Named after an ex-Governor of New South Wales, Sydney is the state’s capital city. Located on the south-east of Australia in the temperate zone, it enjoys a mild climate, averaging 14.5 hours of sunshine pet day in summer and 10.25 hours in winter. It is also the largest, oldest, and perhaps most beautifully situated city in Australia. First established by the British as a convict settlement in 1788, it is a modern cosmopolitan city that has developed into one of the nation’s major industrial, business, and manufacturing centres.
Sydney is home to nearly 4.4 million people (as of 1997). The suburbs reach out from the city centre and harbour some 55km to the north, 35km to the west and 30km to the south, creating a metropolitan area of about 3000 square kilometres. The 57 square kilometer harbour is one of the largest in the world, and famous for the unmistakable 134 metres high arch of the Harbour Bridge and the graceful sails of the Opera House. It is a busy waterway with ferries, freighters, hydrofoils and pleasure craft.
Not far from the city centre are the attractive old residential suburbs of Balmain, Glebe, and Paddington, where many people live in smart terraced houses, art galleries, pubs, and restaurants abound in the cosy streets that tend to be quite narrow, whereas the suburbs surrounding the city’s cosy streets that tend to be quite narrow, whereas the suburbs surrounding the city’s colleges and universities consist mainly of family homes and multi-unit blocks — an ideal situation for students looking for a homestay, or to rent. Sydney’s newer suburbs now have a large multicultural population, and local shopping centres reflect the influences of many cultures.
As well as scores of cinemas and theatres throughout the city and suburbs, there are numerous clubs which appeal to people of all ages, and cater for all tastes. Pubs are the venue for smaller modern bands, while the big-name popular music artists, both local and international, attract capacity audiences at the huge Entertainment Centre in the heart of the city.
In Sydney, a vast array of ethnic and local restaurants can be found to suit all palates and pockets. In summer, cafe patrons often sit outside at tables under umbrellas, and enjoy the passing parade of shoppers. Students who prefer to cook at home can choose from several large weekend markets, where fresh fruit, fish, and vegetables may be bought more cheaply than at the local supermarket. Sydney also has its own China town.
In the heart of the city are several big department stores linked by enclosed over-the-street crossings and underground walkways. Most noticeable are the towering centre point complex and the Queen Victoria Building, both containing many shopping arcades, coffee shops and restaurants. Out of town, in the suburbs, there are huge regional shopping centres. At the weekend markets, bargains can be had when shopping for clothing as well as for a wide range of assorted goods.
Australia is recognised as one of the most sports-conscious nations in the world. Sydney boasts an impressive number of facilities for all types of indoor and outdoor sporting activities. Wherever one goes, there are golf courses, cricket pitches, football ovals, tennis and squash courts, and, of course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Avid ice-skating and ten-pin bowling fans will find that these activities are also popular and inexpensive.

1. Sydney was first established as a settlement for convicted criminals.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not Mentioned
2. Sydney Harbour is the largest in the world.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not Mentioned
3. The streets of Paddington are not very wide and contain houses arranged in rows.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not Mentioned
4. The Entertainment Centre is only for international popular music artists who attract large
audiences.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not Mentioned
5. There is now a greater variety of restaurants to choose from in Sydney than in the past.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not Mentioned


6. Some department stores in Sydney are joined by walkways above and below the ground.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not Mentioned
7. Australians are sports-minded people, but this is not realised by the rest of the world.
A. Right B. Wrong C. Not Mentioned

答案及詳解：
1．題目中的關鍵詞是first，對應原文的第二段，其中有一句：First established by the British as a convict settlement in 1788，是題目的同義表達，答案為Right。
2．題目中的關鍵詞是Harbour，對應原文的第三段，其中有一句：The 57 square kilometer harbour is one of the largest in the world. 原文說悉尼港是世界最大的港口之一，題目講悉尼是世界最大的港口。題目的范圍小于原文的范圍，答案為Not Mentioned。注意，答此題不能憑借自己的知識，事實上，世界最大的港口是荷蘭的鹿特丹，但文章當中沒說，所以不能答Wrong。
3．題目中的關鍵詞是Paddington，對應原文的第四段，其中有一句：Paddington, where many people live in smart terraced houses, art galleries, pubs, and restaurants, abound in the cosy streets that tend to be quite narrow. terraced 對應題目中的arranged in rows, quite narrow 對應題目中的not very wide，原文和題目是同義表達，答案為Right。此題主要考詞terraced的意思，目前考試中，很少考對一個詞的理解。
4．題目中的關鍵詞是entertainment，對應原文的第五段，其中有一句：the big-name popular music artists, both local and international, attract capacity audiences at the huge Entertainment Centre in the heart of the city. 原文說both local and international，題目說only for international。原文是兩個條件并列，題目是only其中一個條件。答案為Wrong。
5．題目中的關鍵詞是restaurants，第六段原文中提到了悉尼有各種各樣的餐館，但并沒有與過去相比，答案為Not Mentioned。
6．題目中的關鍵詞是department stores，快速閱讀原文第七段落第*句為：In the heart of the city are several big department stores linked by enclosed over-the-street crossings and underground walkways. linked by 對應題目中的joined by，原文和題目是同義表達，答案為Right。
7．題目中的關鍵詞是sports，快速閱讀原文第八段落第*句話：Australia is recognised as one of the most sports-conscious nations in the world. 原文說recognised，題目說not realized，是not加同義詞，答案為Wrong。