Question

There is a photo of Andres Valencia when he was in fifth grade. He was standing next to a painting of a clown. The clown's face is made up of different shapes. There are mismatched eyes and puffy lips that look like a pinwheel. Red hair extends from the clown's oversized head. Was Valencia in a fun house? No. He was at a professional art show showing his art. Now 12, Valencia is a well-known artist. And he is using his skills to uplift others.

Getting His Start

Valencia's paintings pop with color and different shapes. Some say that they look like the works of Picasso. He was a famous artist who also used colors and shapes in bold ways. This has led some people to call Valencia "little Picasso."

Valencia began painting around age 5. At first, he sold his paintings to family and friends. One of these friends is an art gallery owner. The friend recognized Valencia's skill. He suggested that the young artist show his paintings to the public.

No Rules

In 2021, Valencia got a spot in a well-known art show in Florida. He was 10 years old. At first, the event's organizer was unsure about letting Valencia take part. Would people like art created by someone so young? Valencia understands that some people have trouble getting past his age. "If you see a kid doing sketches on paper…a lot of people think that those drawings should not be put in a gallery," he told the New York Times. "Sometimes older people just don't get it."

But many did get it. Soon, calls for Valencia's paintings began pouring in. He even received a request from a member of BTS. In 2022, Valencia staged his first solo art show. He called the show No Rules. That's because he wanted the world to see that great art can be created by anyone. It doesn't matter how old they are.

Painting with a Purpose

Valencia is doing more than making great art, though. He is also using his talent to help others. In March 2022, he created a special painting after hearing about the war in Ukraine. Prints of the painting were sold to raise funds to aid Ukrainian youth. The painting shows a Russian soldier pushing down a group of people. There is also a Ukrainian flag. It is covered in teardrops with a pink heart near its center.

"I think that art tells stories," Valencia said. "And I am telling the story of the Ukrainian people."

What does Valencia plan to do next? One goal is very clear: "I want to do this for the rest of my life."

Suppose you were writing a summary of the article. Which of these would be most important to put in the summary?

A. Andres Valencia showed his art in a Florida art show.
B. Andres Valencia is making great art and helping others.
C. Andres Valencia made a painting for a member of BTS.
D. Andres Valencia painted a clown with a big head.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

B. Andres Valencia is making great art and helping others.

Answer 2

Think about the article. Which of these must have happened first?

A. Valencia created a painting about the war to help Ukrainian youth.
B. Valencia began painting and sold his work to family and friends.
C. Valencia was asked to take a spot in his first art show.
D. Valencia hosted his first solo art show titled No Rules.

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

B. Valencia began painting and sold his work to family and friends.

Answer 4

Which is the closest antonym for the word aid, as it is used in the article?

A. harm
B. save
C. teach
D. call

Answer 5

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

A. harm

Answer 6

Maya wants to read more about how to become an artist. Maya would find most of the information __________.

A. in a book about art schools
B. on a map of cities with galleries
C. on a website for a paint store
D. in a book about buying art

Answer 7

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

A. in a book about art schools

Answer 8

According to the article, why did Andres Valencia hold his own art show?

A. To show that anyone can create great works of art at any age
B. To prove that young people without training are the best artists
C. To show that every artist can create works of art for famous people
D. To prove that painters who use bold colors have the most skill

Answer 9

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

A. To show that anyone can create great works of art at any age

Answer 10

Think about the article. Which is most likely to happen next?

A. Andres Valencia will keep painting to help others.
B. Andres Valencia will stop making new paintings.
C. Andres Valencia will only make paintings of clowns.
D. Andres Valencia will only paint in black and white.

Answer 11

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

A. Andres Valencia will keep painting to help others.