Prime Time 4, Coursebook

Maori culture “The Wanderers” by Edith Howes a) Read the beginning of the story. Somewhere far across the sea lies Hawaiki, that wonderful Motherland where the sun’s rays glow from early dawn to sudden night. Nobody knows now where that old land is, nobody has ever found it again, but its […] sons and daughters still tell of its remembered glories, its radiant sunshine, its flowers and butterflies, its white-topped mountains and its mighty streams. Some think it may have been India, while others say it must have been some age-old continent which has sunk and now lies buried under the Pacific Ocean. The brave people of that old Motherland were ready for adventure. When wars and famine drove them out from their ancient homes, they said, “Let us set out across the sea that we may find new homes in which to live.” They sailed across tropical seas to the islands of the Pacific, […] setting up their homes where the coconut and breadfruit grow. There they lived their island lives, swimming, diving, fishing, boating: sometimes making long voyages in their carved canoes far out into the great unknown seas. One voyager returned with a few stories of a new land seen far to the south, with white-topped mountain peaks […]. “Let us go to that land. These islands here are already overfull,” said some. […] (Abridged from: Edith Howes, Maoriland Fairy Tales) b) What do you think the story is all about? Europeans discovering New Zealand Maori having a conflict with Europeans Maori trying to find a better life Maori discovering New Zealand c) Listen to the rest of the story. Then decide what type (genre) of story it is. science fiction poetry fairy tale mystery drama autobiography d) Listen again and tick the correct answers. 1. “The Wanderers” tells the story of Maori … a) trying to find animals for hunting. b) having a conflict with other people on their island. c) discovering a new island to have a better life.  2. The people in the story find new land and they call it … a) “country of the great sun.” b) “land of the long, white cloud.” c) “land of the bright, blue sea.” 3. “Ngatoro” is one of the story’s characters. He is the … a) king. b) leader. c) magician. 4. He tells his people … while he’s away to explore the new land. a) not to eat b) not to sing c) not to sleep 5. The god of fire creates … a) mountains. b) volcanoes. c) tornadoes. 6gf86a 4 5 10 2.3 b882d2 82 10 Unit New Zealand eighty-two Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv