1、Australia Full Name: Commonwealth of AustraliaI Geography: the worlds 6th largest country generally divided into three regions: 1) the Great Plateau: a vast upland made of ancient rock 2) the Eastern Highlands: better known as the Great dividing Range, Australias main watershed, the Great Barrier Re

2、ef ( 大 堡 礁 ) , the Murray River ( 墨 累 河 ) Australias longest river 3)the Central Eastern Lowlands: the countrys richest farmland and best grazing land, Lake Eyre Australias largest lake Murray RiverClimate: hot and dryPlants: Eucalypti(桉樹) and Wattles (金合歡樹)Animals: Kangaroos (袋鼠), the largest nativ

3、e desert animals National Bird: Lyrebird(琴鳥)Population: about 19 million, aboriginal (native), immigrants from over 30 countries mainly British descent WattlesKangaroosLyrebirdII History:William Dampier: an adventure and pirate, the first Englishman to reach AustraliaJames Cook: an English navigator

4、, who finally put Australia on the map in 1770 National Day: January 26, the date of the first European settlement of the continent (Jan.26,1788) III Politics：Political divisions: six states and two territories 1.New South Wales(新南威爾士州): the first colony established by Britain in 1788 and the oldest

5、 one Sydney: its capital and the largest city in Australia2. Victoria(維多利亞州): the southeastern corner of the mainland of Australia Melbourne(墨爾本): its capital and Australias second largest city, the cultural and sports center of the country 3.Queensland(昆士蘭州): the second largest and youngest state B

6、risbane( 布 里 斯 班 ): its capital and the gateway to Australias major tourist playgrounds the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef 4. South Australia: the third largest in Australia; Adelaide (阿得雷德): its capital, internationally known for its arts festival 5. Western Australia: the biggest state, acc

7、ounting for one third of the country Perth(佩思): its capital, a beautiful city with a perfect climate6. Tasmania(塔斯馬尼亞): the smallest state, actually only an island 7. Northern Territory(北部地區): Darwin the only city in the state8. Australia Capital Territory (首都直轄區): Canberra is the capital of Austral

8、iaGovernment: a federation: a three-tier system of government: the federal parliament and government, six State parliaments and governments, about 900 local governments Britains monarch is also Australias and represented by the Governor General and six State governors Parliament: modeled on the West

9、minster system, comprising the Queen and two Houses of Parliament the House of Representatives and the Senate IV Economy:Industry: mining and farming as a majority, highly concentrated, with 14 large national monopolies; manufacturing relying heavily on foreign investment Agriculture: one of the wor

10、lds leading producer of food and natural fibers; the worlds largest exporter of wool, the second largest exporter of meat and the third largest exporter of wheatMineral: rich in natural resources, one of the worlds largest producers of minerals and metals, the worlds largest exporter of coal, a majo

11、r exporter of uranium(鈾) and exporter of crude oil (石油)and natural gas New ZealandI Geography:Located in the Southern Pacific, composed of two main islands: North Island and South Islandthe first country to get the new day, because it is just west of the International Date Line Capital: Wellington (

12、11%); the largest city: Auckland(30.7%) The highest peak: Mt. Cook (3,764m) in the centerof the Southern Alps Lake Taupo(陶波湖), on the north island, the largest lake in New Zealand, formed by an enormous volcanic eruption 26,000 years ago.The kiwi（幾維鳥）: a kind of bird as a national symbol and New Zea

13、landers refer to themselves as Kiwis.The Maori: the original inhabitants of New Zealand The kiwiKauri 貝殼杉Kowhai 四翅槐樹Totara 羅漢松Pohutakawa 桃金娘科紅花常綠樹II History:Abel Tasman: a Dutchman, the first European to visit New Zealand James Cook: Captain of the British Royal Navy, the first Englishman to visit N

14、ew Zealand The Treaty of Waitangi: signed in 1840 by William Hobson, representing Queen Victoria, and some Maori chiefs, symbol of the founding of modern New ZealandNational Day: Waitangi Day, February 6 In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to givewomen the right to vote. In 1898, New Zeala

15、nd first introduced old-age pensions.The Accident Compensation Act of 1972: unique in the world, providing insurance against injury by accident at any time. III Politics: a sovereign independent state, with a parliamentary Government (consisting of only one chamber: the House of Representatives ) an

16、d a constitutional monarchy. Queen of New Zealand: Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by the Governor-General.The Two Main Parties: the National Party and the Labor PartyGeneral Elections: every three years since 1879IV Economy:the worlds biggest farm; one of the worlds largest exporters of meat

17、, dairy products and wool; the worlds largest exporter of lamb, mutton and dairy products IrelandCapital: DublinGaining its independent status in 1949;One of the most Catholic country in EuropeThe head of the State: the President, a seven-year term.The head of the executive branch is Premier (Taoise

18、ach). Parliament: House of Representatives and Senate CanadaI Geography:the second largest country(about10 million square kilometers in the world, covering about two-fifths of the North American continent Tree of Canada: Maple Two major rivers systems: The Mackenzie(麥肯齊河) andthe St. Laurence(圣勞倫斯河)

19、; the former is the longest river in Canada, while the latter the most important one. Main Lakes: Huron, Great Bear, Superior, Great slave, Winnipeg, Erie and Ontario, among which Great Bear Lake is the largest one situated entirely in Canada and Great Slave Lake is the deepest one.Ten Provinces and

20、 two territories:60% of the population distributed between Quebec City and the west end of Lake OntarioSt. Lawrence Great Lakes Provinces(圣勞倫斯五大湖區) Ontario the only province bordering 4 Great Lakes that touch Canada (excluding Michigan) Toronto: the largest city and financial center of Canada; capit

21、al of Ontario Ottawa: capital of Canada, the fourth largest city of Canada, located in the Ottawa Valley in the eastern part of the province of OntarioQ u e b e c : t h e l a r g e s t p r o v i n c e o f C a n a d a ; Quebec City: Capital of the Province; Montreal: on the St. Lawrence River, the se

22、cond largest city of Canada, the chief port, the largest graining-shipping city in the world.Vancouver: British Columbias largest city and the third largest city in Canada, an important ice-free harbor on the Pacific coast of Canada, the largest cargo port on the Pacific II History: National Day: Ju

23、ly 1(1867)The British North America Act establishing the Canadian federal state in 1867 The Seven-year War (1756-1763) between the British and the French: Ending up with Frances failure losing all of its colonies to England III Politics: A federation and a self-governing member of the commonwealth;

24、Canada, like Australia, New Zealand and some other Commonwealth countries recognizes Britains monarch, Elizabeth II, as head of state, who is represented in Canada by the Governor G e n e r a l a p p o i n t e d o n t h e recommendation of the Prime Minister Elections held at least every five years IV Economy: One of the largest in the world: rich in natural resourcesWater