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.
There are several reasons why school uniforms are good idea. First of all, uniforms help the school look smart. The students feel that they belong to a particular group. When every pupil in the school wears the uniform, nobody (have) to worry about fashion(时尚). Everybody wears same style of clothes. Uniforms can be useful in unexpected ways, A school in Ireland has introduced an interesting new uniform. On the edge of the jacket, there is a piece of cloth gives off light in the dark. When the children are walking or (cycle) to school on dark mornings, car drivers can (easy) see them.
But can uniforms help improve school standards? The answer this question is not clear. One study in America found that students' grades (improve) a little after the school introduced uniforms. But some students didn't want (wear) the uniform. Other American studies showed no (connect) between uniforms and school performance.
School uniforms are (tradition) in Britain, but some schools are starting to get rid of them. Some very good schools don't have a uniform policy. However, uniforms are still popular. Pupils at about 90 percent of British secondary schools wear uniforms.
Earth Day, (mark)on 22 April, is an annual event aiming to raise public awareness about environmental protection. First celebrated 1970, the Day now includes events in more than 190 countries and regions (地区). No matter what you like to do, there is a way to get involved in various (activity) on Earth Day. You can plant a tree, make a meal with locally grown vegetables, or save power—the possibilities are endless.
On the first day of my first grade, I stood by the door with butterflies in my stomach. I (voice) my biggest concern to my mother. "How will I make friends?" She handed me advice. "Be yourself." For the past 20 years. I have lived by these words. Soon I will graduate and become part of the real world. Nervously (face) challenges. I know I will whisper to (I) the two simple words "Be yourself".
Does the name of the college you attend really matter? Research on the question (suggest) that, for most students, it doesn't. What students do at college seems to matter much more than they go. The students benefitting most from college are those are totally engaged (参与) in academic life. taking full advantage of the college's chances and resources (资源). Students should have a proper attitude towards college before thinking about which college to attend, and it's never too early to make necessary preparations for a healthy and (meaning) college experience.
On our way to the house，it was raining hard that we couldn't help wondering how long it would take （get）there. It was in the middle of Pearl City.
We were first greeted with the barking by a pack dogs, seven to be exact. They were well trained by their masters had great experience with caring for these animals. Our hosts shared many of their experiences and （recommend）wonderful places to eat, shop, and visit. For breakfast, we were able to eat papaya（木瓜）and other fruits from their trees in the backyard.
When they were free from work, they invited us to local events and let us know of an interesting （compete）to watch，together with the story behind it. They also shared with us many （tradition）stories about Hawaii that were （huge）popular with tourists. On the last day of our week-long stay，we （invite）to attend a private concert on a beautiful farm on the North Shore under the stars， （listen）to musicians and meeting interesting locals.
A 90-year-old has been awarded“Woman Of The Year”for （be）Britain's oldest full-time employee-still working 40 hours a week. Now Irene Astbury works from 9am to 5pm daily at the pet shop in Macclesfield， she opened with her late husband Les. Her years of hard work have （final）been acknowledged after a customer nominated（提名）her to be Cheshire's Woman Of The Year.
Picking up her "Lifetime Achievement" award，proud Irene （declare） she had no plans （retire） from her 36-year-old business. Irene said," I don't see any reason to give up work. I love coming here and seeing my family and all the friends I （make） over the years. I work not because I have to, because I want to.”
Granddaughter Gayle Parks，31-who works alongside her in the family business-said it remained unknown as to who nominated Irene for the award. She said，"We don't have any idea who put grandma forward. When we got a call （say）she was short-listed，we thought it was joke. But then we got an official letter and we were blown away. We are so proud of her. It's (wonder）."
The polar bear is found in the Arctic Circle and some big land masses as far south as Newfoundland. While they are rare north of 88°, there is evidence they range all the way across the Arctic, and as far south as James Bay in Canada. It is difficult to figure out a global population of polar bears as much of the range has been (poor) studied; however, biologists calculate that there are about 20,000-25,000 polar bears worldwide.
Modem methods tracking polar bear populations have been employed only since the mid-1980s, and are expensive (perform) consistently over a large area. In recent years some Inuit people in Nunayut (report) increases in bear sightings around human settlements, leading to a (believe) that populations are increasing. Scientists have responded by (note) that hungry bears may be congregating(聚集) around human settlements, leading to the illusion(错觉) that populations are (high) than they actually are. Of nineteen recognized polar bear subpopulations, three are declining, six (be) stable, one is increasing, and nine lack enough data.
