A raid on France’s top museum that saw thieves flee with royal jewels has raised awkward questions about how well the country’s priceless cultural heritage is being protected. How could robbers with power tools break in and steal crowns, sapphire and emerald necklaces? The government said authorities had already begun reviewing security at the vast Paris venue before the heist. Labour unions there have complained that security staff positions have been cut.
The Louvre’s then director Pierre Rosenberg warned that the museum’s security was “fragile” after a painting by French master Camille Corot was stolen in broad daylight in 1998. Taking over in 2021, its current director Laurence des Cars asked the Paris police to conduct a security audit of the museum. Following this audit, recommendations were made “a few weeks, a few months ago”, said Culture Minister Rachida Dati after the raid. They “are beginning to be implemented”, she said, without elaborating. The culture ministry said in a statement that alarms linked to the windows of the Apollo Gallery went off when the thieves penetrated them in a “particularly fast and brutal break-in”.
Labour unions said the museum’s security had been undermined by staff reductions in recent years, even as museum attendance has soared. One union source, who asked not to be named, said the equivalent of 200 full-time posts had been cut at the museum over the past 15 years, out of a total workforce of nearly 2,000. The SUD union complained of “the destruction of security jobs” at the Louvre. “This robbery comes a few months after museum employees warned about security flaws,” said a deputy mayor of Paris, David Belliard. “Why were they ignored by the museum management and the ministry?”
In response to warnings about the state of the Louvre, France’s President Emmanuel Macron this year announced a colossal renovation project. Dati said the renovation project featured a new “security master plan”. The culture ministry said security measures would be “improved with new-generation cameras deployed”.
The Louvre was just the latest French museum to be targeted. Just last month thieves broke into the Natural History Museum in Paris at night and stole six kilos of gold nuggets. “Museums are increasingly targeted for the valuable works they hold,” the Central Office for the Fight against Trafficking in Cultural Property (OCBC) told AFP. According to the office’s figures, museum burglaries peaked at 31 in 2015, with nine recorded in 2023 and 21 in 2024.
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1.1. The word “heist” (Para. 1) is closest in meaning to ________.
A a security assessment
B a violent robbery
C a public demonstration
D a fire incident
解析：选B。1.B 词义猜测题。“heist”上文描述了窃贼携带皇家珠宝逃跑，且政府是在其发生前开始审查安保。因此，B项“一场暴力抢劫”是正确答案。A项“安全评估”、C项“公众示威”和D项“火灾事件”均与上下文描述的盗窃事件不符。故选B。
2.2. What can be inferred about Rachida Dati’s attitude from the passage?
A She considers the security issues exaggerated.
B She seems content with the current progress.
C She admits existing flaws while highlighting ongoing efforts.
D She assigns major blame to the former administration.
解析：选C。2.C 观点态度题。文化部长Dati确认基于审计的安保建议“正在开始实施”。这表明她承认存在安全问题，但同时强调解决措施已启动。C项准确概括了这一态度。A项“认为安全问题被夸大”与她的行动相悖；B项“对进展满意”在文中无依据；D项“归咎于前任政府”属于过度推断。故选C。
3.3. What can be inferred about the union’s stance?
A They advocate for additional staff cuts.
B They think technology can substitute staff.
C They link personnel reduction to security failures.
D They blame the theft on inefficient crowd control.
解析：选C。3.C 推理判断题。第三段提到博物馆安保“因人员削减而被削弱”，并用具体数据支撑。C项准确推断出工会将人员减少与安保漏洞关联的立场。A项与工会立场完全相反；B和D项均非文中工会强调的核心问题。故选C。
4.4. The author cites the burglary statistics primarily to ________.
A contrast security conditions among museums
B underscore the ongoing risk of museum thefts
C demonstrate the effectiveness of security measures
D stress the growing attendance at museums
解析：选B。4.B 推理判断题。文章末尾通过具体数据并引用官方观点，旨在说明博物馆盗窃是一个持续且严重的威胁，并非孤立事件。B项准确回答了此目的。A项“对比不同博物馆”并非数据目的；C项“证明安保措施有效”与数据仍处高位的事实相悖；D项“强调游客增长”偏离重点。故选B。
5.5. What is the passage mainly about?
A Major art theft incidents occurring in Europe.
B The increasing public interest in French museums.
C New policies on culture introduced by the French government.
D Security deficiencies revealed by a museum robbery.
解析：选D。5.D 主旨大意题。全文以卢浮宫劫案为引，深入探讨了其暴露出的系统性安保漏洞，包括历史预警、人员削减及普遍风险。D项准确概括了此核心。A项范围过大且偏离法国；B和C项仅为文中细节，不能涵盖主旨。故选D。
