ConsideringAustralia'ssizeandthefactthatearlysettle...

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Considering Australia' s size and the fact that early settlements were far apart, Australian society is remarkably homogeneous ( 同種的). Its citizens are fundamentally prosperous and 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 identify regional accents.

However, there is some difference in lifestyle between city settlers and the country people. Almost 90 percent 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 preserve images of colonial heritage, but the overall impression is modem, with new buildings reflecting the country' s youth. In contrast, the rural communities tend to be slow-moving and conservative. 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, 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. Newer industries such as tourism and wine making are also increasingly important. Australians are generally friendly and relaxed, with a modest sense of humor.

Yet, contrary to widespread 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 led to a flowing of survivors from war-torn Europe, most notably Greeks, Italians, Poles and Germans.

The emphasis has shifted in recent years and today the majority of new immigrants are from Southeast Asia. Today Australia is a "mixture of nations" and although some racism exists, it has generally been a successful experiment and the country is reasonably proud to have one of the most harmonious multicultural communities in the world.

24. What does the writer mean by saying "has little more than a passing familiarity with the desert" in the second paragraph?

A. The major population has a close relationship with the desert.

B. The fast-paced cities are just located by the desert.

C. The major population knows little about the desert.

D. The major population is familiar with the people living in the desert.

25. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The pace of life in the city is different from that in the country.

B. One third of people living in Australia come from Europe.

C. The Australian economy is dependent on sheep exports.

D. Most Australians have ancestors who were prisoners.

26. What used to be Australia' s main money earner?

A. Wheat. B. Wool. C. Tourism. D. Diamond.