ST.

ANTHONY’S COLLEGE
San Jose, Antique

Name: _Ryle Miguel H. Muescan___________________ Program and Year Level -_BSN 4-B_____________

Term and AY: 1st 2022-2023 GEC-114 Literatures of the World (W7)

Russian and Australian

Literatures
WORKSHEET
Activity 1
Research
Directions: Read ample sources about geographical, physical, cultural, etc. aspects of Australia and Russia.
Describe each country based on your researches.

AUSTRALIA

GEOGRAPHY
Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is one of the largest countries
on Earth. Australia has a lot of fertile land and abundant natural resources, but more than one-third of it is
desert.

In the southwest and southeast of Australia, where the climate is more agreeable, are where the majority of
cities and farmland are found. In the northeast there are substantial rain forests. The largest deserts in the
nation are found in the famed outback (remote rural areas), where it is extremely hot, there is little water, and
there is hardly any flora.

PHYSICAL FEATURES
There are three physical regions in Australia. They are as follows:
Eastern Highland
The Eastern Highland region of Australia, which consists of hills, mountains, and plateaus, is the
highest area of the country. The Eastern Highland region stretches for 3000 km parallel to the south, and its
highest point is 900 meters above sea level.
The large dividing ranges, which are further separated into a tiny range, are known as the eastern highlands.
similar to how Australia's biggest snowy peak is located in the eastern highlands, ranges include New England
plateaus, the Australia Alpes, the snowy Mountains, and the Grampian Mountains. It is Mt. Kosciusko, which
may be found in the Australian Alps in New South Wales. Kosciusko is 2,228 meters high.
The Central Lowlands

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 The center lowlands are located between the gulf of Carpentaria in the north and the Tampa Bay in the
south. Because the eastern highlands prevent rainfall, the central lowlands are extremely dry. the 170,000 km2
Simpsons Desert, which starts in the central lowland. The Simpson Desert contains Lake Eyre, the biggest salt
pan (lake) in Australia. The Flanders Range is a mountain range that extends 800 km and is around 1100 km
north of Adelaide. Its tallest peak, St. Mary Peak, is 1171 m high. The central lowland can also be split into
three sections. the Murry Darling Basin, the Lake Eyre Basin, and the Carpentaria Lowland.
The Western Plateaus
The western plateau is a low, flat region that has been eroded over a million years. It roughly occupies
two thirds of the continent and is located in western Australia. Here, the nullar or plain found in the southern
section of the western plateaus is located. There are numerous deserts on the western plateau as well. This area
is exceptionally dry because of the cold coastal currents; some of the deserts include The Gibson, Tanami
Canning, Great Sandy, and Grate Victoria, among others.
Climate
Australia experiences hot, rainy summers and chilly, dry winters in its northern belt, which is known as
the monsoon climate.   Tropical climate refers to the hot, rainy summer and warm, rain-free winter found in the
south-east regions of continents. Similarly, the western plateau's tropical desert climate is described as having
extremely hot and dry summers. Similar to this, the south-east and west have a Mediterranean climate with hot,
dry summers and cold, wet winters. Additionally, there are climates in the east with moderate temperatures and
rainfall.
Natural Vegetation
Tropical vegetation: Can be found along the Queensland coast and the Northeastern coast. Here, trees
like bamboo, birch, palm, and cedar, among others, can be found.
Temperate Grasslands: The southern region of tropical vegetation is home to temperate grasslands. It
contains sparse bushes and short trees since it gets little rainfall. Downs are the name for the
grasslands found throughout Australia.
Tropical Grasslands/Savanna: The world's largest grassland is the savanna. It can be found in
Australia's Murray-Darling basin. People keep animals and raise cattle because there is a lot of pasture
land.
Mediterranean Vegetation: This kind of vegetation is primarily found in Australia's southern region.
Trees like eucalyptus, rubber, karri, and jarrah can be found.
Desert Vegetation: This is the dry vegetation found in the western plateau. Plants are found having the
throne in it, like acacia, salt-bush, mallee, cactus etc.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

One of the countries with the widest ethnic diversity is Australia. Australian residents who were born
abroad make up almost a quarter of the population. Along with the UK and other European nations,
they also originate from China, Vietnam, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Australia's populace loves the outdoors thanks to its bright, pleasant environment and wealth of open
areas. The locals are also huge sports fans, especially their own invention, Australian rules football, as
well as swimming, surfing, sailing, tennis, soccer, cricket, and rugby.

