英语专业八级人文知识讲座PPT 100页

人文知识英语国家社会与文化 人文知识的考察范围宽泛.但并不要求有很深的研究,所以,主要是把握好出题的方向和侧重点. 测试要求:能基本了解主要英语国家的地理、历史、现状、文化传统等. 考题回顾1999年:1.TheObserver2.ThegeographicallocationofNorthAmerica3.TheolduniversitiesinU.K.4.WestminsterPalace 2000:ThetitlesofEnglishnobilityThefeaturesofIrishlandscapeThelongestriverinBritainThelegislativebranchinU.K.TheHundredYears’War 2001:ThefoundingofHarvardThesettlementofAnglo-SaxonsTheofficialnameofU.K.TheeconomicactivityofCanada 2002:WallStreet—thefinancialcenterBigBen,BenjaminHallThecompulsoryeducationinU.K.ThreebranchesofU.S.A.government 2003:ThelocationofCaliforniaBritishnewsagencyThefoundingfathersofU.S.A.ThegeographyofCanada 2004:1920sinU.S.A.ThelargestriverinU.S.A.ThediscoveryoftheNewWorldThefirstsettlementinAmerica 2005:ThecapitalcityofCanadaHowlongtheU.S.PresidentservesTheimportantcitiesinU.S.A.ThestatechurchinEngland 2006:ThePresidentintheCivilWar2.ThecapitalcityofNewZealand3.ThenativesofAustralia4.ThePrimeMinisterinBritainisheadoftheCabinet 2007:1.TheoriginofthecurrentBritishpopulation2.TheHeadofStateofCanadaisrepresentedbytheGovernor-general3.TheauthoroftheDeclarationofIndependence4.TheoriginalinhabitantsofAustralia 2008:ThelargestcityinCanada.ThelegislativebranchoftheU.S.governmentTheoldestsportinU.S.A.TheheadoftheexecutivebranchinNewZealand 2009:TheHeadofStateofNewZealandThecapitalofScotlandTheauthoroftheDeclarationofIndependenceandtheU.S.presidentThecitieslocatedontheeasterncoastofAustralia. 参考书籍:英语专业八级人文知识及改错(上海外国语大学何树主编)英语国家概况(余志远主编)网络资料 TheUnitedKingdom:地理、人口及基本事实考过题目:1.Thelongestriver(2000)2.Theofficialname(2000)3.Theoriginofthepopulation4.BigBen,BenjaminHall5.ThecapitalofScotland(2009) 备考点:Officialnamevs.GeographicalNames:TheBritishIsles,GreatBritainandEnglandTheBritishEmpire:abigempireonwhichthesunneverset(1900);1/4oftheworld’speopleandlandareaTheCommonwealth(ofNations):1931,50independentmembers,economicties 2.Geographicalposition:ItliesintheNorthAtlanticOceanoffthenorthcoastofEurope.ItisseparatedfromtherestofEuropebytheEnglishChannelinthesouthandtheNorthSeaintheeast.TheEnglishChannel:TheChannelisanarrowseapassagewhichseparatesEnglandandFranceandconnectstheAtlanticOceanandNorthSea.Thenarrowestpart—theStraitsofDover 3.Threepoliticaldivisions:England:south,thelargest,themostpopulous,therichestLondon,ThePennies,ScafellScotland:north,Edinburgh3naturalzones(theHighlands,theLowlands,theUplands),BenNevisWales:west,Cardiff 4.RiversandLakes:Thelongest—theSevernThesecondlongestandthemostimportant—ThamesThelargestlake—LoughNeaghinNorthernIrelandLakeDistrict:15lakes,theLakepoets(WilliamWordsworth,SamuelTaylorColeridgeandRobertSouthey) 5.ThePeople:TheEnglish:Anglo-Saxons;England—”Angle”land;Anglo-Saxons:GermanictribeTheEnglishpeopleandtheEnglishlanguage–theunionofNormanconquerorsandthedefeatedAnglo-SaxonsTheNorman:thenativeofNormandy TheScots,Welsh&Irish—theCeltsCeltic:thelanguagespokenbyWalesTheNationalEisteddfodau—aWelshfestivaloftheartstokeepWelshlanguageandcultureGaelic:oneoftheCelticlanguagespokeninHighlands 历史:ThetitlesofEnglishnobilityTheHundredYears’War 备考点:TheOriginsofaNation1.Thefirstknownsettlers—Iberians2.TheCelts(700B.C.)3.Romans:55B.C.JuliusCaesar;43A.D.ClaudiusChristianitywasfirstbroughttoEnglandbyRomans.InordertokeepbackthePicts&Scots,theHadrian’sWall 4.TheAnglo-Saxons:ThreeGermanictribesTuesday(Tiu),Wednesday(Woden),Thursday(Thor),Friday(Freya)derivefromthenameofTeutonicGodsTheWitan(councilofthewisemantoadvicetheking)597:PopeGregoryI,St.Augustine,conversiontoChristianity,thefirstArchbishopofCanterbury 5.TheVikingandDanes:Alfred—thefatheroftheBritishnavy,AlfredtheGreatKingAlfreddefeatedtheDanesandcametoanagreementwiththemin879. 