Vocabulary

due to ['dju:tu] — завдяки

to inhabit [ɪn'hæbɪt] — заселяти

possession [pə'zeʃ(ə)n] — володіння

crown [kraun] — корона

to accept [ək'sept] — визнавати

to refer [rɪ'fə:] to — посилатися на

outback ['autbæk] — австрал. малонаселений, необжитий район

to merge [mə:dʒ] — з'єднуватися; поглинати

QUESTIONS

1. Why was Australia the last continent to be inhabited by the white man?

2. When did the first landing by Europeans take place ?

3. What did James Cook do ?

4. What were the other names of Australia ?

5. What happened in 1901?

Australia. Political system

Australia is now an industrialized state. The Commonwealth of Australia is composed of six states and two territories: the State of New South Wales with its capital in Sydney, the State of Victoria with itscapital in Melbourne, the State of South Australia with its capital in Adelaide, the State of Queensland with its capital in Brisbane, the State of Western Australia with its capital in Perth, the State ofTasmania with its capital in Hobart, Australian Capital territory with its Federal Capital in Canberra, and Northern Territory with its capital in Darwin. The Commonwealth of Australia also includes some islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Though Australia is now an independent federal state, according to the Constitution the head of the state is the Monarch of Great Britain, represented by the Governor-General. His duties includeassenting tobills, opening, proroguing and dissolving Parliament and commissioning the Prime Minister to form a government. Each of the six states has a Governor who carries out duties similar to those of the Governor-General.

The highest political authority is the Parliament, which consists of a 148-member House of Representatives and a 76-member Senate. Elections to the House of Representatives are held every three years, when the whole House of Representatives is replaced. The senators are elected for six years, and one half of the Senate is replaced every three years.

The leader of the party that wins a majority in the House of Representatives automatically becomes the prime minister and appoints the Cabinet.

There are three main political parties in Australia: the Labour Party, the Liberal Party and the National Party.

Each year on January 26th Australian people celebrate Australia Day — a national holiday in memory of the landing of the British in 1788.

Vocabulary

industrialized [ɪn'dʌstrɪəlaɪzd] — із розвиненою промисловістю

to be composed [kəm'pəuzd] of — складатися з

to represent [,reprɪ'zent] — представляти, репрезентувати

to assent to [ə'sent] — погоджуватися з будь-чим, санкціонувати

to prorogue [prə'roug] — призначати перерву в роботі парламенту

to dissolve [dɪ'zɔlv] — розпускати, припиняти діяльність

to commission [kə'mɪʃ(ə)n] — призначати на посаду

authority [ɔ:'θɔrɪtɪ] — влада

to replace [rɪ'pleɪs] — заміняти

to win a majority [mə'dʒɔrɪtɪ] — завоювати більшість

to appoint [ə'pɔɪnt] — призначати

QUESTIONS

1. What is Australia composed of?

2. What are the capitals of each state ?

3. What is the capital of Australia ?

4. Who is the head of the state? Who is he represented by?

5. What are the duties of the Governor-General?

6. What does the Parliament consist of?

7. How often are the elections to the Parliament held?

8. Who becomes the prime minister?

9. What are the main political parties in Australia ?

10. When do Australian people celebrate Australia Day?

TASK

Complete the text to receive the story about any country you like (e.g. Ukraine, the USA, the UK, Australia, etc).

........ is a........ in......... The countryside is........ in the

north and........ in the south. Tlie country's economy is based

on......... The best-known river in........ is ......... The most

famous chain of mountains is........and. the highest mountain in

that chain is................. is a major environmental problem

in........ today......... is rich in......... The main city of ........

........stands on the bank of the one of the world's........rivers.

One of the city's big attractions is......... The city enjoys.........

One can visit the main places of interest: .................

SYDNEY

Sydney, say the "Sydneysiders", is the most beautiful city on earth. You can't believe everything they say, but it's hard to disagree. Sydney lies in beautiful hills beside one of the best harbours in the world near 60 kilometres of wonderful beaches. It has a perfect Mediterranean climate, fresh sea air and exciting people from all over the world. In fact, a quarter of Sydney's population weren't even born in Australia.

Sydney is Australia's oldest city. Captain Cook stopped near here at Botany Bay in 1770. The first Europeans who came to Australia put up their tents at Sydney Cove. Soon the first houses were built, and in only 200 years the city turned into a megapolis for 3,5 million people.

Sydney is the most modern place in Australia. Its buildings are the highest, its fashions are the newest and its colours are the brightest. A lot of Australia's exciting cultural life is found in Sydney. Artists, writers, opera singers and film makers all live here. So some people call the city "the Paris of the Pacific". But that doesn't seem quite right. Paris hasn't got all that sea, sand, sun and surf.

Sydneysiders, as well as many visitors to Australia, come to Bondi Beach to relax and take a rest. Some of them really relax. Others are too busy — they're jogging, swimming or riding the great waves on their surfboards.

Paddington is an area of beautiful houses one hundred years old near the centre of Sydney. The Australians call it "Paddo". For a long time, Paddington was unfashionable, and the houses looked old and dirty. Now it is fashionable again, and the houses have been painted and repaired. "Paddo" is a good place to live in. There's only one problem. The houses are very expensive.

Australian cities have the same problems as other cities of the world. There are poor people, homeless people, people with drinking problems, and people with no hope. There are many families with only one parent, and it is very difficult for some young people to find a job. The problems are big ones, but at leastthe cities are small. Sydney, the largest city, has only 3,5 million people.