Reading. New Zealand is situated in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean on two large islands: the North Island and the South Island

Text 1 New Zealand

New Zealand is situated in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean on two large islands: the North Island and the South Island. Its total area is 268,112 sq. km. Less than ¼ of the territory of the country lies below the 200 m contour line. The South Island is significantly more mountainous than the North Island. New Zealand has a temperate, moist ocean climate without marked seasonal variations in temperature or rainfall. The total population is 3.3 mln people with an average population density of about 12 persons per sq. km. About 85% of the population is classified as Europeans. English is the universal language. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington.

Like the United Kingdom, New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. Officially the head of the state is the British Queen (or the King) whose representative, the governor-general, is appointed for five-year term. The government of New Zealand is democratic and modeled on that of the United Kingdom. The economy of New Zealand has traditionally been based on pastoral farming. The last decades have seen a large expansion in light industries. New Zealand draws many thousands of tourists to its shores because of the beauty, diversity, and compactness of its natural attractions.

Text 2 Australia

Australia lies to the south-east of Asia, between the Pacific and Indian oceans. It is the world’s smallest continent which is almost completely surrounded by ocean. Its total area is 7,682,300 sq.km. 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. It changes from comfortably mild in the south to hot in the central part. The total population in 2013 was about 22 min people with the average population density of about 2 persons per sq.km. Most Australians are of British or Irish ancestry. More than 99% of the population speaks English. The capital of Australia is Canberra. Australia has a federal parliamentary government. The Australia federation was formed on January 1, 1901, from six former British colonies, which thereupon became states. 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.

Australia is the world’s largest wool producer and wheat exporter. The main sources of foreign earnings are wool, food and minerals which also provide raw materials for home processing industries.

Text 3 Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world. It occupies the northern part of the continent of North America and a lot of islands. Canada’s motto¹, ―From Sea to Sea, is particular appropriate² because the country is bounded by three oceans – the Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. Its vast area includes some of the largest lakes and countless smaller ones. One third of all fresh water on Earth is in Canada. Canada‘s name comes from an Indian word ‘kanata’, which means – village.

The first French settlers used the Indian name for the colony, but the official name was – New France. When the area came under the British rule in 1897, the new country was called the Dominion of Canada, or simply Canada. Canada is a union of ten provinces and two territories. Compared with other large countries, Canada has a small population, only about 30 mln people. The country, however, is one of the world’s most prosperous. Canadians developed its rich natural resources and, in the process, have achieved a high standard of living. Canada is a constitutional monarchy. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and Queen Elisabeth II is its official head of state. Although the Queen holds this high position, she doesn’t rule. She serves as a symbol of British tradition. Her representative³ in Canada is the Governor General, whom she appoints (назначает) on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. The Governor’s duties are limited to symbolic, mostly ceremonial acts. The real power belongs to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The Canadian Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Commons and the Senate.

There are two official languages in the country: English and French. All Canadian children have to learn both French and English. At school, but Franco-phones and Anglophones don not enjoy learning each other’s language. “We have two race, two languages, two systems of religious belief, two sets of laws, two system of everything”, said one Canadian journalist.

Canada is rich in oil, coal, natural gas. Canada is famous for its lakes, besides the Great Lakes there are many others, such as Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake, Winnipeg Lake. The capital of Canada is Ottawa, which is a city of bridges, because the city is surrounded by rivers and channels.

Notes:

1. motto – девиз

2. particular appropriate – особенно подходит

3. representative – представитель

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