【正确答案】The tradition which some countries have of free admission to state-owned museums is coming under increasing threat due to rising costs and limited funding. Despite these pressures, many museums in these countries are reluctant to introduce entrance fees. There are several advantages to allowing the public free access to museums. Firstly, whereas charging an entry fee means that a nation's heritage is only available to those who can afford it, free admission makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of income. As a result, museums, like public libraries, are treated as an extension of the state education system, which is based on the principle of equal opportunity for all. A further advantage is that free museums attract far more visitors because, although many people make a special trip to visit them, the number of people who visit them on impulse is also high. Free museums, therefore, reach a much wider public. Finally, while private museums may be influenced by commercial pressures, free museums do not suffer from the same constraints, which may mean they present their exhibitions in a more serious way. However, a policy of free admission to museums also has a number of disadvantages. First and foremost, museums whose income comes entirely from public funds may be more subject to government policy, which sometimes means that exhibitions are expected to reflect the government's views. Moreover, in spite of their popularity, museums have to compete for funding with the health service and the education system, both of which tend to receive higher priority. Consequently, museums that do not charge admission may not always be able to afford ambitious projects, or to buy new items to add to their collections. Lastly, though museum directors want to attract large numbers of visitors, free museums often become unpleasantly overcrowded, especially during holiday periods, which can discourage more serious visitors. In conclusion, I believe that children and students should have free admission to museums, while adults should pay a moderate entrance fee. In this way, museums would be able to raise sufficient money to maintain the quality of their collections and add to them, and, at the same time, fulfil a valuable role in educating the general public.

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