Tens of thousands of ancient pictures carved into the rocks at one of France’s most important tourist sites are being gradually destroyed. Scientists and researchers fear that the 36,000 drawings on rocks in Mont Bego in the French Alps are being damaged so rapidly that they will not survive for future generations.
The mountain believed to have once been a site for prayer is scattered with 4000-year-old drawings cut into bare rock. But as the popularity of the site increases, the pictures are being ruined by thoughtless graffiti.
Jean Clottes is the chairman of the International Committee on Rock Art. He says “People think that because the pictures have been there so long they will always continue to be there. But if the damage continues at this rate there will be nothing left in 50 years.”
He describes seeing tourists stamping on the drawings, wearing away the rock and clearness of the artwork as they do so. Some visitors he says even cut off parts to take home as souvenirs. Other researchers describe how people arrive carrying long sticks with sharp ends to scratch their own drawings, or even their names in the rocks.
But experts are divided over the best way to preserve the drawings. Henry de Lumley, director of the Museum of Natural History in Paris, believes that the only way to save the site is to turn the whole mountain into a “no-go” area, preventing the public from going there except on guided tours.
Clottes disagrees. “The measure suggested by Henry de Lumley is the most severe, and while it is the most effective, it is also certain to bring about protests from people who live there” he said. “The site was classified as a historic monument years ago by the Ministry of Culture and we must do as much as possible to save what is there.”
Annie Echassoux who also worked on researching the site is alarmed that as the mountain becomes easier to reach — tourists can now avoid the three-and-a-half-hour walk by hiring vehicles — the damage will increase rapidly. She thinks that the only solution is to rope off the area and provide guides. “You can’t say the plan can’t go ahead because there is no money ” she said. “That is not good enough. Money must be provided because the Ministry of Culture has classified this area as a historic site. If we don’t take steps, we will be responsible for losing the drawings for the next generation.”
1. Jean Clottes says that people who visit the mountain________.A.do not believe the drawings are old. | B.believe they are allowed to paint there |
C.assume the drawings will not disappear | D.think the drawings should be left alone |
A.taken bits of the rock home | B.helped to clean the drawings |
C.been unable to take photographs | D.misunderstood what the pictures mean |
A.protect public rights | B.ban traffic in the area |
C.set up research projects | D.keep out individual visitors |
A.Worried. | B.Supportive. | C.Disappointed. | D.Hesitant. |
A.advertise the closing of the site | B.encourage scientists to visit the site |
C.describe fears for the future of the site | D.warn visitors about the dangers of the site |
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【推荐1】FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS
Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.
Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.
A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.
The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water.In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.
When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow.
The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution.
1. In which year is the first temple moved?A.1959. | B.1961. | C.1960. | D.1980 |
A.Because they wanted to control floods and help economic development. |
B.Because they thought it not necessary to preserve everything from the past. |
C.Because the project could bring together governments and environmentalists from around the world. |
D.Because they could get help from the global community. |
A.They were rebuilt in other higher places. |
B.They were moved to places with no water. |
C.They were preserved in museums. |
D.They were taken down piece by piece and moved to other places where they would be safe from the water. |
A.2 years. | B.19 years. | C.20 years. | D.21 years. |
【推荐2】To dye (染色) clothes by machines is very common now. But in ancient times, the whole process was completed by hands. This skill is called tie-dye (扎染). It is said that tie-dyed clothes appeared in the Qin Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, tie-dyed clothes became very popular and the most beautiful ones were sent to the emperors as gifts.
Yang Cheng, a 52-year-old man, was well-known for his tie-dye skills. He started learning tie-dye in the 1980s. Later, he went to other countries to learn different ways of tie-dye, such as Japan, India and France. He has been studying tie-dye for 35 years and he wants more people to know it. At present, he teaches tie-dye in schools, communities and companies. More than 100, 000 people have learned from him.
Tie-dye is one of Chinese intangible cultural heritages (非物质文化遗产). It has become very popular among people, even children can do it for fun. Liu Mei is a teacher at a kindergarten. She teaches kids to dye scarves. They tie a white scarf together at first, then they put the scarf into the dye. After they finish, there are some amazing pictures on it.
Tie-dye is interesting and fun. Do you want to have a try?
