If I saw someone robbing the bank, I would call the police

2) You fall over and break your arm.

3) You catch a bad cold.

4) You burn your dinner.

5) A shop assistant is rude to you.

2. Раскройте скобки, используя II тип условных предложений:

1) Mike ………. (lend) me some money if I ………. (ask) him.

2) If he ………. (have) a car, he ………. (go) for a drive in the country.

3) Linda ………. (post) the letters if she ………. (have) some stamps.

4) If I ………. (be) you, I ………. (study) for the exams.

5) If Margaret ………. (win) the lottery, she ………. (buy) a yacht.

6) Ben ………. (buy) some new clothes if he ………. (have) enough money.

7) If I ………. (be) rich, I ………. (never/ work) again.

8) If watches ………. (not/ cost) so much, they ………. (buy) one.

9) Sam ………. (open) the lock if he ………. (have) the key.

10) If she ………. (get) good grades, she ………. (go) to university.

______________

III тип условных предложений:

1. выражают условия, не реализованные в прошлом, а поэтому совершенно невыполнимые:

If Jack hadn't missedthe bus, he wouldn’t have been late for work yesterday (Jack missed the bus yesterday, so he was late for work).

if – предложение	главное предложение
if + past perfect	→ would/ could/ might + have + past participle

If she had called earlier, I would have told her about the meeting (She didn’t call earlier, so

I didn’t tell her about the meeting).

___________

1. Прочитайте историю, данную ниже, и составьте предложения с использованием III типа условных предложений по образцу:

Ben offered to help his neighbor fix the roof so he climbed up the ladder. He fell off the ladder and broke his leg. He went to hospital. He met Linda there. They fell in love and got married six months later.

1) If Ben hadn’t offered to help his neighbor fix the roof, he wouldn’t have climbed up the ladder.

2) If he hadn’t climbed up the ladder, ………………………………….

3) ……………………………………………….…………………………...

4) ……………………………………………………………………………

5) ……………………………………………………………………………

6) ……………………………………………………………………………

7) ……………………………………………………………………………

2. Раскройте скобки, используя III тип условных предложений:

1) If she ………. (remember) earlier, we ……….. (send) our boss a birthday card.

2) If Richard ………. (do) his homework, his teacher ………. (not/ shout) at him.

3) — I have failed my exam today.

— Well, if you ………. (study) harder, you ………. (not/ fail).

4) — I'm sorry.

— What for?

— If I ………. (not/ leave) the door open, the puppy ………. (not/ escape).

5) Jason ……….. (not/ break) his arm if he ……….. (be) more careful.

6) If I ………. (not/ leave) the map at home, I ………. (not/ lose) my way.

7) — I dropped a plate and cut my finger.

— If you ………. (be) careful, you ……….. (not/ cut) yourself.

8) If Sam ………. (attend) the meeting, he ………. (sign) the contract.

