2. Answer the following questions on Text a.

1) Where does Australia lie? 2) What is the total territory of the country? 3) Why is the Australian nature and climate diverse? 4) Who inhabited Australia before the first British settlement? 5) Is Australia an independent country? 6) What kind of country is it from the political point of view? 7) How many states does Australia have? 8) Does the Australian flag contain the stars? 9) What is special about the country’s coat of arms? 10) How can you characterize the economy of Australia? 11) What is the population of the country? 12) By which resources does Australia generate its income?

3. Match English words in the left column (highlighted in text a) with their Russian equivalents on the right.

1. mainland	a. земля, суша
2. numerous	b. богатый
3.landmass	c. континент, материк
4.rainforest	d.вершина
5.biota	e. флора и фауна данного района
6.diverse	f. аборигенный, местный
7. settlement	g. государство, королевство
8.indigenous	h. многочисленный
9.apex	i. тропический лес
10.realm	j. щит
11.coatofarms	k. австралийская акация или мимоза
12. shield	l.эмблема, символ
13. badge	m.герб
14. wattle	n.колония, поселение
15. wealthy	o. многообразный

4. Find the English equivalents to the following words in Text a.

1) Австралийский союз; 2) включать в себя; 3) материк; 4) остров; 5) многочисленный; 6) разнообразие; 7) горные цепи; 8) пустыня; 9) флора и фауна данного района; 10) млекопитающие; 11) была заселена; 12) австралийские аборигены; 13) разделение власти/полномочий; 14) содружество государств; 15) полушарие.

5. Fill in the gaps with appropriate forms of the words from Act. 3, 4.

1) The Australian … was granted by King George V in 1912. 2) The first British … made in Western Australia was in Albany, this was quickly followed by the Swan River Colony and Augusta. 3) The library … over a million volumes and 3000 current periodical subscriptions. 4) There are … side roads but this is becoming a massive man hunt. 5) Founded in 1519 by Pedro Arias de Avila, Panama is the oldest European town on the … of America. 6) They also support a unique …, notably six inadequately protected bird species. 7) But it would be hot as hell crossing the … in Utah and Nevada. 8) She can’t understand why a good looking … man moved to the country became a veterinarian and married a country girl. 9) The effects of a bite by a poisonous snake upon a small … or a bird are almost instantaneous. 10) The air-conditioned hospital corridor gave way to the balmy heat of the Caribbean … on which it stood.

6. Read Text b and choose three destinations you’d like to visit first. Text b. Ten best places to visit in australia

Sydney. Located on Australia’s southeastern coast, Sydney is the capital of New South Wales. A modern city with a long history, Sydney is defined by its scenic harbor. The region’s first inhabitants lived along the harbor’s bank for thousands of years. Today, ferries take visitors for cruises under the famed Sydney Harbor Bridge and past the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Great Barrier Reef. One of the top destinations for underwater explorers and scuba divers, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest barrier reef with the most diverse ecosystems. Located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia’s state of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef encompasses a huge area of more than 2,900 coral reefs and hundreds of islands and cays.

Alice Springs. Located in the heart of Australia about 1500 km from the nearest major city, Alice Springs is comprised of cavernous gorges, boundless desert landscapes, remote Aboriginal communities and a charming pioneering history.

Cairns. For its tropical climate, easy-going ambiance and close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is one of Australia’s most popular vacation destinations. Located on the northwest corner of Australia, Cairns is a provincial but stylish city with a population of around 150,000 people.

Melbourne. The capital of the state of Victoria, Melbourne is Australia’s second most populated city. Located near the southeastern tip of Australia on the large natural bay of Port Phillip, Melbourne is the nation’s cultural capital as well as an important port. It’s a well-planned city known for its shopping, fine restaurants and sports venues.

Perth. Located on Australia’s southwestern coastline, Perth is the country’s fourth-largest city and the capital of Western Australia. Isolated from other major cities in Australia, Perth has developed its own unique character – a youthful atmosphere and a fun-loving attitude in this city of two million people.

Brisbane. Brisbane, the third-largest city after Sydney and Melbourne, is the capital of Queensland with a population of about 2 million people. Brisbane’s year-round warm climate, spectacular scenery and pleasant locals have been the draw-cards for many domestic and international visitors, making Brisbane the fastest-growing city in Australia.

Hobart. Hobart is the capital city of the Australian island of Tasmania, as well as Australia’s second oldest city after Sydney. With a population of about 250,000 Hobart is small and intimate. There are many fine examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture in Hobart, such as Salamanca Place, which has a terrace of warehouses dating back to the whaling days of the 1830s. It has a mild temperate oceanic climate, with four distinct seasons.

Darwin. Hugging the coastline of Northern Territory, Darwin, the city of around 75,000 people, has long been the most international of the country’s major cities. Its close proximity to other countries in the Indian Ocean has made the city a transportation hub since its earliest days. Devastated during WW II, Darwin is a resilient town with a spirit that can’t be defeated.

Adelaide. The capital of South Australia and Australia’s fifth largest city, Adelaide has population of over 1.2 million. The city is located on a plain between the rolling Adelaide Hills and the Gulf St Vincent and is bordered by many famous wine regions. Historically known as the City of Churches much of the architecture in the inner city is retained from the colonial era.