6.TheNormanConquest:TheBattleofHastings—1066,DukeWilliamvs.HaroldWilliam—kingofEnglandinWestminsterAbbeythefeudalsystem;theGrandCouncilDomesdayBook–apropertyrecordTheTowerofLondon,ahistoricalsight,locatedinthecenterofLondon,wasbuiltbyWilliamtheConqueror TheShapingoftheNationTheGreatCharter:KingJohn,1215thefoundationofEnglishlibertiesthespirit—thelimitationoftheking’spower2.AllEstatesParliament—thebeginningofParliament,the“ModelParliament”,1265 3.BlackDeath—thedeadlyepidemicdiseasespreadbyratfleasin14thcentury.ItreducedEngland’spopulationfrom4millionto2millionbytheendofthe14thcentury.4.ThePeasantUprising:WatTyler,1381PrecipitatedbythecollectionofPollTax TransitiontotheModernAge:TheWarsofRoses(1455-1485):ThebattlesbetweentheHouseofLancaster(red)andYork(white).HenryTudorunitedthetwoandbroughtabouttheruleoftheTudors.2.TheEnglishReformation:(1529-1534)HenryVIII’sreforminbreakingEnglishChurch’sconnectionwiththePopeandswitchingtoProtestanttheology 1535:theSupremeHeadoftheChurchofEngland3.BloodyMary:300ProtestantsburnedThemonarchwholostCalais4.ElizabethI:AtimeofconfidenceandachievementsTheArmanda(theSpanishfleet)wasdefeatedbytheBritishnavy 5.TheEnglishRenaissance:(rebirth)Aculturalmovementthatarosetheriseofthebourgeoisie.Thethinkerswhoworkedforfreedomandenlightenmentwerehumanists.TheEnglishRenaissancewasliterary:ThomasMore“Utopia”Shakespeare:Elizabethandrama 6.TheDivineRightsofKings:CharlesIThekingruleswiththeauthorityofGod7.TheCivilWars(1642-1651)TheCavaliers;theRoundheadsOliverCromwellandtheNewModelArmyCromwellasLordProtectoroftheCommonwealthofEngland(1653) 8.TheGloriousRevolution:TorejectJamesII,WilliamofOrangefromHollandwasinvitedtobejointrulerswithMary(James’daughter).Withnobloodshed,norexecutionoftheking.AttheiracceptanceoftheBillofRights,therebegantheconstitutionalmonarchy. TheBritishEmpireTheEnclosureMovement:The15thcentury,theclothindustryincreasedthevalueofwool.Tocovertlandintopastures,thenobilityandmerchantsbegantoenclosetheland.2.TheIndustrialRevolution:Changesoccurredearliestandquickestintextiles.“Theworkshopoftheworld” 3.TheEastIndiaCompany:AnEnglishtradecompanyformedattheendofthe16thcentury.ItservedasatoolofexploitingtheIndianpeople. 4.TheChartistMovement(1836-1848)Theworkingclasstriedtorealizethe“people’scharter”aboutuniversalsuffrage.Thefirstnationwideworkingclassmovement5.Thefirstcolony—Newfoundland,1583 6.TheTreatyofVersailles(1919)SignedattheParisPeaceConferenceBritaintookPalestine&MesopotamiafromTurkeyandseizedmanyGermancoloniesinAfricaandinthePacificOcean7.TheStatuteofWestminster(1931)Thedominionsbecameindependentstatesinallbutname 8.TheOpiumWar:1840,anaggressivewaragainstChina1842,TreatyofNanjing 经济TheeconomicpolicyBritainpursuedinthe1950sand1960swasbasedonthetheoryofJohnM.Keynes.TheareabetweenGlasgowandEdinburghisthe“SiliconGlen”inBritain.MargaretThatcher:ThefirstwomanPrimeMinister“ironlady”forthetightcontrolofmonetarypolicy. 