单选题
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The National Trust in
Britain, together with similar voluntary organizations, plays an increasingly
important part in the preservation for public enjoyment of the best that is left
unspoiled of the British country side. Although the Trust has received practical
and moral support from the government, it is not a rich government, supported by
public taxes. It is a voluntary association of people who care for the unspoiled
countryside and the ancient sites to preserve them for the permanent enjoyment
of the public. It is a charity, which depends for its existence on voluntary
support from members of the public. It has 160,000 members in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland who pay a small subscription each year, and its primary duties
are to protect for the nation places of great natural beauty and places of
historical interest and preserve them from the dangers of modern development and
extinction.
The attention of the public was first drawn to the
dangers threatening the great old houses and castles of Britain by the late Lord
Lothian, who in 1935 said that, as a result of taxation and estate duty, most of
these ancient houses were under sentence of death
①. When he died he
left his great seventh century house and all its contents to the Trust Together
with 4,500-acre park and estate surrounding it. This gift attracted wide
publicity and it started the Trust's "Country House Scheme". Under the scheme,
with the cooperation of the government and thanks to the generosity of the
general public, the Trust has been able to save and make accessible to the
public about one hundred and fifty of these old houses, together with often very
valuable contents. Whenever possible, the Trust seeks to maintain continuity and
to preserve these as living realities rather than as dead museums. It is the
view of the Trust that the families who give them to the nation and whose
ancestors created them make the best possible curators.
In
addition to country houses and open spaces the Trust now owns some examples of
ancient wind and water mills, gardens, Roman antiquities, farms and small
villages, cultural parks, as well as complete villages. In these villages no one
is allowed to build, develop or disturb the old village environment and all
houses completely maintain their original sixteenth-century style. The public
definitely has free access to these areas and is only asked to respect the
peace, beauty and wildlife. The preservation was part of history of Britain, and
is now practiced by its organization, certainly will be carried on in the
future, therefore, those cultural and historical relics will exist forever as
long as people care for the environment in which they are living, both natural
and cultural
②.