2011年考研英語作文之美文范例：陶器

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Pottery

　　Ancient people  made clay pottery because they needed it for their survival. They used the pots they made for cooking, storing food, and carrying things from place to place. Pottery was so important to early cultures that scientists now study it to learn more about ancient civilizations. The  more advanced the pottery in terms of decoration, materials, glazes and manufacture, the more advanced the culture itself.The  artisan  who  makes  pottery  in  North  America  today  utilizes  his  or  her  skill  and imagination  to  create  items  that  are  beautiful  as  well  as  functional,  transforming  something ordinary into something special and unique.The  potter uses one of  the Earth's  most basic  materials,  clay. Clay can be found almost anywhere. Good pottery clay  must be free from  all small stones and other hard  materials  that would make the  potting  process  difficult. Most North American artisan  potters now purchase commercially processed clay, but some find the clay they need right in the earth close to where they work.The most important tools potters use are their own hands; however, they also use wire loop tools, wooden  modeling tools, plain wire, and sponges. Plain wire is  used to cut away the finished pot from its base on the potter's wheel.After a finished pot is dried of all its moisture in the open air, it is placed in a kiln and fired. The first firing hardens the pottery, and it is then ready to be glazed and fired again.For areas where they do not want any glaze, such as the bottom of the pot, artisans paint on melted wax that will later burn off in the kiln. They then pour on the liquid glaze and let it run over the clay surface, making any kind of decorative pattern that they want.
　　全文翻譯：陶器古代人制作陶器是因為他們的生存需要它。他們用這些自制的盆盆罐罐來做飯、 裝食物、儲運東西。  陶器在早期文化中占據了如此重要的地位，以致于科學家們現在通過 研究陶器來獲取對古代文明的更多的了解。  因為陶器的裝飾、材料、釉彩、制作等工藝越 發達就說明這種文明越發達。  今天，北美的陶藝匠人運用他們的技藝和想象力創造出了既 美觀又實用的陶藝制品，把日常用品變為獨特的藝術品。制陶匠人使用大地上比較基本的原材料--粘土。  粘土幾乎隨處可見，但好的制陶所用的粘土必須不含小沙粒或任何硬物，否 則會給制陶過程帶來不便。 現在大多數北美制陶藝人買現成的專用陶土，也有些陶匠樂于 就地取材，在作坊附近自己挖粘土。  制陶器比較重要的工具是工匠們自己的雙手，但有時他們也用些別的工具，如繩圈、木模、素線、海綿等。  素線的作用是當一件陶器完成后用它 把陶器從轉盤上的基座上切下來。 陶器成形后，首先要在空氣中自然風干，再放到窯中焙 燒。 第一遍焙燒使得陶器變得堅硬，下一步就是給它上釉彩，然后再焙燒。  陶器上有些地方不需上釉彩，像罐子底部，匠人們就在這些部位涂上蠟，一加熱就會化掉。  然后匠人們 把釉彩液體澆上陶器表面，繪制他們想要的任何圖案。