政治考过题目:WestminsterPalaceThelegislativebranchPrimeMinister,Cabinet ThecomponentsoftheEnglishParliament:theSovereign,theHouseofLords,theHouseofCommonsTheBritishConstitutionconsistsofconventions,commonlaw,statuelawTherealcenterofpowerintheParliamentistheHouseofCommons.Thereisnowrittenconstitution.Aparliamenthasthemaximumdurationoffiveyears. 6.ThepartywiththesecondlargestnumberofseatsbecomestheofficialOpposition,with“shadowcabinet”.7.TheHouseofLordsistheultimatecourtofappealincivilcasesofGreatBritain.8.ThejuryinEnglandusuallyconsistsof12ordinary,independentcitizenssummonedbythecourt. 9.DowningStreet—themostimportantstreetinLondonwheretheHomeOffice,theTreasury,theWarOfficearelocated.10.TheSpeaker—thepresidingofficeroftheHouseofCommons(英国下议院的主持) 教育,社会,文化传统考过题目:BigBenTheOldUniversityNewsAgencyMajorJournal,TheObserverthecompulsoryeducationthestatechurchinEngland ThereligiousleaderoftheChurchofEnglandisArchbishopofCanterbury2.Easterisconnectedtothecomingofspring,theresurrectionofChrist,andtheeatingofEastereggs3.WestminsterAbbey:Itisaveritablenationalshrine(真正的国家神殿),wherethecountry’sgreatestliteraryandscientificfiguresareburied. 4.Etonisafamouspublicschool.(comprehensiveschool,stateschool)5.ThemosttypicalEnglishsports—CricketreflectstheEnglishcharacter:comparativeslownessandquietness 6.ThehomeofgolfisScotland.7.ThemostfamousmusicandartfestivalinBritain–TheEdinburghInternationalFestivalofMusicandDrama8.TheRoaringTwenties:jazz,silentfilms9.TheSwingingSixties:thepermissiveageTheBeatles—apopularmusicgroup 10.TheTimes—themostfamousofallBritishpapersandtheoldest.TheDailyTelegraph;theGuardian11.TheEconomist—themostinfluentialperiodicalinBritainTheSpectator 12.BoxingDay—thefirstweekdayafterChristmas,whenChristmasgiftsorboxesaretraditionallygiventohouseholdemployeesandotherserviceworkers.13.Hogmanay—(InScotland)NewYear’sEveandtheparties,drinking,etc.14.GuyFawkesDay—November5th Ireland考过题目:ThefeaturesofIrishlandscape TheEmeraldIslereferstoIreland,duetothegreencountryside.Thelargestriver—theShannonriverThehighestpeak—CarrantuohillNationalDay—St.Patrick’sDay,March17thNationalFlower—Shamrock(三叶草)OfficialLanguages—IrishandEnglish 7.ThearrivalofSt.PatrickinAD432convertedtheIrishtoChristianity.8.AllIrelandisfirstbroughtunderEnglishcontrolbyHenryVIII9.TheoldestuniversityinIrelandistheUniversityofDublin 10.Thetwopoliticalparties:FiannaFailandFineGael11.93%ofthepopulationareRomanCatholics12.Thereare2officiallanguagesinIreland:IrishandEnglish13.InUlysses,JamesJoyceintroducedthestreamofconsciousnesstechnique. TheUnitedStatesofAmerica:地理,人口及基本事实考过题目ThelocationofCaliforniaThelargestriverTheimportantcities Americaisthe4thlargestcountryintheworld.ThelargeststateofU.S.is_____.FloridaB.TexasC.MassachusettsD.Nevada3.AlaskaandHawaiiarethetwoneweststatesinAmerica.Alaska(Juneau)hasthelargestlandareaofallthestates,whileHawaii(Honolulu)thesmallest. 4.TheRockies,thebackboneoftheNorthAmericancontinent,isalsoknownastheContinentalDivide.5.LakeSuperioristhelargestfreshwaterlakeintheworld.ThefivelakesarealllocatedbetweentwocountriesexceptLakeMichigan.(Huron,Ontario,M,Erie,S)6.NewEnglandiscalledthe“birthplace”ofAmerica,asit’sthechiefcenteroftheWarofIndependenceandthe1stindustrialarea. 