阅读理解。
We spent the next three days based in Paihia, in the famous
Bay of Islands. Although Paihia is only a town, it is a good base
for exploring the northern part of the Northland. We spent one day
in nearby Waitangi, visiting the site (地点) of the first European
settlements and signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, which created
New Zealand as it is today.
On the site, there is a fantastic museum which explains the
history of the country, as well as the relationship between the
European settlers and the native Maori tribes. There is also an
excellent example of a Maori waka, or carved canoe, in which the
original Maori tribes arrived in Aotearoa, or the Land of the Long
White Cloud.
It was a great introduction to New Zealand history and culture
and would give us a good basis for understanding the Maori culture
that we would meet with as we traveled through the country.
The weather wasn't fit to sailing through the blue, island-
dotted bay, so the next day we headed across the point to the
Kauri Coast and the Waipoa Kauri Forest to see the high Kauri
trees, one of the few places in the country where these big trees
that once covered the island still exist. Standing hundreds of feet
high, with girths that would take 20 men to circle, these
prehistoric(史前的) trees were used for everything from wakas to
homes. Most were cut down, and only a few still survive. The
trees in the forest are over 1 000 years old, and walking along the
paths deep into the bush to see them was like walking through land
where dinosaurs once walked.
On the way back, we stopped in several small villages and
towns, each of which seemed more Shire-like. We had almost
forgotten that this was Lord of The Rings land, but in the rolling
green hills of the central northland, we remembered that Bilbo
Baggins and company could have lived here, too.
1. Which may tell the main idea of the passage?
A. A fantastic museum.
B. Our trip to New Zealand.
C. The Kauri trees of New Zealand.
D. Our trip to the Bay of Islands.
2. _____ has made New Zealand today.
A. The Waitangi people
B. European settlements
C. The local people
D. The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
3. The second and third paragraphs mainly talk about ____.
A. a museum
B. Maori Waka
C. the Maori culture
D. New Zealand history
4. How did the author understand the Maori culture?
A. By reading a book about New Zealand culture.
B. By experiencing the Maori life.
C. By visiting the local villages.
D. By being introduced.
5. According to the passage, the underlined word " girths" in Paragraph 4 probably refers to ____.
A. the height of the tree
B. the length around the tree
C. the width of the tree
D. the length across the tree
