At the Museum

CHAPTER 14

A T T H E M U S E U M

(Scene: A young student from Israel, Gad, meets with his art history professor at the museum).

Gad: I've always been fascinated by masks and masking ceremonies in cultures throughout the
world.

Professor: We can cover a lot of ground today by looking closely at this exhibition of traditional
African sculpture. I have wonderful things in store for you!

Gad: This is such a remarkable collection. The variety is amazing!

Professor: There are several thousand culture groups in Africa and hundreds of them have
masking traditions. Africa never runs out of surprises. The human imagination has no limit.

Gad: Have you ever discovered a rare mask on your trips to Africa?

Professor: Yes, but rarely have I ever come across a masterful carving. Of course, I keep my
    fingers crossed in hopes of a spectacular discovery for the museum. It's foolish to have one's
    heart set on finding a particular object. Still, I might run across a find. Very few old pieces
    remain. African traders regularly go through the villages and clean them out.

Gad: There are so many names, so many people groups.

Professor:Keep in mind, one doesn't become an expert overnight.After many years in the field,
I'm still humbled by what I don't know.

Gad: Are certain masks no longer carved?

Professor: Certainly. Bear in mind that traditions change. Masks are parts of dynamic, living
cultures. Ideas are shared; new influences undermine old beliefs. We must take pains not to
force romantic perceptions onto Africa.

Gad: Old stereotypes remain.

Professor: In subtle ways, yes! When people harp on Africans as "primitives," I say, give the
Africans a break! Africans have an extensive knowledge of their environment. They need it to
survive.

Gad: And the carvers, the artists, are they trained?

Professor: Under the watchful eye of master carvers for years they practice. Sadly, many a fine
artist can barely eke out a living carving. The traders make out better. They're often well off.
The artist must keep the wolf from the door.

Gad: What do you think of that mask?

Professor: It really rings true. Without question, it is old, used, and carved by a master. And he
didn't just carve something that struck his fancy. That form is classic for his culture.

Gad: Perhaps, I'll buy a mask.

Professor: Be on guard for fakes. Many traders artificially age a piece. Get it into your head to be
skeptical.

Gad: But what if I find a masterpiece?

Professor: Just lying around the store? Of course, some people act as if they were born yesterday.
Keep an eye out for fakes. Let's carry on, unless you're running out of steam?

Gad: Lead on, professor!

EXERCISES:

Exercise l: Select the meaning of the following idioms most appropriate to the above dialogue.
An answer key is at the end of the chapter.

1. Cover a lot of ground: (a) to run across fields, (b) to examine much material, (c) to put
covering over land

2. In store: (a) prepared to be shown, (b) in storage, (c) available to the public

3. Run out: (a) go out, (b) exercise, (c) to be exhausted

4. Come across: (a) drive over, (b) discover, (c) to cross a line

5. Keep one's fingers crossed: (a) to be tense, (b) to hope for good fortune, (c) to escape

6. Have one's heart set on something: (a) to intensely desire, (b) to feel one's heart, (c) to keep a
rhythmic beat.

7. Run across: (a) to exercise by running, (b) to step on something, (c) to find something by
chance

8. Clean out: (a) to empty out, (b) to improve the condition of something, (c) to discard

9. Keep in mind: (a) to look at, (b) to store something in memory, (c) to be conscious of
something

10. In the field: (a) in the subject area, (b) outdoors, (c) to gain by experience

11. Bear in mind: (a) to consider, (b) to disclose, (c) to hold

12. Take pains: (a) to be in discomfort, (b) to make an effort, (c) to endure punishment

13. Give someone a break: (a) to lessen pressure or criticism, (b) to snap in half, (c) to punch
someone

14. Eke out: (a) to cry out, (b) to exist by criminal activity, (c) to barely have enough to live on

15. Make out: (a) to decipher, (b) to benefit from, (c) to understand

16. Well off: (a) to be healthy, (b) to have left, (c) to be successful

17. Keep the wolf from the door: (a) to keep hunger away, (b) to keep animals away, (c) to shut
the door to danger

18. Ring true: (a) authentic, (b) sound good, (c) to have a nice tone

19. Strike one's fancy: (a) to make one laugh, (b) to hit someone, (c) to stimulate one's interest

20. On guard: (a) to be watchful, (b) to fight with swords, (c) to protect

21. Get something into one's head: (a) to teach someone who is stubborn, (b) to learn, (c) to
possess

22. Lie around: (a) to sleep, (b) to be inactive, (c) to be lazy

23. Born yesterday: (a) to be naive, (b) to be youg, (c) to be helpless

24. Keep an eye out: (a) to have vision problems, (b) to have eye strain, (c) to look for

25. Carry on: (a) to bring aboard, (b) to complain, (c) to continue

26. Run out of steam: (a) to get cold, (b) to have no heat, (c) to have no energy to continue

Exercise 2: Fill in the correct idiom from the above list. An answer key is at the end of this
chapter.

