2．Augusto Esquivel is a sculptor who，in his own words，is"crazy with comparisons of reality and potential and the balance between them．"Perhaps the best example of what he's talking about are his most famous creations：the suspended（悬挂的） button sculptures．
Made entirely from buttons hanging on various lengths of string，Esquivel's sculptures are made to look like common objects：a piano，a gumball machine，and even a toilet．If it wasn't for the clear string hanging above，these objects，these sculptures，would look solid，yet you can put your hands right through them．The process starts with him deciding on a subject and setting the acrylic （丙烯酸树脂）from where the buttons are being suspended．He buys buttons of different shapes and sizes，paints them with spray paint，and carefully hangs them．After that，it's a manner of hanging each individual button，which takes a lot of time．For his piano，for example，he individually hung over 60 pounds worth of tiny buttons．
Esquivel's sculptures，while mostly housed inside art galleries，perfectly capture one of the main principles of street art：something that is eye-catching and something that invites interaction．Often the best sculptures outside the art galleries aren't the ones behind guards and fencing，but the ones people can go right up to and touch．In Vancouver，a series of laughing old men are attracting people for pictures and to just generally hang around，but the people who simply walk by and see the sculptures almost always leave with a smile on their face．That's good street art：it draws the viewer in rather than relying on a gallery to draw in an audience and point them to certain pieces．
Esquivel's art is not only a presentation of talent，something that mentions larger philosophical questions，like the ones he stated above，but also just the right combination of interesting idea and painstaking work．One can look at his work in a critical way，or simply appreciate his idea and execution（艺术品的制作）．
13．What are Esquivel's sculptures mainly made of？D
A．Clay．
B．Iron．
C．Gum．
D．Buttons．
14．Which statement is WRONG according to Paragraph 3？C
A．Some of Esquivel's sculptures are displayed outside art galleries．
B．Esquivel's art is good street art．
C．People can't touch Esquivel's sculptures involve interaction．
D．Esquivel's sculptures can catch people's eye and involve interaction．
15．Which of the following in NOT what Esquivel's art wants to present？B
A．Talent．
B．Idealism．
C．Philosophical questions．
D．Painstaking work．
分析 本文主要讲述Augusto Esquivel的雕塑品以钮扣为材料，制作出一些普通的物品．这些艺术品不仅是天才的展示，有些提到了哲学问题，而且也是趣味和煞费苦心的作品的结合．
解答 13--15 DCB
13．D 细节理解题．根据第二段Made entirely from buttons hanging on various lengths of string，Esquivel's sculptures are made to look like common objects：a piano，a gumball machine，and even a toilet可知，完全由各种各样长度的线吊着钮扣，Esquivel的雕塑看起来像些普通的物品，一架钢琴，一台糖果机等．故选D．
14．C 细节理解题．根据第三段Often the best sculptures outside the art galleries aren't the ones behind guards and fencing，but the ones people can go right up to and touch可知，他的雕塑品是可以触摸的，与C项相反．故选C．
15．B 细节理解题．要看最后一段Esquivel's art is not only a presentation of talent，something that mentions larger philosophical questions，like the ones he stated above，but also just the right combination of interesting idea and painstaking work可知，Esquivel的艺术不仅是天才的展示，有些提到了哲学问题，而且也是趣味和煞费苦心的作品的结合．B项没有提到，故选B．
点评 人物故事类阅读理解文章是高考英语常考材料之一．这类文章一般可分为人物传记和短篇故事两类．这两类阅读材料一般较长，即词数多，而且命题也较多，特别是推理判断题和事实细节题多．在做此类阅读理解题时往往是材料看得懂，题目不好做的感觉．因此，在阅读材料时要重点放在事情发展的过程和结果上，注意把握事件的发展进程及人物之间的关系，细节与主题的关系，用以说明人物性格特点的事实、作者的态度等，这些内容往往是推理判断题的命题点．至于事实细节题的解答，同学们切忌想当然或者凭印象，一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确选择．
