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Before lockdown, people would queue up to see famous works of art, but with everyone staying at home, museums have been empty. So one museum in Kansas City, Missouri, welcomed some unusual visitors instead.

Three Humboldt penguins from the local zoo came to look at the art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art last week. Julian Zugazagoitia, the museum’s director said, “Today we welcomed our colleagues from the zoo and they brought special friends. We’re seeing how they are reacting to art.” Randy Wisthoff, the zoo’s executive director said, “We’re always looking for ways to improve their lives and stimulate their days. During this shutdown period, our animals really miss having visitors come out and see them.” Julian joked that as they are native to Chile and Peru, he spoke to them in Spanish. He expected their favourite to be Monet but actually they seemed to enjoy the works by Italian painter Caravaggio. “They really appreciated art history,” he said. Randy added, “We were happy to visit and the penguins completely loved it.”

The museum and the zoo examined everything before they visited to make sure it was safe for them. Julian said that he was worried about their visit going smoothly but is pleased that it brought a smile to some people at this time. He said, “It really brought us joy, and I think it brings the community together when the love of animals and the empathy that we feel for them is also reinforced by the love that we feel for art.”

1.What is special in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art?

A The staff in the zoo came to visit it every day.

B The museum staff kept pets in it for no reason.

C It was closed because of the coming penguins.

D The penguins were brought to enjoy the art in it.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文章第一段最后一句So one museum in Kansas City, Missouri, welcomed some unusual visitors instead.以及第二段第一句Three Humboldt penguins from the local zoo came to look at the art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art last week.和Today we welcomed our colleagues from the zoo and they brought special friends.可知，企鹅们被带到博物馆里欣赏艺术，故选D。

2.What’s the purpose of this unusual visit?

A To cheer the penguins up.

B To check the safety measures.

C To develop the penguins’ art gift.

D To keep a certain popularity in the museum.

解析：选A。推理判断题。根据文章第二段We’re always looking for ways to improve their lives and stimulate their days. During this shutdown period, our animals really miss having visitors come out and see them.可知，在闭馆期间，动物们非常想念游客出来看它们，动物园工作人员总是在寻找方法来改善他们的生活和促进他们的生活，由此推断本次参观是让企鹅们振奋精神，故选A。

3.What did the penguins react to the art?

A They were interested in Monet’s art.

B They had no response to the art works.

C They appeared to like Caravaggio’s works.

D They seemed to stay depressed at that time.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据文章第二段He expected their favourite to be Monet but actually they seemed to enjoy the works by Italian painter Caravaggio. 可知，企鹅们似乎喜欢意大利画家卡拉瓦乔的作品，故选C。

4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A The penguins’ visit was very meaningful.

B The penguins were used to the life in the museum.

C The penguins should visit the museum more often.

D The museum needs love and care from the whole community.

解析：选A。推理判断题。根据文章第三段第二句Julian said that he was worried about their visit going smoothly but is pleased that it brought a smile to some people at this time.可知，Julian说，他对他们顺利进行访问有点担心，但可喜的是这次访问给一些人带来了微笑，由此看出本次参观一切顺利，非常有意义，故选A。