Canberra

capital city - столица

location - местоположение

court - суд

agency - агентство

to derive - происходить

to cover - охватывать

bushland – пространство, покрытое кустарниками

scrubland – лесной район

suburb - окраина

Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest city. The site of Canberra was selected for the location of the nation's capital in 1908 as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. It is unusual among Australian cities.

As the seat of the government of Australia, Canberra is the site of Parliament House, the High Court of Australia and numerous government departments and agencies. It is also the location of many social and cultural institutions of national significance, such as the Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia and the National Library of Australia.

The word "Canberra" is derived from the word Kanbarra meaning "meeting place" in the old Ngunnawal language of the local Ngabri people.

Canberra covers an area of 814.2 square kilometers and is located near the Brindabella Ranges. It has an elevation of approximately 580 meters; the highest point is Mount Majura at 888 meters. Other large hills include Mount Taylor, Mount Ainslie, Mount Mugga Mugga and Black Mountain. The surrounding bushland and the original bushland that Canberra was built in is a mixture of eucalyptus savanna, open grassland, scrubland, swamp and dry eucalyptus forests.

Canberra has a relatively dry continental climate with warm to hot summers and with cool to cold winters.

Canberra is a planned city that was originally designed by Walter Burley Griffin, a major 20th century American architect. The city is laid out on two perpendicular axes: a water axis stretching along Lake Burley Griffin, and a ceremonial land axis stretching from Parliament House on Capital Hill.

The urban areas of Canberra are organized into a hierarchy of districts, town centres, group centres, local suburbs as well as other industrial areas and villages. There are seven residential districts, each of which is divided into smaller suburbs, and most of which have a town centre which is the focus of commercial and social activities.

Canberra is home to many national monuments and institutions such as the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Library, the National Archives, the Australian Academy of Science and the National Museum. Many Commonwealth government buildings in Canberra are open to the public, including Parliament House, the High Court and the Royal Australian Mint.

Exercise 28. Answer the questions:

1. What is the capital of Australia?

2. When was the location of Canberra selected?

3. Is Canberra unusual among Australian cities?

4. Canberra is the site of Parliament House, isn’t it?

5. What is the word "Canberra" derived from?

6. What area does Canberra cover?

7. How are the urban areas of Canberra organized?

8. How many residential districts are there in Canberra?

9. Canberra is home to many national monuments and institutions, isn’t it?

Exercise 29. Insert the missing word.

1. It is also … … of many social and cultural … of national significance.

2. The word … is derived from the word Kanbarra.

3. Canberra is located near … … ….

4. Other large hills include Mount Taylor, … …, Mount Mugga Mugga and … … .

5. Canberra has a … dry continental climate.

6. There are … residential districts.

7. Many … government buildings in Canberra are open to the public.

Exercise 30. Find Russian equivalents of the following words or word combinations. Make up sentences of your own.

Unusual city, numerous government departments, Australian War Memorial, the surrounding bushland, relatively dry continental climate, two perpendicular axes, a town centre.

Exercise 31. Find English equivalents of the following words or word combinations. Make up sentences of your own.

Население, компромисс, правительство, самая высокая точка, сухие эвкалиптовые леса, жаркое лето, простираться вдоль, национальные памятники, жилые районы.

Ottawa

a municipality - муниципалитет

to be situated on - располагаться

a mouth - устье

hub - центр

landmark - достопримечательность

suburban area - окраина

to extend - простираться

township – поселок городского типа

community - сообщество

humid - влажный

official residence – официальная резиденция

Ottawa is the capital of Canada, a municipality and the second largest city within the province of Ontario.

In 2009, the city of Ottawa had a population of 812,129, making it the fourth-largest municipality in the country.

Ottawa is situated on the south bank of the Ottawa River, and contains the mouths of the Rideau River and Rideau Canal. The oldest part of the city is known as Lower Town, and occupies an area between the canal and the rivers. Across the canal to the west lies Centretown which is the city's financial and commercial hub. Situated between Centretown and the Ottawa River, the slight elevation of Parliament Hill is home to many of the capital's landmark government buildings, including the Peace Tower, and the legislative seat of Canada.

The City of Ottawa has a main urban area but there are many other urban, suburban and rural areas within the city's limits. The main suburban area extends a considerable distance to the east, west and south of the centre, and includes the former cities of Gloucester, Nepean and Vanier, the former village of Rockcliffe Park and the community of Blackburn Hamlet, the community of Orlйans.

Ottawa is made up of eleven historic townships, ten of which are from historic Carleton County and one from historic Russell. They are Cumberland, Fitzroy, Gloucester, Goulbourn, Huntley, March, Marlborough, Nepean, North Gower, Osgoode and Torbolton. Ottawa has a humid continental climate.

Ottawa is home to a wealth of national museums, official residences, government buildings, memorials and heritage structures.

Exercise 32. Answer the questions:

1. What is Ottawa?

2. What is the population of Ottawa?

3. What is the oldest part of the city?

4. Where does Centretown lie?

5. Is Parliament Hill home to many of the capital's landmark government buildings?

6. The main suburban area extends a considerable distance to the east, doesn’t it?

7. Is Ottawa made up of eleven historic townships?

8. What is home to a wealth of national museums?

Exercise 33. Insert the missing words into the following sentences:

1. … the second largest city within the province of Ontario.

2. Ottawa had a population of ….

3. Ottawa is situated on the south bank of the … ….

4. Across the canal to the west lies … which is the city's financial and … hub.

5. The … … has a main urban area.

6. The main … … extends a considerable distance to the east.

7. Ottawa is home to a wealth of … ….

Exercise 34. Find Russian equivalents of the following words or word combinations. Make up sentences of your own.

the second largest city, on the south bank, the oldest part of the city, financial and commercial hub, the capital's landmark government buildings, suburban and rural areas, west and south of the centre.

Exercise 35. Find English equivalents of the following words or word combinations. Make up sentences of your own.

Устье реки, занимать территорию, центр города, парламентский холм, городская территория, простираться, прежний город, исторический.