7.TheMississippiRiver—themostimportantriverinU.S.A.Itiscalledthe“FatherofWaters”or“OldManRiver”.8.TheNiagaraFalls 9.YellowstoneNationalPark:theoldestnationalparkintheworldandthelargestwildlifepreserveintheU.S.A.OldFaithful—themostfamousgayer(喷泉)inYellowstone.10.GrandCanyon—itswallsshowlayersthattellthestoryoftheformationoftheearth. 11.PeoplelivinginNewEnglandwereoriginallycalledYankees,whichcametostandforallAmericans.12.ThefirstimmigrantsinAmericanhistorycamefromEnglandandtheNetherlands.13.ThelargestoftheethnicminoritiesinAmericaistheblacks.14.“Babyboom”referstothegreatincreaseofbirthratebetween1946and1964. 15.Houstoniscalledthechemicalcapitaloftheworld,andalsothehomeoftheU.S.spacecenter.16.Whatis(are)thenickname(s)oftheU.S.A.?AUncleSamBBrotherJonathanCYankeeDAlloftheabove 历史考过题目:ThefoundingfathersofAmerica1920sinAmericathediscoveryoftheNewWorldthefirstsettlementinAmericathePresidentintheCivilWartheauthoroftheDeclarationofIndependence WhowrotetheDeclarationofIndependenceandlaterbecametheU.S.President?ThomasJeffersonB.GeorgeWashingtonC.ThomasPaineD.JohnAdams 1600—1900:ThediscovererofAmerica—ChristopherColumbusMagellan—thefirstwhosailedroundtheearthandprovedtheearthwasroundTheBritishestablished13coloniesalongtheeastcoastofNorthAmerica.MayFlower—theshipwhichtookPuritanstoAmericain1620.Plymouth—thefirstcolony In1766,StampTaxwascollectedtosupportthearmystationedinAmerica.In1773,accordingtotheTeaAct,theEastIndianCompanysoldteatothecoloniesandmadeprofit.SomeBostonresidentsboardedanEnglishshipinBostonHarbor,andtheteaintothesea.ThisisknownastheBostonTeaParty. 7.TheFirstContinentalCongress:1774Philadelphiaaprotestagainstobjectionablelaws8.TheSecondContinentalCongress:1775Philadelphiathedecisiontofightforfreedomandindependence 9.TheshotsatLexingtonsignaledthebeginningoftheWarofIndependence.10.TheSaratogadefeatwastheturningpointoftheWarofIndependence,leadingtothealliancebetweenU.S.andFrance.11.InSeptember,1783,theTreatyofPariswassigned.BritainrecognizedtheindependenceofU.S.A. 12.TheConstitutionalConvention:1787Philadelphia,torevisetheArticlesoftheConfederation13.TheBillofRights:thefirsttenamendmentsputintotheConstitutionin1791,whichincludefreedomofspeech,therighttoassemble,etc. 14.TheGettysburgvictorywastheturningpointoftheCivilWar.15.IntheCivilWar,LincolnissuedtheEmancipationProclamationandtheHomesteadBill.16.PresidentJeffersonboughttheLouisianaTerritoryfromFranceanddoubledthecountry’sterritory.17.TheWestwardMovement:1815-1830,movingwestwardtoopenthevastareaofwildernessinAmerica. 1900—1945:The“OpenDoorPolicy”:advancedbyTheodoreRooseveltinSino-Americanrelations,thatis,invadingChinabymeansofforceandculture.Thestockmarketcrash:1929to1933 3.In1932,FranklinD.Rooseveltpromiseda“newdeal”togetAmericaoutofthedepression.Inhisinauguralspeech,hesaidthat“theonlythingwehavetofearisfearitself.”4.Intheearly1930s,theAmericanforeignpolicywasisolationism,thatis,tokeepAmericaoutofthefightinginEuropeandAsia. 1945—:1.PresidentTrumanmadetheopendeclarationofthecontainmentpolicyin1949.2.MartinLutherKing,Jr.,afamousleaderoftheblackmovementsin60s,advocatednon-violentCivilRightsMovement.RosaParks,MontgomeryMalcolmX,blacknationalism 3.In1972,PresidentNixonvisitedChinaandmetMaoZedongandthetwocountriesissuedtheShanghaiCommunique,andthediplomaticrelationswereestablishedin1979.4.ThelongestwarinU.S.historyistheVietnamWar. 