Australia

1. What is the official name of the country? (The Commonwealth of Australia).

2. What is Australia? (a continent, a country, an island).

3. Australia is not a(n)….. (city).

4. Name the biggest island and the smallest continent in the world? (Australia is the biggest island and smallest continent in the world).

5. What is the capital of Australia? (Canberra).

6. What is the official language in Australia? (English).

7. Which 2 animals can you see on the Australian coat of aims? (Kangaroo and Emu).

8. In what year did Australia become a British colony? (1788).

9. When did Europeans settle in Australia? (1788).  

10. When did Australia become a nation within the British Empire under the queen Victoria’s rule? (1901). 

11. What is the political system of Australia? (Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a federal division of powers).

12. Who is the Australian head of state? (The British king or queen. The queen is represented by the Governor General, who is appointed by the Australian government. The Governor General appoints members of the Executive Council, his advisory cabinet).

13. What is the main legislative body in the country? What does it consist of? (The main legislative body in the country is Federal Parliament. It consists of the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The members of the Senate are elected for a six-year term).

14. Who belongs the executive power in Australia? (The executive power belongs to the queen and the government. It is headed by the Prime Minister. The ministers are chosen from members of Parliament and the Executive Council).

15. What is the name of the Prime Minister of Australia? (Julia Gillard).

16.  What does the large seven – pointed star represent? (Six States and the Territories(2) ).

17.  What represents the historical link with Britain? (Union Jack).

18. Whom was the Australian coat of arms granted by? (King George).

19. Who are the Australian natives? (Aborigines).

20. Who discovered Australia? (Captain Cook).

21. When did captain James Cook discover Australia? (1770).

22. What is the longest river in Australia? (The Darling).

23. Which city is Australia’s oldest and largest? (Sydney).

24. When were Olympic Games held in Sydney? (2000).

25. Which building can you find on many postcards of Sydney? (Sydney Opera House).

26. The architect Joern Utson of Sydney Opera House was… (a Danish).

27. What is the acknowledged Culture Capital of Australia? (Melbourne).

28. Is Australia situated in the southern or northern hemisphere? (Australia is situated in the Southern Hemisphere and that is why it has summer when we have winter).

29. In which season do Australians celebrate Christmas? (in summer).

30. Why is Australia called the Land Down Under? (because the entire country is below the equator. it is referred like that for its position on earth).

31. What is the name of the largest reef in the world, and where is it located? (The world's largest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef, located just off the northeastern coast of Australia. Much of the 1200 mile (1900 km) long reef is protected as a marine park).

32. Where is the largest coral reef in the world, called the Great Barrier Reef? (in Queensland).

33. A style of preparing food that is very popular in Australia is... (Barbequed food ).

34. The World's deadliest snake lives in Australia and the name is .... ? (Taipan).

35. What is the name for the large Australian bird that cannot fly? (Emu).

36. What animals eat eucalyptus leaves? (Koala bears, native to Australia, feed exclusively on the leaves of the eucalyptus tree).

37. What animals often attack sheep and are dangerous for people? (Wild dog dingo).

38. What do Australians call themselves? (Aussies).

39. Famous Russians, who lived in Australia? Who are they? (Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay, Anna Pavlova, Fedor Shalapin, Konstantin Balmont).