1. Tie-dyed clothes appeared in the __________ Dynasty.A.Qin | B.Song | C.Tang | D.Ming |
A.France | B.India | C.Japan | D.America |
A.The gift. | B.The white scarf. |
C.The skill of tie-dye. | D.The kindergarten. |
A.Liu Mei works in a kindergarten. |
B.Yang Cheng learned tie-dye in the 1980s. |
C.Tie-dye is one of Chinese intangible cultural heritages. |
D.Tie-dyed clothes were sent to the emperors as gifts in the Ming Dynasty. |
【推荐3】The British Museum, in London, recently planned to make digital (数字的) copies of all the objects it keeps. The project to deal with about 8 million objects will take five years. The reason for this is that the museum said in August that about 2, 000 objects had been stolen or missing.
The museum is one of the busiest in the world. It holds objects such as the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Marbles — known as the Elgin Marbles — and ancient stones and jewelry (珠宝) .
The leader, or chair of the museum, is George Osborne. He recently told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of Parliament that he believed a person who worked at the museum was responsible. Osborne called it “an inside job by someone who the museum had put trust in.” He said the person took objects from the museum little by little.
The museum’s manager at the time was German art historian Hartwig Fischer. Fischer left the job in August after serving since 2016. He said he must be responsible for the thefts (盗窃) in the end. He added the museum did not react as it should have when concerns first came up that someone had been stealing.
The museum head said about 350 of the 2, 000 objects have been found and are in the process of being returned. Stolen objects included gold rings, earrings and other jewelry from the ancient Greek and Roman times.
The manager of the museum at present is Mark Jones. He said the museum is confident “that a theft of this kind can never happen again.” Jones added that one way to improve the museum’s safety is to show more objects to the public instead of, as he said, “simply locking objects away.”
In September, the museum asked for help in finding the missing objects. The organization offered a phone number for people to call if they had information.
1. Who stole the objects according to George Osborne?A.A visitor. | B.An artist. | C.An art dealer. | D.A museum worker. |
A.He shouldn’t have trusted any worker. | B.He didn’t deal with the stealing in time. |
C.He did not notice objects were missing. | D.He shouldn’t have shown valuable objects. |
A.Lock their objects away. | B.Call on the public to help. |
C.Make more objects known. | D.Keep visitors away from objects. |
A.British Museum Will Make Its Objects Digital |
B.Art Lovers Will Soon Visit British Museum Online |
C.Digital Collections of World-Famous Museum Were Stolen |
D.Stolen Objects Are Being Returned to British Museum |
【推荐1】I can’t leave my house because there’s 45 cm of snow on the ground, I’ve had some time to think about my running goals for the coming year. Setting running goals is a great way to stay motivated to run, and the start of a new year is the perfect time to think about what you want to achieve. Here are some tips for setting reasonable goals:
Choose practical goals. Never set a goal that you can’t achieve. For example, you’re not going to cover 5 km in 25 minutes with your best personal record being 35 minutes. Your chances of achieving your goals will be much better if they’re practical.
Don’t take on too much. If you have too many goals, you’ll burn yourself out and may not achieve any of them, leaving you feeling disappointed and unsuccessful. Instead, just focus on a few key goals and the steps you need to take to reach them.
Set small, easy goals. If you have a great goal, make sure that you have small, easy goals along the way, so that they can help you make progress and prevent you from getting frustrated. If your goal is to complete a 10K, first try to run a 3K or 5K, and then 8K every time. An added advantage of setting these small, easy goals is that even if you don’t meet your final goal at last, you’ll still achieve other success along the way.
Pick some fun goals, too. Not all your running goals have to be performance-related. Come up with some creative goals, such as running a race on a holiday, running a race for charity, reading a book about running, and making some new friends while running. Non-performance related goals can keep you from feeling unsuccessful even if you give up some of your other goals.
