Musenms-A Modern Day Time Machines

Step into the past or look into the future

Mar.19

Author H.G. Wells wrote about a time machine that whisked its passengers backward and forward in time. Wouldn't it be great if we really could step into the past or future that easily? Time machines of course, don't exist, but museums serve the same sort of purpose. Some allow us to step back into the Prehistoric Age and learn about dinosaurs. Other museums give us an idea of what cities might look like in the far-off future.

Their Purpose And Importance

Traditionally, museums have been considered places that gather, preserve, study and display collections of interest. But if you've ever visited a museum, you know it does much more than that. The best museums educate, entertain and inspire us.

Who hasn't been filled with awe looking at a huge dinosaur skeleton or the very first space capsule? Museums hold a rich treasure—the living history of mankind.

Word Bank:

Whisk (v.) 迅速移動，突然帶走
Stan's aunt met us at the airport and quickly whisked us off to London.

Display (v.) 陳列，展出
Wendy displays her antique pottery in the living room where everyone can see it.

Skeleton (n.) 骨髏，骸骨
The lab students studied a skeleton to learn about human bones.

Mankind (n.) 人類
Professor Brown discussed some of the problems that face mankind.

Mar.20

The Ashmolean Museum became the world's first public natural history museum when it opened in 1683. It was there that the English word "museum" was used for the very first time. Visitors came to the museum in Oxford, England, to marvel at rare plants, rocks and preserved animals.

The British Museum of London opened in 1759. It was called "public", but in the beginning, only people from the upper class could enter.

Museums For Everyone

Today, nearly every city has a public museum. You'll find all kinds- art, science, history, space, music, sports, children's and many more. Depending on what you're interested in, you can probably find a museum devoted to that subject. And now you can do more than just observe some exhibits. You can interact with them. Activities might include learning to make fire like the earliest people or taking a simulated flight into outer space.

Adventure is waiting when you step into today's time machine—a museum!

Word Bank:

Observe (v.) 觀察
The back guard carefully observed a man who was acting strangely.

Exhibit (n.) 展示品
The history museum has a great new Asian exhibit. I really want to see it.

Interact (v.) 互動
They don't speak the same language, but the children interact well together.

Simulated (adj.) 模擬的
The computer game allows players to live in a simulated city of the future.

More Information

Prehistoric Age (n.) 史前時代
Space capsule (n.) 太空艙
Natural history (n.) 自然歷史
Upper class (n.) 上流社會

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