Look to many of history’s cultural symbols, and there you’ll find an ancestor of Frosty, the snowman in the movie Frozen. It appeared on some of the first postcards, starred in some of the earliest silent movies, and was the subject of a couple of the earliest photos, dating all the way back to the 1800s. I discovered even more about one of humanity’s earliest forms of life art during several years of research around the world.

For example, snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages, built with great skill and thought. At a time of limited means of expression, snow was like free art supplies dropped from the sky. It was a popular activity for couples to leisurely walk through town to view the temporary works of chilly art. Some were created by famous artists, including a 19-year-old Michelangelo, who in 1494 was appointed by the ruler of Florence, Italy, to build a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard.

The Miracle of 1511 took place during six freezing works called the Winter of Death. The city of Brussels was covered in snowmen—an impressive scene that told stories on every street corner. Some were political in nature, criticizing the church and government. Some were a reflection of people’s imagination. For the people of Brussels, this was a defining moment of defining freedom. At least until spring arrived, by which time they were dealing with damaging floods.

If you fear the heyday of the snowman has passed, don’t worry: I’ve learned that some explosive snowman history is still being made today. Every year since 1818, the people of Zurich, Switzerland, celebrate the beginning of spring by blowing up a snowman. On the third Monday of April, the holiday Sechselauten is kicked off when a cotton snowman called the Boogg is stuffed with explosive and paraded through town by bakers and other tradesmen who throw bread to the crowds. The parade ends with the Boogg being placed on a 40-foot pile of firewood. After the bells of the Church of St. Peter have rung six times, representing the passing of winter, the pile is lit. When the snowman explodes, winter is considered officially over—the quicker it is burnt down, the longer summer is said to be.

1.According to the passage, why did snowmen become a phenomenon in the Middle Ages?

A People thought of snow as holy art supplies.

B People longed to see masterpieces of snow.

C Building snowmen was a way for people to express themselves.

D Building snowmen helped people develop their skill and thought.

解析：选C。C. 细节理解题。根据第二段第二句“ At a time of limited means of expression, snow was like free art supplies dropped from the sky 在表达方法有限的年代，雪就像是来自于上天的一种自由艺术。”. 这说明雪的流行是因为它是一种表达的方式，关键词是express，而且means 和way 同义。故选择C选项。

2.“The heyday of the snowman” (Paragraph 4) means the time when___________.

A snowmen were made mainly by artists

B snowmen enjoyed great popularity

C snowmen were politically criticized

D snowmen caused damaging floods

解析：选B。B. 细节理解题。根据第四段“If you fear the heyday of the snowman has passed, don’t worry: I’ve learned that some explosive snowman history is still being made today.如果你担心雪人的鼎盛时期已经过去了，不要担心：我已经知道，一些爆炸性的雪人的历史仍在进行着。”故选择B选项。

3.In Zurich, the blowing up of the Boogg symbolizes__________________.

A the start of the parade

B the coming of a longer summer

C the passing of the winter

D the success of tradesmen

解析：选C。C. 细节理解题。根据最后一段celebrate the beginning of spring by blowing up a snowman.和 When the snowman explodes, winter is considered officially over.故选择C选项。

4.What can be concluded about snowmen from the passage?

A They were appreciated in history

B They have lost their value

C They were related to movies

D They vary in shape and size

解析：选A。A. 主旨大意题。通读全文，很容易知道：在历史上，人们就欣赏雪人。故选择A选项。