Artist Sargy Mann: Making Paintings Without Sight
II. While Reading Tasks
Word Inference
- cataract |ˈkatəˌrakt| noun-a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision: she had cataracts in both eyes.
- astonish |əˈstäniSH| verb [ with obj. ] –surprise or impress (someone) greatly: you never fail to astonish me | [ with obj. and clause ] : it astonished her that Mrs. Browning could seem so anxious.
- talisman |ˈtalismən, -iz-| noun (pl. talismans) –an object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.
- anatomy |əˈnatəmē| (abbr.: anat.) noun (pl. anatomies)-the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, esp. as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts.
- ophthalmologist |ˌäfTHə(l)ˈmäləjē, ˌäp-|-noun –the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.
- iris The iris (plural: irides or irises) is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupil and thus the amount of light reaching the retina.
- ambient |ˈambēənt| adjective [ attrib. ] of or relating to the immediate surroundings of something: the liquid is stored at below ambient temperature.
- telescope |ˈteləˌskōp| noun-an optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear nearer, containing an arrangement of lenses, or of curved mirrors and lenses, by which rays of light are collected and focused and the resulting image magnified.
- extraordinary |ikˈstrôrdnˌerē, ˌekstrəˈôrdn-| adjective-very unusual or remarkable: the extraordinary plumage of the male | [ with clause ] : it is extraordinary that no consultation took place.
- perceive |pərˈsēv| verb [ with obj. ]-become aware or conscious of (something); come to realize or understand: his mouth fell open as he perceived the truth.
Reading Comprehension
True /False/NA-Statements
- F- Mr. Mann had a retinal detachment in October 1979.
- T- At age 35, he had cataract extractions in both eyes.
- F- According to Mann, the only comparable experience was one involving LSD in 1966.
- F- In 1987, Mann had his first first one-man show.
- F- In 1989, the eye hospital registered him blind.
- NA-Mann has three children who also paint.
- F- Mann had numerous operations throughout the 1980s.
- T- Terry Raybould was a painter friend.
- F- Mann’s final exhibition opened in London.
- T-Mann painted from short-term memory and tape recordings.
Grammar Focus: Structure and Usage
I-2-begin
To begin with I had to paint wearing dark glasses.
II-2-in
I had always preferred painting in bright light.
III-3-went
I had another exhibition, which also went well.
:
