NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND

(1) New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses – the North Island, the South Island, and around 600 smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres east of Australia across the Tasman Sea. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. During its long period of isolation, New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life. The country’s varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks, such as the Southern Alps, owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand’s capital city is Wellington but its most populous city is Auckland.

(2) At some time between 1250 and 1300 Polynesians settled in the islands that later were named New Zealand and developed a distinctive Māori culture. In 1642 Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire. Today, the majority of New Zealand’s population of 4.7 million is of European descent; the indigenous Māori are the largest minority, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders. The official languages are English, being predominant, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.

(3) New Zealand is a developed country and ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as health, education, economic freedom and quality of life. Since the 1980s, New Zealand has transformed from an agrarian, regulated economy to a market economy.

(4) Queen Elizabeth II being the country’s head of state and is represented by a governor-general. New Zealand is organized into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes. New Zealand is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

7.Перепишите следующие вопросы и дайте письменные ответы.

1. What is New Zealand made up of?

2. What is the reason of the country’s topographical variation?

3. New Zealand has a traditional economy, doesn’t it?

4. What is the administrative division of New Zealand?

8.Выпишите из абзаца (4) предложения с причастиями I и II и переведите их на русский язык.

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