Use of English 2

Kieron Williamson is a very successful landscape painter. His paintings, which mostly depict the peaceful countryside around his home village in eastern England, sell very well. Perhaps this shouldn’t (1 ________ ) as that much of a surprise. It’s a beautiful part of the world, and landscape paintings are always popular.

The strange thing about Kieron, however, (2 ______) that he is only seven years old. At a recent exhibition of his work, all the paintings were sold in half an hour, some for £100,000 each. Kieron now has fans all over the world, and has gained the nickname the ‘Mini-Monet’.

What’s even (3 _______) surprising is that Kieron doesn’t come from an artistic family,

and only started painting two years (4 ______).

He first got inspiration (5 ________) from some boats he saw on holiday at the seaside.

Kieron asked his parents if they (6 _______) buy him a sketch pad and pencils

(7 _______) that he could draw them.

Only when they saw (8 ________) well he drew did they realize that he was talented.