Ever thought you’d get to experience the smell of ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra’s hair, or the scent(气味)of the sun?Visitors to the Reg Vardy Gallery will soon be able to do just that.
The gallery, at Sunderland University, England, is holding a new exhibition “If There Ever Was”.It focuses on scent rather than sight.
The innovative(创新的)idea is the brainchild of curator(馆长)Robert Blackson.His inspiration came from reading the book Fast Food Nation.The book discussed the use of artificial chemicals to flavor things such as milkshakes, making them smell and taste like strawberries, when they’re not actually made from them.
A smell can often conjure up(召唤)memories such as school dinners or a childhood holiday by the sea, but the smells on display, will allow visitors to experience smells their noses won’t have been able to pick out before.
“There’s a whole variety of different smells, including some extinct flowers,” explains Blackson.“Some have been gone for hundreds of years.”
One extraordinary fragrance(香气)is the aftermath(灾难的后果)of the first atomic bomb, dropped on Japan on August 6,1945.
There is also the smell of Clepatra’s hair, based on incense(熏香)that was popular among ancient Egyptians.
The Soviet Mir space station, which burnt up in the atmosphere in 2001, smells of charred(烧焦的)material(the space station caught fire).
Among the stranger smells is the “surface of the sun”.
“It is hard to sum up.It is an atmospheric smell, like walking into a room when the sun has been pouring in” says Blackson.“It gives a freshness, a sun kissed feel with a bit of metal.If you can say something smells hot, this is it.”
A team of 11, including perfume designers, have been working on recreating the smells for the exhibition.James Wong, a botanist(植物学家)at Botanic Gardens Conservation International, UK, helped in the recreation of the smells of four extinct flowering plants.
He did this by closely linking the extinct flowers with the smells of existing ones.With the help of historical reports of how the extinct flowers smelled, he was able to remix the aromas(芳香).
The exhibition runs until June 6.Fourteen extinct and impossible smells are on display.
(1)
What might be the best title of the passage?
[ ]
A.
The Reg Vardy Gallery
B.
Egyptian queen Cleopatra’s hair
C.
A visit to a new exhibition
D.
The scents of ancient Egypt
(2)
Visitors can enjoy all of the following scents at the Reg Vardy Gallery EXCEPT.
[ ]
A.
the scent of ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra’s hair
B.
the smells of charred material of the Soviet Mir space station
C.
the scent of having a childhood vacation by the sea
D.
the smell of the aftermath of the first atomic bomb dropped on Japan
(3)
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Visitors go to Reg Vardy Gallery to enjoy beautiful sights.
B.
James Wong managed to remix the aromas by referring to some historical reports.
C.
The exhibition will last until July 6.
D.
The scents visitors will smell are found in the tomb(坟墓)of the ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra.
(4)
In which session are you likely to read the passage in a newspaper?
The China National Opera(CNO)will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias of such Western opera classics as “Madame Butterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 7, 8
Location:Tianqiao Theatre
Tel:6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets:60-500 yuan(US $7.2-60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works.
The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood ”, “Memorial Ceremony for God ”and “Wine Song”.
Time/date:7∶30pm, September 13
Location:Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel:6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets:30-200 yuan(US$3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year.
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centred on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River.”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 21st
Location:Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel:6606-8888, 6606-9999
(1)
If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”, you will dial _________.
[ ]
A.
6551-4787
B.
6848-5462
C.
8315-6170
D.
6606-9999
(2)
Which statement is right according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei stand for the same generation of CNO vocalists.
B.
“Rigoletto” is a famous piece on the theme of the moon.
C.
“Lofty Mountain and Flowing River” is a traditional Chinese music.
D.
Zhou Yaokun will play solos and Fan Weiqing will collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
(3)
“Madame Butterfly” is ________.
[ ]
A.
a Chinese opera
B.
a Western opera
C.
a piece of music
D.
a song
(4)
In which column of a newspaper will the article be published?