|
Unit 5 Canada-“The True North” Ⅰ.阅读理解 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 fastpaced 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 modern, with new buildings reflecting the country's youth. In contrast, the rural communities tend to be slowmoving 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 wartorn Europe, most notably Greeks, Italians, Poles and Germans. | 
