Reading comprehension

1. Detail.

Which statement is NOT

true about Van Gogh’s youth? (0.7
pts)

a. He grew up in Holland. b. He was

born in a small village

c. His parents encouraged his

artistic talent.
d. He tried several jobs
but was unsuccessful.

2. Purpose What is the purpose of paragraph 3? (0.7 pts)

a. To advise when van Gogh was born b. To describe how van Gogh became a painter

c. To show that van Gogh was a troubled man. d. to show how van Gogh survived on his own.

3. Main idea What is the main idea in paragraph 4? (0.7 pts)

a. Van Gogh was unhappy working with painters in Holland. b. Van Gogh’s move to Paris changed his attitude toward art.

c. Van Gogh was less successful than other impressionist painters. d. Van Gogh’s paintings of flowers were very popular in Paris.

4. Vocabulary. (0.7 pts)

In paragraph 8, the word took is closest in meaning to :

Moved into.

a. Left b. moved into c. stole from d. sold.

5. Detail.

What is not suggested as a possible motive for van Gogh’s suicide? (0.7 pts)

a. Lack of financial success b. mental illness c. a failed relationship d. loneliness

6. Sequencing. Number the events in van Gogh’s life in the order in which they occurred (1-5). (10 pts)

(1) show artistic talent in his hometown Zundert (a), but receives little encouragement.
(5) produces a painting a day for just over two months in Auvers (b), near Paris.
(2) studies the techniques of Impressionist painters in Paris (c) and changes his use of colors.
(3) spends hours painting in the fields of Arles (d); argues with fellow painter Paull Gauguin.
(4) recovers from depression in a hospital in St. Remy (e); paints The Starry Night.

7. Critical thinking. (0.5 pts)

The author says that we can find pieces of ourselves in van Gogh. Do you agree? In what way can you relate to van Gogh?

I don't agree with the author because for me everybody is a little bit mad, but Van Gogh was more than mad. He was ill.

For other side, I think that we can find something inside of us that can be bad or simply not so good, and that something might inspire
ourselves to create a piece of art. Whatever you want, it doesn't matter if this would become into a famous piece of art, but it is what
everyone has inside himself. Besides, in some cases this could be a healthy, private and good therapy.