Ink on the Skin|流血的艺术

Ink on the Skin

by Marcus Maurice

Whether they are signs of love, religious beliefs, or even punishment, tattoos have been around for thousands of years.

　　The first person found with tattoos has the coolest name ever ―― Otzi the Iceman. This naturally preserved mummy dates back _(1)_ 3,300 BC and had 57 different tattoos on his body. Hikers discovered Otzi in the frozen mountains on the Italian-Austrian border in 1991. Scientists discovered that most of his tattoos were related to treatments for pain similar to acupuncture. After Otzi, the earliest use of tattoos was in China, where the characters for prisoner were tattooed on criminals' faces. The _(2)_ began in the ancient world and lasted until the Qing dynasty in 1911.

　　All over the world, tattooing _(3)_ a part of life for a very long time. From ancient tribes that tattooed their whole bodies to modern-day hipsters who want to stand out in a crowd, tattooing is only _(4)_ by one's creativity. There is a big problem with tattoos, though. They are _(5)_ and don't just wash or wear off. This also causes problems when a boy or girlfriend's name is tattooed on a person as a _(6)_ of deep love. What happens when the relationships go sour and those people want to date someone else? Removing tattoos with lasers is possible, but the process is painful, expensive, and doesn't always work.

　　Tattooing has a magical history behind it, and it can definitely make people's bodies into works of art. However, before getting a tattoo, it's best to think it over for a while _(7)_ going through with it.

1. (A) for (B) on (C) with (D) to

2. (A) background (B) comparison (C) practice (D) identity

3. (A) be (B) are (C) has been (D) were

4. (A) restricted (B) healed (C) mended (D) persuaded

5. (A) responsible (B) permanent (C) vacant (D) anxious

6. (A) confusion (B) generosity (C) pioneer (D) symbol

7. (A) before (B) after (C) since (D) about

 

流血的艺术

无论是作为爱的标记、宗教信仰还是一种惩罚，刺青已经存在了数千年。

　　第一个被发现身上有刺青的人也有着有史以来最酷的名字──冰人奥茨。这具自然保存完好的木乃伊，其历史可追溯到公元前三千三百年，而且在他身上有五十七种不同的刺青。登山客于 1991 年在意大利与奥地利边境冰天雪地的山上发现奥茨。科学家发现他身上大部份的刺青跟治疗疼痛的针灸很类似。在奥茨之后，最早刺青的使用是在中国，当地会将中国字『囚犯』刺在犯人的脸上。这个做法从古代开始就一直持续到 1911 年的清朝。

　　在世界各地，刺青长久以来已成为生活中的一部份。从全身刺青的古代部落到现今人群中想引人注目赶时髦的人，刺青展现出个人无比的创造力。不过，刺青现在有个大问题。它们是永久性的，而且没有办法洗掉或逐渐消失。当男女朋友的名字作为彼此深爱的象征刺在身上，也会导致一些问题。就是当两人的关系变质，或是他们想要跟其他人约会时，那该怎么办呢？可能可以用雷射来去除刺青，但这个过程既痛苦又昂贵，而且不一定有效。

　　刺青的背后有一段神秘的历史，而刺青绝对可以让人的身体变成艺术品。不过在刺青之前，最好三思而后行。

答案： 1. D 2. C 3. C 4. A 5. B

6. D 7. A