Australia is an island continent situated south-east of Asia between the Pacific and Indian oceans. The Australian Commonwealth occupies the whole of the continent and the island of Tasmania. It has an area of 8 million square kilometers, nearly as large as the United States.
Australia is mostly a plain. Its highest point, Mount Kosciusko, is 32 feet high.
The climate of Australia varies from warm to subtropical. Being in the southern hemisphere, Australia has summer, when we in the northern hemisphere have winter, and winter when we have summer.
The animals of Australia are very numerous and some of them, including the kangaroo, the dingo and the koala, are not found in any other country.
For the first time this continent was mentioned in the 15th century and only in 1770 Captain Cook’s visit opened the continent for the English. At the beginning of 18th century there were only 10000 people. After 1851, when gold was found in Australia, the population greatly increased.
Today, there are about 16 million people in Australia; most of them are of the British origin. Now there are only 40000 aborigines. They live mostly in the deserts and savannah, and their number is decreasing.
The biggest cities of Australia are: Sydney, Melbourne, and the capital Canberra. Australia has a highly developed industry but agriculture is the main occupation of it. It is especially known for its sheep breeding. Wool and mutton are the main items of Australia’s export. Australia is self-sufficient concerning agricultural products. It exports wool, wheat, meat, fresh and dry fruits, gold, some minerals.
The Commonwealth of Australia is a self-governing federal state and a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Formally the Head of the state is the Queen of England. Australia has a parliament in each state (6 states – 2 territories) for local affairs and the Federal Parliament of the Commonwealth, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The government of the country is headed by the Prime Minister, the leader of the Party, which has the majority in the House of Representatives.
Exercise 3. Answer the following comprehension questions.
1. Where is Australia situated?
2. What is its territory?
3. What is unusual for you about its climate?
4. What animals can be found only in Australia?
5. Who opened the continent for the English?
6. What is the population of Australia? (aborigines)
7. Can you name the main occupation of the country?
8. What does Australia export?
9. Who is the Head of the state? (formal and real)
10. What does the Federal Parliament consist of?
Exercise 4. Agree or disagree with the statements, using clichés for expressing
agreement / disagreement.
1. Australia is situated in Southern America.
2. The Australian Commonwealth occupies the whole of the continent and the island of Tasmania.
3. Australia is a mountainous country.
4. There are 3 climatic zones in Australia: arctic, temperate and tropical.
5. The Kangaroo, the dingo and the koala are not found in any other country.
6. Australia was opened by Captain Cook in the 15th century.
7. The population of the country is 13 million people, most of them are aborigines.
8. Agriculture is the main occupation of Australia.
9. Australia exports airplanes, cars and imports wool, wheat, leather, vegetables and fruit.
10. Australia is a self – governing federal state.
Exercise 5. Make up a plan of the text.
Exercise 6. Retell the text according to your plan.
Exercise 7. Explain:
1. Why does Australia have summer, when we have winter.
2. Why did the population of Australia begin increasing after 1851.
3. Why is the Queen of Great Britain considered to be the formal Head of the State.