Text B. Ten best places to visit in Australia

Sydney. Located on Australia’s southeastern coast, Sydney is the capital of New South Wales. A modern city with a long history, Sydney is defined by its scenic harbor. The region’s first inhabitants lived along the harbor’s bank for thousands of years. Today, ferries take visitors for cruises under the famed Sydney Harbor Bridge and past the iconic Sydney Opera House.

Great Barrier Reef. One of the top destinations for underwater explorers and scuba divers, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest barrier reef with the most diverse ecosystems. Located in the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia’s state of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef encompassesa huge area of more than 2,900 coral reefs and hundreds of islands and cays.

Alice Springs. Located in the heart of Australia about 1500 km from the nearest major city, Alice Springs is comprised of cavernous gorges, boundless desert landscapes, remote Aboriginal communities and a charming pioneering history.

Cairns. For its tropical climate, easy-going ambiance and close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is one of Australia’s most popular vacation destinations. Located on the northwest corner of Australia, Cairns is a provincial but stylish city with a population of around 150,000 people.

Melbourne. The capital of the state of Victoria, Melbourne is Australia’s second most populated city. Located near the southeastern tip of Australia on the large natural bay of Port Phillip, Melbourne is the nation’s cultural capital as well as an important port. It’s a well-planned city known for its shopping, fine restaurants and sports venues.

Perth. Located on Australia’s southwestern coastline, Perth is the country’s fourth-largest city and the capital of Western Australia. Isolated from other major cities in Australia, Perth has developed its own unique character – a youthful atmosphere and a fun-loving attitude in this city of two million people.

Brisbane. Brisbane, the third-largest city after Sydney and Melbourne, is the capital of Queensland with a population of about 2 million people. Brisbane’s year-round warm climate, spectacular scenery and pleasant locals have been the draw-cards for many domestic and international visitors, making Brisbane the fastest-growing city in Australia.

Hobart. Hobart is the capital city of the Australian island of Tasmania, as well as Australia’s second oldest city after Sydney. With a population of about 250,000 Hobart is small and intimate. There are many fine examples of Georgian and Victorian architecture in Hobart, such as Salamanca Place, which has a terrace of warehouses dating back to the whaling days of the 1830s. It has a mild temperate oceanic climate, with four distinct seasons.

Darwin. Hugging the coastline of Northern Territory, Darwin, the city of around 75,000 people, has long been the most international of the country’s major cities. Its close proximity to other countries in the Indian Ocean has made the city a transportation hub since its earliest days. Devastated during WW II, Darwin is a resilient town with a spirit that can’t be defeated.

Adelaide. The capital of South Australia and Australia’s fifth largest city, Adelaide has population of over 1.2 million. The city is located on a plain between the rolling Adelaide Hills and the Gulf St Vincent and is bordered by many famous wine regions. Historically known as the City of Churches much of the architecture in the inner city is retained from the colonial era.

Answer the questions on Text B.

1) What is Sidney famous for? 2) How is the destination for underwater explorers called? 3) Where is Alice Spring located? 4) Why is Cairns one of most popular vacation destinations? 5) Is Melbourne Australia’s second most populated city? 6) What makes the character of Perth unique? 7) What is the fastest-growing city in Australia? 8) What kind of architecture can you find in Hobart? 9) Do you know anything special about the atmosphere of Darwin? 10) Which city is known as the city of churches?

Find in Text B English equivalents of the following words, paying attention to the highlighted words.

1) отдаленный/удаленный; 2) обстановка; 3) живописный: 4) аквалангист; 5) отношение; 6) зрелищный; 7) бухта; 8) быть сохранённым; 9) центр (событий, внимания, деятельности); 10) большой магазин/товарный склад.