Австралия (контроль чтения)

Read the text do the following exercises:

Australia Today

Australia is a continent, a country and an island all at the same time. It is the sixth largest country and the smallest continent in the world. Australia is located in the southern hemisphere. That is why it has summer when we have winter and it has winter when we have summer. It is interesting to know that January is the hottest month in Australia.

Australia is situated south of Asia, between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. Australia is the world's driest continent. Huge areas of land are so dry that they are uninhabited. There are rainforests in the north, snowfields in the south-east, deserts in the centre and fertile croplands in the south and south-west. Australia is also the flattest continent after Antarctica.

Australia is a very urban country. About 70 per cent of the population live in the 10 largest cities. Most of the population is in the south-eastern corner of the country and only 15 per cent of the population live in rural areas. Canberra is the capital of Australia. It is not the biggest city. Sydney and Melbourne are much larger. The state of Tasmania is separated from the continent of Australia. It is an island-state.

Australians love their wildlife. The Australian government pays a lot of attention to the preservation of the environment. In the past many trees had been cut down. The government plans that one billion new trees will have been planted. They have already planted 550 million trees.

1. True or false?

1. Australia is a continent, a country and an island all at the same time.

2. Australia is located in the northern hemisphere.

3. Australia is situated west of Asia.

4. Australia is the world's coldest continent.

5. About 70 per cent of the population lives in the 10 largest cities.

6. Canberra is the biggest city.

7. The state of Tasmania is an island-state.
   h) The Australian government pays a lot of attention to the preservation of the environment.

2. Give full answers.

a) Why is January the hottest month in Australia?

b) Why is Australia the world's driest continent?

c) Why does the Australian government pay a lot of attention to the preservation of the environment?