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2018 ‫מועד חורף‬ - 41 - ‫ פרק ראשון‬- ‫אנגלית‬

Text II (Questions 18-22)

(1) Imagine walking into a room, seeing a fly perched on a painting on the wall, and
reaching out to brush it away, only to discover that the fly is actually part of the picture.
The painting, fly and all, is an example of trompe l'oeil (French for "deceiving the
eye"), an artistic technique that aims to make a picture look so convincingly three-

(5) dimensional that viewers are momentarily fooled. This is accomplished through the
skillful use of sharp, clear lines; minute detail; light and shadow; and principles of
perspective, which convey a sense of depth. The combined effect leaves viewers unable
to distinguish art from real life.

Although the term "trompe l'oeil" was coined in the seventeenth century, the
(10) technique has its roots in antiquity. Ancient Roman scholar Pliny the Elder tells of an

artist by the name of Zeuxis, who painted grapes so realistic that they attracted hungry
birds. Rival artist Parrhasius, not to be outdone, began working on a painting of his
own. A few weeks later, he invited Zeuxis to come and see his artwork. When Zeuxis
arrived, he saw before him a painting with a curtain draped over it. He reached out to
(15) pull back the curtain, only to find that the curtain was the painting.

It was during the Renaissance and Baroque periods (from the late 1400s to the early
1700s) that trompe l'oeil was incorporated into the design of many buildings, turning
small interiors into imposing spaces. Artists would paint towering domes on flat
ceilings, and grand columns, arches, and staircases on walls.

(20) Today, trompe l'oeil is seen in both exterior and interior design. For example, a city
apartment building may feature a large "balcony" overlooking the street. Inside, a
"window" may offer a beautiful outdoor view. Regardless of where and how it is used,
trompe l'oeil contains a touch of playfulness, and viewers are apt to chuckle when they
realize they have been tricked.

Questions

18. An appropriate title for the text would be -

(1) Trompe l'Oeil: From Antiquity to the Baroque Period
(2) Trompe l'Oeil: Making the Most of Small Spaces
(3) Trompe l'Oeil: Playful or Serious?
(4) Trompe l'Oeil: Not Real After All

)‫© כל הזכויות שמורות למרכז ארצי לבחינות ולהערכה (ע"ר‬
.‫ בלא אישור בכתב מהמרכז הארצי לבחינות ולהערכה‬- ‫ כולה או חלקים ממנה‬- ‫ או ללמדה‬,‫אין להעתיק או להפיץ בחינה זו או קטעים ממנה בכל צורה ובכל אמצעי‬