New Zealand is situated in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean, about 2000 kilometres south-east of Australia. It consists of three large islands separated from each other with the Cook Strait, the Steward Island in the south and a number of small islands. The territory of the country is 269 thousand square kilometres. The population is about 3 million people. The capital is Wellington.
New Zealand was opened by Tasman, a Dutch navigator, in 1642. From 1760 British ships began trading with Maoris, the natives of the island. Broad colonization of New Zealand by the British began by buying lands for nothing and driving the Maoris from good lands to reservation. In 1840 New Zealand became a British colony, in 1907 – a British dominion.
New Zealand is a mountainous country. Glaciers, fiords, pristine mountain lakes, hot springs, geysers, mud baths make the beauty of the country. Thanks to it thousands of tourists come to New Zealand all year round and tourism has become one of main sources of income. The climate of New Zealand is warm. The North of the country is subtropical, but it is not very hot. On the whole, climate is favourable for farming. New Zealand is rich in forests of evergreen trees. There are very few native animals. The kiwi, a bird which does not fly, is found nowhere but in New Zealand and it has become the national emblem of the country.
Due to its favourable climate, the leading branch of New Zealand’s economy is agriculture. Both farming and cattle breeding are well developed. New Zealand produces meat, butter, wheat, fruit, vegetables, much of which is exported to different countries of the world, but mainly to Great Britain. One of the main exports is timber. New Zealand has close trade contacts with Great Britain. About 40% of the country’s exports and imports come or go to England. The cities and towns of the country resemble very much those of England and people very often call the country «The Britain of the Pacific».
Like Canada and Australia, New Zealand is a self-governing state and a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. According to its Constitution, it is headed by the Queen of England. But in practice the governor only represents the Queen of England and the country is ruled by the Cabinet with the Prime Minister at the head.
Exercise 3. Answer the following comprehension questions.
1. Where is New Zealand situated?
2. What makes the beauty of the country?
3. What is the climate favourable for?
4. What is the national emblem and when?
5. Who opened New Zealand?
6. What is the native population of New Zealand?
7. When did New Zealand become a British dominion?
8. What is the leading branch of the country’s economy?
9. What is the population?
10. What is the capital of New Zealand?
Exercise 4. Agree or disagree with the following statements, using clichés
for expressing agreement / disagreement.
1. New Zealand occupies south-eastern part of Australian continent.
2. New Zealand is mostly a plain.
3. The country is rich in hot springs, geysers, mud baths.
4. The climate of New Zealand is extremely hot and that is why it is not favourable for agriculture.
5. New Zealand became a Dutch dominion, after it was opened by a Dutch navigator in 1642.
6. When broad colonization began in 1840, the natives (Maoris) were driven from good lands to reservations.
7. The leading branch of New Zealand’s economy is tourism.
8. New Zealand is a small country with population of only 3 million people.
9. Like Canada and Australia, New Zealand is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Exercise 5. Retell the text, using as a plan questions from exercise 3.
Exercise 6. Explain:
1. Why people call New Zealand “Britain of the Pacific”.
2. Why the climate of New Zealand is considered to be favourable for farming.
3. Why the largest percent of the country’s exports and imports come from or go to Britain.
4. Why tourism is one of the sources of state’s income.
Exercise 7. Compare:
| the territory | of New Zealand | and | Canada |
| climate | Australia | ||
| economy | the USA | ||
| population | Great Britain | ||
| political system | Russia |
Exercise 8. Put 5 questions to each of the texts beginning with:
-Can I ask you…
-Do you know (remember)…
-Could you explain…
-I wonder if…
-I’d like to…
-Would you tell me…(remind)
-It is interesting to know…
Exercise 9. Make up dialogues according to the following situations:
1. You both have a chance to live and to work for a while in one of the countries of the British Commonwealth. One of you prefers to go to New Zealand, another one - to Canada. The task is to convince the opponent to go with you.
2. Two students are trying to find out what is common and what is different in the history, geography, economy, political system of Canada and Australia.
3. One of you is a producer, making a film about the beauties of nature for TV programme «Around the world». So, he has to choose only two countries out of the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. He has not yet made up his mind, he goes to his friend, an experienced traveller to ask for advice. What will they speak about?