Australia

Fact File

Name origin: The name is derived from Latin word australis meaning “southern”

Total area: 7,617,930 sq. km

Population: 22,350,919 (2010 estimate)

Official languages: English

National anthem: 'Advance Australia Fair'

Royal anthem: ' God Save the Queen'

Capital: Canberra

Largest city: Sydney

Government: Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Six states – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia

Two territories – the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II (symbolic)

Longest river: the Murray (2375 km long)

Highest mountain: Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 meters high)

Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)

National holiday: Australia Day (26th January)

National symbols: koala and eucalyptus, kangaroo, dingo, emu

Ex. 1. Practise the pronunciation of the following geographical names:

Australia – [Os’treiljə] – Австралия

Pacific Ocean – [pə’sifik ‘əuSn] – Тихий океан

Indian Ocean – [‘indjən ‘əuSn] – Индийский океан

Tasmania – [t xz’meiniə ] – Тасмания

Western Plateau – [,westən ‘plxtəu] – Западное плоскогорье

Eastern Highlands – [,i:stən ‘hailəndz] – Восточное плоскогорье

Central Lowlands – [,sentrəl ‘louləndz] – Центральная долина

Canberra – [‘kxnbərə] – Канберра

Adelaide – [‘xdleid] – Аделаида

British Empire – [‘britiS ‘empaiə] – Британская империя

Great Sandy Desert – [‘greit ‘sxndi ‘dezət] – Большая Песчаная пустыня

Great Dividing Range – Большой Водораздельный Хребет

Great Barrier Reef – Большой Барьерный риф

Sydney – [‘sidni] – Сидней

Melbourne – [‘melbən] – Мельбурн

Queensland – [‘kwi:nzlxnd] – Квинсленд

Murray – [‘mAri] – Муррей

Australian Alps – [Os’treiljən ‘xlps] – Австралийские Альпы

Mount Kosciusko – [‘maunt,kOzi’ Askəu] – гора Косцюшко

Ex. 2. Read the following international words and guess their meanings:

N	A	V
continent	coral	to illustrate
plateau	elective	to identify
climate	private	to invest
reef	natural	to organize
equator	extreme	to demonstrate
farmer	civil	to discuss
ocean	stable	to correct
mile	cultural	to transport
monarchy	permanent	to control
sphere	sporadic	to test
peak	Rare