Back in the 15th century in Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! Despite their seemingly hopeless financial condition, two of them had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew very well that their father would not be able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
After many long discussions the two boys, Albert and Albrecht, finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and with his earnings, support his brother while the winner would attend the Academy. And, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the Academy, either with sales of his art work or, if necessary, also by labouring in the mines.
They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to the Academy. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and for the next four years financed his brother, whose works at the Academy were almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht’s etchings, his wood cuts and his oils were far better than most of his professors. And by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn a considerable sum for his commissioned works.
When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner at their lawn to celebrate Albrecht’s triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honoured position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled him to fulfil his ambition. His closing words were, “And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now, you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I’ll take care of you.”
All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, “No…..no…….no……no…….”
Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the face he loved, and then holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, “No brother I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look…. Look what 4 years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed atleast once and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that \I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother …… for me it is too late”
To pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother’s abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skywards. He called his powerful drawings simply ‘hands’, but more than 450 years later the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love, ‘The Praying hands’.
1. The Durers were
a) mine owners
b) land lords
c) very rich
d) poor
2. Albert and Albrecht dreamt of
a) pursuing art
b) studying at the university
c) becoming rich
d) getting on top
3. The brother who won the toss would
a) go to the Nuremberg Academy
b) work in the mines
c) stay at home to look after the family
d) become the artist.
4. They tossed the coin
a) on a Sunday morning after Church
b) on a Sunday morning before Church
c) on a Monday morning after Church
d) on Sunday mornings after Church
5. Albrecht's works at the Academy were
a) mediocre
b) highly appreciated
c) run of the mill
d) a cause of envy among his professors
6. The Durer family held a festive dinner ...
a) to celebrate Albert's sacrifice
b) to honour both their sons
c) to celebrate Albrecht's success
d) to celebrate the reunion
7. It was too late for Albert because
i) he lost interest in art
ii) he doubted his ability to match his brother's talent
iii) he had arthritis in his right hand
iv) he had delicate lines on his hand
8. Which word out of the following can best replace 'financed' in the text?
a) created
b) imagined
c) funded
d) aided
9. Which word out of the following can best replace 'parchment' in the text?
a) earth
b) paper
c) table
d) wall
10. The duration of the course at the Academy was...
a) two years
b) three years
c) four years
d) four years and internship

pls tell me the answer i will give u 100 points only for correct answers