Listening to the text. Текстті тыңдау. Listen to the text (текстті тыңдау, аудару) The British Museum The name of the British Museum is known throughout the world. From the start it was a library and a museum in one, a repository of books, art treasures and natural history specimens covering different periods, countries and branches of learning. The British Museum was founded in 1753 when the President of the Royal Society Sir Hans Sloane bequeathed to the nation his private collection of 40 000 books, 3500 manuscripts, 200 000 natural history specimens and a collection of coins, medals, painting and antiquities. Now the British Museum’s collection of books is the richest collection in the world: it has 13 million volumes. The Museum’s present home was built between 1823 and 1850 in the Greek style. In addition the Royal Reading Room was built later in the centre of the British Museum. There are some 30 000 books on the open access in the Royal Reading Room. Typical readers are university professors, students, journalists, writers, and those who are interested in research. The British Museum is a national treasure house and the international museum. Work with the text in a group. Топпен жұмыс. Exercise 2. Answer the questions: 1. What is the British Museum famous for? 2. What are the functions of the British Museum? 3. When was the British Museum founded? 4. Who bequeathed his personal collection to the nation? 5. When was the Museum’s present home built? |