On the rare occasion when a fine piece of sculpture was desired, Americansturned to foreign sculptors, as in the 1770's when the cities of New York andCharleston, South Carolina, commissioned the Englishman Joseph Wilton to makemarble statues of William Pitt. Wilton also made a lead equestrian image of KingGeorge III that was created in New York in 1770 and torn down by zealouspatriots six years later. A few marble memorials with carved busts, urns, orother decorations were produced in England and brought to the colonies to be setin the walls of churches — as in King's Chapel in Boston. But sculpture as ahigh art, practiced by artists who knew both the artistic theory of theirRenaissance-Baroque-Rococo predecessors and the various technical procedures ofmodeling, casting, and carving rich three-dimensional forms, was not known amongAmericans in 1776. Indeed, for many years thereafter, the United States had twogroups from which to choose — either the local craftspeople or the importedtalent of European sculptors.
The eighteenth century was not one in which powered sculptural conceptionswere developed. Add to this the timidity with which unschooled artisans —originally trained as stonemasons, carpenters, or cabinetmakers — attacked themedium from which they sculpture made in the United States in the lateeighteenth century.
1. What is the main idea of the passage ?
(A) There was great demand for the work of eighteenth-century artisans.
(B) Skilled sculptors did not exist in the United States in the 1770's.
(C) Many foreign sculptors worked in the United States after 1776.
(D) American sculptors were hampered by a lack of tools and materials.
2. The word motifs in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(A) tools
(B) prints
(C) signatures
(D) designs
3. The work of which of the following could be seen in burial grounds?
(A) European sculptors
(B) Carpenters
(C) Stone carves
(D) Cabinetmakers
4. The word others in line 6 refers to
(A) craftspeople
(B) decorations
(C) ornamentations
(D) shop signs
5. The word distinct in line 9 is closest in meaning to
(A) separate
(B) assembled
(C) notable
(D) inferior
6. The word rare in line 11 is closest in meaning to
(A) festive
(B) infrequent
(C) delightful
(D) unexpected
7. Why does the author mention Joseph Wilton in line 13?
(A) He was an English sculptor who did work in the United States.
(B) He was well known for his wood carvings
(C) He produced sculpture for churches.
(D) He settled in the United States in 1776.
8. What can be inferred about the importation of marble memorials fromEngland?
(A) Such sculpture was less expensive to produce locally than to import
(B) Such sculpture was not available in the United States.
(C) Such sculpture was as prestigious as those made locally.
(D) The materials found abroad were superior.
9. How did the work of American carvers in 1776 differ from that ofcontemporary sculptors?
(A) It was less time-consuming
(B) It was more dangerous.
(C) It was more expensive.
(D) It was less refined.
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