When European explorers reached New Zealand in 1769 they found two large
islands, which together they called the 'mainland', and many tiny
offshore islands around the coast. The naturalists who came with the
explorers disregarded the tuatara, though it is improbable none were
seen. Only several decades later did a tuatara specimen reach the
British Museum, where it was eventually classified as just another type
of lizard.
1. What are we told about the Europeans who arrived in 1769?
A. They thought there was only one large island.
B. They had not come to study natural history.
C. They had no interest in the tuatara.
D. They sent a tuatara to the British Museum.
2. What does the writer say about Albert Günther ?
A. He believed the tuatara could fetch a high price.
B. He was typical of his generation of scientists.
C. He disagreed with Charles Darwin's theory.
D. He wanted to stop the tuatara becoming extinct.