阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
In ancient China lived an artist. ___61___ paintings were almost lifelike. The artist’s reputation had made him proud. One day the emperor wanted to get his portrait (画像) done so he called all great artists to come and present their ___62___ (fine) work, so that he could choose the best. The artist was sure he would. ___63___(choose), but when he presented his masterpiece to the emperor’s chief minister, the old nan laughed. The wise old man told him to travel to the Li River～perhaps he could learn a little from the greatest artist in the world.
Filled with ___64___ (curious), the artist packed his bags and left. ___65___ he asked the villagers on the banks of the river where he could find the legendary (传奇的) artist, they smiled and ___66___ (point) down the river. The next morning he hired a boat and set out ___67___ (find) the well-known painter. As the small boat moved, ___68___ (gentle) along the river he was left speechless by the mountains being silently reflected in the water. He passed milky white waterfalls and mountains in many shades of blue. And when he saw the mists rising from the river and the soft clouds. ___69___ (surround) the mountain tops, he was reduced to tears. The artist was finally humbled (谦卑) by the greatest artist ____70____ earth, Mother Nature.
61. whose
62. finest
63. be chosen
64. curiosity
65. When/As
66. pointed
67. to find
68. gently
69. surrounding
70. On
【解析】
这是一篇记叙文。主要记叙了一位画家画画栩栩如生，有一天他将画送给宰相时，这位睿智的老人告诉他去漓江旅行——也许他可以从世界上最伟大的艺术家那里学到一些东西。画家最后发现这位世界上最伟大的艺术家就是大自然母亲。
【61题详解】
考查定语从句。句意：中国古代有一位画家，他的画几乎栩栩如生。此处为定语从句修饰先行词artist，且先行词在从句中作定语，故应用关系代词whose。故填whose。
【62题详解】
考查最高级。句意：一天，皇帝想让人给他画一幅肖像，于是他把所有伟大的画家都请来，展示他们最好的作品，以便他挑选最好的。结合句意，皇帝想要画家最好的作品，表示“最好的”此处应用形容词最高级finest。故填finest。
【63题详解】
考查动词语态。句意：画家确信他会被选中，但是当他把他的杰作送给皇帝的宰相时，这位老人笑了。本句中主语he与谓语动词choose构成被动关系，且would后跟动词原形。故填be chosen。
【64题详解】
.考查名词。句意：怀着好奇心，艺术家收拾行囊离开了。with为介词，后跟名词curiosity作宾语，表示“好奇心”。故填curiosity。
【65题详解】
考查连接词。句意：当他问河岸上的村民，他在哪里可以找到这位传奇艺术家时，他们笑着指着河的下游。本句为时间状语从句，表示“当……时候”，且从句中动词asked为短暂性动作动词，不能用while引导，故应用when或as引导。句首单词首字母要大写。故填When/As。
【66题详解】
考查动词时态。句意：当他问河岸上的村民，他在哪里可以找到这位传奇艺术家时，他们笑着指着河的下游。根据上文they smiled and可知此处应用一般过去时。故填pointed。
【67题详解】
考查非谓语动词。句意：第二天早上，他租了一条船，出发去找这位著名的画家。结合句意表示“出发去做某事”短语为set out to do sth.，后跟不定式做目的状语。故填to find。
【68题详解】
考查副词。句意：当小船缓缓地沿着江面移动时，山在水中的倒影使他说不出话来。此处修饰动词moved应用副词gently作状语，表示“缓缓地”。故填gently。
【69题详解】
考查非谓语动词。句意：当他看到雾气从河上升起，山顶上乌云环绕，他不禁流下了眼泪。分析句子结构可知，the soft clouds 69 (surround) the mountain tops是独立主格结构做状语，surround在句中应用非谓语动词形式，与逻辑主语clouds构成主动关系，故应用现在分词。故填surrounding。
【70题详解】
考查介词。句意：这位艺术家最终被世界上最伟大的艺术家——大自然母亲所羞辱。结合句意表示“在世界上”短语为on earth。故填on。
