Unit 2, p.22. Exam Practice (1.

9)
Announcer: Over now to Liz Pearson, who’s been finding out about Sydney.
Liz Pearson: When people first explored the area where Sydney stands today, they
immediately knew that they were looking at one of the greatest harbours in the world.
The best way to see it is to take a ferry from Circular Quay and travel around the
habour, where you’ll see all kinds of saling boats and speedboats. The view is dominated
by two sights: The Sydney Habour Bridge and the Sysney Opera House. The bridge joins
North Sydney, on one side of the habour, to the central Sydney and was completed in
1932. It’s used by cars, trains, cycles, and even people on foot, which is probably the
way to get the best view from the bridge. You won’t see much from a car.
The Opera House is one the the most famous buildings in the world and some people
say that its design is based on the shape of a sailing boat. As well as opera, you can visit
the Opera House to see ballet, films and classical music concerts. It’s very popular, and
it’s not always easy to get tickets for some performances. You might also find that it’s a
little expensive, although those under twenty-seven can get special reduced prices.
Just a little fyrther along from the Opera House you’ll find the Royal Botanical Gardens.
This is rather like a large park, with collections of flowers, trees and other plants from
around the world, as well as from all over Australia. Here, you can also see the flying
foxes, a kind of bat.
Away from the waterfront, Sydney has plenty to entertain the visitor. Because there are
so many people from different cultures in Sydney, there is a lot of choice when it comes
to eating out. There are a number excellent restaurants serving Thai food, including Tuk
Tuk in Bayswater Road, and places to eat traditional and mordern Australian cuisine, like
the famous Bill’s.
A round-up of the attractions of Sydney wouldn’t be completed without mentioning the
beaches. To the south of the city is Bondi Beach, a name that everybody has heard of.
Here, Sydneysiders, as residents of Sydney are called, come to play. It’s a well-
developed beach, but like many places in Australia the sea can be dangerous, although
there’s no need to worry as the beach is patrolled by lifeguards, who make sure nobody
gets themselves into trouble.
Finally, make sure you visit Taronga Zoo, on the north side of the habour. You can get
there by ferry from central Sydney. As well as the great colletion of animals from around
the world, you’ll get the great view of the habour from here. A picnic looking down on
the boats and ferries travelling on the water can be a great way to spend the afternoon.