希尔伍德博物馆

四川蒋建平（特级教师）

希尔伍德博物馆是一座藏品丰富的博物馆，它收藏了世界上许多有名的艺术品。

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难词探意

1.ambassador/æm'bæsədə(r)/n.大使；使节

2.float/fləʊt/v.漂浮；漂流

Hidden from the noise of Washington,D.C.,Hillwood Museum is a special treasure.It contains one of the finest personal collections of Russian and French art in the world.

Hillwood Museum was once the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post.She was a rich businesswoman.She owned one of the largest food companies in the United States.She was also very interested in collecting beautiful French art and furniture.

She moved to Russia in the 1930s as her third husband,Joseph Davies,became the Americanambassadorin Moscow.Marjorie Merriweather Post had a love for Russian art as well.She bought the house in Washington in 1955 and she wanted to make it into a museum after her death.Many art experts helped Mrs Post create its fine collection.

Hillwood has many rooms which are filled with her treasures.Visitors can see beautiful music boxes from the eighteenth century and colorful paintings of European princesses.Experts say the ancient wood and gold furniture from France is some of the finest ever made.Visitors can even look at Mrs Post's jewels and clothes.

The museum also has several beautiful gardens.One is designed like the gardens in Japan.It has a bridge and visitors can watch flowersfloatingin the water.Flowers are also grown all the year in a special glass building or greenhouse.These flowers are placed in the house throughout the year.

After a walk,visitors can rest at a nearby eating place.They can also buy objects to remember this special museum.

Reading Check

1.What can we know about Marjorie Merriweather Post?

A.She lived near Hillwood Museum.

B.She was a successful businesswoman.

C.She owned a food company in France.

D.She was good at painting and designing.

2.Why did Marjorie Merriweather Post move to Russia?

A.Her husband had a job there.

B.She wanted to collect art works.

C.She liked the environment there.

D.She hoped to meet some art experts.

3.What is special about the museum's gardens?

A.There are some rock hills.

B.There are some restaurants.

C.Flowers are grown all the year.

D.They are all built in Japanese style.

Language Study

Useful expressions

be hidden from躲避……

make...into...把……变成……

move to迁移到

Cultural Background

玛荷丽

希尔伍德的女主人玛荷丽1887年3月15日出生于美国伊利诺伊州斯普林菲尔德市，作为家里的独生女，27岁那年继承了父亲的谷物帝国食品公司，总资产将近2.5亿美元，成为全美国最富有的人之一。除了她的财富令人惊叹之外，玛荷丽最令人感到惊讶的是她的收藏。她一生酷爱收藏珠宝、艺术品，特别是沙皇俄国时期的器具油画，以及18世纪、19世纪的法国艺术品。