Australia

Australia is the world’s smallest continent which is almost completely surrounded by ocean expanses. It is the sixth largest country in the world. Australia is lying south-east of Asia, between the Pacific and Indian oceans.

The east coast of Australia was discovered by Captain Cook in 1770. The name of the country comes from Latin word “australis” which means southern. Its total area is 7,692,208 sq.km. The population of the country is over 20 mln. people.

The continent of Australia is divided into four general topographic regions: a low, sandy eastern coastal plain, the eastern highlands, the central plain, and the western plateau.

Although Australia has a wide diversity of climatic conditions, the climate of Australia is generally warm and dry, with no extreme cold and little frost. It changes from comfortably mild in the south to hot in the central part and north. Australia is situated in the southern hemisphere and that’s why January is the hottest month in this country.

Australia is an amazing country; it has a great variety of flora and fauna. The animals in Australia have a lot of original, for example, dingoes (wild dogs), koala bears, kangaroos, cockatoos, emus and many others.

The Commonwealth of Australia is the official name of the country. The Commonwealth of Australia is a federation of states. The Australian federation was formed on January 1, 1901, from six former British colonies, which thereupon became states.

Australia has six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. Each state has its own government. There are two territories in Australia: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy like Great Britain. Queen of Great Britain is the Queen of Australia and the head of the state. But she serves mainly as a symbol of long historical ties between Great Britain and Australia.

The nation is administered under written constitution. The Australian constitution combines the traditions of British parliamentary monarchy with important elements of the US federal system.

Powers of the federal government are enumerated and limited. The government consists of the British sovereign and the Australian Parliament. The Australian Parliament has two legislative houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Australia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The capital of the country is Canberra. Canberra became the capital in 1927; it is the seat of the Federal Government. Canberra is located in the southeast between the larger and more important economic and cultural centres of Sydney and Melbourne. Moreover, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and others are the ports of the country.

Australia has national flag consisting of a dark blue field (background) with the Union Jack in the canton and six white stars. The new flag was recognized by law on February 14, 1954, when it was approved by the British sovereign.

The official language of the country is English. The fundamental unit of Australian money is the Australian dollar ($A).

Australia is one of the world’s most developed countries. It is the world’s leading producer of wool, wheat and bauxite (the ore from which aluminium is made).

Australia produces and exports large amounts of minerals and farm goods. Income from the export enables Australians to have high standard of living.

1. Memorize the following words and expressions:

1) to surround – окружать; обступать

2) expanse – (широкое) пространство; протяжение; гладь (океана, озера и т.п.)

3) diversity [dai′vә:sәti] – разнообразие; многообразие; разновидность

4) the Commonwealth of Australia –Австралийский Союз

5) New South Wales – штат Новый Южный Уэльс

6) Queensland – штат Квинслэнд

7) Tasmania – штат Тасмания

8) to serve – служить

9) tie – связь

10) to administer – управлять

11) to enumerate – перечислять

12) the British sovereign – Британский монарх

13) the House of Representatives – палата представителей

14) Canberra – г. Канберра

15) background – задний план, фон

16) canton – кантон

17) wool – шерсть

18) bauxite – боксит, алюминиевая руда

19) income – доход

20) to enable – давать возможность или право; создавать возможность, облегчать

21) amount – количество

22) farm goods – сельскохозяйственные продукты

23) the Commonwealth of Nations – Содружество наций

24) Cockatoo – какаду (попугай)

25) emu [′i: mj:u] – эму

26) dingo – динго (дикая собака)

27) koala bear – коала, сумчатый медведь

28) kangaroo – кенгуру

29) amazing – удивительный, изумительный, поразительный

30) hemisphere – полушарие

2. Answer the following questions:

1) Where is Australia situated?

2) Who discovered the east coast of Australia?

3) Where does the name “Australia” come from? What does this name mean?

4) What is the total area of Australia?

5) What is its total population?

6) What topographic regions is the continent of Australia divided into?

7) What can you say about the climate of Australia?

8) In what hemisphere is Australia situated?

9) What are the most interesting animals in this country?

10) What is the official name of the country?

11) The Commonwealth of Australia is a federation of states, isn’t it?

12) How many states and territories are there in Australia? What are they?

13) Who is the country ruled by? Who is the head of the state?

14) What can you say about the Australian constitution?

15) What does the Australian Government consist of?

16) What are the legislative houses of the Parliament?

17) What is the capital of the country?

18) When did Canberra become the capital of Australia?

19) What are the big ports of the country?

20) Where is the seat of the Federal Government?

21) What is the Australian national flag?

22) What is the official language and monetary unit of the country?

23) What does Australia produce and export?

24) Australians have high standard of living, don’t they? Why?