1. Mandy complains about not having enough money, but with the salary she makes,
she's actually ___________________.

2. Gertrude thought that she could finish the race, but halfway through, she began to ______
________________________.

3. After Kyung heard the news of the terrible accident, it took all his courage to persevere and
_________________ in his work.

4. Cap loves to go into antique shops for he never knows when he will __________________ a
rare painting.

5. After we heard of the burglaries in our neighborhood, we began to
______________________for any suspicious-looking individuals prowling about.

6. Robbie thought that her paintings would sell, but she was barely able to ________ a living.

7. Since the professor was behind his teaching schedule, he began to cram much material in the
final weeks of the semester so that he could _____________________________.

8. Sooyuk decided there were too many things __________________the house, so she decided
to tidy up the rooms.

9. I hope that you will be able to attend the conference. There are so many wonderful ideas and
presentations _______________for you.

10. I don't believe that man. He tried to sell me shares of the Brooklyn Bridge! Did he think that I
was ___________________?

11. Buy an extra quart of milk. With all the children staying over our house this weekend, I don't
want to _____________of it.

12. The speaker was most impressive but there was something about her that I didn't believe.
Something about her didn't _____________________.

13. As you walk through the crowds in the park, hold onto your handbags and wallets.
Pickpockets are supposed to be out so be ___your_____________.

14. Mubina has been working in the kitchen for six hours straight. I think you should _______her
_________________.

15. Yasuko is an excellent chief. She prepares the most delicious and delightful meal. I know of
no one who _______________to make dining as perfect as she does.

16 I never know what I'll find when walking through a flea market. I usually buy something.
Often , I purchase whatever _________my ______________.

17. She has ____________it _____________________that she wants to be a film star and
nothing seems to dissuade her.

18. I hope you find your old ring in the attic. Maybe you'll be lucky. Just ______your
_________________________.

19. I can't wait to eat dessert at mom's because nobody can bake an apple pie like she can. I really
have my _______________ on enjoying a big piece of her apple pie!

20. You are never too young to open up a savings account. A large savings account is an
excellent way to keep ________________________.

21. Dr. Marlene Masten is an outstanding pediatric neurologist. In fact, based upon her many
publications and reputation, I'd say that she the best ______________.

22. Home-ownership entails many additional responsibilities and costs. __________________,
that you will be expected by your neighbors to keep up the appearance of your home.

23. You never know what you'll meet an old friend. While waiting for a plane at the airport, I
_________________ Donna, my old high school sweetheart.

24. The concert was held in the park on the hottest day of the year. Ladislas sold cold drinks
from his portable stand and he really _____________very well.

25. Saturday is the day I've chosen to go upstairs into the attic and ____________all my old
stuff.

26. Don't assume that he will be as enthusiastic as you in investing in oil shares.
_______________, that he has much experience in speculation over the last twenty years.

Exercise 3: Use the following idioms in a spoken sentence of your own creation.

1. Cover a lot of ground: ______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. In store: _________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. Run out: _________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

4. Come across: _____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

5. Keep one's fingers crossed: __________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

6. To have one's heart set on something: __________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

7. Run across: ______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

8. Clean out: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

9. Keep in mind: _____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

10. In the field: _______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

11. Bear in mind: ______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

12. Take pains:________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

13. Give (someone) a break: _____________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

14. Eke out: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

15. Make out: ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

16. Well off: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

17. Keep the wolf from the door: _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

18. Ring true: ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

19. Strike (someone's ) fancy: ____________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

20. On guard: ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

21. Get something into (one's ) head: ______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

22. Lie around: _______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

23. Born yesterday: ____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

24. Keep an eye out: ___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

25. Carry on: _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

26. Running out of steam: _______________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 4: Examine the previous sentences and decide which of them would be more suitable for formal written expression through the use of synonyms. Rewrite those sentences using precise, appropriate synonyms.

Answers to exercise 1: 1 (b), 2, (a), 3 (c), 4 (b), 5 (b), 6 (a), 7 (c), 8 (a), 9 (c), 10 (a), 11 (a), 12 (b), 13 (a), 14 (c), 15 (b), 16 (c), 17 (a), 18 (a), 19 (c), 20 (a), 21 (a), 22 (b), 23 (a), 24 (c), 25 (c), 26 (c).

Answers to exercise 2:
    1. well off                                           14. give her a break
    2. run of out steam                           15. takes pains
    3. carry on                                         16. strikes my fancy
    4. come across                                17. gotten it into her head
    5. keep an eye out                           18. keep your fingers crossed
    6. eke out                                          19. heart set
    7. covers a lot of ground                  20. the wolf away from the door
    8. lying around                                  21. in the field
    9. in store                                          22. bear in mind
10. born yesterday                             23. ran across
11. run out                                           24. made out
12. ring true                                        25. clean out
13. on your guard                               26. Keep in mind

© Charles Bordogna 2002