1 . Doubling as educational centers and conservation centers, museums play an important role in the protection of ________. Although these institutions ________ in size and specialty, the task of most museums is around the display and care of their collections.

Today, many museums are among the most visited ________ in the world. In order to figure out how this important cultural phenomenon came to be, it is ________ important to understand its origins and trace how its role has developed over time.

The word museum ________ from “mouseion”, the Greek term for “a holy place for the Muses”. In classical Greek mythology, the nine Muses are the goddesses of the arts and sciences, making them perfect protectors for these ________ institutions.

Earliest museums were private collections and were only accessible to a narrow circle of people. They displayed ________ and curious natural objects and works of art. Some of them even ________ “wonder rooms” or “cabinets of curiosities”.

In 1683, an Englishman named Elias Ashmole donated the contents of his wonder room to Oxford University, forming the ________ of the Ashmolean Museum. Believing that “the knowledge of Nature is very necessary to human life and health,” Ashmole wanted to ________ the public through his unprecedented (前所未有的) donation. Following his footsteps, many like-minded collectors across Europe shifted their focus from ________ use to public access in the late 17^th and 18^th centuries. During this time, world-class museums began to make their art collections accessible to the public. The opening of these institutions ________ a string of similar movements in the 19^th century.

Today, the importance of public institutions is stronger than ever before. ________ taking care of collections and making them accessible to the public, many museums are using new technologies to improve their public programs, ________ their collections, and share their research. With these modern methods, museums are able to ________ audiences in new ways and extend their tasks beyond their walls.

2 . Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one of the most famous and enduring children’s classics.

The book begins with young Alice catches sight of a small white figure, a rabbit dressed in a waistcoat and holding a pocket watch, murmuring (喃喃细语) to himself that he is late. She runs after the rabbit and follows it into a hole. After falling into the depths of the earth, she finds herself in a corridor full of doors. At the end of the corridor, there is a tiny door with tiny key through which Alice can see a beautiful garden that she is desperate to enter. She then sees a bottle labeled “Drink me”, which she does, and begins to shrink until she is small enough to fit through the door.

Unfortunately, she has left the key that fits the lock on a table, now well out of her reach. She then finds a cake labeled “Eat me”, which again she does, and is restored to her normal size. Disconcerted by this frustrating series of events, Alice begins to cry, and as she does, she shrinks and is washed away in her own tears.

This strange beginning leads to a series of progressively “curiouser and curiouser” events, which see Alice babysit a pig, take part in a tea party, and take part in a game of croquet (槌球). She meets some incredible characters. She also, famously, meets the Queen of Hearts who has a special liking for execution (处决).

The book reaches its climax (高潮) in the trial of the Knave of Hearts, who is charged with stealing the Queen’s pies. A good deal of nonsense evidence is given against the unfortunate man, and a letter is produced which only refers to events by pronouns. Alice, who by now has grown to a great size, support the Knave but the Queen demands her execution. As she is fighting off the Queen’s soldiers, Alice awakes, realizing she has been dreaming all along.

The book is brilliant for children, but with enough joy for life in it to please adults too.