G'day Sydney!(b) | 让你绝对不无聊的澳洲雪梨(b)

The Australian city of Sydney owes its development to Port Jackson, its beautiful natural harbor. However, as the city developed, it became clear that Sydney needed a bridge as an easier means to cross the harbor. Building the bridge was no easy task, but in 1932, construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was completed.

The bridge itself is a huge steel arch between four stone pylons. It was an amazing feat of engineering, and at 1,149 meters long and 48.8 meters wide, it is the world's widest long-span bridge. Nicknamed "the Coat Hanger," the bridge soon became one of Sydney's defining features and is now an important focal point for Sydney's New Year's celebrations.

Thanks to its fame, the bridge has always been a tourist attraction. Visitors can take boat tours around the bridge or walk along it. Nowadays, there is yet another way to enjoy the bridge although it is not for the fainthearted. Since 1998, a company called BridgeClimb has offered brave tourists the chance to climb the arch of the bridge. Participants walk along the arch from the east to the center of the bridge's span, around 134 meters above sea level, before descending the west side. Tours take place all day, and visitors can even enjoy a night walk up the bridge. If you're ever in Sydney and don't have a fear of heights, then a climb to the bridge's summit is a must-do. In any case, no visit to Sydney would be complete without a trip along the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

1.  What can you infer about Sydney from the article?

(A) It has a strong rivalry with other Australian cities.

(B) Most tourists visit between December and June.

(C) The only thing worth visiting is the Sydney Opera House.

(D) While visiting Sydney, tourists can do many different things.

2.  According to the article, Sydney is _____.

(A) the capital of Australia

(B) home to great weather all year round

(C) the only destination for people that love shopping

(D) the area where whales are seen anytime throughout the year

3.  Why was the Sydney Harbour Bridge built?

(A) To allow cars, trucks, and trains to cross the harbor easily.

(B) To demonstrate Australian's engineering skills.

(C) To provide a meeting point for New Year's celebrations.

(D) To encourage tourists to visit Sydney.

4.  If you have a fear of heights, which would you most likely NOT do?

(A) Go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

(B) Catch a show at the Sydney Opera House.

(C) Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

(D) Take a picture in front of the Sydney skyline.

     杰克逊港是一个美丽的天然港口，它也是澳洲雪梨市得以发展的主因。然而随着城市的发展，人们渐渐明白雪梨需要一座桥，以做为跨越港口更加便利的途径。要建造这座桥不是个简单的任务，但在 1932 年，雪梨港湾大桥完工了。

　　这座桥本身是个大型的钢铁拱形建筑，建在 4 个石塔之间。它是一项惊人的工程壮举，全长 1,149 公尺，宽 48.8 公尺，是全世界最宽的长跨距桥梁。这座绰号为『衣架』的桥梁不久就成为雪梨最重要的特色之一，现在也是雪梨跨年庆祝活动的重要焦点。

　　由于雪梨港湾大桥的声名远播，它一直以来都是个观光胜地。游客可搭船在大桥附近游览，也可以沿着桥边散步。现今这座桥有另一个新玩法，但这并不适合胆小的人。从 1998 年起，一家名为 BridgeClimb 的公司提供大胆游客攀爬桥拱的机会。参加爬桥的人从东侧沿着桥拱爬到约海拔 134 公尺高的桥中央，然后再往西侧走下去。这项行程全天都有，游客甚至可以在晚间爬上大桥。如果你到了雪梨，而且并不怕高，那你一定要去爬一次桥顶。不论如何，没去雪梨港湾大桥，雪梨之行就不算圆满。

   1.  你可以从本文推知有关雪梨的哪项信息？

(A) 它和澳洲其他城市存有很强的敌对关系。

(B) 大多数游客在 12 月至 6 月间到此处观光。

(C) 值得观光的地方只有雪梨歌剧院。

(D) 造访雪梨时，游客可以做很多不同的事情。

   2.  根据本文，雪梨是 _____。

(A) 澳洲的首都

(B) 全年气候都很宜人的地方

(C) 爱好购物者唯一会造访的地方

(D) 全年任何时候都可以看到鲸鱼的地方

   3.  为什么要兴建雪梨港湾大桥？

(A) 让车辆、卡车和火车能轻易横跨港口。

(B) 展现澳洲的工程技术。

(C) 提供跨年庆祝活动的聚会地点。

(D) 鼓励游客造访雪梨。

   4.  如果你有惧高症，你最不可能做以下哪一件事？

(A) 去大堡礁进行水肺潜水。

(B) 去雪梨歌剧院欣赏表演。

(C) 攀爬雪梨港湾大桥。

(D) 在雪梨的天际线前拍照。

答案：1. (D)2. (B)3. (A)4. (C)

For Your Information

雪梨港湾大桥自 1998 年开始开放让民众攀登，自此这项登桥活动成了热门的观光行程，也被知名的旅游书 Lonely Planet《寂寞星球》选为世界上最刺激的活动之一。攀登活动耗时 3 个半小时，参加民众必须换上指定的服装和装备，在腰间系上与大桥钢杆连结的安全锁，由专业领队带领，从高处将雪梨港湾附近的美景尽收眼底，完成攀爬后还会收到一张证书及在桥上的团体合照留作纪念。