An artwork jointly created by a robot and a human artist will go on sale this week. The artwork — known as an NFT — is to be sold during an online auction (拍卖) on Tuesday. NFT stands for non-fungible token. It is a piece of art that only exists on a computer technology known as blockchain (区块链).
NFTs can exist in the form of images, video, music and text. They are usually bought with electronic money. While anyone can view NFTs, the buyer has official ownership rights over the objects. NFTs have recently been growing in popularity among investors and collectors. Earlier this month, an artwork in the form of an NFT sold for nearly $70 million.
The piece to be sold this week was a cooperative effort between a human-like robot, known as Sophia, and Italian artist Andrea Bonaceto. The company behind Sophia, Hanson Robotics, says the auction will be the first sale of a piece jointly created by a human artist, a robot and artificial intelligence (AI). The artwork, called “Sophia Instantiation”, is a 12-second video file. It combines online and physical paintings from Sophia with elements (要素) from Bonaceto’s work. The artwork also includes influences from art history.
The digital artwork will come with a physical artwork created by Sophia on a printed copy of the online piece. The online auction is to be held by a company called Nifty Gateway. After the sale, Sophia will meet with the buyer to study his or her face, before adding a final element to the artwork. Sophia’s creator, David Hanson, said this part of the project will permit the new owner to have an unusual “personal connection” to the artwork.
Bonaceto said he hopes his collaboration with Sophia will “make a statement in the art world, and even the technology world” about the way robots and humans can cooperate in the future.
Sophia’s art could be “a very, very important historical piece”, said Pablo Fraile, a Miami-based art collector and expert in NFTs. “It’s the first time these ideas have been put together,” he said.
12. The author’s main purpose in writing paragraph 2 is to ________.
A. explain the value of different forms of NFTs
B. teach readers how to buy NFTs with electronic money
C. provide readers with some information about NFTs
D. advise readers to collect or invest in NFTs
13. What can we know about “Sophia Instantiation”?
A. It is the first NFT artwork to be sold
B. It is a physical artwork created by Sophia.
C. It is an artwork with elements from art history.
D. It is the first artwork created by a robot and AI.
14. What is Pablo Fraile’s attitude towards “Sophia Instantiation”?
A. Positive. B. Uncaring. C. Opposed. D. Skeptical.
15. What can be the best title for the text?
A. An NFT Will Gain High Popularity Among Investors
B. More NFTs Will Be Created by Humans and Robots
C. Sophia Will Be Necessary in Creating Online Artworks
D. Online Artwork That Robot Helps Create Will Be Sold
12. C 13. A 14. A 15. D
本文是一篇说明文。文章主要向人们解释了何为NFT艺术品，并且介绍了NFT艺术品即将出售的相关信息。
12. C。推理判断题。通过文章第二段“NFTs can exist in the form of images, video, music and text. (NFT可以以图像、视频、音乐和文本的形式存在)”以及“NFTs have recently been growing in popularity among investors and collectors. Earlier this month, an artwork in the form of an NFT sold for nearly $70 million. (本月早些时候，一件NFT形式的艺术品以近7000万美元的价格售出)”可知，本段主要介绍了NFT存在的方式以及售价等信息，可推知，作者的目的应该是通过本段为读者提供一些关于NFT的信息。故选C项。
13. A。细节理解题。通过文章第三段“the auction will be the first sale of a piece jointly created by a human artist, a robot and artificial intelligence (AI). The artwork, called “Sophia Instantiation” (此次拍卖将是人类艺术家、机器人和人工智能共同创作的作品的首次拍卖。该艺术品，称为“Sophia Instantiation”)”可知，Sophia Instantiation是第一个被出售的NFT艺术品。故选A项。
14. A。推理判断题。通过文章最后一段“Sophia’s art could be “a very, very important historical piece”, said Pablo Fraile, a Miami-based art collector and expert in NFTs. “It’s the first time these ideas have been put together,” he said. (迈阿密的艺术收藏家和NFT专家Pablo Fraile说，Sophia的艺术可能是“一件非常、非常重要的历史作品”。“这是这些想法第一次被整合在一起，”他说)”可推知，Pablo Fraile对“Sophia Instantiation”持肯定态度。故选A项。
15. D。主旨大意题。通读全文，再通过文章第一段“An artwork jointly created by a robot and a human artist will go on sale this week. The artwork — known as an NFT — is to be sold during an online auction on Tuesday. (一件由机器人和人类艺术家共同创作的艺术品将于本周出售。被称为NFT的艺术品将于周二在网上拍卖)”可推知，本文主要介绍了NFT艺术品即将出售的相关信息，D项“机器人帮助创作的在线艺术品将被出售”符合文意，最适合作为本文标题。故选D项。
NFTs can exist in the form of images, video, music and text. They are usually bought with electronic money. While anyone can view NFTs, the buyer has official ownership rights over the objects. NFTs have recently been growing in popularity among investors and collectors. Earlier this month, an artwork in the form of an NFT sold for nearly $70 million.
