刘文勇GRE写作Argument题库 Day 64

Day 64 Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island

Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island but have long wondered how Kalinese artists were able to depict bodies with such realistic precision. Since archaeologists have recently discovered molds of human heads and hands on Kali, we can now conclude that the ancient Kalinese artists used molds of actual bodies, not sculpting tools and techniques, to create these statues. This discovery explains why Kalinese miniature statues were abstract and entirely different in style: molds could be used only for life-size sculptures. It also explains why few ancient Kalinese sculpting tools have been found. In light of this discovery, collectors predict that the life-size sculptures will decrease in value while the miniatures increase in value.

Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.

五问：

（1）“Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island but have long wondered how Kalinese artists were able to depict bodies with such realistic precision. Since archaeologists have recently discovered molds of human heads and hands on Kali”是事实， “collectors predict that the life-size sculptures will decrease in value while the miniatures increase in value”是结论，值得反驳吗？

（2）我们能否简单地认为，考古学家最近发现了人类的头和手的模型，就意味着古代 Kali Island的艺术家使用了这种模型而不是其他方法来制造人像？是否能确定除了头和手之外，身体的其他部位也是用模型的方法来制作的？我们甚至不知道这些人体模型是否被 Kali Island的艺术家所使用。另外，即便这的确是这些艺术家所使用的方法之一，它也未必是唯一的一种方法，同时也未必是最重要的一种。

（3）即便上文关于模型的说法真的成立，我们也不能认为它解释了 Kali Island的小型雕像的特点由来。这种特色是否可能来自其他的缘由？你能试着构思一两个吗？譬如：小型雕像的用途与大型雕像不同，不需要按统一标准制作；或者艺术家通过抽象的手法来表达夸张的美感或内在的含义。

（4）“仅有很少的雕塑工具被发现”的原因可能有很多，除了原文提到的原因之外，你还能想到哪些原因？能试着构思一两个吗？例如：工具可能因为各种原因被毁坏了，或者仅仅是考古学家还未找到而已。

（5）艺术品的价格由哪些因素决定？你能列举一两个吗？比如：作者的名气、作品的历史价值等。一件艺术品的来历被解释清楚后，其价格一定会下降吗？