IELTS READING - Picture Of Dorian Gray (Excerpt)

Please read the excerpt from The Picture of Dorian Gray

Picture Of Dorian Gray

The studio was filled with the rich smell of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of lilac. Beyond the soft sounds of the garden were the dim noises of London

In the centre of the room, clamped to an upright easel, stood the full-length portrait of a young man of extraordinary beauty, and in front of it, some little distance away, was sitting the artist himself, Basil Hallward, whose sudden disappearance some years ago had caused, at the time, such public excitement.

'It is your best work, Basil, the best thing you have ever done,' said Lord Henry lazily. 'You should send it next year to the Tate Gallery. The Academy is too large. Whenever I have gone there, there have been either so many people that I have not been able to see the pictures, which was dreadful, or so many pictures that I have not been able to see the people, which was worse. The Tate Gallery is really the only place.'

'I don't think I will send it anywhere,' he answered, tossing his head back in that odd way that used to make his friends laugh at him at Oxford. 'No, I won't send it anywhere.'

Lord Henry raised his eyebrows and looked at him in amazement. 'Not sending it anywhere? My dear friend, why? Have you any reason? What strange people you painters are! You do anything in the world to gain a reputation. As soon as you have one, you seem to want to throw it away. It is silly of you, for there is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. A portrait like this would set you far above all the young men in England, and make the old men quite jealous if old men are ever capable of any emotion.'

'I know you will laugh at me,' he replied, 'but I really can't exhibit it. I have put too much of myself into it.'

Lord Henry stretched himself out on the sofa and laughed.

'Too much of yourself in it! I really can't see anything that looks like you, with your rugged strong face and your coal-black hair, and this young man, who looks so handsome. Of course, you have an intellectual expression and all that. I think that he is just some brainless beautiful creature who should be always here in winter when we have no flowers to look at, and always here in summer when we want something to cool our intelligence. Don't flatter yourself, Basil: you are not in the least like him.'

'You don't understand me, Harry,' answered the artist. 'Of course, I am not like him. I know that perfectly well. In fact, I prefer not to be beautiful with Dorian Gray's good looks. We shall all suffer for what the gods have given us, suffer terribly.'

'Dorian Gray? Is that his name?' asked Lord Henry, walking across the studio towards Basil Hallward.

'Yes, that is his name. I didn't intend to tell it to you.'

'But why not?'

'Oh, I can't explain.' said Basil. 'When I like people a lot, I never tell their names to my other friends. I love secrets, that 's all.'

'Of course,' agreed his friend. 'Life is much more exciting when you have secrets.'

Question:

1. What is the main subject of the portrait in the studio? a. A beautiful young woman b. A rugged-looking man with coal-black hair c. A brainless, handsome young man d. A mysterious and enigmatic figure

2. Why does Lord Henry suggest sending the portrait to the Tate Gallery instead of the Academy? a. The Academy is too small to accommodate such a masterpiece b. The Tate Gallery is the only place where portraits are accepted c. The Academy is overcrowded, making it difficult to see the paintings d. The Tate Gallery has better lighting for portraits

3. What is the reason Basil gives for not wanting to exhibit his portrait? a. He is afraid of criticism b. He has put too much of himself into the portrait c. He thinks the portrait is not good enough to exhibit d. He is too busy to prepare the portrait for exhibition

4. How does Lord Henry respond to Basil's reason for not wanting to exhibit the portrait? a. He thinks Basil is being foolish and should exhibit the portrait b. He agrees with Basil and thinks the portrait is too personal to be exhibited c. He is indifferent to Basil's decision and doesn't offer an opinion d. He suggests that Basil should exhibit the portrait anonymously

5. What is Basil's attitude towards secrets according to the passage? a. He loves to share secrets with his friends b. He believes that secrets can make life more exciting c. He thinks that secrets should be kept hidden at all costs d. He is indifferent to secrets and doesn't really care about them.

Answer:

1. What is the main subject of the portrait in the studio?

Answer

The main subject of the portrait in the studio is a young man of extraordinary beauty.

2. Why does Lord Henry suggest sending the portrait to the Tate Gallery instead of the Academy?

Answer

Lord Henry suggests sending the portrait to the Tate Gallery instead of the Academy because he thinks the Academy is too large and overcrowded, making it difficult to see the paintings.

3. What is the reason Basil gives for not wanting to exhibit his portrait?

Answer

Basil gives the reason that he has put too much of himself into the portrait and he can't exhibit it.

4. How does Lord Henry respond to Basil's reason for not wanting to exhibit the portrait?

Answer

Lord Henry thinks that Basil is being foolish and should exhibit the portrait.

5. What is Basil's attitude towards secrets according to the passage?

Answer

Basil loves secrets and thinks that life is much more exciting when you have secrets.

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