Listen this way 听力教程第三册-9

Unit 9 Romancing the Stone

Part I Getting ready

A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities throughout the world and more local ones exist in smaller cities, towns and even the countryside. The city with the largest number of museums is Mexico City with over 128 museums. According to the World Museum Community, there are more than 55,000 museums in 202 countries. Audioscript： 1. The Louvre

Paris is an ancient city, witness to revolution, celebration and war. At its center stands the Louvre, once a royal palace and now one of the world's greatest museums. The Louvre is home to the most

famous painting in human history -- The Mona Lisa. Her enigmatic smile is said to conceal many secrets. 2. The Vatican Museum

In the middle of Rome stands the Vatican, the epicenter of Catholicism. It is both a fortified city and a place the Pope calls home. (Gracias. Gracias.) It also houses one of the most famous museums in the world, full of timeless treasures, each one with a story to tell. Of all of these none are more famous than the Sistine Chapel. All who enter here gaze up at the luminous frescos of Michelangelo.

3. Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum

It's an eye-popping Canadian landmark, a national treasure chest and a place of mystery. This is the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the ROM. For every object on display, thousands more are hidden in backrooms far from public view. Enter the hall of Ancient Egypt, and the hair stand up on the back of your neck. You feel a presence of the ghosts. How did they live and how did they die? If only the mummies could speak. 4. Cairo's Egyptian Museum

Egypt, here the towering monuments of the Pharaohs stand silent amid the roar of a modern city. Cairo is the largest metropolis in Africa, home to more than 20 million people. But at its center is a refugee from urban chaos. This is the museum of Egyptian antiquities, the treasure chest of Asian civilization and one of the most spectacular museums in the world. Visitors flock here by the millions to gaze into the eyes of long dead Pharaohs and marvel at their dazzling sarcophagi of silver and gold. 5. London's Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum in London, England, it's a cathedral of nature housing over 70 million specimens. During the day, thousands of visitors tour the galleries. But at night, when they've all gone home, this place seems to come alive with unforgettable stories about where we came from and where we are going. The galleries and dark passage ways invite those who dare to venture behind the scenes. Take a closer look and discover secrets that are disturbing and sometimes brutal.

Part II \

Painting is a fascinating subject. Every time when you visit a museum, you will find something new even in the same painting.