1. Why does the author present this passage?A.To give advice on setting running goals. |
B.To inform readers of the tips of running. |
C.To follow some ways of keeping healthy. |
D.To voice subjective opinions on running. |
A.To show we shouldn’t choose unrealistic goals. |
B.To prove we can’t run 5K meters in 20 minutes. |
C.To introduce hard goals lead to better results. |
D.To explain running long is bad for our health. |
A.By reasoning. | B.By listing. | C.By arguing. | D.By classifying. |
A.More difficult goals will lead to more improvement. |
B.The degree of success relies on the amount of goals. |
C.Small, easy goals would make us sense successful. |
D.Non-performance-related goals lower running plans. |
【推荐2】The warm months have arrived, bringing with them longer days and the promise of new family memories to be made. Centrally located and naturally beautiful, Arkansas is the ideal location for all types of families. As you begin planning your next family adventure, keep these top destinations in mind:
Blanchard Springs Caverns: Located in northern Arkansas’ Ozark National Forest, Blanchard Springs Caverns is a living cave constantly growing and changing. This attraction features beautiful views of the cave’s formations, an underground river and the world’s largest flowstone. With a year-round temperature of 58 degrees, it’s a great place to explore during hot weather season. |
Garvan Woodland Gardens & Treehouse: Sitting in southwest Arkansas, the attractive botanical (植物学的) gardens represent Arkansas at its best. Garvan Woodland Gardens provides an unforgettable escape to the paradise. The gardens also feature an engaging Children’s Adventure Garden, including a uniquely modern treehouse designed to teach children about nature through engaging and interactive exhibits. |
Johnny Cash Boyhood Home: Fans of American music icon Johnny Cash are invited to explore the 11-mile stretch of music greatness on Highway 67 in eastern Arkansas where Cash and other artists such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis started their careers. Visitors will also have the chance to see Cash’s restored childhood home in Dyess, which was featured in the film Walk the Line. |
Crater (火山口) of Diamonds State Park: Located in Murfreesboro, Crater of Diamonds State Park is the world’s only diamond-producing site open to the public. Visitors get a true experience — the adventure of hunting for real diamonds in the park’s 37-acre field that is the surface of the world’s eighth largest diamond-bearing volcanic crater. The park also includes five walk-in tent sites with free Wi-Fi, a gift shop, and a play pool for visitors of all ages. |
A.Escape from the paradise. | B.Purchase some exhibits. |
C.Do some nature exploration. | D.Tour a traditional treehouse. |
A.Blanchard Springs Caverns. | B.Johnny Cash Boyhood Home. |
C.Crater of Diamonds State Park. | D.Garvan Woodland Gardens & Treehouse. |
A.provide some travel tips for children | B.list the locations of some tourist spots |
C.explain the benefits of family adventure | D.recommend tourist destinations for families |
【推荐3】Student loan (贷款) debt has become a worldwide problem. In America, the country's overall student debt reached a record of $1.6 trillion in 2019. The average person with student loan debt owed between $20,000 and $25,000. A recent Japanese government report says it has been lending over $9 billion yearly to students since 2010. Similar conditions exist in Africa and South America.
Several factors account for high student loan debt. One is that employers everywhere have increased their demands for skilled workers, making higher education a requirement for many jobs. The students, however, after graduation, often find that their country's economy is not strong enough to support their financial needs, so their ability to pay back the loan becomes a problem.
To solve the problem, many countries are seeking their ways. Australia has developed a system where students do not have to pay anything back until they are earning at least $40,000 a year. In America, several candidates running for president in the 2020 election have offered more extreme solutions that all or at least some of these loans will be forgiven.
Some professors in several universities recently studied what the effects of debt forgiveness might be. They found that, overall, sudden debt relief greatly improved the borrowers' lives. Not only did they have more money, but they were more likely to move to a new area and seek better paying work.
Yet the professors' research doesn’t include what might happen to financial institutions or the overall economy if debt were totally forgiven. It only looks at how debt forgiveness would help the borrowers. They warn of some other possible negative effects. If a borrower knew that if he ran into any trouble he would be saved because he could get the debt relief, then he might actually become more reckless (轻率的) with his borrowing in the future.
No matter what, the professors agree that if countries do decide to approve some student debt relief the neediest students should be helped first.
1. What can we learn about student loan debt relief?A.It will surely provide some benefits to borrowers. |
B.It has already been carried out in the United States. |
C.It aims to encourage more students to borrow money. |
D.It will prevent a person from landing a well-paying job. |
A.Uncaring | B.Positive | C.Disapproving | D.Cautious |
A.Student loan debt is the most serious problem worldwide. |
B.Growing global student debt fuels search for solutions. |
C.Student loan debt tends to pull the needy out of trouble. |
D.People hold different opinions on debt forgiveness. |