________________

Irregular Verbs

Infinitive		Past Tense		Past Participle		Перевод
arise	[ə'raiz]	arose	[ə'rəuz]	arisen	[ə'riz(ə)n]	возникать, появляться
awake	[ə'weik]	awoke	[ə'wəuk]	awoken	[ə'wəukən]	будить, просыпаться
be	[bi:]	was, were	[wɔz], [wə:]	been	[bi:n]	быть
bear	[bɛə]	bore	[bɔ:]	born	[bɔ:n]	рождать, приносить
beat	[bɪ:t]	beat	[bɪ:t]	beaten	['bɪ:tn]	бить
become	[bɪ'kʌm]	became	[bɪ'keɪm]	become	[bɪ'kʌm]	становиться
begin	[bɪ'gɪ n]	began	[bɪ'gæn]	begun	[bɪ'gʌn]	начинать(ся)
bend	[bend]	bent	[bent]	bent	[bent]	гнуть, сгибать
bind	[baɪ nd]	bound	[baund]	bound	[baund]	связывать
bite	[baɪt]	bit	[bɪt]	bitten	['bɪtn]	кусать(ся)
bleed	[bli:d]	bled	[bled]	bled	[bled]	кровоточить
blow	[bləu]	blew	[blu:]	blown	[bləun]	дуть
break	[breɪk]	broke	[brəuk]	broken	['brəukən]	ломать(ся)
breed	[bri:d]	bred	[bred]	bred	[bred]	воспитывать
bring	[brɪŋ]	brought	[brɔ:t]	brought	[brɔ:t]	приносить
build	[bɪld]	built	[bɪlt]	built	[bɪlt]	строить
burn	[bə:rn]	burnt	[bə:nt]	burnt	[bə:nt]	гореть, жечь
burst	[bə:st]	burst	[bə:st]	burst	[bə:st]	разразиться, взрывать(ся)
buy	[baɪ]	bought	[bɔ:t]	bought	[bɔ:t]	покупать
can cast	[kæn] [kɑ:st]	could cast	[kud] [kɑ:st]	(been able to) cast	[bɪ:n eɪbl tə] [kɑ:st]	мочь, уметь кинуть, лить (металл)
catch	[kætʃ]	caught	[kɔ:t]	caught	[kɔ:t]	ловить, схватывать
choose	[tʃu:z]	chose	[tʃəuz]	chosen	['tʃəuz(ə)n]	выбирать, подбирать
come	[kʌm]	came	[keɪm]	come	[kʌm]	приходить
cost	[kɔst]	cost	[kɔst]	cost	[kɔst]	стоить
cut	[kʌt]	cut	[kʌt]	cut	[kʌt]	резать
dig	[dɪg]	dug	[dʌg]	dug	[dʌg]	рыть, копать
do	[du:]	did	[dɪd]	done	[dʌn]	делать
draw	[drɔ:]	drew	[dru:]	drawn	[drɔ:n]	рисовать, тащить
dream	[dri:m]	dreamt, dreamed	[dremt] [drɪ:md]	dreamt, dreamed	[dremt] [drɪ:md]	мечтать, сниться
drink	[drɪŋk]	drank	[dræŋk]	drunk	[drʌŋk]	пить
drive	[draɪv]	drove	[drəuv]	driven	['drɪvən]	водить
eat	[ɪ:t]	ate	[eɪt, et]	eaten	['ɪ:tn]	есть, кушать
fall	[fɔ:l]	fell	[fel]	fallen	['fɔ:lən]	падать
feed	[fɪ:d]	fed	[fed]	fed	[fed]	кормить
feel	[fɪ:l]	felt	[felt]	felt	[felt]	чувствовать
fight	[faɪt]	fought	[fɔ:t]	fought	[fɔ:t]	бороться
find	[faɪ nd]	found	[faʊnd]	found	[faund]	находить
fit	[fit]	fit	[fit]	fit	[fit]	подходить по размеру
fly	[flaɪ]	flew	[flu:]	flown	[fləun]	летать
forbid forget	[fə'bɪ:d] [fə'get]	forbade forgot	[fə'beɪd] [fə'gɒt]	forbidden forgotten	[fə'bɪd(ə)n] [fə'gɒt(ə)n]	запрещать забывать
forgive	[fə'gɪv]	forgave	[fə'geɪv]	forgiven	[fə'gɪvən]	прощать
freeze	[frɪ:z]	froze	[frəuz]	frozen	['frəuzən]	замерзать
get	[get]	got	[gɔt]	got	[gɔt]	получать
give	[gɪv]	gave	[geɪv]	given	['gɪvən]	давать
go	[gəu]	went	[went]	gone	[gɔn]	идти, ходить
grow	[grəu]	grew	[gru:]	grown	[grəun]	расти
hang	[hæŋ]	hung	[hʌŋ]	hung	[hʌŋ]	висеть, развешивать
have	[hæv]	had	[hæd]	had	[hæd]	иметь
hear	[hɪə(r)]	heard	[hə:d]	heard	[hə:d]	слышать
hide	[haɪd]	hid	[hɪd]	hidden	[hɪdn]	прятать
hit	[hɪt]	hit	[hɪt]	hit	[hɪt]	попадать в цель
hold	[həuld]	held	[held]	held	[held]	держать
hurt	[hə:t]	hurt	[hə:t]	hurt	[hə:t]	ранить, ушибить
keep	[kɪ:p]	kept	[kept]	kept	[kept]	держать, сохранять
kneel	[nɪ:l]	knelt	[nelt]	knelt	[nelt]	становиться на колени
knit	[nɪt]	knit, knitted	[nɪt] ['nɪtɪd]	knit, knitted	[nɪt] ['nɪtɪd]	вязать (спицами)
know	[nəu]	knew	[nju:]	known	[nəun]	знать
lay	[leɪ]	laid	[leɪd]	laid	[leɪd]	класть, положить
lead	[lɪ:d]	led	[led]	led	[led]	вести, возглавлять
lean	[lɪ:n]	leant	[lent]	leant	[lent]	наклоняться
learn	[lə:n]	learnt	[lə:nt]	learnt	[lə:nt]	учить
leave	[lɪ:v]	left	[left]	left	[left]	оставлять, покидать
lend	[lend]	lent	[lent]	lent	[lent]	занимать, одалживать
