Module2AustraliaandNewZealandSection2Backgroundinformationaboutthetext1.AbriefintroductionofAustraliaAustraliahasmanycharacteristicsthatmadeitunique.Forexample,itsfloraandfauna,itsnatureresources,itslandform,itsriversystemsanditshumancharacteristics.Thereasonwhytherearemanyphysicalfeaturesisbecausethecontinentwasisolatedfromothersmillionsofyearsago.Australiahasuniqueplantsandanimals.80%ofplantstherecannotbeseenanywhereelsearoundtheworldnaturally.They’vegotwetanddrysclerophyllforests,bushlands,rainforestsandsoon.Therearespecialtypesofanimalsherelikethemarsupialsandmonotremes.It’sbecausetheirpredatorsandcompetitorsdonotexistthere.Otheranimalslikereptiles,amphibians,birdsareverydifferenttheretoo.TheyalldevelopedfeaturesthatsuitstheAustraliaenvironment.Australiahasn’tgotalotofwaterresourcesbutthereareotherresourceslikemineralandenergywhichthey’vegotalot.Themostimportantmineralexportsareironore,bauxiteandsoon.Mostofthemcanbefoundinthewesternplateauregion.Energylikefuelisfromswampsburiedmillionsofyearsago.Australiahasuniquelandform.It’stheflattestandlowestcontinentontheearth.Thehighestmountainthere(Mt.Kosciusko)is2228metershigh.ThebiggestdrainagebasinhereistheMurry-Daringdrainagebasin.ItholdstheMurryRiverandtheDaringRiverandflowtotheGreatAustraliaBright.PeopleinAustraliaareveryuniqueaswell.Australiaisamulti-culturecountrywhichhaspeoplefrommanyculturebackgrounds.Ithasthemostculturediversityintheworld.Soaswecansee,Australiaisaveryuniquecountrywithuniquephysicalandhumancharacteristics.2.AbriefintroductionoftheSydneyOperaHouseTheSydneyOperaHouseisoneofthemostfamousbuildingsintheworld.Itisconsideredtobeoneofthemostrecognizableimagesofthemodernworldalthoughthebuildinghasbeenopenforonlyabout30years.TheSydneyOperaHouseisasrepresentativeofAustraliaasthepyramidsareofEgypt.6,225squaremetersofglassand645kilometersofelectriccablewereusedtobuildtheOperaHouse.Itincludes1,000rooms.Itis185meterslongand用心爱心专心120meterswide.Thebuilding'sroofsectionsweighabout15tons.Itprovidesguidedtoursto200,000peopleeachyear.ButdoyouknowtheOperaHousewitharoofwasdesignedbyafamousDanisharchitect,Utzon?Inthelate1950stheAustralianGovernmentestablishedanappealfundtofinancetheconstructionoftheSydneyOperaHouse,andconductedacompetitionforitsdesigns.Utzonspentafewyearsreworkingthedesignanditwas1961beforehehadsolvedtheproblemofhowtobuildthedistinguishingfeature.In1966thesituationreachedcrisispointandUtzonresignedfromtheproject.Thebuildingwasfinallycompletedbyothersin1973.SydneyOperaHousewasopenedbyQueenElizabethon20thOctober1973.TheOperaHousereachesoutintotheharbor.Seenfromtheair,theskyline(轮廓)oftheSydneyOperaHouse,thebluewateroftheharborandtheSydneyHarborBridge,isbeautiful.3.VisitMatamataMatamataisaruraltownnearHamiltonintheWaikatoregionoftheNorthIslandofNewZealand.Thetotalpopulationisabout12,000,ofwhomabout6000liveinthetownship.ThefilmingofTheLordoftheRingsmoviesintheareacreatedalotofexcitementandprideinthetown.TheAlexanderfarmnearMatamatawasusedastheHobbitonmoviesetinthebigbudgetfilmversionofTheLordoftheRingstrilogy.TocelebratethelaunchofthefirstTheLordoftheRingsfilm,thetownchangeditsnametoHobbitonforashorttimeandHobbitonburgerswereonsale.Matamatahasmuchtooffervisitors.TheMatamataInformationCentre,underthetreeson45Broadway,canhelpyouplanyourstayintheregion.You'llbeabletoobtainexpertandimpartialadviceonact...
