Australia
Australia is the only country in the world that is also a continent. It is the sixth-largest
country and the smallest continent. Australia lies between the South Pacific Ocean
and the Indian Ocean.
About 65,000 years ago the first settlers arrived in the continent. They were the
earliest sea travelers. Before European arrival in the early 17th century there were
from 300,000 to a million aborigines on the continent. They spoke more than 200
different languages but none of them had a written language.
Willem Janszoon (a Dutch navigator) is considered the first European who landed
on the coast of Australia in 1606. He named it ‘New Holland’. In1642 another Dutch
navigator Abel Tasman made a voyage during which he discovered an island that
was later named Tasmania.
In 1770 a British explorer James Cook arrived in Australia and explored the eastern
coast of the continent. He named these lands ‘New South Wales’ and proclaimed
them British property.
Europeans began to settle in the continent in 1788 when a British colony was
founded there. The British government decided to send prisoners to their new
colony. So, the fleet of 11 ships arrived with the first prisoners, guards, and senior
staff in January of 1788. These people founded the first European settlement which
later was named Sydney. And the date of the 26th of January became Australia’s
national day (or Australia Day).
Over the next century, other settlements were established at the places of modern
Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, and Perth. Over the next 80 years Australia took about
160,000 prisoners.
In 1850s gold deposits were found in Australia. The gold rush began. It brought
thousands of immigrants to Australia from the British Isles, continental Europe, North
America, and China.
At the end of the 19th century Australia had six independent colonies: Tasmania,
Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. In
1901 the colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia.
After World War II many people were left homeless in their countries. At the same
time Australia needed a labour force to develop its economy. These reasons led to
a post-war immigration to Australia. Newly arrived immigrants found employment in
a booming manufacturing industry and government-assisted programmes.
Australia
Australia is the only country in the world that is also a continent. It is the sixth-largest
country and the smallest continent. Australia lies between the South Pacific Ocean
and the Indian Ocean.
About 65,000 years ago the first settlers arrived in the continent. They were the
earliest sea travelers. Before European arrival in the early 17th century there were
from 300,000 to a million aborigines on the continent. They spoke more than 200
different languages but none of them had a written language.
Willem Janszoon (a Dutch navigator) is considered the first European who landed
on the coast of Australia in 1606. He named it ‘New Holland’. In1642 another Dutch
navigator Abel Tasman made a voyage during which he discovered an island that
was later named Tasmania.
In 1770 a British explorer James Cook arrived in Australia and explored the eastern
coast of the continent. He named these lands ‘New South Wales’ and proclaimed
them British property.
Europeans began to settle in the continent in 1788 when a British colony was
founded there. The British government decided to send prisoners to their new
colony. So, the fleet of 11 ships arrived with the first prisoners, guards, and senior
staff in January of 1788. These people founded the first European settlement which
later was named Sydney. And the date of the 26th of January became Australia’s
national day (or Australia Day).
Over the next century, other settlements were established at the places of modern
Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, and Perth. Over the next 80 years Australia took about
160,000 prisoners.
In 1850s gold deposits were found in Australia. The gold rush began. It brought
thousands of immigrants to Australia from the British Isles, continental Europe, North
America, and China.
At the end of the 19th century Australia had six independent colonies: Tasmania,
Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. In
1901 the colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia.
After World War II many people were left homeless in their countries. At the same
time Australia needed a labour force to develop its economy. These reasons led to
a post-war immigration to Australia. Newly arrived immigrants found employment in
a booming manufacturing industry and government-assisted programmes.
The arrival of immigrants from two hundred countries fundamentally changed all The arrival of immigrants from two hundred countries fundamentally changed all
aspects of Australian society and made Australia one of the most multinational aspects of Australian society and made Australia one of the most multinational
countries in the world. countries in the world.

The name of the country comes from the Latin word Australis which means
‘southern’. The country’s official name is the Commonwealth of Australia. It is a
federation of states. Australia has six states – New South Wales, Queensland, South
Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia – and two major mainland
territories – the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. The latter one
was formed from New South Wales in 1911 to provide a location for the proposed
new federal capital of Canberra.
The name of the country comes from the Latin word Australis which means
‘southern’. The country’s official name is the Commonwealth of Australia. It is a
federation of states. Australia has six states – New South Wales, Queensland, South
Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia – and two major mainland
territories – the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. The latter one
was formed from New South Wales in 1911 to provide a location for the proposed
new federal capital of Canberra.

Australia is a constitutional monarchy like Great Britain. The British Monarch, Queen Australia is a constitutional monarchy like Great Britain. The British Monarch, Queen
Elizabeth II, is also Queen of Australia and the country’s head of state. But the Elizabeth II, is also Queen of Australia and the country’s head of state. But the
queen has little power in the Australian government. She serves mainly as a symbol queen has little power in the Australian government. She serves mainly as a symbol
of a long historical tie between Great Britain and Australia. of a long historical tie between Great Britain and Australia.

The flag of Australia consists of a blue field with the Union Jack (it also symbolises a
historical connection between Great Britain and Australia), a large white seven-
pointed star (the Commonwealth Star where six points represent the six states of
Australia and one represents the territories), and five white stars (representing the
Southern Cross which is a symbol of Australia’s location in the southern
hemisphere).
The flag of Australia consists of a blue field with the Union Jack (it also symbolises a
historical connection between Great Britain and Australia), a large white seven-
pointed star (the Commonwealth Star where six points represent the six states of
Australia and one represents the territories), and five white stars (representing the
Southern Cross which is a symbol of Australia’s location in the southern
hemisphere).

Australia is a country with modern factories, highly productive mines and farms, and Australia is a country with modern factories, highly productive mines and farms, and
busy cities. Income from exports enables Australians to have a high standard of busy cities. Income from exports enables Australians to have a high standard of
living. From a former colony, Australia turned into a highly developed country with living. From a former colony, Australia turned into a highly developed country with
one of the highest immigration rates. one of the highest immigration rates.

settler – поселенец homeless – бездомный settler – поселенец homeless – бездомный

Dutch navigator – голландский мореплаватель labour force – рабочая сила Dutch navigator – голландский мореплаватель labour force – рабочая сила
discover – открывать, обнаруживать employment – работа discover – открывать, обнаруживать employment – работа
explorer – исследователь propose – предлагать explorer – исследователь propose – предлагать
proclaim – объявлять, провозглашать represent – представлять proclaim – объявлять, провозглашать represent – представлять
property – собственность hemisphere – полушарие property – собственность hemisphere – полушарие
prisoner – заключенный mine – шахта prisoner – заключенный mine – шахта
establish – основывать income – доход establish – основывать income – доход
deposit – месторождение enable – давать возможность deposit – месторождение enable – давать возможность
gold rush – золотая лихорадка turn into – превращать(ся) gold rush – золотая лихорадка turn into – превращать(ся)
the Commonwealth - содружество rate – показатель, уровень the Commonwealth - содружество rate – показатель, уровень