Thousands of people showed up at the Art Basel Hong Kong on Thursday, one of Asia’s largest contemporary art fairs, to view large-scale installations from hanging money trees to a pumpkin 8 feet (2.4 m) tall. Participating galleries reported bumper sales.

The annual fair, which also has editions in Basel, Paris, and Miami Beach, runs from March 23 to 25. The 2023 event is the first in four years to be held in full, after 2020’s was cancelled and the next two mostly put online. Large queues of people, most not wearing masks, were seen entering the venue. Art Basel Hong Kong is one of the first big events the city has held since canceling the COVID-19 mask rules this month.

Aimee Man, a sales director at Peres Projects, said 70% of that gallery’s art pieces had been sold in the pre-selling session before the fair. “We are just really excited to be back after almost four years. And this year is really different.” City authorities are welcoming the art fair as they try to improve the economy and promote Hong Kong as an energetic cultural center. The city is also hosting two financial meetings this week, followed next month by the Rugby Sevens three-day tournament and music festival Creamfields.

Li Danqing, senior international partner at LGDR gallery, said things were returning to normal. People were more informed about the artwork but still a bit cautious, she said. “Everyone is more cautious but making wiser and better decision in terms of buying,” she said.

Popular artworks include Yavoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” and a hanging installation made up of 13 twisted plants known as money trees. 

1.What does the underlined word “bumper” probably mean?

A Small.

B Usual.

C Limited.

D Large.

解析：选D。D词义猜测题。根据第一段划线部分前文的“Thousands of people showed up...”可知该艺术展有成千上万人参加，由此可推测艺术品销售火爆，即销量巨大。故选D。

2.What can we know about Art Basel Hong Kong?

A People can only buy artwork from March 23 to 25 this year.

B It’s held once every year by principle.

C No one wears masks this year.

D It was cancelled last year.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第二段的“The annual fair”可知，该艺术展每年举办，但是由于疫情原因，2020年被取消，2021和2022年都是线上举办。根据第三段的“gallery’s art pieces had been sold in the pre-selling session before the fair”可知，在23日艺术展开放之前，还有预售环节，即人们不止在这三天可以购买艺术品，所以A项不正确。故选B。

3.According to Aimee Man, what makes this year’s Art Basel different?

A The officials’ effort.

B People’s enthusiasm.

C The energetic economy.

D Strong cultural atmosphere.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据第三段Aimee Man说的话“City authorities are...”“The city is also...”可知，是香港这座城市的努力使得今年的巴塞尔艺术展与众不同。故选A。

4.What does Li Danqing think of today’s customers?

A They live a better life.

B They are knowledgeable.

C They act with great care.

D They become smart buyers.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据倒数第二段最后一句的“Everyone is more cautious but making wiser and better decision in terms of buying”可知，现在的买家在购买艺术品方面做出了更明智、更好的决定，即他们现在成为了更聪明的买家。故选D。