Religion
Although 52% of Australians identify as Christians, despite the fact that Christianity is the majority
religion in the nation, there is no official national religion in Australia. As long as they don't infringe the law,
people in Australia are free to practice any religion they want. Australia's observance of religions from all over
the world shows the country's cultural variety. International students in Australia should speak with their
international student officer about the amenities available at their educational institution as the majority of
universities and localities have facilities and places of worship for all religions.
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 Although there is no official language in Australia, the majority of people speak English as their first
language. Even a significant proportion of first- and second-generation migrants were among the 73% of
Australians who only spoke English at home, according to the 2016 census. Australian English has a unique
lexicon and accent. Australia has a huge variety of languages spoken since people have immigrated there from
around 200 different nations. Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, and Greek are among the additional
languages spoken in Australia. There were once thought to be around 400 Australian Aboriginal languages,
but today there are just 70 lefts, and all but 30 of them are endangered.
Arts
Art in Australia has existed since the beginning of time. It comprises works by artists from various
genres, including as Aboriginal, Colonial, Landscape, Atelier, early 20th-century painters,
printmakers, photographers, and sculptors. Australia has a lengthy history of art. Aboriginal art has
been documented for at least 30,000 years. Indigenous Australian rock art can be seen all throughout
the continent. Australia has a long and amazing history, and over that time, both the Western and
Indigenous Australian schools have produced many great artists.
Australia is home to a large number of important art museums and galleries that are supported by
university and privately held museums as well as the federal, state, and local governments. The
National Portrait Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, the Canberra Museum and
Gallery, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales are
among the more well-known of these institutions.
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane, the South
Australian Art Gallery in Adelaide, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart, the Museum
and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia in
Perth are also noteworthy institutions. Fine arts enthusiasts studying abroad in Australia will
undoubtedly find much to keep them occupied during their stay.

RUSSIA

GEOGRAPHY
The largest country in the world, Russia, takes up tenths of the planet's surface. It has coastlines on
three seas, crosses two continents (Europe and Asia), and encompasses 11 time zones (the Atlantic, Pacific, and
Arctic).
The geography of Russia is diverse, ranging from desert to icy shoreline, high mountains to enormous
wetlands. Steppes, or undulating, treeless grasslands, make up a large portion of Russia. Taigas, which are vast
pine woods, make up the majority of Siberia, which comprises three-quarters of Russia.
About 100,000 rivers flow through Russia, including some of the world's longest and most powerful. It
also includes numerous lakes, including Ladoga and Onega, the two largest in Europe. More water is present
in Lake Baikal in Siberia than any other lake on the planet.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
Russia has a wide variety of physical features, such as rivers, mountains, plains, plateaus, lakes, and more. The
following are a few of Russia's most notable natural landmarks or landforms:
 The Volga River Plain -  stretches from western European boundaries to the Ural Mountains.
 The Caucasus Mountains -  found in the southwest of the country, are home to Mount Elbrus, the
highest peak in all of Russia.
 The Ural Mountain range - stretches from the Arctic Ocean to Kazakhstan's northern border, serves as
a natural border between Europe and Asia.

