Australia

1. Words and expression to remember:

   The	Австралийский	mainly	главным образом,
   Commonwealth	союз		большей частью
   of Australia		tie	связь
   mainland	материк	productive	производительный
   inhabitant	житель	mine	рудник, шахта
   migrate	переселяться	bauxite	боксит
   permanent	постоянный	ore	руда
   establish	основывать,	income	доход
   	учреждать	administer	управлять, снабжать
   federate	объединиться в федерацию
   unify	объединять

2. Read and translate the text.

The Commonwealth of Australia is a self-governing federal state. It is the sixth large country and the smallest continent. Australia lies between the South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. It is situated about 11 000 km southwest of North America and about 8 200 km southeast of mainland Asia. The name of the country comes from Latin word “australis” which mean southern. The population is 21 million.

Australia is not only far from the world it has bad climate, too. The climate is better in the east and south-east, where most big cities have grown-up. But the northern coast has too much rain and the western coast is too dry. The whole central part of the country is desert. It never rains. So there is no rich plant life in Australia, except in the east and south-east.

The Commonwealth of Australia is a federation of states. It has six states - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western zAustralia. Each state has its government. Australia has two territories - the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The capital of the country is Canberra. The largest city and port is Sydney.

The first inhabitants of Australia were the Aboriginal people, who migrated to the continent some 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. The first permanent European settlement was established in 1788 at Port Jackson. It grew into the city of Sydney. Australia developed as a group of British colonies during the 19th century and in 1901 the colonies federated to form a unified independent nation, The Commonwealth of Australia.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy like Great Britain. The nation is administered under written constitution. The British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is also queen of Australia and country’s head of state. But the queen has little power in the Australian government. She serves mainly as a symbol of long historical tie between Great Britain and Australia.

Australia is one of the world's developed countries. Australia has modern factories, highly productive mines and farms, and busy cities. It is the world’s leading producer of wool and bauxite (the ore from which aluminum is made). It also produces and exports large amounts of other minerals and farm goods. Income from the export enables Australians to have high standard of living. The most important trading partners of Australia are Japan and the United States.

3. Answer the questions.

1. Where does t¹^ Australia lie?

2. What is the official name of the country?

3. What is the capital of the country?

4. Who is the country’s head of state?

5. Is there a written constitution in Australia?

6. What are the main products of Australia?

7. What are the most important trade partners of the country?

4. Match the two parts of the sentences.

   It is situated about 8200 km ...	... long historical tie between
   The name of the country ...	Great Britain and Australia
   There is no rich plant life in Australia...	... to have high standard of living. ... southeast of mainland Asia.
   The first inhabitants of Australia...	... to form a unified independent nation.
   Income from export enables Australians ...	... except in the east and south - east.
   Queen Elizabeth 11 serves as a symbol of...	... were the Aboriginal people. ... comes from Latin words.
   Australia federated with other colonies ...

5. Put in missing words according to the text.

1. The Commonwealth of Australia is a ... federal state.

2. ... from export ... Australians to have high standard of living.

3. The northern coast has too much ... and the western coast is too

4. Each state has it...

5. The nation is... under written constitution.

6. The ... central part of the country is

7. Australia is the world’s leading ... of wool and bauxite.

8. The capital of the country is ...

9. Australia developed as a group of British colonies during the ... century.

10. The first... of Australia were the Aboriginal people.

6. Choose the right form.

1. Australia (lies/lays) between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

2. It (situates/is situated) about 11000 km southwest of North America.

3. The name of the country (comes from/came out) Latin word.

4. The climate is (more better/better) in the east.

5. It never (rains/has rained).

6. The first permanent European settlement (were established/was established) in 1788.

7. Australia is a constitutional monarchy (like/alike) Great Britain.

8. Australia is one of the (world’s/world) developed country.

9. Australia has (high/highly) productive mines and farms.

10. The most important (trading/trade) partners of Australia are Japan and the USA.

7. Choose the right version.

1. Australia lies between the South Pacific Ocean and

a) the Arctic Ocean b) the Indian Ocean c) the Atlantic Ocean

2. The name of the country comes from ... word “australis”.

a) Greek b) Latin c) Celtic

3. Australia has ... states and ... territories.

a) 7,2 b) 8,3 c) 6,2

4. The climate is better in the

a) east b) west c) southwest

5. The Commonwealth of Australia is ... of states.

a) a commonwealth b) a federation c) a union

6. The population is ... million.

a) 12 b)22 c)21

7. Port Jackson grew into the city of...

a) Canberra b) Sydney c) Melbourne

8. ... is country’s head of state.

a) the Prime Minister b) the British monarch c) the governor general