高中三年级英语(人教版)全一册 Unit 3 Reading

　　THE FIRST AUSTRALIANS

　　Australia is a young nation on an ancient continent. The first Australians were the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. These peoples came to the continent at least fifty thousand years ago and created complex societies. Their culture was highly developed. Some Australian Aborigines still live in a similar way to their ancestors, while others live in cities, towns and the country in the same way as their fellow Australians.

　　A NATION PRISONERS?

　　In the seventeenth century, European explorers began arriving on the continent. Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch, and later British ships reached the north and west coasts and Tasmania. In 1770, Captain James Cook claimed the east coast of the continent for the British Crown. Later, when the American War of Independence made it impossible for England to send prisoners to North America, Australia was chosen as a new place where prisoners and criminals were sent. In 1788, the first fleet of 11 ships arrived in Australia. The British Governor landed on January 26, today known as Australia Day. Over the next 80 years, about 160,000 prisoners were sent to Australia. The newcomers changed the way land was managed and introduced new plants and animals that were harmful to the Australian ecosystems. As a consequence, the original Australians suffered. Many Aborigines and Islanders were moved and had their land taken away from them.