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  Lake Baikal - Situated in a rift valley in southern Siberia, Lake Baikal is the world's deepest lake
(about 5,300 feet).
 Lake Ladoga - Lake Ladoga is located in northwestern Russia and is Europe's largest lake.
 Lake Onega - is the second-largest lake in Europe and is also found in northwest Russia.
 The Great Steppe/Eurasian Steppe - is a huge region of grassy plains with mild temperatures that
stretches through Central Europe and Eastern Asia from China to Hungary. This area was a crucial
trading route for the Middle Ages Silk Road and is significant for agriculture.
 Taiga - The subarctic coniferous forest that makes up more than half of Russia is mostly found in the
northeastern Siberian region. The area boasts the world's greatest forest cover and has a cold climate
for the majority of the year. The region is covered in spruce, pine, and evergreen trees, and many furry
animals call it home. The taiga zone is home to about 33% of Russians.
 The Kolyma Mountains - are a group of mountains that run approximately parallel to the Siberian
shore in northeastern Russia.
 Tundra - Less than 1% of Russia's population lives in the tundra, a region that makes up approximately
10% of the country but is characterized by marshy, treeless plains. Tundra is found in or above the
Arctic Circle, in the northernmost part of Russia. The growing season is quite brief on the tundra, which
is characterized by its mainly arid landscape and extreme cold.
 West Siberian Plain - centrally located in Russia, is one of the world's largest plains and flatlands. To
the east of the Ural Mountains, this plain is surrounded by taiga for a significant chunk of its length.
The plain covers about 1,200,000 sq. miles.
 The East European Plain - commonly referred to as the "Russian Plain," is located to the west of the
Ural Mountains. It is a about 2,000,000 square foot plain. one of the world's largest plains, covering
miles of land.
 The Central Siberian Plateau is a vast mountainous territory in north-central Siberia that was formerly
a volcanically active area and is now abundant in different minerals and nutrients. Both the tundra and
the taiga regions of Russia contain the region.
 The Valley of Geysers - which has about 200 geysers and numerous hot springs, is the second-largest
concentration of geysers in the world. It is situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far-eastern Russia.
 Caspian Sea - The biggest lake in the world, is located in Central Asia and Russia.
 The most renowned and/or important rivers that flow through Russia are the Volga, Dnieper, Dvina,
Lena, Ob, Yenisey, and the Amur.

Climate
Russia’s climate ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European
Russia, and subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north. Winters vary from cool along the Black
Sea coast to frigid in Siberia. Summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along the Arctic coast.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Languages
 Despite English being the second most common language spoken by Russians, Russian is the official
language. According to the BBC, more than 100 minority languages are still used today in Russia.
According to the CIA, Dolgang is the most widely spoken and is used by more than 5.3 percent of the
population. Tartar, Ukrainian, Chuvash, Bashir, Mordvin, and Chechen are some more minority
languages. Although these minority people make up a small portion of all Russians, their languages are
widely spoken in some regions.
 In Russia, there are over a hundred different languages spoken by around 120 different ethnic groups.
Russians can trace their heritage to the Slavs who arrived in the nation 1,500 years ago in about 80% of
cases. Tatars, who arrived with the Mongol invaders, and Ukrainians are two more significant ethnic
groups.

Religions

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  Even during periods of tyranny, religion has always been a significant aspect of Russian life, according
to Wagner.
 In Russia, there are just about 5,000 recognized religious organizations. According to the Russian
Federation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than half adhere to the Russian Orthodox Church.
 According to the CIA World Factbook, Islam is the second-largest religion, and between 10 and 15
percent of Russians identify as Muslims.
 Tengrism, a type of pagan, animistic, and shamanic religion, is the third most common religion in
Russia after Christianity and Islam, according to Christina de Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and
Southgate College in London. Tengrism, which derives from the Turk and Mongol inhabitants of
Central Asia, has had a renaissance in some regions of Russia because some regional independence
movements saw it as a component of a particular Central Asian ethnic identity.

Arts, Literature and Architecture

 Russian ballet is a well-known and renowned art genre. The Bolshoi Dance is a renowned classical
ballet company situated at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow that was established in 1776. Another well-
known ballet group in Russia is the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg.
 Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who lived in the 19th century, is well known for his works
"Swan Lake" and "1812 Overture," among others. His personal possessions and musical artifacts are
shown at a number of museums, including the one in which he spent his formative years.
 Russian literature has also had a worldwide impact, with writers such as Leon Tolstoy ("Anna
Karenina" and "War and Peace") and Fyodor Dostoevsky ("Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers
Karamazov") still being read around the world.
 The Russian nesting doll is one of the nation's well-known icons. The wooden dolls in these sets,
referred to as matrioshka dolls, can be pulled apart to reveal a smaller counterpart of the same picture
inside, and so on. Frequently, there are six or more dolls nested inside of one another. Each doll's
painting, which can be quite detailed, typically represents a Russian peasant girl wearing traditional
attire.
 Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Rudolf Nureyev are just a few of the
famous writers, composers, and artists from Russia who are well-known throughout the world.

