Many people have the hobby of collecting things, e.g. stamps, postcards or antiques. In the 18th and 19th centuries, (wealth) people travelled and collected plants, historical objects and works of art. They kept their collection at home until it got too big until they died, and then it was given to a museum. The 80,000 objects collected by Sir Hans Sloane, for example, (form) the core collection of the British Museum opened in 1759.
The parts of a museum open to the public (call) galleries or rooms. Often, only a small part of a museum's collection (be) on display. Most of it is stored away or used for research.
Many museums are lively places and they attract a lot of visitors. As well as looking at exhibits, visitors can play with computer simulations (模拟) and imagine (they) living at a different time in history or (walk)through a rainforest. At the Jorvik Centre in York, the city's Viking settlement is recreated, and people experience the sights, sounds and smells of the old town. Historical (accurate) is important but so is entertainment. Museums must compete people's spare time and money with other amusements. Most museums also welcome school groups and arrange special activities for children.
Some time after 10, 000 BC, people made the first real attempt to control the world they lived , through agriculture. Over thousands of years, they began to depend less on could be hunted or gathered from the wild, and more on animals they had raised and crops they had sown.
Farming produced more food per person hunting and gathering, so people were able to raise more children. And, as more children were born, more food (need). Agriculture gave people their first experience of the power of technology (change) lives.
By about 6000 BC, people (discover) the best crops to grow and animals to raise. Later, they learned to work with the (season), planting at the right time and, in dry areas, (make)use of annual floods to irrigate(灌溉)their fields.
This style of farming lasted for quite a long time. Then, with rise of science, changes began. New methods (mean) that fewer people worked in farming. In the last century or so, these changes have accelerated. New power machinery and artificial fertilizers(化肥)have now totally transformed a way of life that started in the Stone Age.
In ancient China lived an artist paintings were almost lifelike. The artist's reputation had made him proud. One day the emperor wanted to get his portrait (画像) done so he called all great artists to come and present their (fine) work, so that he could choose the best. The artist was sure he would. (choose), but when he presented his masterpiece to the emperor's chief minister, the old nan laughed. The wise old man told him to travel to the Li River～perhaps he could learn a little from the greatest artist in the world.
Filled with (curious), the artist packed his bags and left. he asked the villagers on the banks of the river where he could find the legendary (传奇的) artist, they smiled and (point) down the river. The next morning he hired a boat and set out (find) the well-known painter. As the small boat moved, (gentle) along the river he was left speechless by the mountains being silently reflected in the water. He passed milky white waterfalls and mountains in many shades of blue. And when he saw the mists rising from the river and the soft clouds. (surround) the mountain tops, he was reduced to tears. The artist was finally humbled (谦卑) by the greatest artist earth, Mother Nature.
China has become the first country to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon. The unmanned Chang'e-4 probe (探测器) - the name was inspired by an ancient Chinese moon goddess (touch) down last week in the South Pole-Aitken basin. Landing on the moon's far side is (extreme) challenging. Because the moon's body blocks direct radio communication with a probe, China first had to put a satellite in orbit above the moon in a spot it could send signals to the spacecraft and to Earth. The far side of the moon is of particular (interesting) to scientists because it has a lot of deep craters (环形山)， more so the familiar near side. Chinese researchers hope to use the instruments onboard Chang'e-4 (find) and study areas of the South Pole-Aitken basin. "This really excites scientists," Carle Pieters, a scientist at Brown University, says, "because it (mean) we have the chance to obtain information about how the moon (construct)" Data about the moon's composition, such as how ice and other treasures it contains, could help China decide whether (it) plans for a future lunar (月球的) base are practical.
Deorating with Plants, Fruits and Flowers for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a (celebrate) marking the end of the winter season and the beginning of spring. This is why decorating with plants, fruits and flowers (carry) special significance. They represent the earth (come) back to life and best wishes for new beginnings.
These are some of the most popular in many parts of the country:
Oranges: Orange trees are more decoration; they are a symbol of good fortune and wealth. They make great gifs and you see them many times (decorate) with red envelopes and messages of good fortune.
Bamboo: Chinese love their "Lucky Bamboo" plants and you will see them often in their homes and office. (certain) during the holiday period, this plant is a must. Bamboo plants are associated health, abundance and a happy home. They are easy (care) for and make great presents.
Branches of Plum Blossoms (梅花): The (beauty) long branches covered with pink-colored buds (蓓蕾) make fantastic decorations. The plum trees are first to flower even as the snow is melting(融化). They represent the promise of spring and a renewal of life.