5.TheCountercultureMovementwasamovementofrevoltagainstmoralvalues,theaestheticstandards,thesocialrelationsoftheconventionalsociety.6.PresidentKennedyinspiredmanytoworktoeliminatepovertyandtoendsegregationandvotingrightsabuse.HisprogramwascalledtheNewFrontier.7.TheWatergateScandalforcedNixontoresignin1973. 8.1970s-1980s,therewasariseinNewRightconservatismandduetothistrend,RonaldReaganwasbroughttoWhiteHouse.9.DesertStorm:ThemilitaryattacklaunchedbytheU.S.onIraqbyclaimingIraqiinvasionandannexationofKuwaitin1991. 政治考过题目ThreebranchesofAmericangovernmentHowlongthePresidentservesthelegislativebranchofthegovernment TheAmericanconstitutionistheoldestwrittenconstitutionintheworld.Itwasdrawnupin1787.TheBillofRights:thefirsttenamendmentsputintotheConstitutionin1791,whichincludefreedomofspeech,therighttoassembleandotherdemocraticrights. 2.TheSupremeCourthasthepowertointerprettheConstitution.3.TheU.S.Presidentcanappointthefederalcourtjudges,presideoverthegovernment,andvetolawspassedbytheCongress.4.ImpeachmentistheonlywaythatthePresidentcanberemovedfromoffice. 5.ThepoliticalsystemofAmericaisbasedonthefollowingprinciples:federalism,theseparationofpowers,andtherespectfortheconstitutionandtheruleoflaw.6.TheAmericanjudiciaryisheadedbytheSupremeCourt.7.TheemblemoftheRepublicanpartyiselephant,whilethatoftheDemocraticisdonkey. 8.Thesystemofchecksandbalances:Theconstitutionlimitsthepowerofeachgovernmentbranch,andpreventsanybranchfromgainingunduepower.Thebalanceisalwayskeptamongthethreebranches.9.“Winner-take-all”principle:Ifthecandidatesofapartyfor“electors”inagivenstatereceiveamajorityofthetotalvotes,thepartywillhavealltheelectoralvotes. 教育,社会,文化传统已考题目：ThefoundingofHarvardWallStreet—thefinancialcentertheoldestsportinU.S.A. Thehighereducationisnotfreeandcompulsory.IntheU.S.,theelementaryschoolusuallycoversgrades1—6,andthehighschool7—12.JazzisconsideredAmerica’suniquecontributiontomusic,whichdevelopedoutofthemusicoftheearlyAmericanNegroes.“TheLostGeneration”referstotheyoungpeopleinthepostWWIera. 5.______isnotanationallyobservedholidayofAmerica.ChristmasB.EasterSundayC.ThanksgivingDayD.IndependenceDay6.ThemostimportantplaceinAmericaonNewYear’sEveisTimesSquareinNewYorkCity.7.ThethemeofThanksgivingDayispeaceandplenty. Canada已考题目：ThemostimportanteconomicactivityThegeographyofCanadaThecapitalcityTheHeadofState—theGovernor-generalThelargestcity Thename“Canada”comesfromIndians,whousedtheword“kanata”todescribeasettlement.TwomenareimportantinthediscoveryofCanada:JohnCabotandJacquesCartier.3.1756—1763SevenYears’WarThewarbetweenFranceandBritainWiththedefeatofFrance,itscoloniesinNorthAmericawerecededtoBritainTheTreatyofParis 4.ByCanadaActof1791,UpperCanadaandLowerCanadawerecreated.5.CanadawasdividedintoUpperCanadaandLowerCanadain1791andtheywereunitedagainin1840.6.TheBritishNorthAmericaActsin1867createdthedominionsofCanada,andtheStatuteofWestminsterin1931,CanadabecameamemberoftheCommonwealthofNations. 7.InCanada,QuebecdiffersfromtheotherprovincesbecauseithasastrongFrenchculture.8.Quebec’slegalsystemisbasedonFrenchcivillaw.9.EveryprovinceinCanadahasanelectedLegislativeAssemblyexceptinQuebecandNewFoundland.10.ThelargestuniversityinCanadaistheUniversityofToronto. 