III. Retell the text

II. Answer the questions

I. Finish the sentences

1. Australia is located between ….

2. The climate of the country …..

3. Britain used Australia as …..

4. “Australia” means …..

5. Australia is known as a producer of …

1. Where is Australia located?

2. How many parts does it consist of?

3. When did Captain Cook come to Australia?

4. How was the country used by British at first?

5. What is the main occupation of Australians?

UNIT 13

NEW ZEALAND

Comprise– вміщувати, складатися з

Desert – пустеля

Skiing resort – лижний курорт

Earth worms – земляні черви

insects – комахи

extinct - вимерлий

to be threatened with extinction – під загрозою зникнення

single-chamber parliament – однопалатний парламент

appoint – призначати

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main large islands (North and South) and numerous much smaller islands. New Zealand is situated southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea.

The only geographical feature NZ doesn’t have is Coral reef. NZ has all rest: deserts, forests, valleys, mountains, volcanoes, plains. Smoke and steam are characteristic features of NZ. They come from volcanoes and geysers. That’s why the Maori called NZ the country of long white clouds.

The New Zealand climate is temperate with no real extremes. South and North islands have heavy snowfalls in winter which provide great skiing. Queenstown is all year-run tourist skiing resort.

About 10 or 15% of the total area of NZ is native flora, protected in national park and reserves.

One of the most noticeable plants is the pohutakava (known as the NZ Christmas tree) which detonates with brilliant red flowers around December.

NZ has the worlds largest flightless parrot, the only truly alpine parrot (kea), the biggest earthworms, the smallest bats, some of the oldest trees, and many of the rarest birds, insects and plants in the world. Far too many species of birds have become extinct since humans arrived on NZ included the various species of spiders, Dinornis (moa). Over 150 native plants – 10 % of the total number of native species and many native birds are presently threatened with extinction.

The population is about 4 million. Over 70% of the population is in the North Island. The largest centre is Auckland and the capital Wellington.

The official languages are English and Maori. English is more widely spoken, through the Maori language for so long on the decline, is now making a comeback.

The dominant cultural groups are the Pakeha and the Maori. Christianity is the most common religion.

NZ is the constitutional monarchy with a single-chamber parliament. The monarch is said “to rain but not rule”. The Queen has merely ceremonial duties. When the monarch is absent from the country, which is most of the time, those duties and powers are delegated to the Governor-General who is appointed by the monarch.

The flag of NZ is blue with the flag of the UK in the upper side guadrant with four red five-pointed stars.

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