Explanatory notes

1. Canberra ['kænb(ə)rə] – Канберра(столица Австралии)

2. precipitation [prɪֽsɪpɪ'teɪʃ(ə)n] – выпадение осадков

3. annually ['ænjuəlɪ] – ежегодно

4. abruptly [ə'brʌptlɪ] внезапно; круто, отвесно

5. escarpments [ɪs'kɑ:pmənt] – крутой откос насыпи, вала

6. plateau ['plætəu] – плоскогорье, плоская возвышенность

7. fertile ['fɜ:taɪl] – плодородный; изобилующий, богатый

8. Arnhem Land ['ɑ:nəm - ] – Арнемленд (полуостров на севере Австралии)

9. the Great Dividing Range – Большой Водораздельный хребет, горная система, протягивается вдоль восточного и юго-восточного побережья Австралии на 4 тыс. км.

10. platypus ['plætɪpəs] – утконос

11. spur [spɜ:] – подгонять, побуждать; стимулировать

12. indigenous[ɪn'dɪʤɪnəs] population – коренное население

13. aborigine [ֽæbə'rɪʤəɪ] – абориген Австралии

14. wipe out – уничтожать

15. recession [rɪ'seʃ(ə)n] – спад (производства, спроса на товары и т.п.)

16. gross domestic product (GDP) – валовой внутренний продукт, ВВП (совокупная стоимость товаров и услуг, созданных внутри страны за определенный период)

17. vest – наделять (правом), давать права

18. suffrage ['sʌfrɪʤ] – право голоса, избирательное право

19. allowance [ə'lauən(t)s] – денежное пособие

20. penal ['pi:n(ə)l] –уголовный; карательный

21. convict ['kɔnvɪkt] – заключённый; каторжник

22. strike – открытие месторождения

23. ANZAC ['ænzæk] – АНЗАК, Австралийский и новозеландский армейский экспедиционный корпус (во время Первой мировой войны)

24. entrench [ɪn'trenʧ] –обезопасить, защитить себя

25. aspire [əs'paɪə] – стремиться к достижению чего-л.

Give detailed answers to the following questions.

1. Where is Australia situated? What territories and states does Australia consist of? What is the capital of Australia?

2. Is the relief and climate different in Western Australia, the northern region, and Eastern Australia?

3. What plants and animals make Australian flora and fauna unique?

4. Who are the ancestors of modern Australians? What triggered the growth of population after WWII? Who originally populated the country?

5. What is the state religion in Australia?

6. Where are good ports and most of the rich farmland situated? What are the leading industrial and commercial cities in Australia?

7. What are the chief industries in Australia? What mineral recourses is Australia rich in? What are Australian chief exports?

8. How is Australia governed?

9. Representatives of what countries discovered Australia? What parts of Australia were discovered?

10. Who claimed Australia as its colony in the end? What were the first colonies used for?

11. When did the six colonies federate?

12. What facts from the modern history of Australia do you consider to be of interest?

13. What is the official language of Australia? What’s Australian official religion?

14. What can be said about Australian way of life and the customs of the country?

15. What holidays are celebrated in Australia?

Discussion

1. Would you like to visit Australia? Why?

2. What facts from the history of Australia were of interest to you? Why?

3. What’s the difference between British English and Australian English?

4. What do you think of Australian way of life? Will it suit you? Why?

5. What customs and traditions of Australia are similar to those we have in Belarus?