1>>
Without a doubt, one of the world's most recognizable pieces of art is the Mona Lisa. Painted in the 16th Century by Leonardo da Vinci, it continues to attract crowds of people who are captivated by the mysterious woman in the portrait. Her enigmatic smile and penetrating gaze reach out through the ages as if she were alive today.
译文：毫无疑问，蒙娜丽莎是世界上最容易辨认的艺术品之一。这幅画于16世纪，由列奥纳多·达·芬奇(Leonardo da Vinci)创作，至今仍吸引着众多被画中神秘女子所吸引的人。她那神秘的微笑和穿透人心的目光，仿佛她穿越了岁月，至今还活着。
recognizable = 可辨认的；可认识的；可承认的
captivate = 迷住，迷惑
portrait = 肖像；描写
enigmatic = 神秘的，高深莫测的
penetrating = 穿透人心的 (目光)
gaze = 凝视，注视
2>>
Critics and art lovers still argue about her identity. One theory is that the way she posed suggests that she was with child. Another theory argues that her hairless face - no brows or lashes - indicates that she was a prostitute. It seems that in 16th Century Italy women working in the world's oldest profession had hairless faces in order to make themselves more sexually arousing. There is, however, evidence that at one time the woman in the portrait had thick eyebrows. Perhaps they were inadvertently erased when the painting was cleaned. Nobody knows for sure.
译文：评论家和艺术爱好者仍在争论她的身份。一种说法是，她摆姿势的方式表明她怀孕了。另一种理论认为，她那无毛发的脸上没有眉毛也睫毛，表明她是个Ji女。似乎在16世纪的意大利，从事世界上最古老职业的女性为了让自己更性感，都没有毛发。然而，有证据表明，画像中的女人曾经有过浓眉。也许是在清洗油画时无意中擦掉的。没有人知道确切的情况。
critic = 评论家，批评家
argue about = 争辩，议论
pose = 摆姿势
suggest = 暗示
hairless = 无毛发的，光秃秃的
profession = 职业
arousing = 振奋人心的
thick eyebrows = bushy eyebrows = heavy eyebrows 浓眉
inadvertently = 不经意地，非故意地，无心地
erase = 抹去，擦除
3>>
The painting itself has an interesting history. With the death of Leonardo, it went to his friend King Francois, and then to Louis XV and the Palace of Versailles. It wasn't until 300 years after its completion that it was recognized as a masterpiece. For a time, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte hung it in his bedroom. Eventually, it found a permanent home when it was added to the collection of the Louvre in Paris. In 1911 it was stolen by a museum employee and two accomplices. This theft made the painting famous all over the world. During World War II it was taken away and hidden from the Nazis, as were many important works of art. Today the painting resides at the Louvre, captivating a whole new generation. Whoever she was, the mysteries surrounding the Mona Lisa continue to engage our imaginations.
译文：这幅画本身有一段有趣的历史。列奥纳多死后，这幅画到了他朋友弗朗索瓦国王的手里，然后又到了路易十五和凡尔赛宫那里。直到它完工300年后，它才被公认为是一幅杰作。有一段时间，拿破仑·波拿巴皇帝把它挂在卧室里。最终，当它被添加到巴黎卢浮宫的收藏中时，它找到了一个永久的安身之所。1911年，它被一名博物馆员工和两名同谋偷走。这次失窃使这幅画闻名于世。在第二次世界大战期间，它和许多重要的艺术品一样，被纳粹夺走并藏起来了。如今，这幅画就在卢浮宫，吸引了全新一代。无论她是谁，围绕着《蒙娜丽莎》的谜团一直激发着我们的想象力。
the Palace of Versailles = 凡尔赛宫
completion = 完成，结束
be recognized as = 被认为是…，被公认为…
emperor = 皇帝，君主 ['empərər]
Napoleon [nə'pəuliən] Bonaparte ['bəunəpa:t] = 拿破仑·波拿巴
Waterloo = 滑铁卢
hung [hʌŋ] = 悬挂
permanent = 永久的，不变的
collection = 收藏品
Louvre ['lu:vər] = （法）卢浮宫
accomplice [ə'kɑ:mplɪs] = 同谋，共犯
reside = 住，居住；属于
Happiness does not reside in strength or money.（幸福不存在于力量或金钱之中。）
surrounding = 周围的，附近的
engage one's imaginations = 激发某人的想象力
Exercises:
1.This article was written to be informative and engaging.
2. What does the world's oldest profession refer to? (prostitution)
3. — Why doesn't Mona Lisa have any eyebrows or lashes?
— The reason is still not clear.
4. Something is enigmatic, if it is mysterious and difficult to understand.
5. To captivate means to catch and hold one's attention.
6. If something happened eventrully it was an accident.
7. To penetrate something means to forcibly enter it.
8. This article was written in a style to keep the mystery alive.
9. From the author's point of view, Mona Lisa's identity is still a fascinating mystery.
Please tap the first correct sentence to appear:
1. What is one theory about her identity?
2. Where does this article mention the world's oldest profession?
3. Where does indicate that Mona Lisa might have been pregnant?
One theory is that the way she posed suggests that she was with child.
4. When was the painting first recognized as a masterpiece?
It wasn't until 300 years after its completion that it was recognized as a masterpiece.
Fill in the blanks:
1. Today the painting resides at the Louvre, captivating a whole new generation. Whoever she was, the mysteries surrounding the Mona Lisa continue to engage our imaginations.
2. It seems that in 16th Century Italy women working in the world's oldest profession had hairless faces in order to make themselves more sexually arousing. There is, however, evidence that at one time the woman in the portrait had thick eyebrows. Perhaps they were inadvertently erased when the painting was cleaned. Nobody knows for sure.
Put the sentences below in order:
(1) Another theory argues that her hairless face - no brows or lashes - indicates that she was a prostitute.
(2) It seems that in 16th Century Italy women working in the world's oldest profession had hairless faces in order to make themselves more sexually arousing.
(3) One theory is that the way she posed suggests that she was with child.
(4) Critics and art lovers still argue about her identity.
Correct Order: (4) (3) (1) (2)
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. Critics and art lovers still argue about her identity.
2. For a time, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte hung it in his bedroom.
3. Without a doubt, one of the world's most recognizable pieces of art is the Mona Lisa.
4. Her enigmatic smile and penetrating gaze reach out through the ages as if she were alive today.
5. Perhaps they were inadvertently erased when the painting was cleaned.
