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Smithsonian Museum 科学教育先锋：史密森博物馆

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

A baseball signed by the great Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron; the fossil remains of Tyrannosaurus Rex; a comprehensive collection of historic stamps and coins from around the world. For over 150 years, the Smithsonian Institution has made it its mission to collect, preserve and display important items from around the world.

一颗由名将贝比鲁斯及汉克阿伦亲笔签名的棒球；暴龙的化石标本；搜集完整的世界古邮票及古币。150多年来，史密森博物馆机构以收藏、保存并展示来自全球的稀世珍宝为使命。

Are birds and dinosaurs related? Is there life in outer space and would it be possible to live there in the future? Can man continue to coexist with animals and preserve their natural habitats for generations to come? For over 150 years, the Smithsonian has also made it its mission to answer questions such as these.

鸟类与恐龙是否有关？外层空间是否有生物，而人类未来是否可以居住外层空间？人类能否继续与其他动物共存并保存自然生态栖息地？150多年来，史密森博物馆也一直以回答诸如此类的问题为使命。

The Smithsonian is composed of 17 museums and the National Zoo – home to over 2,400 animals – in Washington, D.C. Two more museums are located in New York City. Each displays selected items from the Smithsonian’s collection of over 136 million objects. It helps educate the public about the past and allows great minds to push into the future. It acts as a living storybook about the world and beyond. Millions of people eagerly explore its museums each year and anxiously look forward to each new exhibit. However, more than anything, it is the first page in the Smithsonian’s history that has made it such a unique institution.

史密森博物馆位于华盛顿特区，含括17座博物馆及拥有2,400多种动物的国家动物园，另有两座博物馆位于纽约市。每座博物馆皆从史密森协会逾1.36亿件收藏品中挑选对象加以展示，帮助民众认识过去并引领精英份子探索未来。它就像是一本活生生的故事书，述说全世界甚至是外层空间的故事。每年有数百万渴望探索新知的民众前来参访，并引颈期盼每次的新展览。然而，史密森博物馆成立之初的过往经历使其变成如此特别的机构。

Vocabulary

单词发音

comprehensive [͵kɑmprɪˋhɛnsɪv] adj. 广泛的；无所不包的；综合的

institution [͵ɪnstəˋtjuʃən] n. 机构

habitat [ˋhæbə͵tæt] n. 栖息地

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单词发音

fossil [ˋfɑs!] n. 化石

remains [rɪˋmenz] n. 遗迹

Tyrannosaurus [tɪ͵rænəˋsɔrəs] n. 暴龙

historic [hɪsˋtɔrɪk] adj. 历史上有重大意义的

mission [ˋmɪʃən] n. 使命，任务

is composed of  由...组成

great mind  精英份子

exhibit  [ɪgˋzɪbɪt] n. 展示品，陈列品

课文讲解

When British scientist James Smithson passed away in 1829, he left his fortune to his only nephew. He stated, however, that should his nephew die without an heir, the fortune would go to the United States for the promotion of knowledge. As fate would have it, Smithson’s nephew dies six years later without an heir and his fortune – equal to over 9 million dollars in today’s currency – was shipped to the U.S. That money was used to create the Smithsonian Institution.

英国科学家詹姆士．史密森于1829年逝世时，将遗产留给唯一的侄子。但其遗嘱中声明，万一侄子死后并无继承人，则财产将捐给美国政府用来推广知识。彷佛命中注定，侄子在六年后过世时并无子嗣，而他的财产──折合现今币值约900多万美金──也被运到美国。美国政府便利用这笔资金成立了史密森协会。

From 1838 to 1842, the United States Exploring Expedition was busy collecting thousands of specimens, including more than 50,000 plants, shells, minerals, and birds. Curators at the Smithsonian Institution used these items for display and research in the Smithsonian’s first building, nicknamed “the Castle.”

1838年到1842年期间，美国国家探险队积极搜集了数以千计的标本，包括5万多种的植物、贝类、矿物及鸟类。史密森博物馆的馆方人员便将这些物品放置于该机构第一栋建筑，即别名为「城堡」的博物馆，供展览与研究之用。

Today, the Smithsonian has grown into a variety of museums highlighting everything from American to African history, the evolution of buildings and industries, and advances in space research and technology. The Smithsonian also funds several research centers, which have become magnets for researchers from all over the world. For people unable to participate directly, the Smithsonian Magazine offers the next best thing. It publishes in-depth looks at the Smithsonian’s new exhibits and groundbreaking discoveries. All of this was made possible by the dream of one man and the diligent work of those who ceaselessly seek knowledge.

如今，史密森博物馆已扩增成为各式各样的博物馆，强调的主题包括美国与非洲的历史、建筑与工业的演进及太空研究与科技的进展。该机构也赞助一些研究中心，吸引来自全球各地的研究人员。对于无法直接参与研究计划的民众，《史密森杂志》则提供了绝佳的替代管道。该杂志深入报导史密森博物馆新的展览内容及突破性发现。这一切之所以能实现，都应归功于科学家詹姆士．史密森的远见，以及那些不断追求新知者的努力。

−by J. Michael Cole

Vocabulary

单词发音

heir [ɛr] n. 继承人

expedition [͵ɛkspɪˋdɪʃən] n. 远征；探险; 远征队；探险队

specimen [ˋspɛsəmən] n. 样品，样本

highlight [ˋhaɪ͵laɪt] v. 使显著，使突出；强调

ceaselessly [ˋsislɪslɪ] adv. 不停地；持续地

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单词发音

curator [kjʊˋretɚ] n. 博物馆馆长; 管理者

research [rɪˋsɝtʃ] n.（学术）研究

nickname [ˋnɪk͵nem] v. 给……起绰号

a variety of 各种各样的

fund [fʌnd] v. 为〔活动﹑组织﹑事件等〕提供资金; 资助

magnet [ˋmægnɪt] n. 磁铁，磁石; 有吸引力的人[地方]

in-depth [ˈɪnˈdɛpθ] adj. 深入的；彻底的

groundbreaking  [ˋgraʊnd͵brekɪŋ] adj. 开创性的

Reading Questions

1.  In the first paragraph, comprehensive most closely means which of the following?

A.  understandable

B.  impressive

C.  extensive

D.  unlimited

2.  According to this article, what won’t you see at the Smithsonian?

A.  dinosaur fossils

B.  sports equipment

C.  comic books

D.  seashells

3.  According to the article, which of the following is NOT true?

A.  The US Exploring Expedition was too busy to collect thousands of specimens.

B.  The Smithsonian has over 98 million objects in its collection.

C.  Every year millions of people visit the many museums of the Smithsonian.

D.  The Smithsonian is not just a museum, for it also funds other research.

4.  What is the writer’s main purpose for writing this article?

A.  To describe some of the incredible exhibits at the Smithsonian.

B.  To clarify the history of the founding of the museum.

C.  To encourage people to go to the Smithsonian.

D.  To describe the history, current state and mission of the Smithsonian.

Answer