新西兰英语 533 New Zealanders travel

 　　As the year comes to an end, the Department of Statistics¹ puts out some figures for the year. One surprising figure is that just over 2m New Zealanders went on an overseas trip during the year. This is surprising because our population is only 4.4m. Of course, if you leave New Zealand, that means you are going overseas. We are an island country.

　　Where do New Zealanders go? Well many go to Australia, especially to Queensland in the winter. Families go to Surfers Paradise² in Queensland during school holidays. The beaches are beautiful and there are many family attractions like roller coaster rides. Families also go to Pacific Island countries like Fiji, especially in the winter. New Zealand migrant families with relatives back home travel to visit their relatives.

　　Retired³ people travel to many countries in Europe, North or South America, India or SE Asia. If they are fit and well, and have savings⁴, this is the time in their life when they can enjoy visiting new places.

　　Vocabulary

　　statistics – data

　　put out – release information

　　figures – numbers

　　go overseas or go abroad. We say “overseas” but Europeans prefer “abroad”.

　　trip – a journey, travel

　　fit – energetic, in good health

1 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

2 paradise   

n.伊甸乐园，天堂

参考例句：

• My house had a small backyard,the paradise of children.我那幢房子有一个小后院，那是孩子们玩耍的乐园。
• On a hot day a dip in the sea is sheer paradise.热天洗个海水澡是十分令人惬意的事。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。