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Read the following article.

Ask most Canadians what their town owes them, and a local museum rarely tops the list. Yet for generations, councils across the country have quietly kept the doors of community museums and heritage collections open with public money. Money is tighter now, and that quiet arrangement has begun to draw scrutiny.

A few outspoken groups insist that funding display cases of old photographs and farm tools is a frill no municipality should pay for. Pressed to explain the position, Errol Vachon of a regional taxpayers league did not mince words. "Anyone curious about the past can scroll through digitized archives from their couch, so why are councils heating half-empty galleries and paying curators to dust off relics?

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1The article is mainly about
Awhat measurable value museums bring to a community.
Bwhy memberships and donations should replace public money.
Cwhether councils ought to keep funding local museums.
Dwhether museums have become too outdated to keep.
2The first part of the article provides
Aa list of the exhibits museums display.
Ba detailed example of one heritage collection.
Ca survey comparing museum visits with sports.
Dsome general context before the debate.
3Mr. Vachon compares a museum collection to
Aa shared inheritance open to every resident.
Ba ticket to a professional game.
Cdigitized archives people can scroll through.
Da privately funded historical society.
4Ms. Aucoin warns that continued cuts would most affect
Athe private sponsors who slip away.
Bthe curators who look after the collections.
Cthe enthusiasts who treasure the exhibits.
Dchildren whose families have never visited a gallery.
5According to Ms. Aucoin, steady municipal support acts as
Aa way of choosing which local history is saved.
Ba vote of confidence that reassures sponsors.
Ca substitute for memberships and gift-shop sales.
Da reason sponsors slip away.
6Mr. Vachon argues that public funding forces the average ratepayer to
Akeep heating half-empty galleries.
Bdecide which local history is worth saving.
Cfoot the bill for a few enthusiasts' pastime.
Dprop up a historical society they never visit.
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