Unit 23 the federation is 'over-governed'

1. Pronounce the following words and word combinations. Use a dictionary if necessary.

To straddle, amber, frustration, community, headache, inefficiency, colony, confidently, millennium, geographical, isolation, hemisphere, arid, commonwealth, legislature, mismatch, incoherence, to align, concession, spiralling, responsive, inherent, suspicion.

2. Give Russian equivalents to the following words and word combinations.

Twin city, to straddle the border between, headlamps on school buses, to flash, amber lights, to share similar frustrations, to result from federal system, to hold a population of, to hinder, arid environment, to levy and to collect taxes, incoherence in policy-making, to be in need of handouts, to draft a challenge to the federal grant system, national inward investment body, to play states off against each other, to poach established businesses from each other, gambling, to fund spiralling health and education costs, to pose a challenge, to compete for resources, to be more responsive to local needs, to overcome difficulties inherent in federation.

3. Read the text again and answer the following questions.

1. Why does the local bus company have to operate two fleets of school buses?

2. Why do the citizens of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads share similar frustrations?

3. What results from Australia’s federal system?

4. How was Australia run by the British?

5. Why hasn’t Australia’s population reached 100m by the millennium?

6. What is the political system in Australia?

7. What are the responsibilities of the commonwealth government?

8. What are the states primarily responsible for?

9. What problems has this funding system created?

10. Why wasn’t it a good idea that the richer states would help the poorer and less populated ones?

11. What is the problem with gambling?

12. Why is it difficult to develop long-term strategies in health?

13. What are the problems concerning competition in water and energy?

14. Why is it difficult to govern well within a federation?

1. Complete the sentences with the information taken from the text.

1. If taxing rights and responsibilities were more closely …, the system would work much better.

2. The citizens of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads share similar … .

3. They cannot fund … health and education … .

4. The federation grew out of the administrative system established by the … who ran Australia as six separate … .

5. The … … levies and collects most taxes, including those on income, companies and sales.

6. Companies have also been able to … states … against each other.

7. Greater effort is needed to … the difficulties … in federation.

8. The Sunshine state is no longer in need of … .

5. Explain the following English words and word combinations in your own words.

To straddle, frustration, to hinder, arid environment, commonwealth, grant, fiscal power, mismatch, incoherence in policy-making, handout, arbitrary decision, to play off against, to mothball, spiralling costs, multi-government solutions, inherent.