Australia

1 Read and translate the text given below:

Australia is a large country lying between the Indian and Pacific oceans. Australia is an island, like Britain, but unlike Britain it is vast. It is, in fact, nearly twenty-five times as large as the British Isles. Its area is about 8,000,0002 km. Australia is the world’s driest continent, huge areas are so dry that they are not inhabitant. There are rainforests in the north, snowfields in the south-east, desert in the centre and fertile croplands in the south and south-west.

Australia was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770. He was sent to discover the huge land that many people believed was south to equator. He landed south of present day Sydney and claimed this part of the land for the King of England. At that time England had many social problems, crime level was very high, so the King sent most of the prisoners to far colonies, to Australia. In 1901 Australia became a nation within the British Empire under Queen’s Victoria rule. And in 1931 it gained independence from Great Britain.

The first Australian people were dark-skinned Aborigines, and though the coming of the white settlers destroyed their tribal lives, some sixty thousand still survive in Australia today. Their account for about 1% of the population. They may be found in the island areas of the country. Some live in modern cities but it is not really easy for them.

Australia is a very urban country. About 70% of the population live in the 10 largest cities. Canberra is the capital, but it is not the biggest city. Sydney and Melbourne are much larger.

Australians love their wildlife. This country is well-known for its rare animals who inhabit only Australian territory. They are kangaroos, platypus, echidna, dingoes, wombats and some others. The Australian government pays a lot of attention to the preservation of these endangered animals and environment.

Australians also love sports. It is one of the few countries in the world that has participated in all the Olympic Games since they were organized, they were held in Australia twice – in Melbourne in 1956 and in Sydney in 2000.

2 Give Russian equivalents:

Twenty-five times as large as, inhabitant, rainforests, fertile croplands, south to equator, social problems, crime level, to gain independence, dark-skinned Aborigines, tribal lives, survive, wildlife, endangered animals.

3 Translate into English:

Самый засушливый континент в мире, плодородные поля, к югу от экватора, прибыть, отдаленные колонии, государство под властью Британской Империи, темнокожий, урбанизированная страна, сохранение, окружающая среда.

4 Correct the sentences:

1) Australia is a large country lying between the Indian and Arctic oceans.

2) Australia is the world’s coldest continent.

3) Australia was discovered by Magellan in 1770.

4) In 1901 Australia became a nation within the Rome Empire under Queen’s Victoria rule.

5) The first Australian people were Eskimos.

6) Sydney is the capital of Australia.

7) Australia is the only country in the world that has participated in all the Olympic Games since they were organized.

5 Fill in the gaps:

1) The USA is a big country which lies on the territory of the North American continent … Mexico and Canada.

2) The Rostov Region is three times … large … France or Spain.

3) South … equator the weather turns warmer and more humid.

4) The students have to tell everything they know … topics of the text-book.

5) Kosovo wants to gain independence … Serbia.

6) Sydney is famous … Sydney Opera House.

7) She is very active, she always participates … all school meetings and events.

6 Find some more information and make a small presentation about:

a) Australian history

b) Australian Aborigines and their culture

c) Australian endangered animals

d) Sydney Olympic Games 2000

e) Australian world-known sights

7 Australia is sometimes called “Terra Incognita” which means “Unknown Land”. Find some more facts about Australia and prove whether this statement is true or false.

CANADA

1 Read and translate the text given below:

Canada is a vast country, bigger than the United States, bigger than the continent of Australia. It is in fact one of the world’s largest countries. Its area is about 10 mln sq km. As Canada extends for thousands of miles from the Arctic Ocean to the United States and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, all kinds of weather conditions and scenery are to be found there.

Canada has a bowl-shaped geologic structure rimmed by highlands, with Hudson Bay at the lowest point. The country has eight major regions—the Canadian Shield, the Hudson Bay Lowlands, the Western Cordillera, the Interior Lowlands, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, the Appalachians, the Arctic Lowlands, and the Innuitians.

The population of Canada is 29 mln people. About 40% of the Canadian population are of British descent, while 27% are of French origin. The capital is Ottawa; the main cities are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Before white people came to the territory of Canada it was inhabited by native people – Indians. The word Canada comes from one of the Red Indian languages – "Kannata", meaning "a number of huts". Canada is often called the "Land of the Maple Leaf" maybe because the maple leaf is the national emblem of Canada.

The story of Canada goes back over 400 years. The French were the first settlers to this country. In 1759 Canada became part of the British Empire. In 1931 was Independence from Britain. Today Canada is an independent federative state, consisting of 10 provinces and 2 territories that are Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia —and three territories— Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon Territory. It is a member of the Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain. The two official languages are English and French. Many other languages are spoken: Italian, Chinese, German, Polish and Greek. Canada is a country with a very high standard of living. This country is particularly advanced in the areas of health, education, social protection and human rights.

2 Give Russian equivalents:

To extend for, weather conditions, scenery, bowl-shaped geologic structure, the national emblem, the British Empire, goes back, high standard of living, human rights.

3 Translate into English:

Погодные условия, самая низкая точка, Аппалачи, французское происхождение, коренные жители, быть населенным, члены Содружества, высокий уровень жизни, социальная защита.

4 Answer the questions:

1) Canada is bigger then Australia, isn’t it?

2) What oceans is Canada washed by?

3) What is the capital of Canada?

4) Tell some words of the origin of the word “Canada”?

5) What are major Canadian regions?

6) How is Canada connected with the British Empire?

7) Who are native people in Canada?

8) Who is the Head of the country?

9) What are national languages?

10) Is a standard of living high?

5 Find some information and make a presentation about:

a) History of Canada

b) National emblem of Canada

c) Native people

d) Bilingual population of Canada

e) Canadian lakes

Список литературы

1. Орловская И.В. Учебник английского языка для технических университетов и вузов. - М.: МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана, 2006.- 447с.

2. Ощепкова В.В., Шустилова И.И. О Британии кратко. - М.: Иностранные языки Оникс, 2001. - 224 с.

3. Удальцова Э.Д., Минкин С.И. Английский язык для поступающих в вузы. - Смоленск: Русич, 2000. - 464 с.

4. Dooley Jenny, Evans Virginia. Blockbuster III. - Express Publishing, 2005. 152 p.

5. Klementieva T., Shannon J. Happy English III. - Обнинск: Титул, 1999. - 242 с.

6. Sharova N.A. The British Isles: countries, people, traditions, culture. - Voronezh: Voronezh State University, 2004. - 144 p.