let	[let]	let	[let]	let	[let]	позволять
lie	[laɪ]	lay	[leɪ]	lain	[leɪn]	лежать
light	[lait]	lit	[lit]	lit	[lit]	освещать, зажигать
lose	[lu:z]	lost	[lɔst]	lost	[lɔst]	терять
make	[meɪk]	made	[meɪd]	made	[meɪd]	делать
mean	[mɪ:n]	meant	[ment]	meant	[ment]	значить
meet	[mɪ:t]	met	[met]	met	[met]	встречать
mistake	[mɪs'teɪk]	mistook	[mɪs'tuk]	mistaken	[mɪs'teɪk(ə)n]	ошибаться
pay	[peɪ]	paid	[peɪd]	paid	[peɪd]	платить
put	[pʊt]	put	[pʊt]	put	[pʊt]	класть, ставить
read	[rɪ:d]	read	[red]	read	[red]	читать
ride	[raɪd]	rode	[rəud]	ridden	['rɪdn]	ехать верхом
ring	[rɪŋ]	rang	[ræŋ]	rung	[rʌŋ]	звонить, звенеть
rise	[raɪz]	rose	[rəuz]	risen	['rɪzən]	подниматься
run	[rʌn]	ran	[ræn]	run	[rʌn]	бежать
say	[seɪ]	said	[sed]	said	[sed]	говорить
see	[sɪ:]	saw	[sɔ:]	seen	[sɪ:n]	видеть
seek	[sɪ:k]	sought	[sɔ:t]	sought	[sɔ:t]	искать
sell	[sel]	sold	[səuld]	sold	[sould]	продавать
send	[send]	sent	[sent]	sent	[sent]	посылать
set sew	[set] [səu]	set sewed	[set] [səud]	set sewn	[set] [səun]	класть, ставить шить
shake	[ʃeɪk]	shook	[ʃʊk]	shaken	['ʃeɪkən]	трясти
shine	[ʃaɪ n]	shone	[ʃəun] [ʃɒn]	shone	[ʃəun, ʃɒn]	светить, сиять, блестеть
shoot	[ʃu:t]	shot	[ʃɒt]	shot	[ʃɒt]	стрелять
show	[ʃəu]	showed	[ʃəud]	shown	[ʃəun]	показывать
shrink	[ʃriŋk]	shrank	[ʃræŋk]	shrunk	[ʃrʌŋk]	садиться (о материале), уменьшать(ся), сокращать(ся)
shut	[ʃʌt]	shut	[ʃʌt]	shut	[ʃʌt]	закрывать
sing	[sɪŋ]	sang	[sæŋ]	sung	[sʌŋ]	петь
sink	[sɪŋk]	sank	[sæŋk]	sunk	[sʌŋk]	тонуть
sit	[sɪt]	sat	[sæt]	sat	[sæt]	сидеть
sleep	[slɪ:p]	slept	[slept]	slept	[slept]	спать
smell	[smel]	smelt	[smelt]	smelt	[smelt]	нюхать, пахнуть
slide	[slaɪd]	slid	[slɪd]	slid	[slɪd]	скользить
sow	[səu]	sowed	[səud]	sown	[səun]	сеять, засевать
smell	[smel]	smelled	[smeld]	smelled	[smeld]	нюхать, пахнуть
speak	[spɪ:k]	spoke	[spəuk]	spoken	['spəukən]	говорить
spell	[spel]	spelt	[spelt]	spelt	[spelt]	произносить по буквам
spend	[spend]	spent	[spent]	spent	[spent]	тратить
spill	[spɪl]	spilt	[spɪlt]	spilt	[spɪlt]	проливать
spit	[spɪt]	spat	[spæt]	spat	[spæt]	плевать
split	[splɪt]	split	[splɪt]	split	[splɪt]	расщеплять
spoil	[spɔɪl]	spoilt	[spɔɪlt]	spoilt	[spɔɪlt]	портить
spread	[spred]	spread	[spred]	spread	[spred]	распространять(ся)
stand	[stænd]	stood	[stʊd]	stood	[stʊd]	стоять
steal	[stɪ:l]	stole	[stəul]	stolen	['stəulən]	воровать
stick	[stɪk]	stuck	[stʌk]	stuck	[stʌk]	приклеивать(ся), застревать, упорствовать
sting	[stiŋ]	stung	[stʌŋ]	stung	[stʌŋ]	жалить
strike	[straɪk]	struck	[strʌk]	struck	[strʌk]	ударять, бастовать
strive	[straɪv]	strove	[strəuv]	striven	['strɪvn]	стараться, стремиться
swear	[sweə]	swore	[swɔ:]	sworn	[swɔ:n]	давать клятву
sweep	[swɪ:p]	swept	[swept]	swept	[swept]	мести, подметать
swim	[swɪm]	swam	[swæm]	swum	[swʌm]	плавать
take	[teɪk]	took	[tʊk]	taken	['teɪkən]	брать, взять
teach	[tɪ:tʃ]	taught	[tɔ:t]	taught	[tɔ:t]	учить
tear	[teə(r)]	tore	[tɔ:(r)]	torn	[tɔ:n]	рвать
tell	[tel]	told	[təuld]	told	[təuld]	рассказывать
think	[θɪŋk]	thought	[θɔ:t]	thought	[θɔ:t]	думать
throw	[θrəu]	threw	[θru:]	thrown	[θrəun]	бросать
understand	[ʌndər 'stænd]	understood	[ʌndər 'stʊd]	understood	[ʌndər'stʊd]	понимать
upset	[ʌp'set]	upset	[ʌp'set]	upset	[ʌp'set]	опрокидывать, расстраивать (планы), огорчать
wake	[weɪk]	woke	[wəuk]	woken	['wəukən]	просыпаться
wear	[weə(r)]	wore	[wɔ:(r)]	worn	[wɔ:n]	носить
weep	[wɪ:p]	wept	[wept]	wept	[wept]	плакать
wet	[wet]	wet	[wet]	wet	[wet]	мочить, увлажнять
win	[wɪn]	won	[wʌn]	won	[wʌn]	выигрывать, побеждать
wind	[waɪ nd]	wound	[waund]	wound	[waund]	извиваться, обматывать, заводить (часы)
write	[raɪt]	wrote	[rəut]	written	['rɪtn]	писать

