I. Word Lists
aggravated noun angry
bacteria noun small living beings
continent noun one of seven large landmasses with countries
defend verb to fight in order to keep something
detect verb to notice
digest verb to pass food through the body
distinctive adjective different from all others
enhance adjective to make better
hemisphere noun half of the planet Earth
intriguing adjective very interesting
performance noun a show that people watch for entertainment
poisonous adjective something that kills when it enters the body
predator noun an animal that kills and eats other animals
progress verb to move forward
recognized verb known by sight
reinforce verb to make strong
reversed adjective to change to the opposite
rivets noun metal objects used to hold two pieces of metal together
rusting verb metal turning orange when wet
sacred adjective belonging to God
sling verb to throw
suffocate verb to die from not having enough air to breathe
swoop verb to fly quickly downwards
territory noun a large area of land in a country
tropical verb a hot place
uninhabitable adjective not safe for people to live there
unique adjective different from all others
urbanized adjective a place with cities
venom noun the poison that kills
II. Answers to the quiz
1. Australia is the largest island in the world. True
2. It never snows in Australia. False
3. The island of Tasmania is part of Australia. True
4. Australians call the toilet the “ loo ” . True
5. The Harbour Bridge is in Melbourne. False
6. Wild Australian dogs are called desert foxes. False
7. Christmas in Australia is in summer. True
III. Comprehension Questions — Each of the sentences below is incorrect. Can you detect the problems? Find the information in your reading and change the sentence so it is correct.
E.G. Australians who don't know you will kiss you on your cheek to greet you. ( X )
Australians who do know you will kiss you on your cheek to greet you. ( √ )
1. Australians are serious and they work hard.
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2. Australians will say “ Fair Dinkum ” when they are thanking you.
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3. Australia is one of the most densely populated countries in the world so it is overpopulated.
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4. Australia, like China, has only one time zone.
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5. Winter in Australia is from March to May.
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6. Because Australia is so dry, 10% of the land is uninhabitable.
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7. The Australian Alps are found in the tropical northern part of the country.
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8. Kangaroos and koalas cannot walk backwards.
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9. Koalas have water in their stomachs to help them digest poisonous eucalyptus leaves.
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10. Sharks need to sleep so they don't suffocate.
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11. Platypus venom can kill a small child.
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12. The Dingo is a wild dog that is native to Australia.
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13. Kookaburras laugh whenever it is about to rain.
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14. The roof of the Sydney Opera House looks like a flower opening up
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15. A Swagman is a traveller from another country who sleeps outside.
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