Food and Beverages

 Borshch, often known as borscht, is one of the most popular traditional Russian cuisines that may look
weird to an outsider. This beet soup is loaded with meat and vegetables and is sometimes served with a
dollop of sour cream, a common ingredient in many Russian cuisines.
 Pirozhkis are little baked buns that can be stuffed with cheese, cheese, potatoes, meat, or cabbage. They
should not be confused with pierogis, which are packed with meat, cheese, potatoes, or sauerkraut and
are boiled before being fried.
 Caviar, or ikra, traditionally made from the eggs of sturgeon found in the Black Sea or Caspian Sea, is
often served on dark, crusty bread or with blini, which are similar to pancakes or crepes.
 Popular alcoholic beverage vodka is historically produced by distilling fermented potatoes. Tea and
beer are also popular beverages.

Activity 2
Home Reading Activity
Summer Anniversary
by Chas Adlard

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 The front of the train loomed closer, as clear from afar as near, the window's dirt hiding the identity of the
driver within, front buffers extended with the markings of countless challenge.

The screaming started then, as always, and the ferocious spectacle of oncoming death rode ugly on the face of
the train. Now the shape began to change, slowly at first, then gathering continual kinetic energy to merge into a
blur of speed and heavy steel. Terrifying pulsations, and then - he saw her. Her face, turned towards him,
showed the terror of her impending death. Agonising screams rode on every movement and then suddenly
sanity returned, bringing an awareness to his troubled mind.

He lay still, conscious of the soaked and tangled bedclothes, knowing that the screams were his, and too, the
sobs of pity in the aftermath of fear. Some minutes passed before he managed to separate himself from his linen
bonds. He walked naked towards the open window. As he passed the full length dressing mirror the first shadow
of morning threw his image at him, taunting him with a hidden terror. No, in this grey light was realisation, and
today, the promise of eventual peace.

The fading night air still reflected the intense heat of the previous day. As he looked out across the city towards
Mount Lofty he was thankful to see no sign of any fires. The forecast, promising two more days of unrelenting
hot weather, would have fire-fighters nervously monitoring the hills area.

The water pressure was strong as it cascaded warmly down his back, draining away the last remnants of stress.
Breakfasting first, on only orange juice and fruit, he left his home just before six o’clock.

*****

Dooley looked up, only to put the damn hook through his finger.
"Some bastards have all the luck."
"Too right."

Except for the distant sleek Mercedes, the two fishermen had the beach to themselves. Waves that flowed with
powerful grace across the vast white sand would soon lose their momentum. The early breeze was easing now
and the silver crests that bounced on the bigger rollers were few. Dooley and his mate had lost interest in the
Mercedes driver - just another weekend tourist beating the rush.

Far from the entry ramp the Mercedes had stopped, facing seawards, the engine still running. The driver, a
mature gentleman of kind expression, emerged from the luxurious cabin. His dress would have surprised most,
dark lounge suit complete with white shirt, black tie and shoes. He busied himself around the car for some time
before draping a tarpaulin over the vehicle's rear. Eventually, satisfied with his work, he crawled under the tarp
and into the comfort and shade that the back seat now offered. Secure now, he listened to the CD softly playing
the songs she had so enjoyed. As he opened the bottle of Krug, which had sat deep in the reducing ice, he
hummed in time to the melody. Both the silver bucket and crystal glasses were significant and for more than
thirty years had taken special place during their anniversary of love.

Out beyond the windshield the perfect blue of sky met the sea below in mellow contrast. Both glasses now full,
he caressed the rim of the other with his own and with a steady hand sipped the cold champagne in grave salute.
The purr of the engine seemed distant and the cabin interior, although stuffy, worried him little. With his eyes
closed her vision was so clear, her beauty not marred by the mesh of tortured metal. For three hundred and
sixty-five pain-filled days he had been alone. The train had robbed him of her love, a love undying, pledged to
eternity.