CULTURE CORNER

Scotland

A Place to Celebrate

Fact file Scotland Area: 78,769 sq km Population: 5,200,000 Capital: Edinburgh Political: Scotland is part of the United Kingdom. It has its own parliament, legal system, education system and even its own international football team. History: The Romans never conquered Scotland. Between AD 120 and 140, they built Hadrian’s Wall, a huge wall of 118 km, to protect their Empire south of the Scottish border. In the middle ages, Scotland became a united country. There were many wars between England and Scotland. In 1603 the Scottish king, James VI, became King of England and a century later Scotland and England were united.

Scotland is famous for its own culture. Here are some of the ways in which visitors to Scotland can join in the fun:

Hogmanay 31 December. Scotland celebrates Hogmanay, New Year, with bagpipe music and dancing in the street throughout the night. At midnight, there are fireworks and everyone sings ‘Auld lang syne’, a song by Robert Burns, a famous Scottish poet. Around the New Year period, Scottish families go ‘first footing’, visiting the houses of friends and relations to continue the celebrations!

Burns Night 25 January. Robert Burns is Scotland’s national poet and Scottish people have a big dinner every year to celebrate his birthday. The dinner begins with the sound of bagpipes and the ’haggis’, Scotland’s national dish, a kind of sausage made from the heart and other organs of a sheep. Then everyone reads poems and sings written by the great ‘Rabbie Burns’ himself.

