It is beautiful．Art．Because it makes permanent what is in the process of being destroyed．Art is our perception of the world．It is that little piece of us that we alone possess that nobody else can violate．①
We can give up our loved ones，our homes，even our partners but we can not give up that unique place inside us in which we ourselves possess art，possess beauty，a room within ourselves that we keep of us alone．⑦And we must give it up．You will give it up when you die you know．You won’t be able to perceive as you do now when you are dead．
Is there life before death?Death is the giving up of all earthly possessions and pursuits and desires． We all know we will come to it yet art has convinced us and reassured us that the immortal strand of the permanent youth does exist．We have seen it in visions，and in paintings and in art．We experience immortality every time we get lost in a book．If I could prove to you that giving up art would save the starving babies and the dying millions，would you give up art?④
I mean it．The millions dying of starvation are real．They are not art．I know because l went out there and pinched their flesh and looked into their eyes．The flesh is real and their eyes tell you they know they have been abandoned by mankind to die．
only art makes life bearable to many people．Give it up?Give up achievements?Give up trying to make somethin9，anythin9，permanent in this world?
You must do it because it is the only way to stop the kind of thinking that is allowing millions of people to starve to death in our world today．④
You must step out of line because the line you are in leads only to death，to the wrongs of this world of ours and the wrongs of this world scream out for rightin9．⑤The wrongs of this world are more important than art．They really are．
We must at least practice giving up this possession of art inside us because if you don’t，when death comes it will hurt terribly if you have not practiced．If you do not know how to let go of your achievements，your parting from this world is going to be a nightmare．
Life before death．Give up art．Go on strike．Look at the world as it is，not as you keep it in that place of your private imagination，not in the room where you keep your private space．Don’t interpret anymore．Save the starvin9．Give up art．[451 words]
1.According to this passage，______．
A．there should be a place inside US to possess art
B．there does exist the permanent youth
C．there is nothing that a person can keep after his death
D．there is nothing as beautiful as art
2．In the author’S opinion，immortality is ______．
A．the pursuit of every human being
B．no more than a kind of imagination
C．what art is considered to have
D．something we may experience in our life
3．It can be inferred from this passage that______．
A．art iS beautiful
B．art makes lire bearable
C．art is something that nobody can violate
D．art is deceit，making US believe what is not there，fooling the eye
4．The author believes that we should______．
A．abandon everything we get before death
B．try to make something permanent in the world
C．find a place inside US for our private imagination
D．cherish the unique place inside US where art is kept
5．The main idea of this passage is that______．
A．nothing is immortal
B．art is in the process of being destroyed
C．art is anything but the perception of the world
D．the starving cannot be saved without giving up art
难句透析
①It is that little piece of us[-that we alone possess]that nobody else can violate．
【结构】本句中，“It is…that…”构成强调句型，被强调的是“that little piece of us…”，这个被强调的部分是“violate”的宾语。方括号所标示的部分是“that little piece of us”的定语从句。
【释义】正是我们自己所拥有的自身的那一小部分，任何其他人都不能侵犯。
②”We can give up our loved ones，our homes，even our partners but we can not give up that unique place inside us[in which we ourselves possess art，possess beauty]，a room within ourselves[that we keep of us alone]．
【结构】本句是由“but”连接的两个分句组成的并列句。在第二个分句中，第一个方括号所标示的部分是“that unique place”的定语从句；第二个方括号所标示的部分是“a room”的定语从句。后置的名词性短语“a room…”补充说明“that unique place”。 [NextPage]
【释义】我们可以失去自己所爱的人、自己的家，甚至自己的伙伴，但是，我们不能舍弃我们心中保存艺术、保存美的那个独特位置，也就是我们心中那个用来保存自己的小小空间。
③If I could prove to you[that giving up art would save the starving babies and the dying millions]，would you give up art?
【结构】方括号所标示的部分是“prove”的宾语从句。由条件从句中的“could”和主句中的“would”可知，本句是虚拟语气。
【释义】假如我能向你证明舍弃了艺术就能拯救饿得快死的婴儿和成百上千万垂死的人，你会舍弃艺术吗?
④You must do it because it is the only way to stop the kind of thinking[that is allowing millions of people to starve to death in our world today]．
【结构】本句中的“it”指前一句所说的“Give it up”。方括号所标示的部分是“the kind of thinkin9”的定语从句。
【释义】你们必须舍弃，因为只有舍弃才是结束那种思维方法的唯一途径。正是那种思维方法使得如今世界上成百上千万的人因饥饿而死去。
⑤You must step out of line-because the line(you are in)leads only to death，to the wrongs of this world of ours and the wrongs of this world scream OUt for righting]．
【结构】方括号所标示的部分是原因状语从句；其中是由“and”连接的两个分句组成的并列句；圆括号所标示的部分是“the line”的定语从句。
【释义】你必须跳出你的思维方式，因为你的方式只会带来死亡，给我们的世界带来悲剧，而世界发生的悲剧正在疾呼正义的回归。
全文翻译
它很美。艺术。因为它把那些正被毁灭的东西留作永恒。艺术就是我们的世界观。正是我们自己所拥有的自身的那一小部分，其他任何人都不能侵犯。
我们可以失去自己所爱的人、自己的家，甚至自己的伙伴，但是，我们不能舍弃我们心中保存艺术、保存美的那个独特位置，也就是我们心中那个用来保存自己的小小空间。而我们却又必须放弃它。你知道你死去时将要放弃它。因为死去了也就无法再思考了。
死亡前的人生是什么?死亡即意味着放弃所有世俗的占有物，所有追求和所有欲望。我们知道这一天迟早会来临，但是艺术还是使我们相信并不断向我们保证永恒的青春确实存在。我们在幻想中，在绘画中，在一切艺术形式看到了这一点。每回当我们为一本书而着迷的时候，也就是我们在体验永恒的时候。假如我能向你证明舍弃了艺术就能拯救饿得快死的婴儿和数百万垂死的人，你会舍弃艺术吗?
我是认真的。世上确实有数百万的人正面临着饿死的威胁。这并非艺术。我知道这些是因为我到过他们身旁，接触过他们的肉体，观察过他们的眼神。那都是活生生的人，他们的跟神在告诉你，他们被人类抛弃而正在等待死亡。
而艺术对某些人来说是他们生存下去的唯一理由。放弃它?放弃所有的成就?放弃为这个世界创造一些或仅仅是一点点永恒的机会?
你们必须舍弃，因为只有舍弃才是结束那种思维方法的唯一途径。正是那种思维方法使得如今世界上数百万的人因饥饿而死去。
你必须跳出你的思维方式，因为你的方式只会带来死亡，给我们的世界带来悲剧，而世界发生的悲剧正在疾呼正义的回归。这个世界的悲剧远比艺术更重要。它们确实是这样的。
我们至少必须尝试放弃我们内心那些对艺术的执着，如果你不这样做的话，当死亡降临时，你将会因为不曾尝试而受到严重的伤害。如果你不知道如何放弃你的成就，那你从这个世界离别的一刻将无疑成为梦魇。
死前需生。放弃艺术。继续奋争。诚实地看待这个世界，不要把它仅仅包裹在自己的想象中，也不要把它放在你保留的私人空间里。不要再阐释。救救那些饥饿的人。放弃艺术。
超纲词汇
strand n．绳，线，串
参考答案：1．C 2．B 3．D 4．A 5．D
