剑桥10 谢振礼 雅思范文: 博馆收费
Cambridge English 10
IELTS Writing Task 2
Email ielts36toefl@hotmail.com
Topic:
Many museums charge for admission while others are free. Do you think the advantages of charging people for admission to museums outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Essay:
Many museums find themselves having to choose between charging people for admission and entrance-free. Most of them, however, try to find a balance between the two, usually through what is called variable pricing. Financially speaking, money is needed to keep the doors of museums open.
On the one side, there are typical arguments regarding why museums should be free. In general, museums are non-profit and tax-exempt institutions whose sole purpose is to provide an educational and cultural experience to visitors. In fact, some state-subsidized museums have never charged or have abandoned entrance-fees as a matter of government policy. That option is based on the assumption that museums should not be a privilege bestowed on those who can afford to pay for admission. So, it would be a huge benefit if people of all ages and walks of life could be given free access for cultural and educational opportunities, and open their eyes to admire treasures of mankind. Indeed, it can seen many famous museums around the world pride themselves on their traditional generosity.
On the other side, it is argued that museums should feel free to charge admission since every museum requires multiple sources of revenue to run the place. Particularly in times of economic austerity and fiscal cuts, charging for entry cannot be a taboo as if it were a terrible mistake or even a betrayal of humanity’s heritage. Evidence shows that admission fees (in terms of variable pricing) do not change people’s intentions to visit a museum worth visiting. Besides, if an audience is not interested or does not have the time, then “free” will not get them in the door. In other words, a decision to visit or not to visit a museum is more often a function of lifestyle than finances. Actually, for those people who are interested and have the time, a charge for entry might make them value the museum more.
In conclusion, charging entry is a far better policy to those museums which find it hard to make ends meet. Of course, it is up to each museum to strike a balance between charging or not charging people for admission. Whatever might be the advantages and the disadvantages of charging, museums should be kept alive!
