ABORIGINAL is a term used to describe the people and animals that lived in a place from the earliest known times or before Europeans arrived. Examples are the Maori in New Zealand, the Aborigines in Australia and the Indians in America. They all share the fact that they were pushed off their land by European settlers.

Maori

The Maori were the first people to go to New Zealand, about 1,000 years ago. They came from the islands of Polynesia in the Pacific. They brought dogs, rats and plants with them and settled mainly on the Northern Island. In 1769, Captain James Cook from Britain took possession of the Island and from that time British people started to settle. The Maori signed an agreement on land rights with these settlers, but in later years there were arguments and battles between them.

Aborigines

The native people of Australia came from somewhere in Asia more than 40,000 years ago. They lived by hunting and gathering. Their contact with British settlers began in 1788. By the 1940s almost all of them were mixed into Australian society as low-paid workers. Their rights were limited. In 1976 and 1993 the Australian Government passed laws that returned some land to the Aborigines and recognized their property rights.

American Indians

Long before the Europeans came to America in the 16th and 17th century, the American Indians, or Native Americans, lived there. It is believed that they came from Asia. Christopher Columbus mistook the land for India and so called the people there Indians. The white settlers and American Indians lived in peace at the beginning, but conflicts finally arose and led to the Indian Wars (1866-1890). After the wars, the Indians were driven to the west of the country. Not until 1924 did they gain the right to vote.

1.The similarity among Maoris, Aborigines and American Indians is that _________.

A．they lost their vote right after European settlers’ arrival

B．they lost their land after European settlers’ arrival

C．they were driven out of their country after European settlers’ arrival

D．they were not treated as citizens until recently

2.Before European settlers arrived, we can infer that the Aboriginals had lived _________ life.

A．a miserable        B．a bitter           C．a peaceful         D．a troublesome

3.Which of the following was first interrupted by the Europeans?

A．Maoris.           B．Aborigines.        C．American Indians.   D．Not mentioned.

4.The passage mainly tells us _______.

A．the war between aboriginal people and white settlers

B．the history of Maoris, Aborigines and American Indians

C．the present unfair treatment to aboriginal people of the world

D．European settlers were the enemy of all aboriginal people

 该句多一个词：把余的词用斜线（\）划掉，在该句右边横线上写出该词

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加的词。该句错一个词：在错的词下划一横线，在该句右边横线上写出改正后的词。

6. She kept me wait outside in the cold for half an hour.                    6.__________

7. It’s traditional of the Maori to attend the burial service when someone dies.  7.__________

8. This strange custom dates back from the 16^th century.                              8._________

9．Either you or the headmaster are to hand out the prizes to the gifted students. 9.__________

10.There were four people were ahead of me at the doctor’s.                 10.         

ABORIGINAL is a term used to describe the people and animals that lived in a place from the earliest known times or before Europeans arrived. Examples are the Maori in New Zealand, the Aborigines in Australia and the Indians in America. They all share the fact that they were pushed off their land by European settlers.
Maori
The Maori were the first people to go to New Zealand, about 1,000 years ago. They came from the islands of Polynesia in the Pacific. They brought dogs, rats and plants with them and settled mainly on the Northern Island. In 1769, Captain James Cook from Britain took possession of the Island and from that time British people started to settle. The Maori signed an agreement on land rights with these settlers, but in later years there were arguments and battles between them.
Aborigines
The native people of Australia came from somewhere in Asia more than 40,000 years ago. They lived by hunting and gathering. Their contact with British settlers began in 1788. By the 1940s almost all of them were mixed into Australian society as low-paid workers. Their rights were limited. In 1976 and 1993 the Australian Government passed laws that returned some land to the Aborigines and recognized their property rights.
American Indians
Long before the Europeans came to America in the 16th and 17th century, the American Indians, or Native Americans, lived there. It is believed that they came from Asia. Christopher Columbus mistook the land for India and so called the people there Indians. The white settlers and American Indians lived in peace at the beginning, but conflicts finally arose and led to the Indian Wars (1866-1890). After the wars, the Indians were driven to the west of the country. Not until 1924 did they gain the right to vote.
【小题1】The similarity among Maoris, Aborigines and American Indians is that _________.

New Zealand

What can you see?   Mountains, volcanoes, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, forests, beaches. Both islands are mountainous. In fact, only 30% of New Zealand is flat.

The Maoris

When the Maoris first arrived in New Zealand, they lived in villages and were excellent fishermen, hunters and farmers. About 50 years ago many Maoris started to live and work in the large cities and took jobs in government, industries, medicine and education. They are proud of their culture and are determined to keep many of the customs which are part of their way of life.

Who can you meet?  Most people live on North Island. Eighty-five percent of New Zealanders are “pakeha” (“white men”), which means their “great grandfathers” came from Europe. Ten percent are Maoris. The Maoris came to New Zealand from the Polynesian islands probably around the tenth century. The “pakeha” started to arrive in New Zealand from Europe about 200 years ago as farmers and traders.

Fact box: New Zealand

Position: South of the Equator ;  Nearest neighbor: Australia, 1600 km away.

Size: Two main islands — North Island and South Island: together they are 268.680 sq. km.

Population: 4 million

Capital: Wellington

Languages: English and Maori   

1.Which of the following is a fact about New Zealand?

A．20% of the population being Maoris.

B．Four million white people.

C．About 1600 km south of the Equator.

D．Nearly 1/3 of the country being plains.

2.The country’s population is mainly made up of  _________.

A．the white people and the Polynesians

B．the white people and the “pakeha”

C．the Maoris and the white people

D．the Maoris and the Polynesians

3.When did the white people begin to live in New Zealand?

A．1000 years ago.                        B．200 years ago.

C．85 years ago.                           D．50 years ago.

4.What do the Maoris value most in life?

A．Living in small villages.                    B．Developing farming skills.

C．Keeping their own culture.                D．Taking up government jobs.

New Zealand

1. Which of the following is a fact about New Zealand?

A. 20% of the population being Maoris.     B. Four million white people.

C. About 1600 km south of the Equator.     D. Nearly 1/3 of the country being plains(平原).

2. The country’s population is mainly made up of         .

A. the white people and the Polynesians      B. the white people and the “pakeha”

C. the Maoris and the white people          D. the Maoris and the Polynesians

3. When did the white people begin to live in New Zealand?

A. 1000 years ago.                         B. 200 years ago.

C. 85 years ago.                           D. 50 years ago.

4. What do the Maoris value most in life?

A. Living in small villages.                  B. Developing farming skills.

C. Keeping their own culture.                D. Taking up government jobs.