Vocabulary

hemisphere полушарие harbour гавань

predominantly преимущественно reverse противоположный

origin происхождение exclusive исключительный

to derive происходить sensation ощущение

urban урбанизированный defence оборона

external внешний customs таможенные пошлины

meandering извивающийся profusion изобилие

delightful восхитительный boisterous неистовый

penalty наказание to depend (on) зависеть от

fine штраф voter избиратель

state заявлять preference предпочтение

internal внутренний to distribute распределять

to depend (on) зависеть от rival соперник

Exercises

I. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Австралия населена в основном людьми европейского происхождения.

2. В мире мало стран, дающих такое ощущение незаселенности, как Австралия.

3. Австралия расположена в Южном полушарии, между Тихим и Индийским океаном.

4. Климат в Австралии меняется от тропического на севере до умеренного на юго-востоке.

5. Солнце встает в Сиднее раньше, чем в большинстве других мест земного шара.

6. Как государство, Австралия состоит из шести штатов, каждый из которых имеет свое правительство и законодательство.

7. Федеральное правительство имеет "исключительные" права, например, связанные с обороной, таможенными пошлинами, внешними тарифами.

8. Самым большим штатом страны является Западная Австралия.

2. В 1911 году был объявлен международный конкурс архитекторов на проектирование города, и первое место среди 135 участников занял американец У.Б. Гриффин.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is Australia situated?

2. How many states does it have?

3. What does the word "Commonwealth" mean?

4. Where does the main part of population of Australia live?

5. Where are all the biggest cities situated?

6. What is the climate of Australia?

7. What is the political system of Australia?

8. What are the main political parties of Australia?

9. What is the hottest month in Australia?

10. What does the economics of Australia depend on?

III. Explain, what is wrong in the following statements:

1. Australia is situated in the Southern Hemisphere not far from Asia and is peopled predominantly by men of Asian origin.

2. Australia has a dense population.

3. The climate of Australia is mild.

4. All states of Australia are federally administrated.

5. All capital cities of Australia are situated on the seacoast.

6. New South Wales is the largest and the most populous state of the Commonwealth.

7. The constitution of Australia is written according to British laws.

8. Elections in Australia are free and direct (the candidate, who gets the majority of votes, wins).

9. Australian economics works predominantly for the needs of internal market.

10. Australian economics does not depend on capital invested.

New zealand

Aotearoa, or “long white cloud”, is the name the Maoris gave to New Zealand when they discovered it, perhaps 1,000 years ago. This poetic term, with its hint of seas, mountains and a fertile mystery, may seem the most fitting title for these lovely, lonely islands.

New Zealand is an independent member of the Commonwealth. It is remote from other lands, being situated in the South Pacific more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) southeast of Australia, its nearest neighbour. The country comprises 2 main islands – the North and South islands – and a number of small islands. New Zealand is about 1,000 miles long and about 280 miles across at its widest point. The land area is approximately 100,000 square miles (268 square km) – a little larger than the United Kingdom. About two thirds of the island is economically useful, the remainder being mountainous. Because of its numerous harbours and fjords, the country has an extremely long coastline relative to its area. The capital city is Wellington, and the largest urban area is Auckland, both located on the North Islands. Christchurch is the main city of the South Island. It lies on the verge of the rich Canterbury Plains, of whose lamb, wool and grain production it is the commercial centre.

Climate. New Zealand‘s climate is determined by its latitude, its isolation, and its physical characteristics. There are no extremes of temperature. Because of the mountain chains that lie across the path of the prevaiting winds, the contrast in climate from west to east is sharper than that from north to south.

Rainfall is highest in areas dominated by mountains exposed to the prevailing westerly and northwesterly winds. Snow is common only in mountainous regions, but frost is frequent in inland valleys in winter.

The people. Contemporary New Zealand has a great majority of people of European origin, a significant minority of Maori, and smaller numbers of Pacific Islanders, Chinese, and Indians. New Zealand population is about 2,5 million people. It is predominantly an English-speaking country.

Historically, New Zealand was never a penal colony. Its people, from the outset, have been – except always for the Maoris – mainly free and British.

The economy. New Zealand has a small, developing economy with a relatively low standard of living compared with those of countries with similar economies such as Australia and Canada. In the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries New Zealand’s standard of living was one of the highest in the world, but since World War II the rate of growth has been one of the slowest among the developed countries.

Government. New Zealand has a parliamentary form of government based on the British model. Legislative power is vested in the single-chamber House of Representatives, the members of which are elected for three-year terms. There are two dominant parties, National and Labour; the party that commands a majority in the House forms the Government. The leader of the governing party becomes the prime-minister, who, with ministers responsible for different aspects of government, forms a Cabinet.

The British monarch is the formal head of state and is represented technically by a governor-general appointed by the monarch to a five-year term.

Education. Education in New Zealand is free, secular, and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15.

Technical institutes, community colleges and teachers colleges form the basis of higher education. There are also several universities and an agricultural college. Entry to the universities requires a modest educational achievement, which is often waived for people 21 years of age or older. There are about 18,000 students at the four universities and many of these are educated by government grants.