The famous scientist and thinker, Charles Darwin, was born on February 12, 1809 in England. As a boy，Charles liked to go for walks in the fields and forests. He enjoyed watching nature，and comparing what he saw with everything he had read in science books. He also liked collecting very much. He collected many things: birds，eggs，stones and leaves.

At sixteen Darwin was sent to Edinburgh University to become a doctor. But he was interested in the history of nature.

Then he was sent to study in Cambridge University. There he studied until 1831.

Some time later he heard that the ship Beagle was going on a trip to South America and wanted a scientist. His teacher advised him to go. So when the Beagle left England in December, 1831, Darwin was on it.

The trip lasted almost five years. Darwin saw many new plants and animals. He collected all kinds of plants.

In 1842 Darwin went to live in Kent，and there he continued his studies of change in nature. Darwin understood that plants and animals are not always the same，and that they really change.

By 1859 Darwin had finished his famous book The Origin of Species.

In 1871 Darwin wrote ano ther important book The Theory of Evolution.

Darwin continued his studies in science until he died in 1882.

    Ancient China produced many types of beautiful works of art. Among them，calligraphy(书法)，poetry(诗歌)and painting were the most famous. Often they would be put together in art. These became important starting with the Song dynasty.

Calligraphy is the art of handwriting. In the old times the Chinese considered writing as an important form of art. Calligraphers(书法家)would practice for years to learn to write perfectly，but with style. Each of over 40,000 characters needed to be written correctly. And each stroke(笔画)in a character had to be written in a certain order.

Poetry was also an important form of art. Great poets were famous all over the country，but all educated people were expected to write poetry. During the Tang dynasty poetry was so important that writing poetry was part of the examinations to become a civil servant (文官)and work for the government.

    Chinese painting was often connected with calligraphy. It is one of the oldest artistic traditions in the world. The most traditional way of Chinese painting is known as "national "or" native painting(国画)", which is quite different from Western painting. People can draw mountains, homes, birds, trees and water on it.

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