The Maori (毛利人) arrived in New Zealand from Polynesian islands about a thousand years ago. They were the first people to live in New Zealand.

In the late 18th century, Europeans came to live in New Zealand. At that time, the population of the Maori was probably 250,000 in New Zealand. Over the next one hundred years, wars and illness killed many Maori people. By the end of the 19th century, there were only about 40,000 Maori people left. During this time, the Maori also lost much of their land to the Europeans. Many of them were afraid that they might lose their traditions and language too, but this did not happen.

Today the Maori population is increasing. There are about 500,00 Maori people in New Zealand. Most live like other New Zealanders, but they are keeping the Maori language and tradition alive. Now there are Maori radio and television stations. Many schools teach in the Maori language. Nearly one half of Maori language speakers are 25 years old or younger.

Maori culture is also alive. At the center of Maori culture is the “marae”. This is a special place for ceremonies and meetings. Today the number of marae in New Zealand is increasing. Many of the new marae are in the cities. Now people in the cities can meet and learn about their Maori traditions.

Today most New Zealand cities have Maori festivals every year. Among festival activities are competitions in speaking, dancing and singing. Children practice for months. Then all the Maori in the area arrive to watch the competitions and see who wins.

The Maori have gone through hard times. Today they live a comfortable, modern life. They keep their cultural traditions alive because they have passed and are passing them down to their children.

1.1. When did the Maori first get to New Zealand?

A About the 11th century.

B About the 13th century.

C About the 18th century.

D About the 21st century.

解析：选A。A.推理判断题。定位原文第 1 段 “about a thousand years ago”，结合当前时间（以题目隐含的 21 世纪为基准），一千年前约为 11 世纪，故选 A。

2.2. What happened to the Maori during the 19th century?

A They lost their traditions.

B They had more land.

C They had a smaller population.

D They left New Zealand.

解析：选C。C.细节理解题。定位原文第 2 段 “Over the next one hundred years（指代 18 世纪晚期至 19 世纪晚期）... wars and illness killed many Maori people. By the end of the 19th century, there were only about 40,000 Maori people left”，可见 19 世纪毛利人口大幅减少，故选 C；A 项与 “this did not happen（传统未失传）” 矛盾，B 项与 “lost much of their land” 矛盾，D 项 “离开新西兰” 无原文依据，均排除。

3.3. What do the Mario do to make their traditions and language alive? ①Move to the center of New Zealand. ②Set up Maori radio and TV stations. ③Teach in the Maori language in many schools. ④Have competitions in speaking, dancing and singing.

A ①②③

B ①②④

C ①③④

D ②③④

解析：选D。D.细节理解题。定位原文第 3 段 “there are Maori radio and television stations. Many schools teach in the Maori language”（对应②③），第 5 段 “competitions in speaking, dancing and singing”（对应④）；①“移居新西兰中部” 无原文提及，排除，故选 D。

4.4. What does the underlined word “them” in paragraph 6 refer to?

A Hard times.

B Modern lives.

C Cultural traditions.

D Their children.

解析：选C。C.推理判断题。定位原文第 6 段 “They keep their cultural traditions alive because they have passed and are passing them down to their children”，结合逻辑 “传承某物以保持其鲜活”，可知 “them” 指代前文的 “cultural traditions”，故选 C。

5.5. What can we learn about the Maori language?

A Only old people speak Maori today.

B English is as important as Maori at school.

C Government prevents Maori from learning the Maori language.

D Young people play an important role in the Maori language learning.

解析：选D。D.推理判断题。定位原文第 3 段 “Nearly one half of Maori language speakers are 25 years old or younger”，可见年轻人在毛利语使用中占比高，发挥重要作用，故选 D；A 项 “只有老年人说毛利语” 与原文矛盾，B 项 “英语与毛利语在学校同等重要” 无原文依据，C 项 “政府阻止学习毛利语” 与 “学校授课、媒体传播” 相悖，均排除。