乌克兰二战失窃油画回国
乌克兰二战失窃油画回国


A massive 19th century oil painting of Ivan the Terrible, the first czar of Russia, was returned to its rightful owners on Monday, after its disappearance from a Ukrainian museum more than 75 years ago during World War II. The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Valeriy Chaly, accepted the painting on behalf of the people of Ukraine during a ceremony at a fine arts auction house outside of Washington, D.C. 
"The damage from the theft of this painting really cannot be quantified," said Jessie Liu, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. "There are generations of people who weren't able to see this painting. We hope that the repatriation of the painting is the first step in remedying that harm." In 1941, Nazis looted Mikhail N. Panin's "Secret Departure of Ivan the Terrible before the Oprichnina" from the Dnepropetrovsk Art Museum during Germany's occupation of Ukraine. The 64-square-foot painting portrays the Russian czar fleeing the Kremlin on horseback.
Gabby and Tracy purchased a home in Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1987. Unaware of the painting's history, the Tracys enjoyed the painting until 2017, when they decided to sell the artwork. As the painting was being prepared for auction, an employee of the auction house, Potomack Company, discovered the artwork's true origins, which were later confirmed in an email sent by the director of the Dnepropetrovsk Art Museum. 
It's hard to imagine this could have come as a greater surprise to Tracy, whose own father died in a concentration camp. She lived in a Jewish ghetto until the Soviet liberation. Tracy eventually fled to the U.S. as a refugee with her sister and brother in 1947. "We're very happy to give it back to the Ukrainian people, and I hope one day we go there and see it hanging in the Ukrainian museum. And the terrible history damaged many things, which made us return the painting," she said during the repatriation ceremony.

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1.Who accepted the 19th century oil painting on Monday?

A The first czar of Russia.

B The Ukrainian ambassador.

C Mikhail N. Panin.

D An attorney in the Columbia.

解析:选B。细节理解题。根据文章第一段第二句The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Valeriy Chaly, accepted the painting on behalf of the people of Ukraine可以得知是一个乌克兰大使接受了那副油画,故选B。

2.What damage did the theft of the painting cause?

A Germany's occupation of Ukraine.

B The Russian czar fleeing the Kremlin in a hurry.

C The repatriation of the painting.

D The lost chance for Ukrainians enjoying the painting.

解析:选D。推理判断题。根据文章第二段第二句There are generations of people who weren't able to see this painting ...可以得知该油画的丢失导致了乌克兰人没法欣赏到这幅油画,故选D。

3.How did Gabby and Tracy get the painting?

A They stole the oil painting from the Soviet.

B They bought a house including the painting.

C They found out the true painting in an email.

D They got the painting in an auction in 1987.

解析:选B。细节理解题。根据文章第三段第二句Unaware of the painting's history, the Tracys enjoyed the painting until 2017可以推知他们买的房子里面有这幅画,但是他们不知道这幅画的历史,故选B。

4.Why did Tracy decide to return the painting?

A For the terrible experience of herself.

B Because the attorney forced her to do that.

C For the Ukrainian museum’s reward.

D For the hopeful promise of her father.

解析:选A。推理判断题。根据文章第四段第三句Tracy eventually fled to the U.S. as a refugee with her sister and brother in 1947可以得知Tracy也经受过战争的苦难;结合该段最后一句the terrible history damaged many things可以得知战争的经历让她决定归还油画,故选A。