The cities in the United States have been the most visible sponsors and beneficiaries

　　of projects that place art in public places. They have shown exceptional imagination in

　　applying the diverse forms of contemporary art to a wide variety of purposes. The

　　activities observed in a number of “pioneer” cities sponsoring art in public places—a

　　(5 ) broadening exploration of public sites, an increasing awareness among both sponsors

　　and the public of the varieties of contemporary artistic practice, and a growing public enthusiasm—are increasingly characteristic of cities across the country. With many

　　cities now undergoing renewed development, opportunities are continuously emerging

　　for the inclusion or art in new or renewed public environments, including buildings,

　　(10)plazas, parks, and transportation facilities. The result of these activities is a group of

　　artworks that reflect the diversity of contemporary art and the varying character and

　　goals of the sponsoring communities.

　　In sculpture, the projects range from a cartoonlike Mermaid in Miami Beach by

　　Roy Lichtenstein to a small forest planted in New York City by Alan Sonfist. The use

　　(15) of murals followed quickly upon the use of sculpture and has brought to public sites the

　　work of artists as different as the realist Thomas Hart Benton and the Pop artist Robert Rauschenberg. The specialized requirements of particular urban situations have further expanded the use of art in public places: in Memphis, sculptor Richard Hunt has created

　　a monument to Martin Luther King, Jr., who was slain there; in New York, Dan Flavin

　　(20) and Bill Brand have contributed neon and animation works to the enhancement of mass

　　transit facilities. And in numerous cities, art is being raised as a symbol of the

　　commitment to revitalize urban areas.

　　By continuing to sponsor projects involving a growing body of art in public places,

　　cities will certainly enlarge the situations in which the public encounters and grows

　　(25)familiar with the various forms of contemporary art. Indeed, cities are providing artists

　　with an opportunity to communicate with a new and broader audience. Artists are

　　recognizing the distinction between public and private spaces, and taking that into account

　　when executing their public commissions. They are working in new, often more durable

　　media, and on an unaccustomed scale.

　　40. What is the passage mainly about?

　　(A) The influence of art on urban architecture in United States cities

　　(B) The growth of public art in United States cities.

　　(C) The increase in public appreciation of art in the United States

　　(D) The differences between public art in Europe and the United States.

　　41. The word “exceptional” in line 2 is closest in meaning to

　　(A) remarkable (B) fearless (C) expert (D) visible

(实习编辑：武勐勐)