Highland Games May–September. Nearly every weekend in the summer there are highland games somewhere in Scotland, but the biggest games are at Cowal. People from all over the world come to watch or take part. Over three thousand bagpipers and drummers play all day and there is a wonderful atmosphere. There are highland dancing competitions as well as events like throwing the hammer or ‘tossing the caber’ ― throwing a large tree as far as possible. All the athletes wear traditional kilts.

Edinburgh Festival August. Edinburgh is famous all over the world for its arts festival. There is an Official Festival for theatre, opera and classical music, and a ‘Fringe’ festival, where you can see a big variety of plays, concerts, dance performances and films. Finally, there is the Military Tattoo, a parade, held in Edinburgh Castle.

1. Read the sentences. Which of them are true?

1) Scotland has a big population.

2) Scotland is an independent country.

3) Scottish schools are different from schools in

England.

4) Scotland has its own football team.

5) The Romans conquered Scotland.

6) England conquered Scotland and the two countries were united.

Read the fact file and check your answers.

2. Read about Scottish celebrations. Which would these people probably like most?

1) Kim loves the theatre and classical music.

2) Carol is a sports fanatic and is interested in Scottish culture.

3) Lena loves parties and dancing all night.

4) Peter is interested in poetry and eating different food from around the world.

3. Which celebration would you like to go to? Why?

4. Write about two celebrations in your country that visitors from abroad could enjoy.

New Zealand Fact File

Government.New Zealand is a democratic country with its own parliament. However, it is part of the British Commonwealth, and therefore the official head of state is Elizabeth II, the queen of England, Scotland and Wales. New Zealand was the first country in the world to give the vote to women in 1893, to have old age pensions and the eight-hour working day.

Geography.New Zealand, in the South Pacific, consists of two large islands plus other smaller islands with an area of 270,000 sq km. North Island has a warm climate and there is quite a lot of volcanic activity. South Island is cooler and has a higher rainfall. In the South Island there are the Southern Alps with Mount Cook (3754 m) the highest mountain in New Zealand.

Economy. New Zealand has some industry but agriculture is more important ― there are 55 million sheep, 8 million cows and 1 million goats in New Zealand!

Wildlife. New Zealand was cut off from the rest of the land on Earth for 80 million years and has some unique animals and plants. The tuatara is a reptile that has survived from the era of the dinosaurs. The weta is the largest and heaviest insect in the world and the kiwi (the symbol of New Zealand) is a large bird which cannot fly.

The People. Over 80% of the 3.6 million people are of European (mainly British) origin. Around 9% of the population are Maoris ― who came to New Zealand from Polynesia in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The two official languages in the country are English and Maori.

Lifestyle. New Zealanders, who are also known as ‘Kiwis’, are relaxed people who love the outdoor life. It is not surprising that New Zealand is successful at many sports. Its national sport is rugby and its team, 'The All Blacks’, are often the best in the world. Before every game, the All Blacks perform a ‘haka’, a Maori war dance, to frighten the opposing team!

Places to visit. New Zealand has beautiful landscapes. In North Island, the Bay of Islands has lovely old forests and beautiful beaches and the Coromandel is perfect for sailing and water sports. Rotorua is the centre of Maori culture and has wonderful hot springs. In South Island, the Southern Alps, the West Coast region and the national park of Fiordland all have beautiful scenery.

1. Read the text and complete the table below.

Location:	Languages:
Population:	Weather:

Look at the fact file and check your answers.

2. Read it again and answer these questions:

1) In what ways was New Zealand advanced in the area of human rights?

2) What is the most important part of New Zealand's economy?

3) Why are there some strange animals in New Zealand?

4) What kind of lifestyle do most New Zealanders have?

5) What is there for tourists to see in New Zealand?

3. Find these names in the fact file:

New Zealand's national rugby team, New Zealand people, the highest mountain in New Zealand, the largest insect in the world, the first people of New Zealand.

4. List five differences between New Zealand and your country.

Canada

A Land of Diversity

Fact file Canada Area: 9,976,169 sq km Population: 29,000,000 Capital: Ottawa Main cities: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver 75% of the population lives within 300 km of the USA border Official languages: English, French National symbol: the maple leaf Political structure: Independent constitutional monarchy (Head of State: Elizabeth II) History: 1608 ― Frenchman Champlain established New France in Quebec. 1759 ― Canada became part of the British Empire. 1867 ― The Confederation of Canada was set up. 1931 ― Independence from Britain. Quality of life: Very high standard of living. Ranked number one on the UN 'Human Development Index'. The country is particularly advanced in the areas of health, education, social protection and human rights.

