# Early gold mining in the Otago, region, New Zealand - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：超高频 - 最近考试：2026.2.10北京理工大学 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/c51dd604-941a-4708-b198-d03406977e2b（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:02,920 Well, today we're focusing on New Zealand in the eighteen sixties, and in particular, how the discovery of gold transformed the country. At that time, gold had created great wealth in North America and Australia, and naturally, New Zealand was hoping for the same success. 00:00:19,940 People knew there was gold in New Zealand. Some had been found in eighteen fifty-two, leading to a brief gold rush in which people had come from all parts of the world to see if they could dig up any for themselves. But now, New Zealand needed experienced gold prospectors, people who knew where to look for the stuff to find it in other areas. So what the local government started doing in the late eighteen fifties was promising a reward if these prospectors discovered gold anywhere in their province. 00:00:47,070 The man who eventually answered the call was an Australian miner called Gabriel Read, who came to Otago in May eighteen sixty-one. The story goes that he was walking outside his tent at night when he saw gold shining like stars in a nearby river. It didn't take long for word of his find to spread, and soon thousands were coming to Otago to take part in the gold rush. 00:01:09,880 Who were these people? Well, the men that came were predominantly laborers and tradesmen, and often very young. Although some were married and left their families back in the countries they came from. But women did come too, to the towns that suddenly sprang up by the gold fields. They made a living by starting up hotels, simple ones, of course, where new arrivals would often stay. And then there were businessmen who knew there was money to be made by setting up services like hardware stores that sold mining and camping equipment, and of course, banks where gold could be deposited. 00:01:43,860 In fact, the businessmen often did better than the miners. 00:01:47,920 So, as I mentioned before, where there was a gold field, a town began to grow too. 00:01:53,820 At first, the buildings were constructed in a temporary fashion, just made out of materials such as canvas and timber. But later, once supply started arriving, it was concrete, so the structures became more permanent. But the fact was, the gold fields were often in very isolated areas, so life was very difficult for these people. The miners were often working at the bottom of deep gorges, so they had to cope with freezing temperatures and also sudden flooding when winter ice melted in the mountains. 00:02:23,520 If this wasn't bad enough, the miners also had to deal with another problem. Because they had to carry everything with them, they had a very poor diet. They mostly drank tea, and the main thing they had to eat was flour, which they cooked in different ways. That's all that was available. 00:02:41,120 Anyway, some miners were lucky, others not. But the gold that was found certainly brought many benefits to the Otago region, and also a couple of problems. First of all, the town of Dunedin was suddenly transformed into the biggest city in New Zealand. Some of the original residents complained about how the value of land was increasing and about the inadequate sanitation. You can imagine how crowded it might have felt with the sudden influx of thousands of immigrants. But overall, the gold brought many positive changes to the city. There was immense investment and growth in the shipping industry, just what the region needed. 00:03:19,940 Another unexpected benefit of this wealth was that it provided the funds for the first university in the country. 00:03:26,300 As well as this, as the industry developed, there was a great demand for workers of all sorts, but most of all, there was a demand for experienced and skilled engineers. They often started their own companies, and many of these companies are still operating today. 00:03:41,560 What we will discover next week ## 题目与答案 ### 31. Background · 1852 : there was a brief gold rush · Late 1850s: local governments offered a 31_____ to experienced gold prospectors. Background · 1852 : there was a brief gold rush · Late 1850s: local governments offered a 31_____ to experienced gold prospectors. **答案**：reward 原文定位：So what the local government started doing in the late eighteen fifties was promising a reward if these prospectors discovered gold anywhere in their province 同义替换：「offered」↔「promising」 ### 32. · May 1861: miner Gabriel Read found gold in a 32_____ · May 1861: miner Gabriel Read found gold in a 32_____ **答案**：river 原文定位：The story goes that he was walking outside his tent at night when he saw gold shining like stars in a nearby river 同义替换：「found」↔「saw」 ### 33. Who took part in the gold rush? · Mainly young single men or men leaving families at home. · Women opened 33_____ for the miners. Who took part in the gold rush? · Mainly young single men or men leaving families at home. · Women opened 33_____ for the miners. **答案**：hotels 原文定位：But women did come too;They made a living by starting up hotels, simple ones, of course, where new arrivals would often stay 同义替换：「opened」↔「starting up」；「for the miners」↔「where new arrivals would stay」 ### 34. · Businessmen offered services, e.g. hardware stores and 34_____ . · Businessmen offered services, e.g. hardware stores and 34_____ . **答案**：banks 原文定位：And then there were businessmen who knew there was money to be made by setting up services like hardware stores that sold mining and camping equipment, and of course, banks where gold could be deposited 同义替换：「offered」↔「setting up」；「e.g.」↔「like」 ### 35. What were early mining towns like? · At first, the buildings were made of canvas and timber, and later 35_____ What were early mining towns like? · At first, the buildings were made of canvas and timber, and later 35_____ **答案**：concrete 原文定位：At first, the buildings were constructed in a temporary fashion, just made out of materials such as canvas and timber. But later, once supply started arriving, it was concrete, so the structures became more permanent ### 36. What difficulties did miners face at the gold fields? · The freezing temperatures and unexpected 36_____ . What difficulties did miners face at the gold fields? · The freezing temperatures and unexpected 36_____ . **答案**：flooding 原文定位：The miners were often working at the bottom of deep gorges, so they had to cope with freezing temperatures and also sudden flooding when winter ice melted in the mountains 同义替换：「unexpected」↔「sudden」；「difficulties」↔「had to cope with」 ### 37. · A poor diet of tea and 37_____ . · A poor diet of tea and 37_____ . **答案**：flour 原文定位：They mostly drank tea, and the main thing they had to eat was flour, which they cooked in different ways 同义替换：「food」↔「thing they had to eat」 ### 38. What benefits and problems did gold bring to the Otago region? Growth of the Otago town of Dunedin led to complaints about: · The increasing price of 38_____ . · Problems with sanitation. What benefits and problems did gold bring to the Otago region? Growth of the Otago town of Dunedin led to complaints about: · The increasing price of 38_____ . · Problems with sanitation. **答案**：land 原文定位：Some of the original residents complained about how the value of land was increasing and about the inadequate sanitation 同义替换：「price」↔「value」 ### 39. The gold also resulted in: · Investment in shipping · The first New Zealand 39_____ . The gold also resulted in: · Investment in shipping · The first New Zealand 39_____ . **答案**：university 原文定位：Another unexpected benefit of this wealth was that it provided the funds for the first university in the country 同义替换：「the country」↔「New Zealand」；「resulted in」↔「provided the funds for」 ### 40. · The need for experienced workers, in particular 40_____ . · The need for experienced workers, in particular 40_____ . **答案**：engineers 原文定位：As well as this, as the industry developed, there was a great demand for workers of all sorts, but most of all, there was a demand for experienced and skilled engineers 同义替换：「need」↔「demand」；「in particular」↔「most of all」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。