人教全日制普通高中英语（必修）高三UNIT3-3

 Australia was discovered about 53,000 years ago. It is possible that the first people crossed into Australia from Asia on a great land bridge when the water level of the oceans was lower. The first Australians are often called "Aborigines", which means "the first people of a country", but today many of them prefer to be known as Kooris. Kooris are among the oldest races of the world and they developed a strong system of society. Their spiritual faith and their gods were important to them, and their knowledge, customs and memories were handed down by the elders of the race. Cave paintings have been found which are at least 20,000 years old and are perhaps the oldest form of art yet discovered on earth.
 
       Kooris developed a way of life that was suitable for this hot and dry country. They invented different kinds of fishing nets, and also a curiously¹ shaped piece of wood for hunting, which could be thrown and would return to the thrower if it did not strike anything. The Kooris lived by hunting animals, birds and fish, and by gathering² roots, nuts and wild fruits. They became experienced³ at finding⁴ underground springs. As a consequence, the Kooris have been able to live for thousands of years in a desert land in which a foreigner would quickly die from lack of water and food.
 
       Koori culture and history were recorded in a collection of stories called the "Dreamtime" or the "Dreaming". Dreamtime is often said to mean "the time before time", or the point when all things were created. The stories explain where the land and the people come from and how the universe works⁵. According to the Dreamtime stories, all life on earth is part of a huge system that connects the present and the ancient past. While many of the legends are about beings and events that we today view as purely⁶ fictional⁷, the long record of cultural and natural history also provides scientists with important information. For example, some Dreamtime stories describe changes in climate, volcano⁸ eruptions⁹ and other natural events. The Dreamtime stories have also been of practical value to the Kooris. In addition to providing them with a shared history and culture, the legends contain information about how to survive in areas where there is very little water.
 
       No one knows how many Kooris lived in Australia, maybe between 300,000 and three million. Just over 200 years ago Kooris made up 100% of the population, but today they only make up a little over 1% of the population. Foreign settlers started to arrive in the eighteenth century, bringing with them new diseases¹⁰ which killed many Kooris and seizing the land on which the Kooris had lived for thousands of years. Kooris do not believe in owning possessions or land and they could not understand how settlers took land as their own. Whenever the Kooris defended their fights, they were killed.
 
       Education was intended for white settlers only, and until very recently no school lessons were held in languages other than English. Thus Koori children who were sent to school could not understand the lessons. Although the settlers generally treated each other well, they, particularly the police, treated the Kooris badly. A quarter of the people who have died in police stations and prisons have been Kooris.
 
       Two hundred years ago there were more than 250 Koori languages. Half of these languages have completely disappeared, and many of the remaining languages are endangered. Even though many of the Koori languages are no longer spoken as first languages, they are still an important part of Koori and Australian culture. Language experts and people who care about the languages do what they can to keep and even revive¹¹ the ancient languages. Some languages that once disappeared have been brought back to life, and there are now schools and TV stations that broadcast programmes in Koori languages.
 
       In 1960, the Kooris were made citizens of Australia, 53,000 years after arriving in the country. The long wait and the struggle for justice have left deep scars¹² in Australian society. In the last few decades, the Australian government and the Kooris have worked hard to improve the situation and make sure that all Australians are treated with the respect that they deserve¹³. Many important new laws have been passed and a special council¹⁴ was set up in 1991 to address issues of equality and rights. The country is now heading for a future where cultural diversity is appreciated and celebrated¹⁵. Working together as one people, Kooris and other Australians hope to heal¹⁶ the wounds of history and build a society where all members are truly equal.

1 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

4 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

5 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

6 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

7 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

8 volcano   

n.火山

参考例句：

• The volcano unexpectedly blew up early in the morning.火山一早突然爆发了。
• It is most risky to go and examine an active volcano.去探察活火山是非常危险的。

9 eruptions   

n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year. 今年火山爆发了好几次。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Over 200 people have been killed by volcanic eruptions. 火山喷发已导致200多人丧生。 来自辞典例句

10 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。

11 revive   

v.（使）复苏，（使）重振活力，恢复生机，复兴

参考例句：

• These flowers will revive in water.这些花在水中会再活。
• They managed to revive the injured driver with cardiac massage.他们通过心脏按压使受伤的司机苏醒了过来。

12 scars   

n.伤痕( scar的名词复数 )；精神上的创伤；有损外观的地方；裸岩

参考例句：

• Slowly the war scars faded. 战争的创伤慢慢地消失了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• I've got scars from head to toe in tribute to my courage. 为了嘉奖我的胆量，我得到浑身的伤疤。 来自辞典例句

13 deserve   

vt.应受，值得；vi. 应受报答，值得受赏

参考例句：

• You really deserve a good beating,you naughty boy.你这个调皮孩子真该打。
• I do not deserve all the praises bestowed upon me.我不配得到这些赞扬。

14 council   

n.理事会，委员会，议事机构

参考例句：

• The town council passed a law forbidding the distribution of handbills.市议会通过法律，禁止散发传单。
• The city council has declared for improving the public bus system.市议会宣布同意改进公共汽车系统。

15 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

16 heal   

v.使愈合，治愈，使康复；平息(争吵等)；消除，解决(分支等)

参考例句：

• Time helped heal the old wounds.时间有助于治愈旧创伤。
• This wound will soon heal if yon keep it clean.如果你保持伤口清洁，它很快就会痊愈。