A Multicultural Identity

Although many Canadians' first language is English or French, many other languages are spoken: Italian, Chinese, German, Polish, Ukrainian, Dutch and Greek. There are many native languages such as Algonquian.

The French-speaking province of Canada is very different culturally. Since the 1960s there has been a strong 'separatist' movement.

There are many different native people throughout Canada like the Crees, Mohawks, Iroquois and Sioux. In the north of the country, the Inuit (Eskimos) now have a self-governing homeland called Nunavut (meaning 'Our Land'). It is over two million sq km and is inhabited by 17,500 Inuits.

Canada is one of the most tolerant societies in the world. For example, only 13% of Canadians say that they would object to their children marrying somebody of a different race (compared with 32% in the USA).

1. What do you know about Canada?

Write notes about these things, without looking at the texts:

location, size, population, type of government, historical events, languages, standard of living.

Now read the texts and check your answers.

2. Read the texts again and answer these questions.

1) How does Canada have a 'multicultural identity'?

2) How are Canadians different from Americans in the USA?

3. What places would you like to visit in Canada? What things would you like to do there?

4. Give three reasons why you think Canada might be a good place to live. Can you think of a reason why it might not be?

5. Write a short description of different areas to visit and things to do in your country.

Did you know? The name of Canada comes from an Iroquois word meaning 'village'.

Ireland

Celtic Rules

Do you know anything about Ireland? Read on …

Fact file The Republic of Ireland Area: 70,280 sq km Capital: Dublin Political structure: Parliamentary republic Currency: Punt Population: 3,500,000 Official language: Irish National symbols: the harp and the shamrock

The Corrs’ second album, ‟Talk on Corners”, was one of the most popular albums of the nineties, along with international bestsellers by Enya. The success of the Irish dance musical, ‟Lord of the Dance”, made its creator, Michael Flatley, one of the richest performers in show business. And veteran group the Chieftains, who began playing in pubs, now, give sell-out concerts at major venues all over the world. What do they have in common? They are all Irish.

Celtic music is clearly having some of its best moments. In fact, with Irish pubs opening all over the world, Irish music is played from Kiev to Katmandu. Most of the music you hear in them is traditional dance music ― and you are expected to dance. An Irish music session is not a spectator sport! If you don’t participate, you’ll miss out on the ‘craic’ ― the most exciting moments of the evening.

Of course, Irish music has its quieter moods. Some people say that the harp, a national symbol, has magical powers. Another national instrument is the Ulleann pipes, a kind of sophisticated bagpipes, which featured in the film ‟Titanic”. There is a local saying that it takes ‘seven years of learning, seven years of practicing, and seven years of playing’ to master them. The violin, or ‘fiddle’, is played all over the country.

Music is an important new export of Irish culture, but writers are doing well, too. In the past, Ireland has produced some of the best writers and poets in the English language; people like Jonathan Swift, James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde. More recently, the poet Seamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995, and Roddy Doyle received praise throughout Europe for his novels.

Not to be left out, the Irish film scene is looking good. The government has created a fund for films about (and produced in) Ireland, and actors such as Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan are international stars. Among the films you should watch are ‟My Left Foot”, which won two Oscars, ‟In the Name of the Father” and ‟Michael Collins”.

1. Read the text and match these titles with the paragraphs:

Dance Music, Worldwide Success, Irish Cinema, Traditional Instruments, Irish Writers.

2. Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)?

1) The Chieftains have always played to large audiences.

2) The best way to appreciate Irish dance music is to sit and listen.

3) The Ulleann pipes are easy to play.

4) Many great names in English Literature were Irish.

5) The Irish government helps the Irish film industry.

3. Match the words from the text with the definitions. Paragraph numbers are in brackets:

veteran (1) a) bar

venue (1) b) old and experienced

pub (2) c) place for a concert

powers (3) d) abilities, strengths

praise (4) e) money for a special purpose

fund (5) f) expression of admiration

4. Make a list of the best singers, groups, writers and films from your country.

The New Australians

1. Before you start reading

In pairs, write two questions about things you’d like to know about life in Australia.

