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Culture Corner
文化角
New Zealand Fact File
新西兰情况介绍
Government
政府
New Zealand has its own government, but it is also part of the British Commonwealth,
新西兰有它自己的政府，但仍属于英联邦的一部分，
and therefore the official head of state is Elizabeth Ⅱ, the Queen of England, Scotland and Wales.
所以其政府首领是伊丽莎白二世，英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士的女王。
New Zealand was the first country in the world to give the vote to women in 1893,
新西兰是世界上首个在1893年赋予女性选举权，
to have old age pensions and the eight-hour working day.
并提供养老金，以及规定8小时工作制的国家。
Geography
地理
New Zealand, in the South Pacific,
新西兰位于南太平洋，
consists of two large islands plus other smaller islands with an area of 270,000 sq km.
它包含了两个大岛和其它小岛，面积为270,000平方公里。
North Island has a warm climate and there is quite a lot of volcanic activity.
北部的岛气候很温暖，火山活动频繁。
South Island is cooler and has a higher rainfall.
南部的岛气候要凉爽些，降水量更大。
In the South Island, there are the Southern Alps with Mount Cook (3,754 m), the highest mountain in New Zealand.
在南部的岛，有南阿尔卑斯山和库克山（3,754米），这是新西兰最高的山。
Economy
经济
New Zealand has some industry but agriculture is more important
新西兰有一些工业，但是农业更重要
- there are 55 million sheep, 8 million cows and 1 million goats in New Zealand!
—在新西兰有5,500万只绵羊，800万头牛，和100万只山羊！
Wildlife
野生动植物
New Zealand was cut off from the rest of the land on Earth for 80 million years
新西兰与世上其它地区隔绝了8,000万年，
and has some unique animals and plants.
所以有一些独特的动植物。
For example, the kiwi (the symbol of New Zealand) is a large bird which cannot fly.
例如：几维鸟（新西兰的标志）是一种不能飞的大鸟。
