【閱讀測驗】The Elegance of Venetian Glass Pens
Venetian glass creations have fascinated1 the world for centuries. Glass artifacts♦ dug up in the region of Venice date back to the Roman era. In the Middle Ages, glass was used in mosaic♦ art to decorate Venetian churches.
Most Venetian glass actually originated from the nearby island of Murano. It was here that clear glass was first created and glasswork flourished2 into a world-renowned3 art form. In fact, to this day, the name Murano is still associated with beautiful glass. One of the reasons Murano had a monopoly♦ on glassblowing was the risk of fires. In Venice, the numerous4 glass-firing ovens, which reached temperatures of 1,500º Celsius♦, were causing fires in the city. As a result, a law passed in 1291 required that all furnaces♦ be moved to Murano.
One type of artwork that came out of this area was the Venetian glass pen. It is believed that these glass pens were developed as early as the 17th century as tools for letter writing. The writing implement♦ could be used in place of a quill♦. Like a quill, a glass pen needed to be dipped in ink. However, the two differed5 in where the ink was stored. The ink in a quill was kept inside the hollow tube of the feather, while the ink in a glass pen was contained in shallow grooves♦ on the outside.
Glass pens as well as dip pens that were created in early 19th-century England are still favored over fountain pens today in comics, calligraphy, and illustration♦. These pens have to be continually dipped into an inkwell♦, but because they are sensitive to pressure and speed, the thickness of lines can be better controlled. While they can be practical, these Venetian pens are valued more as gorgeous6 works of art.
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1. What is true about Venetian glass?
(A) It was introduced to Italy by people from the Middle East.
(B) Its origins can be traced back to Ancient Rome.
(C) It has been made in Murano since the 16th century.
(D) It requires specialized7 ovens shipped from Rome.
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2. How did Murano come to be so closely linked with glass?
(A) All glassmaking was banned8 from Venice.
(B) Many churches in Murano had glass windows.
(C) Glassmakers developed their own government there.
(D) Many artists favored the scenic♦ views of Murano.
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3. Why are dip pens favored over fountain pens, according to the passage?
(A) They can be gripped9 more strongly.
(B) They are significantly10 less messy11 than fountain pens.
(C) They can be made of a variety of different materials♦.
(D) They have a better response to slight12 changes in pressure.
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4. When was the Venetian glass pen believed to have been invented?
(A) The 17th century.
(B) The 18th century.
(C) The Middle Ages.
(D) The 19th century.
Answer:ＢＡＤＡ