听力原文： The British Museum originated in the private collections of Sir Hans Sloane, which he left to the nation on his death in 1753. He was a rich physician who devoted his whole life to collecting curiosities from all parts of the world. These curiosities, together with George the Second's library, were reopened to the public as the British Museum in 1759. Many valuable legacies, especially private libraries and collections of art, have been left to the Museum at different times.