题目内容
【题目】根据短文理解，选择正确答案。
Given Australia's size and the fact that early settlements were far apart, Australian society is remarkably homogeneous (同种的). The way of life in the major cities and towns is much the same, however many miles divide them. It takes a sharp ear to tell the differences between regional accents.
However, there is some difference in lifestyle between people in the city and those in the countryside. Almost 90 per cent of the population lives in the fast-paced cities along the coast and has little more than a passing familiarity with the desert. The major cities keep some colonial (殖民的) heritage, but the overall impression is modern, with new buildings reflecting the country's youth. By comparison, the rural communities tend to be slow-moving. For many years, Australia was said to have “ridden on the sheep's back”, a reference to wool being the country's main money-earner. However, the wool industry is no longer dominant. Much of Australia's economy is now achieved from natural coal and wheat, and by being the largest diamond producer in the world. Newer industries such as tourism and wine making are also increasingly important. Australians are generally friendly and relaxed, with a self-deprecating sense of humor. On the whole, Australia is a society without hierarchies (等级制度), an attitude generally held to stem from its prisoner beginnings.
Yet, contrary to popular belief, very few Australians have true prisoner origins. Within only one generation of the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, Australia had become a nation of immigrants. Originally coming almost entirely from the British Isles, today one in three Australians comes from elsewhere. Australia's liberal postwar immigration policies (政策) led to a growing number of survivors from war-torn Europe, most notably Greeks, Italians, Poles and Germans.
The emphasis has changed in recent years and today most of the new immigrants are from Southeast Asia. Today Australia is a ‘blend of nations' and although some racial (种族的) problems exist, it has generally been a successful experiment and the country is proud to have one of the most harmonious multicultural communities in the world.
（1）What does the writer mean by saying “It takes a sharp ear to tell the differences between regional accents.” in the first paragraph?
A.Australians speak Standard English with no local accents whatsoever.
B.You have to practice a lot to learn to understand the different accents.
C.The Australian regional accents are very difficult to understand indeed.
D.There is not much difference between the accents in different areas of Australia.
（2）Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Most Australians have ancestors who were prisoners.
B.The Australian economy is dependent on sheep exports.
C.Most people living in Australia come from Europe.
D.The pace of life is different in the city and in the country.
（3）We can infer from the passage that _____.
A.there are no signs of Australia's colonial past in its modern cities
B.Australia's recent immigration policy encourages immigrants from Southeast Asia
C.immigrants from Southeast Asia have brought racial problems
D.“riding on sheep's back” resulted in slow development in rural communities
（4）This passage mainly focuses on Australia's ______.
A.society
B.economy
C.racial problems
D.history
【答案】
（1）D
（2）D
（3）B
（4）A
【解析】文章介绍了澳大利亚社会的各个方面，经济，移民，生活等。
（1）D推理判断题。根据第二段第一句However, there is some difference in lifestyle between people in the city and those in the countryside.然而，住在城市和农村的人的生活方式有一些不同。However,表示转折，说明上面提到的情况应该是没有区分的，也就是划线部分“澳大利亚不同区域的口音是没有太大区分的”。故选D。
（2）D 推理判断题。由文中第二段的第二句90 per cent of the population lives in the fast-paced cities.和该段第四句In contrast, the rural communities tend to be slow-moving and conservative.可知，城市生活和乡村生活是不一样的，故选A。文章倒数第二段的Originally coming almost entirely from the British Isles, today one in three Australians comes from elsewhere排除B；根据文章第二段的However, it is no longer dominant (主宰的). Much of Australia's relatively sound economy is now achieved from natural coal and wheat, and by being the largest diamond producer in the world排除C；根据文章第三段的Yet, contrary to widespread belief, very few Australians have true prisoner origins排除D。
（3）B 推理判断题。由文章最后一段第一行The emphasis has shifted in recent years and today the majority of new immigrants are from Southeast Asia.可知，现在的澳大利亚强调东南亚的移民，故选B。
（4）A推理判断题。根据第一段第一句Given Australia's size and the fact that early settlements were far apart, Australian society is remarkably homogeneous (同种的). 鉴于澳大利亚的规模和早期定居点相距甚远的事实，澳大利亚社会是非常均匀的；再根据最后一段Today Australia is a ‘blend of nations' and although some racial (种族的) problems exist, it has generally been a successful experiment and the country is proud to have one of the most harmonious multicultural communities in the world.今天澳大利亚是一个混合民族的国家，尽管还有一些种族的问题存在，它总的来说是成功的，这个国家感到自豪的是，有一个最和谐的多元文化社会。可知本文主要集中在说澳大利亚的“社会”，故选A。
