1. Words and expression to remember:

   dozen	дюжина	descendant	потомок
   Māori	маорийский язык	settler	поселенец
   provision	положение	to make up	составлять
   brown skinned	с коричневой	standard of	уровень
   manufacturing	кожей	living service	жизни сфера
   industry	обрабатывающая	industry	услуг
   	промышленность

2. Read and translate the text.

New Zealand is an island country in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1600 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 — 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 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.

The first people who settled in New Zealand were a brown skinned people called Maoris. They came from Polynesian islands located northeast of New Zealand The country was discovered by Europeans in 1642, but they did not start to settle in the islands until the late 1700s. Today, most New Zealanders are descendants of the early European settlers. Maoris make up about 12% of the country’s population. The total population is about 3,901,000.

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and Auckland is the largest city and port. 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.

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. Today, the nation has no written constitution.

The national emblem of New Zealand is the kiwi. It is rather an unusual bird found only in New Zealand. It has no tail, almost no wings, and its nostrils are situated near the end of its bill No other bird lays an egg so large in proportion to its size. Its egg is about one fifth of its own weight. This is a tremendous size. In many countries New Zealander too, are known as Kiwis.

Forests of exotic pines near the centre of New Zealand’s North Island, cover an area of more than 160000 hectares. This is the largest single continuous area of planted forest in the world. New Zealand has more than four hundred thousand hectares of planted forests. The most important wood is pine, which grows five times faster in New Zealand than in its native habitat in California, USA.

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

3. Answer the 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. What is the official language in New Zealand?

5. Who is New Zealand’s head of state?

6. Who runs the national government?

7. Who were the first people to live in New Zealand?

8. What is the national emblem of New Zealand?

9. What are the main features of the kiwi?

10. How many hectares of planted forests does New Zealand have?

11. What are New Zealanders sometimes called in other countries?

12. What are the main industries of the country?

4. Match the two parts of the sentences.

   New Zealand has one of the highest	... of New Zealand is Auckland. ... trade with Australia, Britain,
   New Zealand belongs to	the USA
   The largest city and port	... in the islands until the late
   New Zealand’s economy depends on	1700’s ... a large island group called
   Europeans didn’t settle	Polynesia.
   Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom appoints	... standards of living in the world ... a governor general to represent
   The Maori language is often	her.
   	... spoken in addition to English.

5. Insert the correct verb for each blank.

1. New Zealand ... to the southeast of Australia.

2. The first people who ... in New Zealand were Maoris.

3. Maoris ... about 12% of the country’s population.

4. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ... the national government.

5. The economy of the country ... largely on agriculture.

6. Choose the right form.

1. New Zealand belongs to a large island group (calling/called) Polynesia.

2. The country is situated (on/in) two main islands.

3. There (are/is) several dozen small islands.

4. The nation (has no/ hasn’t) written constitution.

5. The kiwi is a bird which (lived/lives) in the forest.

7. Put in missing words.

1. Most New Zealanders are ... of the early European settlers.

2. Wellington is the ... of New Zealand.

3. English is spoken ... the country.

4. Many ... native people speak their own language.

5. New Zealand is a ... monarchy.

8. Choose the right version.

1. New Zealand is an island country in ...

a) the Atlantic Ocean b) the Pacific Ocean c) the India Ocean

2. It lies about... kilometers southeast of Australia.

a) 1860 b) 1800 c) 1608

3. The country is situated on ... main islands.

a) three b) four c) two

4. The country is an independent member of...

a) the Commonwealth of Independent States b) the Commonwealth of Nations c) the Commonwealth of Dominica

5. The country was discovered by Europeans in ...

a) 1642 b) 1724 c) 1624

6. ... has little power.

a) the Prime Minister b) Cabinet c) the governor general

7. 7. The national emblem of New Zealand is ...

a) coffee b) kiwi c) cacao