.1.

A

B

C

D

解析：选G。G 选项G“Here are five basic suggestions to improve your drawing skills.”意为：这里有五条提高绘画技能的基本建议。前文说绘画要掌握基本功，后文正好列出五个基础要点，这句话能够总起下文，引出后面的内容。故选G。

2.2.

A

B

C

D

解析：选A。A 选项A“Good tools are necessary for an artist.”意为：好的工具对艺术家来说是必要的。本段主题是使用多种绘画工具，后文用木匠的例子说明不能只用一种工具，这句话点明了工具的重要性，与段落内容一致。故选A。

3.3.

A

B

C

D

解析：选E。E 选项E“You should try different methods to discover the most suitable one for yourself.意为：你应该尝试不同的方法，找到最适合自己的那一种。本段讲要尝试新的绘画技法，前面举了点画法的例子，这句话是对本段内容的总结。故选E。

4.4.

A

B

C

D

解析：选D。D 选项D“Everything can be broken down into simple shapes.”意为：所有事物都可以被分解成简单的形状。后文举例说明画静物时可以先用圆形、方形、三角形来构图，这句话正好引出下文的例子，解释了用形状规划绘画的方法。故选D。

5.5.

A

B

C

D

解析：选B。B 选项B“You can take the online course Drawing 101.”意为：你可以参加在线课程《绘画基础101》。前文说需要指导来帮助练习，后文马上介绍了课程和老师，这句话能够承上启下，自然引出在线课程。故选B。