Vocabulary
True or false: If you are listening to a soloist sing, there are many people singing at the same time.
False
Who or what is the main subject of “Monkey Master”?
a. a scientist who studies the paintings made by monkeys
b. a chimpanzee whose paintings are featured in an exhibition
c. an orangutan whose paintings the writer does not care for
d. an artist who collects the paintings done by chimpanzees
B. a chimpanzee whose paintings are featured in an exhibition
What kind of animal is Congo?
Chimpanzee
What is one meaning of the Greek suffix -ist?
a. more than
b. missing from
c. one who comes from
d. one who believes in
D. one who believes in
Which of the following is most clearly an aesthetic choice? Base your answer on the meaning of aesthetic.
a. whether to bring an umbrella on a trip
b. which color curtains to buy for a room
c. whether to go to sleep earlier than usual
d. which candidate to vote for in the election
B. which color curtains to buy for a room
What is the main question that the author raises in “Monkey Master”?
a. whether paintings by an animal can be considered art
b. whether famous artists appreciate paintings by chimpanzees
c. whether a scientist can train a chimpanzee or gorilla to paint well
d. whether paintings by a chimpanzee are better than paintings by a gorilla
A. whether paintings by an animal can be considered art
In “Monkey Master,” what general conclusion does the author reach?
a. By appreciating ape art, humans show their ability to find beauty in things.
b. By making paintings, Congo shows that he is the same as a person.
c. By helping apes make art, scientists show their appreciation of beauty.
d. By making paintings, Congo shows that works by human painters are
fakes.
A. By appreciating ape art, humans show their ability to find beauty in things.
The word flautist uses the Greek suffix -ist. Which of the following is the most likely meaning of the word flautist? Base your answer on your knowledge of the suffix -ist.
a. one who comes from a snowy region
b. one who is skilled in playing the flute
c. having many flowers
d. missing a piece
B. one who is skilled in playing the flute
If a person is a purist about food, which of the following is most likely to be true? Base your answer on the meaning of purist.
a. The person accepts only certain ways of cooking food.
b. The person prefers food cooked at a fancy restaurant.
c. The person prefers food cooked in the family home.
d. The person enjoys eating different types of food.
A. the person accepts only certain ways of cooking food.
According to “Monkey Master,” animal scientist Desmond Morris helped Congo make his paintings. Which answer best describes the help Morris gave?
a. Morris drew shapes that Congo filled in with colors.
b. Morris showed Congo examples of abstract art to use as models.
c. Morris showed Congo how to hold a paintbrush and draw a straight line.
d. Morris gave Congo art supplies and a special high chair to help him paint.
D. Morris gave Congo art supplies and a special high chair to help him paint.
According to the author, before attending the exhibition, how did he view art created by apes or other animals? In what ways have his thoughts on the topic changed?
Before he thought that the art was created from accident or coercion, but after he understood the art to have true feelings and thoughts behind it.
Your friend likes to tell you about the magical things that happen to her. Would you say she is a realist? Explain.
No. A realist would be someone that does not consider magical things to be true.
What is the meaning of the word Aesthetic?
concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty
In “Monkey Master,” which of the following is background information the writer feels could have been better covered in the exhibition of ape paintings?
a. how much each painting is worth
b. which animal painted which painting
c. to what extent Morris influenced Congo’s paintings
d. whether Picasso truly valued the paintings in the exhibit
C. to what extent Morris influenced Congo’s paintings
According to the author, what type of art does Congo's paintings remind him of?
Abstract
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence
1. My dentist office has the greatest (violinist/hygienist), my teeth always feel so clean when I leave.
2. During the American Revolution, people who wanted the British to win were called (Loyalist/Idealist).
3. Carolyn was a (tourist/finalist) in the 400-meter race last week.
4. Mrs. Brown is the school (specialist/journalist) who helps students with learning disabilities.
5. To be a (lobbyist/cartoonist), you need to be able to draw clear pictures and think of appropriate jokes.
The term abstract is used to refer to paintings and other art. Which of the following is the best definition of abstract as it applies to art?
a. using shapes and colors to depict something real
b. using shapes and colors that do not represent things
c. using shapes and colors to express sad emotions
d. using shapes and colors that are hard to understand
B. using shapes and colors that do not represent things
Which of the following is a quality of Congo’s painting that the author of
“Monkey Master” most clearly admires?
a. the way the paint completely covers the paper, without blank spots
b. the careful depiction of real objects, places, and people
c. the interesting, beautiful use of colors and shapes
d. the different feelings the paintings express
C. the interesting, beautiful use of colors and shapes
Read this excerpt from “Monkey Master.”
What is really spooky is the care Congo always brings to working within the paper. Only rarely does the brush stray over the edge. And he clearly understands the notion of balance, too. If a pink has a blue on one side of it, and needs another blue on the other side, he will add one.
In this passage, what point is the writer most clearly making?
a. Congo’s work is scary because it shows that he cares a great deal about art.
b. Congo’s work shows a sense of form and design that is eerily like a human’s.
c. Congo’s work is neat and tidy because the paper’s edges guide him as he paints.
d. Congo’s work shows balance because he has a real talent for choosing nice colors.
B. Congo’s work shows a sense of form and design that is eerily like a human's.
Describe the meaning of each word.
1. Artist
2. Cyclist
3. Communist
4. Medalist
1. Someone who makes/does art
2. Someone who rides/does cycling
3. Someone who practices/believes in communism
4. Someone who received a medal