In 1826, a Frenchman named Niépce needed pictures

In 1826, a Frenchman named Niépce needed pictures

Đề bài: Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

In 1826, a Frenchman named Niépce needed pictures for his business. He was not a good artist, so he invented a very simple camera. He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his yard. That was the first photograph.

The next important date in the history of photography was 1837. That year, Daguerre, another Frenchman, took a picture of his studio. He used a new kind of camera and a different process. In his pictures, you could see everything clearly, even the smallest details. This kind of photograph was called a daguerreotype.

Soon, other people began to use Daguerre's process. Travelers brought back daguerreotypes from all around the world. People photographed famous buildings, cities, and mountains.

In about 1840, the process was improved. Then photographers could take pictures of people and moving things. The process was not simple and photographers had to carry lots of film and processing equipment. However, this did not stop photographers, especially in the United States. After 1840, daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities.

Matthew Brady was one well-known American photographer. He took many portraits of famous people. The portraits were unusual because they were lifelike and full of personality. Brady was also the first person to take pictures of a war. His 1862 Civil War pictures showed dead soldiers and ruined cities. They made the war seem more real and more terrible.

In the 1880s, new inventions began to change photography. Photographers could buy film ready-made in rolls, instead of having to make the film themselves. Also, they did not have to process the film immediately. They could bring it back to their studios and develop it later. They did not have to carry lots of equipment. And finally, the invention of the small handheld camera made photography less expensive.

With a small camera, anyone could be a photographer. People began to use cameras just for fun. They took pictures of their families, friends, and favorite places. They called these pictures "snapshots".

Documentary photographs became popular in newspapers in the 1890s. Soon magazines and books also used them. These pictures showed true events and people. They were much more real than drawings.

Some people began to think of photography as a form of art. They thought that photography could do more than show the real world. It could also show ideas and feelings, like other art forms. 

1. The first photograph was taken with ______.

A. a small handheld camera

B. a very simple camera

C. a daguerreotype

D. new types of film

2. Daguerre took a picture of his studio with ______.

A. a new kind of camera

B. a very simple camera

C. special equipment

D. an electronic camera

3. The word “this” in the passage refers to the ______.

A. carrying of lots of film and processing equipment

B. stopping of photographers from taking photos

C. fact that daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities

D. taking of pictures of people and moving things

4. The word “ruined” in the passage is closest in meaning to “______”.

A. poorly-painted

B. heavily-polluted

C. terribly spoiled

D. badly damaged

5. The word “lifelike” in the passage is closest in meaning to “______”.

A. moving

B. realistic

C. touching

D. manlike

6. The latest invention mentioned in the passage is the invention of ______.

A. handheld cameras

B. processing equipment

C. daguerreotypes

D. rolls of film

7. The word “handheld” in the passage is closest in meaning to “______”.

A. handling manually

B. held by hand

C. controlling hands

D. operated by hand

8. Matthew Brady was well-known for ______.

A. inventing daguerreotypes

B. the small handheld camera

C. taking pictures of French cities

D. portraits and war photographs

9. As mentioned in the passage, photography can ______.

A. print old pictures

B. convey ideas and feelings

C. show the underworld

D. replace drawings

10. Which of the following could best serve as the title of the passage?

A. Different Steps in Film Processing

B. Story of Photography

C. Photography and Painting

D. Story of Famous Photographers

Lời giải:

Đáp án:

1. B	2. A	3. A	4. D	5. B
6. A	7. B	8. D	9. B	10. B

Giải thích:

1. Thông tin: … he invented a very simple camera. He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his yard. That was the first photograph

2. He used a new kind of camera and a different process. (Ông ấy đã dùng một loại máy ảnh mới và một quy trình hoàn toàn khác.)

3. this → carrying a lot of film and processing equipment (mang theo rất nhiều phim và thiết bị xử lý).

4. ruined = badly damaged (bị tàn phá)

5. lifelike = realistic: giống như thật

6. Thông tin: And finally, the invention of the small handheld camera made photography less expensive. (Và cuối cùng, việc phát minh ra chiếc máy ảnh cầm tay nhỏ đã khiến việc chụp ảnh trở nên rẻ hơn.)

7. handheld = held by hand: cầm tay

8. Thông tin: He took many portraits of famous people... Brady was also the first person to take pictures of a war. (Anh ấy đã chụp rất nhiều chân dung của những người nổi tiếng... Brady cũng là người đầu tiên chụp ảnh chiến tranh.)

9. Thông tin: It could also show ideas and feelings, like other art forms. (Nó cũng có thể thể hiện ý tưởng và cảm xúc, giống như các loại hình nghệ thuật khác.)

10. Story of Photography (Câu chuyện về Nhiếp ảnh).