走进哈佛大学 第5期:哈佛自然历史博物馆

 　　The Harvard Museum of Natural History was established in 1998. While HMNH is a relatively¹ new institution, its roots and the collection of its parent museumsthe Museum of Comparative Zoology², the Harvard University Herbaria，and the Mineralogical and Geological Museumcan reach back to the 19th century. The collections in these museums are about 21 million specimen³. Only a small fraction are on display in the HMNH gallerles. The aim of establishing HMNH is to enhance public understanding and appreciation⁴ of the natural world and the human place in it, sparking curiosity and a spirit of discovery in people of all ages.

　　哈佛自然历史博物馆成立于1998年。虽然该博物馆是个相对比较新的机构，其 根源和母馆——比较动物学博物馆、哈佛大学植物标本馆、矿物和地理博物馆，可以 追溯到19世纪。母馆大约拥有2100万种标本，只有一小部分在自然博物馆的展览馆 展出。成立自然历史博物馆的目的在于加强和提高公众对自然界和人类世界的认识和 鉴赏能力，激发不同年龄的人的好奇心和探索精神。

　　With this aim in mind，the Museum has come up with many ideas to attract the public’s attention and interest. First, there are permanent exhibits and special exhibits. The permanent exhibits are on exhibition all year long and are held respectively in the Great Mammal Hall, Evolution, Arthropods: Creature and Rule, the Glass Flowers, the Zoological Galleries, and the Mineralogical and Geological Gallery. These exhibits are unique and cannot be found anywhere else in New England. The special exhibits present unique and diverse perspectives on the changing world: its past, present, and possible futures⁵. Therefore, the special exhibits will display different things with different themes at different times.

　　怀着这个目标，自然历史博物馆想出了很多吸引公众注意力和兴趣的方法。首 先，展览分为常设展和特别展。常设展全年都有，分别 在大型哺乳动物馆、自然演变馆、节肢动物馆、玻璃花馆、动物学馆、矿物和地质馆里举行。这些展品都是独一无 二的，在新英格兰的其他地方是找不到的。特别展主要 向人们展示这个不断变化的世界：其过去、现在和可能 的未来，以及与这些变换有关的各种各样的独特的观点。

　　所以，特别展会在不同时间展出不同主题的东西。

　　In addition to those exhibits, there are lectures and classes for both adults and kids. These lectures and classes are given and taught by renowned⁶ authors, Harvard faculty⁷, and other scientists. The purpose is to excite the public interest in natural history. Not only individuals are encouraged to come, but schools are encouraged to organize the students to visit the Museum. Therefore, the Museum has offered the opportunities for school children to visit the museum after school and to study at the museum.

　　除这些展品外，还有为大人和孩子开设的讲座和课 程。这些讲座和课程由知名作家、哈佛教授以及其他科 学家担任主讲，目的是激起公众对自然史的兴趣。博物 馆不仅鼓励个人来参观，还鼓励学校组织学生来参观。为此，博物馆为学生提供了放学后参观博物馆和在博物馆学习的机会。

　　What attract people most may be the Travel Program. Each year, the Museum will offer over 40 trips to all 7 continents, including special family programs. Such a program will give people a first-hand experience of the cultures and natural history of the world’s remote and beautiful areas. Such a program is not just for fun. These experiences are valuable to carry out the extensive educational programs mentioned above.

　　最吸引人的项目应该是旅游项目了。每年博物馆都会提供40次到七大洲旅游的 机会，其中包括特别家庭计划。该项目让人们可以直接经历世界上偏远而美丽地区的 文化和自然史。该项目不仅是为了好玩，这些经历对于上述广泛的教育项目的实施是 很有价值的。

 

1 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

2 zoology   

n.动物学，生态

参考例句：

• I would like to brush up my zoology.我想重新温习一下动物学。
• The library didn't stock zoology textbooks.这家图书馆没有动物学教科书。

3 specimen   

n.样本，标本

参考例句：

• You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
• This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。

4 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

5 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

6 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

7 faculty   

n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员

参考例句：

• He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
• He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。