2015-06-28
1401
New Zealand is an island country in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1,600 km southeast of Australia and about 10,500 km southwest of California. New Zealand belongs to a large island group called Polynesia. The country is situated on two main islands and several small islands. The main islands are the North Island and the South Island.
The capital of the country is Wellington. The largest city of the country is Auckland. The official language of the country is English. Most aborigines speak English and their own language, Maori.
The country belonged to the British empire. Now it is an independent country. New Zealand is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. The British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, is the monarch of New Zealand. But she has no power. The real power in the country belongs to the legislation, the prime minister and the Cabinet. But the nation has no written constitution.
Maoris were the first people who settled in New Zealand. They were brown skinned. They came from Polynesian islands located northeast of New Zealand. The country was discovered by Europeans in 1642. But they didn't start to settle in the islands until the late 1700's. Today, most New Zealanders are descendants of the early European settlers. About 12 per cent of the country's population are Maoris.
New Zealand has one of the highest standards of living in the world. About 70 per cent of New Zealand people have their own houses. Almost every family has a car. New Zealand is one of the world's developed countries. The main industries of the country are agriculture, manufacturing and service industries.
| island- остров to lie[lai] – лежать, располагаться aborigines– коренное население to belong to -принадлежать empire- империя monarchy- монархия monarch- монарх power- сила legislation -законодательство prime minister– премьер-министр | to settle —поселиться brown skinned -темнокожий until- до descendant- потомок per cent- процент population- население to develop- развиваться agriculture– сельское хозяйство manufacturing- производство service industry– сфера обслуживания | |
| Answer the questions. 1. Where does New Zealand lie? 2. What island group does New Zealand belong to? 3. What are the main islands of New Zealand? 4. What is the capital of the country? 5. What is the largest city of New Zealand? 6. What is the official language of the country? 7. Now New Zealand is an independent country, isn't it? What country did New Zealand belong to before? 8. Who rules the country now? 9. Who does the real power in New Zealand belong to? | 10. Does the nation have a written constitution? 11. What do you know about Maoris? Where did they come from? 12. When was New Zealand discovered by Europeans? 13. When did Europeans start to settle in the islands? 14. How much of the country's population are Maoris? 15. New Zealand is one of the world's developed countries, isn't it? Prove it. | |
| Match the two parts of the sentences. 1. The official language of the country is... 2. Maoris were... 3. New Zealand is a member of... 4. The real power in the country belongs to... 5. The country belonged to... 6. The capital of the country is... 7. About 12 per cent of the country's population are... 8. The country is situated... 9. The country was discovered... 10. New Zealand lies... | ... Maoris. ... about 1,600 km southeast of Australia and about 10,500 km southwest of California. ... Wellington. ... English. ... by Europeans in 1642. ... the first people who settled in New Zealand. ... on two main islands and several small islands. ... the Commonwealth of Nations. ... the British empire. ... the legislation, the prime minister and the Cabinet. | |
| Put in the missing words according to the text. | ||
| 1. They were.... 2. Today, most New Zealanders are... of the early European.... 3. Most aborigines speak English and their own language.... | 4. The main industries of the country are....... and.... 5. New Zealand is a constitutional.... 6. But she has no.... 7. New Zealand has one of the highest... of living in the world. | |
| Choose the correct verb for each blank. didn't start, came, lies, belonged, belongs, is, was discovered | ||
| 1. The country... by Europeans in 1642. 2. New Zealand... about 1,600 km southeast of Australia and about 10,500 km southwest of California. 3. The British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom,... the monarch of New Zealand. | 4. They... from Polynesian islands located northeast of New Zealand. 5. New Zealand... to the British empire. 6. New Zealand... to a large island group called Polynesia. 7. Europeans... to settle in the islands until the late 1700's. | |
| Read and learn by heart the dialogue. Then act it out. | ||
| Shop assistant: Good afternoon. Can I help you? Customer: Yes, you can. I'm looking for a present for my friend. Shop assistant: What present would you like? Something usual or unusual? Customer: I'm not quite sure. I know that she likes birds. Shop assistant: What birds does she prefer? Maybe a parrot or a canary? Customer: Which would you recommend? Shop assistant: Well, in my opinion, it's very good to have a parrot as a pet, because you can teach a parrot to speak. Customer: I'm sorry. What bird is there in the next cage? | Shop assistant: Oh, it's a very unusual bird, kiwi. Customer: Kiwi. The bird is called kiwi, isn't it? As for me I know and like only fruit kiwi. Shop assistant: Kiwi lives only in New Zealand's forests. Customer: Oh, yes. It seems to me that I begin to remember that the kiwi is the national emblem of New Zealand. Shop assistant: Yes, right you are. To tell you the truth, it's very easy to take care of it. Customer: OK. It sounds good to me. | |
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