APPLIED ARTS AND FINE ARTS

Paragraph 1: Although we now tend to refer to the various crafts according to the materials used to construct
them-clay, glass, wood, fiber, and metal-it was once common to think of crafts in terms of function, which led
to their being known as the "applied arts." Approaching crafts from the point of view of function, we can
divide them into simple categories: containers, shelters and supports. There is no way around the fact that
containers, shelters, and supports must be functional. The applied arts are thus bound by the laws of physics,
which pertain to both the materials used in their making and the substances and things to be contained,
supported, and sheltered. These laws are universal in their application, regardless of cultural beliefs,
geography, or climate. If a pot has no bottom or has large openings in its sides, it could hardly be considered a
container in any traditional sense. Since the laws of physics, not some arbitrary decision, have determined the
general form of applied-art objects, they follow basic patterns, so much so that functional forms can vary only
within certain limits. Buildings without roofs, for example, are unusual because they depart from the norm.
However, not all functional objects are exactly alike; that is why we recognize a Shang Dynasty vase as being
different from an Inca vase. What varies is not the basic form but the incidental details that do not obstruct the
object's primary function.

1. The bold word they in the passage refers to

(A) Applied-art objects
(B) The laws of physics
(C) Containers
(D) The sides of pots

2. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence?
Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
(A) Functional applied-art objects cannot vary much from the basic patterns determined by the laws
of physics.
(B) The function of applied-art objects is determined by basic patterns in the laws of physics.
(C) Since functional applied-art objects vary only within certain limits, arbitrary decisions cannot
have determined their general form.
(D) The general form of applied-art objects is limited by some arbitrary decision that is not
determined by the laws of physics.

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Paragraph 2: Sensitivity to physical laws is thus an important consideration for the maker of applied-art
objects. It is often taken for granted that this is also true for the maker of fine-art objects. This assumption
misses a significant difference between the two disciplines. Fine-art objects are not constrained by the laws of
physics in the same way that applied-art objects are. Because their primary purpose is not functional, they are
only limited in terms of the materials used to make them. Sculptures must, for example, be stable, which
requires an understanding of the properties of mass, weight distribution, and stress. Paintings must have rigid
stretchers so that the canvas will be taut, and the paint must not deteriorate, crack, or discolor. These are
problems that must be overcome by the artist because they tend to intrude upon his or her conception of the
work. For example, in the early Italian Renaissance, bronze statues of horses with a raised foreleg usually had
a cannonball under that hoof. This was done because the cannonball was needed to support the weight of the
leg. In other words, the demands of the laws of physics, not the sculptor's aesthetic intentions, placed the ball
there. That this device was a necessary structural compromise is clear from the fact that the cannonball quickly
disappeared when sculptors learned how to strengthen the internal structure of a statue with iron braces (iron
being much stronger than bronze).

3. According to paragraph 2, sculptors in the Italian Renaissance stopped using cannonballs in bronze
statues of horses because
(A) They began using a material that made the statues weigh less
(B) They found a way to strengthen the statues internally
(C) The aesthetic tastes of the public had changed over time
(D) The cannonballs added too much weight to the statues

4. Why does the author discuss the bronze statues of horses created by artists in the early Italian
Renaissance?
(A) To provide an example of a problem related to the laws of physics that a fine artist must
overcome
(B) To argue that fine artists are unconcerned with the laws of physics
(C) To contrast the relative sophistication of modern artists in solving problems related to the laws
of physics
(D) To note an exceptional piece of art constructed without the aid of technology

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5. An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by
selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do
not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas
in the passage.
This passage discusses fundamental differences between applied-art objects and fine-art objects.
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●( )
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Answer Choices
(A) Applied-art objects fulfill functions, such as containing or sheltering, and objects with the same function
have similar characteristics because they are constrained by their purpose.
(B) It is easy to recognize that Shang Dynasty vases are different from Inca vases.
(C) Fine-art objects are not functional, so they are limited only by the properties of the materials
used.
(D) Renaissance sculptors learned to use iron braces to strengthen the internal structures of bronze
statues.
(E) In the twentieth century, fine artists and applied artists became more similar to one another in
their attitudes toward their materials.
(F) In all periods, fine artists tend to challenge the physical limitations of their materials while applied
artists tend to cooperate with the physical properties of their materials.

6. Directions: Complete the table below to summarize information about the two types of art discussed in the
passage. Match the appropriate statements to the types of art with which they are associated.

TYPES OF ART STATEMENTS

The Applied Arts Select 3
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The Fine Arts Select 2
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Statements
(A) An object's purpose is primarily aesthetic.
(B) Objects serve a functional purpose.
(C) The incidental details of objects do not vary.
(D) Artists work to overcome the limitations of their materials.
(E) The basic form of objects varies little across cultures.
(F) Artists work in concert with their materials.
(G) An object's place of origin is difficult to determine.

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參考答案：
1. ○1 (A)
2. ○1 (A)
3. ○2 (B)
4. ○1 (A)
5. ○1 (A), 3 (C), 6 (F)
6. ○2 (B), 5 (E), 6 (F)
○1 (A), 4 (D)