The piece to be sold this week was a cooperative effort between a human-like robot, known as Sophia, and Italian artist Andrea Bonaceto. The company behind Sophia, Hanson Robotics, says the auction will be the first sale of a piece jointly created by a human artist, a robot and artificial intelligence (AI). The artwork, called “Sophia Instantiation”, is a 12-second video file. It combines online and physical paintings from Sophia with elements (要素) from Bonaceto’s work. The artwork also includes influences from art history.
The digital artwork will come with a physical artwork created by Sophia on a printed copy of the online piece. The online auction is to be held by a company called Nifty Gateway. After the sale, Sophia will meet with the buyer to study his or her face, before adding a final element to the artwork. Sophia’s creator, David Hanson, said this part of the project will permit the new owner to have an unusual “personal connection” to the artwork.
Bonaceto said he hopes his collaboration with Sophia will “make a statement in the art world, and even the technology world” about the way robots and humans can cooperate in the future.
Sophia’s art could be “a very, very important historical piece”, said Pablo Fraile, a Miami-based art collector and expert in NFTs. “It’s the first time these ideas have been put together,” he said.
12. The author’s main purpose in writing paragraph 2 is to ________.
A. explain the value of different forms of NFTs
B. teach readers how to buy NFTs with electronic money
C. provide readers with some information about NFTs
D. advise readers to collect or invest in NFTs
13. What can we know about “Sophia Instantiation”?
A. It is the first NFT artwork to be sold
B. It is a physical artwork created by Sophia.
C. It is an artwork with elements from art history.
D. It is the first artwork created by a robot and AI.
14. What is Pablo Fraile’s attitude towards “Sophia Instantiation”?
A. Positive. B. Uncaring. C. Opposed. D. Skeptical.
15. What can be the best title for the text?
A. An NFT Will Gain High Popularity Among Investors
B. More NFTs Will Be Created by Humans and Robots
C. Sophia Will Be Necessary in Creating Online Artworks
D. Online Artwork That Robot Helps Create Will Be Sold
12. C 13. A 14. A 15. D
本文是一篇说明文。文章主要向人们解释了何为NFT艺术品，并且介绍了NFT艺术品即将出售的相关信息。
12. C。推理判断题。通过文章第二段“NFTs can exist in the form of images, video, music and text. (NFT可以以图像、视频、音乐和文本的形式存在)”以及“NFTs have recently been growing in popularity among investors and collectors. Earlier this month, an artwork in the form of an NFT sold for nearly $70 million. (本月早些时候，一件NFT形式的艺术品以近7000万美元的价格售出)”可知，本段主要介绍了NFT存在的方式以及售价等信息，可推知，作者的目的应该是通过本段为读者提供一些关于NFT的信息。故选C项。
13. A。细节理解题。通过文章第三段“the auction will be the first sale of a piece jointly created by a human artist, a robot and artificial intelligence (AI). The artwork, called “Sophia Instantiation” (此次拍卖将是人类艺术家、机器人和人工智能共同创作的作品的首次拍卖。该艺术品，称为“Sophia Instantiation”)”可知，Sophia Instantiation是第一个被出售的NFT艺术品。故选A项。
14. A。推理判断题。通过文章最后一段“Sophia’s art could be “a very, very important historical piece”, said Pablo Fraile, a Miami-based art collector and expert in NFTs. “It’s the first time these ideas have been put together,” he said. (迈阿密的艺术收藏家和NFT专家Pablo Fraile说，Sophia的艺术可能是“一件非常、非常重要的历史作品”。“这是这些想法第一次被整合在一起，”他说)”可推知，Pablo Fraile对“Sophia Instantiation”持肯定态度。故选A项。
15. D。主旨大意题。通读全文，再通过文章第一段“An artwork jointly created by a robot and a human artist will go on sale this week. The artwork — known as an NFT — is to be sold during an online auction on Tuesday. (一件由机器人和人类艺术家共同创作的艺术品将于本周出售。被称为NFT的艺术品将于周二在网上拍卖)”可推知，本文主要介绍了NFT艺术品即将出售的相关信息，D项“机器人帮助创作的在线艺术品将被出售”符合文意，最适合作为本文标题。故选D项。
