Chao Ziyi and Chao Ziwei are brothers from Henan province. More than 20 years ago, making large bowls was their job. If someone told them they would one day become artists, they would just laugh at it as a joke. But you can never predict what life will bring you next. Today, they both teach at a university, and their works are shown at home and abroad.

They learned every step of making ceramics (陶瓷) on their own from a young age, and this gave them something even more valuable — a deep love for their material. Artists and teachers later led them into the world of ceramic art. Although receiving no professional art training, the brothers gradually developed a style — using ceramics, an old Chinese material, to express modern ideas and personal memories.

Their most fascinating artwork is a huge ceramic tractor (拖拉机) called Dongfanghong. It is over two meters long and weighs two tons, with no support inside. Different thicknesses and thin parts let the clay break easily. They worked day and night, trying special materials and changing the heat levels again and again. The artwork finally looked like real metal through their years of efforts.

Thanks to their efforts and new ideas, the brothers have won many prizes, and their artworks are kept in famous museums. Their story shows us that with patience and strong mind, even the most common journey can lead to something amazing.

1.1. What did the brothers do in the past?

A They decided to be artists.

B They taught at a university.

C They lived by making big bowls.

D They worked in foreign countries.

解析：选C。细节理解题。解析：原文第一段 “More than 20 years ago, making large bowls was their job.” 二十多年前，制作大碗是他们的工作，也就是靠制作大碗谋生。A 当时没想做艺术家；B 是现在的工作；D 文中无国外工作表述。

2.2.How did artists and teachers help the brothers?

A By telling them teaching methods.

B By giving them professional training.

C By asking them to produce ceramics.

D By guiding them into the world of art.

解析：选D。细节理解题。解析：第二段 “Artists and teachers later led them into the world of ceramic art.” 艺术家和老师引导他们进入陶瓷艺术的世界。原文明确说明他们没有接受专业艺术训练，排除 B；A、C 文中无依据。

3.3. What do we know about the ceramic tractor?

A It seems like real metal.

B It needs months of work.

C It is nearly two meters high.

D It has strong support inside.

解析：选A。细节理解题。解析：第三段 “The artwork finally looked like real metal through their years of efforts.” 这件作品看上去如同真金属。 B 文中是 years 多年，不是 months 数月；C 是长度 over two meters，不是高度；D 内部 no support 没有支撑。

4.4. Which of the following best describes the brothers?

A Caring and cool-minded.

B Patient and well-educated.

C Talented and warm-hearted.

D Creative and hard-working.

解析：选D。推理判断题。解析：反复试验材料、日夜工作体现 hard-working 勤奋；用古老陶瓷表达现代想法，创作巨型陶瓷拖拉机体现 creative 富有创造力。 B 错，文中receiving no professional art training没有受过专业艺术教育；A、C 的 caring、warm-hearted 文中没有体现。

5.5. What would be the best title for the passage?

A A deep love for the past

B An amazing turn in life

C A modern style of clay bowls

D An unexpected art class

解析：选B。标题归纳题。解析：全文主线：普通制碗手艺人→大学艺术老师，人生发生巨大转变。“An amazing turn in life 人生的奇妙转折” 概括全文。 A 侧重怀念过去，偏离主旨；C 只讲陶碗，只是早年工作，不能概括；D “意外的艺术课” 和文章内容无关。