VOA标准英语2012--LA Museum Takes Visitors Outdoors to Showcase Nature

LA Museum Takes Visitors Outdoors to Showcase Nature

For some of these young students, it's their first time getting hands-on experience in a garden. 

Teacher Eva Eng says her students have been learning about plants in science class.

“Oh, they really like hand-on things, getting their hands in the mud, and planting seeds, watering them, watching them grow. And it's a wonderful experience," said Eng.

The scientists at the museum have come outdoors to describe plants and insects in their natural setting.

“They're pretty amazing looking things," said the scientist. "This one's a parasitic¹ wasp² with an egg-layer or ovipositor that's long than it's body....”

Part of this newly landscaped area, now home to butterflies and wasps³, was once a parking lot. Today, it's a natural laboratory.

Karen Wise, the museum's vice⁴ president for education and exhibits, says the scientists here study the impact of climate change on species around the world.

“And we do that here in LA as well, and now, we're opening up the whole museum, making it an indoor-outdoor experience, so that our visitors can be a part of that experience," said Wise.

Scientist Greg Pauly says one of the species found here, the Western pond turtle, is struggling to adapt to human intrusions on its environment.

“150 years ago, before there were very many people here, all of the streams were just seasonal⁵ streams," said Pauly. "And the Western pond turtle loved that habitat. And with people, we've changed the habitat. There's a lot more permanent water like this pond here.”

And he says this changing habitat is one of the reasons the numbers of this species are declining.

Some of the new construction includes a soaring glass atrium at the museum's North campus entrance, with a glass-lined pedestrian bridge leading into it. Architect Fabian Kremkus, a German immigrant, says the white steel arches of the walkway were inspired by whale bones.

“What I remember from my childhood visiting the Frisian Islands, that whaling captains would erect⁶, when they retired⁷, the biggest set of jawbones that they hunted," said Kremkus. "And so this is reminiscent of that and takes a cue from making a nice new entrance for the Natural History Museum.

Today, city children have little contact with nature, and the outdoor display will change that, says landscape designer Mia Lehrer.

“What does it mean to see what strawberry plants look like, that they don't come from a container in the store? And a tomato … children have been asked, where does ketchup⁸ come from? They don't know," said Lehrer.

Here, they're finding out.

Parts of the new outdoor campus are open now for limited use. It will open fully⁹ to the public in June of next year for the museum's 100-year anniversary celebration. 

1 parasitic   

adj.寄生的

参考例句：

• Will global warming mean the spread of tropical parasitic diseases?全球变暖是否意味着热带寄生虫病会蔓延呢？
• By definition,this way of life is parasitic.从其含义来说，这是种寄生虫的生活方式。

2 wasp   

n.黄蜂，蚂蜂

参考例句：

• A wasp stung me on the arm.黄蜂蜇了我的手臂。
• Through the glass we can see the wasp.透过玻璃我们可以看到黄蜂。

3 wasps   

黄蜂( wasp的名词复数 )； 胡蜂； 易动怒的人； 刻毒的人

参考例句：

• There's a wasps' nest in that old tree. 那棵老树上有一个黄蜂巢。
• We live in dread not only of unpleasant insects like spiders or wasps, but of quite harmless ones like moths. 我们不仅生活在对象蜘蛛或黄蜂这样的小虫的惧怕中，而且生活在对诸如飞蛾这样无害昆虫的惧怕中

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

6 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 ketchup   

n.蕃茄酱，蕃茄沙司

参考例句：

• There's a spot of ketchup on the tablecloth.桌布上有一点番茄酱的渍斑。
• Could I have some ketchup and napkins,please?请给我一些番茄酱和纸手巾？

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。