Many people have the hobby of collecting things, e．g. stamps, postcards or antiques. In the 18th and 19th centuries, __1__ (wealth) people travelled and collected plants, historical objects and works of art. They kept their collection at home until it got too big __2__ until they died, and then it was given to a museum. The 80,000 objects collected by Sir Hans Sloane, for example, __3__ (form) the core collection of the British Museum __4__ opened in 1759.
The parts of a museum open to the public __5__ (call) galleries or rooms. Often, only a small part of a museum's collection __6__ (be) on display. Most of it is stored away or used for research.
Many museums are lively places and they attract a lot of visitors. As well as looking at exhibits, visitors can play with computer simulations (模拟) and imagine __7__ (they) living at a different time in history or __8__ (walk) through a rainforest. At the Jorvik Centre in York, the city's Viking settlement is recreated, and people experience the sights, sounds and smells of the old town. Historical __9__ (accurate) is important but so is entertainment. Museums must compete __10__ people's spare time and money with other amusements. Most museums also welcome school groups and arrange special activities for children.