They'd both enjoyed the beach here at Sellicks. They'd called it an instant holiday. Their children, who now had
families of their own, seldom went to any beach. Cars now passed in cavalcade, and loud music rent the day.

"Another champagne, my darling? Why not? And another?"

*****
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 Hours later children ran past the Mercedes, had second thoughts and turning, came close and peered into the
dark interior. The smoky glass allowed no penetration of his secret place and with sudden poke of tongue they
were gone. The heat was excessive now, though it mattered little. For he had entered a different world - a
peaceful untroubled world. Her world.

*****

Adelaide celebrated the old century just after lunch. The Mercedes engine, although the laborious result of
many skilled hands, grumbled and stopped.
"Thank God for that, Bert."
"Yeah. About bloody time." He raised his voice.
"Probably some sort of pervert, Annie."

She shouted for her children to come away from the car, for the umpteenth time.
"Fancy coming to the beach just to sit in airconditioned comfort."
"Hmm", mused Bert. But they were wrong.

Later when the family had gone a group of teenagers threw a ball back and forth across the Mercedes' roof.
When they tired of their game, they lounged against the front of the vehicle in light discussion before heading
off towards the ramp.

*****

The beach was quieter now, for most had gone and in their wake lay discarded cold drink cans and coloured
wrappings. Ten degrees had taken the edge off the day and an offshore wind buffeted the sea into an angry
cleansing force. Many would speak of the Mercedes on their journey home, and in time so would more. A lone
jogger, who saw the tide closing on the vehicle, thought it unusual but hardly his business. His dog, who was
more curious than his master, urinated on a front wheel. Later still, two seagulls left splattered evidence of their
visit.

*****

The two fishermen walked around the vehicle, and Dooley tapped on the glass. His mate pulled aside the
tarpaulin.
"Look 'ere, mate."

Dooley had seen a piece of plastic hose and tape put to better use.
"Poor bastard."
"Yeah, mate."

Deepen

Essay
Directions: On the space provided below, discuss in not less than 200 words the distinct Australian way of
living based on the story and your readings.

The story revolves around a man named Bert who lost the love of his life in a fatal accident and how it
affected him in life. During their anniversary, he reminisced on the memories they had by going back to the

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 beach where they would always celebrate. His life is filled with tragedy and loneliness as he long for wife all
this time. While life is the same for others, Bert is certain that the only way to ease the pain is to end his life and
join his love in the afterlife. He took and his own life and spent eternity with his wife on the afterlife. According
to this story, I identified that the Australian are fascinated with the idea of romance and tragedy as well as their
faith in their loved ones. Australians believe in the idea that true love is a life-time experience, when people
meet someone they truly love, they are destined to be together till the end. This story shows the unmatching
selflessness of Australians towards the people they love, they are more caring towards the people that mean a
lot to them rather than to themselves. In the story, it also shows how Australians are outgoing and friendly.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!
1. Upon accomplishment of all the activities. Submit your output in a PDF format. Please follow this template
for the file name of your output: initialsSURNAME.COURSE#.W# (ex. jpVASQUEZ.GEC114.W1)
2. Please use this document for your answers. Do not create a different document.

REFERENCES:
Australia. (2021, February 10). Geography. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/australiaBradford, A. (2017, December

15). Russian Culture: Facts, Customs & Traditions. livescience.com. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from

https://www.livescience.com/44154-russian-culture.html

Kullabs. (n.d.). Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://kullabs.com/class-9/social-studies-9/our-earth-1/the-

physical-features-of-australia

Nag, O. S. (2018, October 16). Australia’s Most Famous Geographical Features. WorldAtlas. Retrieved

October 3, 2022, from https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/australia-s-most-famous-geographical-

features.html

Russia. (2022, April 7). Geography. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/russia#:%7E:text=The%20Russian

%20landscape%20varies%20from,sprawling%20pine%20forests%20called%20taigas.

Study.com | Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers. (n.d.).

Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/mapping-the-physical-human-

characteristics-of-russia-central-asia.html

The People and Culture of Australia | Study in Australia. (n.d.). International Student. Retrieved October 3,

2022, from https://www.internationalstudent.com/study_australia/living_in_australia/people-culture/

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