NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is an island country in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. The country is situated on two main islands - the North Island and the South Island – and several dozen smaller islands. Most of the smaller islands are hundreds of kilometers from the main ones. The population of New Zealand is about 3,910,000.

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and Auckland is the largest city. English is the official language of New Zealand and is spoken throughout the country. Many native people speak their own language, Maori, in addition to English.

The country once belonged to the British Empire. Today it is an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations, an association of Britain and a number of its former colonies. New Zealand's currency is New Zealand dollar.

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. The British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, is the monarch of New Zealand. She appoints a governor general to represent her, but the governor general has little power. The legislation, prime minister, and Cabinet run the national go­vernment. Britain gave New Zealand a constitution in 1852, when it was a British colony. But through the years the New Zealand legislature has changed almost all its provisions. Today, the nation has no written constitution.

New Zealand has one of the highest standards of living in the world. The government's medical program provides excellent health care. About 70 % of New Zealand people own their houses. Almost every family has a car. Most New Zealanders live in single-family houses with small vegetable gardens. In the larger cities, some people live in high-rise apartment buildings.

For many years, the economy of the country depen­ded largely on agriculture. Today agriculture, manufacturing, and service industries are all important to the economy. New Zealand’s economy depends on trade with many countries - Australia, Britain, Japan and the United States.

 

IV. Words to be learnt:

to be situated – быть расположенным

the North Island – Северный остров

the South Island – Южный Остров

dozen – дюжина

capital - столица

to appoint – назначать

governor –general – генерал-губернатор

legislation – законодательная власть

 

Exercises to the text:

 

I. Find the Russian equivalents in the right-hand column for the following:

1. island	1. относиться
2. several	2. независимый
3. to belong to	3. королева
4. independent	4. стандарт
5. queen	5. несколько
6. power	6. изменять
7. prime minister	7. жить
8. standard	8. остров
9. to change	9. сила
10. to live	10. жизнь
	11. премьер-министр
	12. король

 

II. Fill in the blanks with the words given below:

1. New Zealand is an … country in the Southwest Pacific Ocean.

2. Most of the smaller islands are hundreds of kilometers from the … ones.

3. Wellington is the … of New Zealand and Auckland is the largest city.

4. Many native … speak their own language, Maori, in addition to English.

5. The British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, is the … of New Zealand.

 

People, monarch, island, capital, main

 

III. Confirm or rebut the following statement:

1. The country is situated on two main islands - the North Island and the South Island.

2. The population of New Zealand is about 391 000.

3. English is one official language of New Zealand and is spoken throughout the country.

4. New Zealand has one of the highest standards of living in the world.

5. New Zealand’s economy depends on trade with many countries - Australia, Britain, Japan and the United States.

 

IV. Answer the following questions:

1. Where is New Zealand situated?

2. What city is the capital of New Zealand?

3. What languages do people in New Zealand speak?

4. Who is New Zealand’s head of the state?

5. What is the New Zealand’s currency?

6. How many New Zealanders own their houses?

 

V. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English:

1. Государственный язык Новой Зеландии – английский, на нём говорят по всей стране.

2. Сейчас страна является независимым членом Содружества, ассоциации Британии и нескольких бывших её колоний.

3. Сейчас государство не имеет записанной конституции.

4. В Новой Зеландии уровень жизни – один из самых высоких в мире.

5. Новозеландская экономика зависит от торговли со многими странами.

6. Коренное население говорит на своём собственном языке – маори.

7. Когда-то страна входила в состав Британской империи.

8. Елизавета II – глава государства Новой Зеландии.

9. Австралия, Великобритания и Япония – важные деловые партнёры.

10. Пробки на дорогах встречаются редко, даже в центре города.