Question

Considering Australia' s size and the fact that early settlements were far apart, Australian society is remarkably homogeneous ( 同种的). 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 on the whole the impression is modern, 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. The emphasis has changed 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.

1.What does the writer mean by saying "It takes a sharp ear to identify regional accents." in the first paragraph?

A. Australians speak Standard English with no local accents.

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 counts on sheep exports.

C. The pace of life is different in the city and in the country.

D. The majority of people living in Australia come from Europe.

3. We can infer from the passage that ____.

A. nothing about Australia' s colonial part in modem cities can be seen by visitors

B. tourism and wine making resulted in fast development in rural communities only

C. immigrants from Europe have brought racial problems

D. Australia' s recent immigration policy encourages immigrants from Southeast Asia

4.This passage mainly focuses on Australia’s_______________.

A. society                  B. economy

C. racial problems          D. history

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：这本文是一篇说明文。介绍了澳大利亚的历史，人口，及经济结构的发展，现在的澳大利亚已经成为了多民族的混合体，其独特的发展历史让澳大利亚成为了世界上最和谐的多文化国家。

1.D 考查细节理解题。根据第一段的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其公民基本的繁荣和主要城市、城镇的生活方式是一样的不管多少英里的距离把它们分开。可以看出，作者这句话的意思就是澳大利亚不同地区的方言没有多大区别。故选择D。

2.C考查推理判断题。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C。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D；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B；根据文章第三段的Yet, contrary to widespread belief, very few Australians have true prisoner origins排除A。故选C。

3.D考查推理判断题。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. 近年来重点已经转移,今天的大多数新移民来自东南亚。

可知，现在的澳大利亚强调东南亚的移民，故选D。

4.A考查主旨大意题。通读全文，根据文章第一段的Australian society is remarkably homogeneous 澳大利亚的社会是明显的同种的。可知文章主要告诉我们澳大利亚社会的各个方面。A.society社会；B. economy经济；C. racial problems种族问题；D. history历史。故选A。

考点：历史文化类阅读理解

【名师指津】

历史文化类阅读技巧：

【题型说明】历史文化类阅读理解文章属高考常选材料之一。这类文章常涉及历史、文化、法制、宗教等方面的文学艺术、发明创造、文化遗产保护、宗教与文化、风俗与习惯、道德与法制、中外文学名著节选、等等。这类材料的命题点往往落在主旨大意题、事实细节题上。

【答题方法】在做这类阅读理解题时，我们应注意以下几个方面：

1、采用先题后文：先读题目，再带着问题读文章。这类阅读理解文章相对来说事实细节题稍多一点，如果带着问题读文章，有利于我们抓细节。

2、先做细节题。因为做完了局部性的事实细节题后，自然会加深我们对文章的理解，这样更有利于做主旨大意题。如：小题1D 考查细节理解题。根据第一段的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其公民基本的繁荣和主要城市、城镇的生活方式是一样的不管多少英里的距离把它们分开。可以看出，作者这句话的意思就是澳大利亚不同地区的方言没有多大区别。故选择D。

3、重点敲定主旨题。主旨大意题提问的形式主要有两大类：一类是Main idea型；一类是Topic或Title型。

在解答这类试题时应注意以下几点：

a．读首句抓大意。

文化教育类阅读理解文章多采用说明文、议论文体裁，而这类文章大都采用文章段落的中心，即主题句在文章开头。因此，要寻找这类文章的主旨大意就需要研究文章的首句。

b．读尾句抓大意。

有时这类文章的主题句安排在文章的结尾，作为对全篇的总结。

c．读首段抓大意。

有些文章或段落的开头和结尾部分都有主题句。这种结构是为了突出主题思想而使用两次点题的写作方法。这两个主题句在句子结构和用词上有所不同，而且在内容上前句和后句也不重复。

d．从段落中抓大意。

有些文章或段落的主题句在文章中，这种文章或段落往往以一句话或几句话引出要表达的主题，在主题句出现后，再举例子陈述细节或继续论证。

e．归纳要点抓大意。

有些文章或段落无明显的主题句，只是暗示性地体现主题。这就要求同学们在阅读过程中根据文中所叙述的事实或线索来概括总结主旨大意。

如：小题4A考查主旨大意题。通读全文，根据文章第一段的Australian society is remarkably homogeneous 澳大利亚的社会是明显的同种的。可知文章主要告诉我们澳大利亚社会的各个方面。A.society社会；B. economy经济；C. racial problems种族问题；D. history历史。故选A。