©(Pannonhalma Archabbey via AP)
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- hermetically /hur-MET-ik-lee/
- exacerbate /ig-ZAS-er-beyt/
- venerable /VEN-er-uh-buhl/
- monastic /muh-NAS-tik/
- reverence /REV-er-uhns/
[adverb] – in a way that is completely sealed, especially against the entry or escape of air
The chef keeps the rare spices hermetically sealed to preserve their freshness.
[verb] – to make a problem or situation worse
The heavy rains exacerbated the city’s flooding problem last month.
[adjective] – highly respected and valued because of great age, history, or importance
The museum installed new security systems to protect its venerable collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts.
[adjective] – relating to monks, monasteries, or the religious life of monks
The museum preserves monastic artifacts from the medieval period.
[noun] – deep respect or admiration for someone or something
The students listened to the guest speaker with reverence, knowing his contributions to science.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
A massive preservation effort is currently underway at the Pannonhalma Archabbey, a 1,000-year-old Benedictine monastery located in northwestern Hungary. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the abbey is one of the country’s oldest religious and cultural institutions. During a routine cleaning, library workers discovered that thousands of books were infested with drugstore beetles, which typically feed on dried food but are also attracted to the adhesives in handbound books. About 100,000 books, equivalent to one-fourth of the monastery’s entire 400,000-volume archive, have been impacted by the infestation. The monastery, established in 996, houses Hungary’s earliest written records and rare manuscripts, including 19 codices and a 13th-century Bible. Experts fear that the damage could lead to the irrevocable loss of cultural and religious heritage, as some of the works are irreplaceable.
Restoration teams have implemented an intensive disinfection process to combat the infestation. The books are being packed into hermetically sealed plastic containers filled with nitrogen to eliminate oxygen, creating an environment where the beetles cannot survive. This procedure will continue for six weeks. Afterward, each book will undergo meticulous inspection and cleaning, with damaged volumes set aside for specialized restoration. The chief restorer suggested that rising temperatures caused by climate change may have exacerbated the problem by allowing the beetles to reproduce more frequently. This unprecedented situation has compelled the abbey to take urgent measures to safeguard its venerable collection, aligning with a monastic obligation to treat cultural property with the utmost reverence.
Restoration teams have implemented an intensive disinfection process to combat the infestation. The books are being packed into hermetically sealed plastic containers filled with nitrogen to eliminate oxygen, creating an environment where the beetles cannot survive. This procedure will continue for six weeks. Afterward, each book will undergo meticulous inspection and cleaning, with damaged volumes set aside for specialized restoration. The chief restorer suggested that rising temperatures caused by climate change may have exacerbated the problem by allowing the beetles to reproduce more frequently. This unprecedented situation has compelled the abbey to take urgent measures to safeguard its venerable collection, aligning with a monastic obligation to treat cultural property with the utmost reverence.
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever imagined working in a library or museum that protects old books or items? If yes, what kind of things would you like to protect or work with? If not, would you like to try it? Why or why not?
- Have you ever seen or read about people saving something from damage, like old books, paintings, or buildings? If yes, what did they do to protect it? If not, what do you think people should do to protect old things from being lost?
- Do you agree that climate change can cause new problems for historical places?
- Why do you think some people do not care much about preserving old books or cultural treasures?
- What could happen to a country’s history if important books and documents are lost forever?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe:
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- preservation
- institution
- archive
- infestation
- heritage