GMAT考试:2011年GMAT考试阅读材料11(附答案)

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2011年GMAT考试阅读材料11

Archaeology as a profession faces two major problems. First， it is the poorest of the poor. Only paltry sums are available for excavating and even less is available for publishing the results and preserving the sites once excavated. Yet archaeologists deal with priceless objects every day. Second， there is the problem of illegal excavation， resulting in museum-quality pieces being sold to the highest bidder.

I would like to make an outrageous （exceeding the limits of what is usual） suggestion that would at one stroke （at one stroke： adv.一笔， 一举） provide funds for archaeology and reduce the amount of illegal digging. I would propose that scientific archeological expeditions and governmental authorities sell excavated artifacts on the open market. Such sales would provide substantial funds for the excavation and preservation of archaeological sites and the publication of results. At the same time， they would break the illegal excavator’s grip on the market， thereby decreasing the inducement to engage in illegal activities. You might object that professionals excavate to acquire knowledge， not money. Moreover， ancient artifacts are part of our global cultural heritage， which should be available for all to appreciate， not sold to the highest bidder. I agree. Sell nothing that has unique artistic merit or scientific value. But， you might reply everything that comes out of the ground has scientific value. Here we part company. Theoretically， you may be correct in claiming that every artifact has potential scientific value. Practically， you are wrong.

I refer to the thousands of pottery vessels and ancient lamps that are essentially duplicates of one another. In one small excavation in Cyprus， archaeologists recently uncovered 2，000 virtually indistinguishable small jugs in a single courtyard， Even precious royal seal impressions known as l’melekh handles have been found in abundance—more than 4，000 examples so far.