Culture makes one group of people different from another. Each society has its own ways of doing things and this makes each culture different and special.
The original (最早的) people of New Zealand are the Maori. They came to New Zealand from the Pacific in the 10th century. Today, about 15 percent of the population is Maori. Maori customs (习俗), language and culture are special to New Zealand and make up a large part of New Zealand culture.
Over the last two hundred years other people have come: first British people, then Chinese, Indians and Europeans. More recently, people from the Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Middle East have made New Zealand their home. All these people add to New Zealand culture.
What makes New Zealand different? Tourists come to New Zealand for the beautiful natural scenery (景色) and nature plays a very important part in the lives of New Zealanders. They like to go to the sea, go for walks in the forest, and go camping in the holidays. They are proud of their beautiful country.
When you think of New Zealand, what do you think of? You might think of sheep. It is true that there are far more sheep than people. Wherever you drive in the country, sooner or later you will see sheep. You might think of rugby. New Zealanders are known for their love of sports.
New Zealanders call themselves Kiwis. The kiwi, the kiwi national bird, can’t fly and only comes out at night. However, Kiwi people like to travel to other countries, probably because New Zealand is a long way from anywhere else. They also like to stay at home at night and go to bed early. Many visitors, especially from Asian countries, are surprised that there is so little night life in New Zealand.
Many things make up the culture of a country. These are some of the things that make New Zealand culture different and special.
34. When did the Maori come to New Zealand?
__________________35. What do tourists come to New Zealand for?
__________________36. What animals can you see in New Zealand?
__________________37. Why do Kiwi people like to travel to other countries?
__________________38. What is the passage mainly about?
__________________