11.TheNationalFlagofCanadaistheMapleLeafFlag,isabaseredflagwithawhitesquareinitscenter,featuringared11-pointedmapleleaf.12.ThelongestriverinCanadaistheMackenzie.13.ThehighestpeakinCanada,MountLogan,isintheYukonTerritoryofnortheastCanada. 14.AccordingtotheofficialLanguageAct(1969),EnglishandFrencharethetwoofficiallanguagesinCanada.In1971,thegovernmentadoptedapolicyofmulticulturalism,recognizingthatculturalpluralismwithinabilingualframeworkwastheessenceofCanadianidentity.ApartfromParis,France,MontrealisregardedasthelargestFrench-speakingcityintheworld,knownas“ParistheSecond”. 17.Toronto—thelargestcityandtheprovincialcapitalofOntarioVancouver—thethirdlargestcity,andtheprovincialcapitalofBritishColumbiaOttawa—thecapitalcityandthefourthlargestcity Australia考过题目:ThenativesofAustraliaTheoriginalinhabitantsofAustraliaWhichofthefollowingcitiesislocatedonthewesterncoastofAustralia?A.PerthB.AdelaideC.SydneyD.Melbourne 1.Australiaispopularlyknowninthewestas“theLandDownUnder”.2.Today,January26,thedateofthefirstEuropeansettlementin1788,isstillcelebratedasAustralia’sNationalDay.3.ThediscoverofAustraliaisJamesCook. 4.WhenWilliamDampier(the1stEnglishmantoreachAustralia)returnedtoLondon,hepublishedhisjournalasabookcalledANewVoyagearoundtheWorld.5.In1788AustraliawassettledbytheBritishasacolonyfoundedtoreceiveconvictsfromBritain.6.AmongthefiveAustraliancitieswithapopulationofmorethanonemillion,only_____isonthewesterncoast.A.SydneyB.MelbourneC.AdelaideD.Darwin 7.ThesunniestcityinAustraliaisDarwin.8.MelbourneisthesecondlargestcityinAustralia.Itwasthecapitalcityfrom1901to1927.Then,thecapitalcitywasCanberra,theAboriginalwordfor“meetingplace”.9.MulticulturalismwascoinedinCanadainthelate1960s,andwasinofficialuseinAustraliaby1973.10.TheMurrayriveristhelongestriverinAustralia. 11.LakeEyreisAustralia’slargestlake,butitisknownasapart-timelake.12.ThefirstmajordiscoveriesofgoldinNewSouthWalesandVictoriaintheearly1850sresultedingoldrushes.13.ThebasicstructureofAustraliagovernmentisbasedonboththeBritishandtheAmericanmodels. NewZealand考过的题目:ThecapitalcityTheheadoftheexecutivebranchinNewZealandTheHeadofStateofNewZealandis_____.thegovernor-generalB.thePrimeMinisterC.thehighcommissionerD.theMonarchoftheUnitedKingdom NewZealandisthefirstcountryintheworldtogetthenewdaybecauseitisjustwestoftheInternationalDateLine.AfaultlinerunsthelengthofNewZealand,whichmeansthatitoftenhasvolcaniceruptions.Nearly3/4ofthepopulationofNewZealandliveinNorthIsland.TheKiwiisanationalsymbolandNewZealandersoftenrefertothemselvesasKiwis. 5.JurassicParkistheNewZealand-madefilmwhichwon3Oscarsinthe1993AcademyAwards.6.MaoriisthenameoftheindigenouspeopleofNewZealandandtheirlanguage.MaoritangaisMaoriculture,theMaoriwayoflifeandviewoftheworld. 7.LakeTaupoisthelargestlakeinNewZealandandwasformedbyvolcaniceruption.8.MountCookisthehighestpeakinNewZealand.9.NewZealandisknownas“thebiggestfarmoftheworld”,andisamajorexporteroflamb,mutton,woolanddairyproducts. 10.TheTreatyofWaitangisignedonFebruary6,1840,markedthebeginningofmodernNewZealand.ThedatewassetastheNationalDayofNewZealand.11.AbelTasmanwasthefirstEuropeantoreachNewZealand.In1642,hereachedthesouthislandofNewZealandandnamedtheareaStatenland,laterchangedtoNieuwZeeland.12.Auckland—thelargestcity