Example: What sort of food do Australians eat?

2. Reading

Read the article quickly.

We interviewed some people who have emigrated to Australia and asked: is it all kangaroos and surfing?

George: ‘Well, you won’t see many kangaroos in Melbourne, except maybe on the menu in a restaurant! They’re great, really tasty, by the way! But it’s true, most Australians live on the coast. We’re a beach culture, I suppose, and yes, surfing is popular. Almost everybody lives in the big cities on the coast, because most of the country is desert and farmland. Farming is mainly sheep farming. Somebody once told me there were seven sheep for every Australian ― that's a lot of sheep! Mining is also big here; we’re the world’s biggest exporter of coal and diamonds. My family came here from Greece in the 1980s — in fact, Melbourne has one of the largest Greek communities outside Athens! One of the things we found hard to handle at first in Australia was the feeling of being isolated. Australia is a long way from Europe! Flights take about twenty-four hours and they’re not cheap either.’

Julie: ‘Sure, surfing is a part of the beach scene, but it’s not the main leisure sport. Because the weather’s so good, we’re an outdoor people. Bushwalking, fishing, horse riding, tennis, golf, sailing are all popular. We take sport very seriously and we’ve produced great cricket and rugby teams, Olympic swimmers and top cyclists. We’re proud of our country. There are loads of really spectacular places to see in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is the biggest structure on Earth made by living things. Then there’s the outback. That’s the desert and semi-desert area in the middle of the country. It’s a great place for trekking, or what we call bushwalking, and you can see some amazing animals ― koalas, emus, platypuses, echidnas, possums, dingoes ― and kangaroos, of course! One of the most interesting places to visit is Uluru, which we used to call Ayers Rock. It’s really impressive at sunrise when the red rock changes colour. By the way, if you travel in Australia by car, take care on the roads. Most of them are in pretty poor condition and then there are the road trains ― huge trucks with two or three trailers. And look out for snakes and spiders ― Australia has the most poisonous collection in the whole world!’

Martin: ‘I must admit that, before I came here, I thought that Australia would be a rather dull place, you know, all beach barbecues and surfing but no real culture. I was surprised when I come to work at Sydney University. There’s a really lively cultural scene here. Australia has produced some outstanding painters like Sidney Nolan and world-class writers like Patrick White and Peter Carey. The film industry is pretty dynamic, too. As well as famous actors like Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman, there are some innovative film directors such as Peter Weir and Bruce Beresford. If you’re looking for something to do at night in Sydney, you’ll find a wide choice of opera, classical concerts, Shakespearean drama, Aboriginal culture, rock concerts, Broadway musicals, comedy and cabaret – you’re spoilt for choice, really. Of course, things are more limited if toy live in a small town.’

Fiona: ‘There’s definitely much more to Australia than kangaroos and surfing! When we came to Australia from Scotland, over ten years ago, we soon realized that Australian culture is a marvellous mixture of many different cultures. Apart from the early Anglo-Irish settlers, since 1945 the population has become more cosmopolitan, with immigrants from Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. You can see all these influences in modern Australian cooking. We call it “fusion food” ― a brilliant mixture of delicious Mediterranean flavours, Southeast Asian spices and native Australian food. For me, there’s one bad thing about Australia though. That’s the way the native Australians, the Aborigines, have been treated. They now make up less than 1% of the population. The new Australians took all their land and left them with virtually nothing. Most Aborigines live in deplorable conditions, while the rest of us are quite well-off. And they seem to be invisible. For example, you never see Aborigines in TV adverts. The “typical” Australian is always blonde and blue-eyed. I think that’s unfair. The government is trying to improve things, but it seems a bit late.’

3. Did you find the answers to your questions from Exercise 1?

4. Say if these sentences are true (T), false (F) or we don’t know because there is no information (NI):

1) Australia has large areas of desert.

2) Australia is a major producer of cars.

3) Surfing is the most popular leisure sport.

4) Australian roads can be quite dangerous.

5) There are some dangerous animals in Australia.

6) Australia has never produced any important writers.

7) Many recent immigrants have come from Greece.

8) Aborigines form a large proportion of the population.

9) Most Aborigines live in the outback.

10) The standard of living in Australia is high.