| A | B |
|---|
| outback | vast area of plains and plateaus that is largely flat and dry |
| coral reef | a structure formed by skeletons of small sea animals |
| geyser | hot springs that carry steam and heated water to the Earth's surface |
| high island | feature mountain ranges split by valleys that fan out into coastal plains |
| low island | atolls, or low-lying, ring-shaped islands that surround shallow pools of water |
| atoll | a small coral island in the shape of a ring |
| continental island | formed centuries ago by the rising and folding of rock from the ocean floor |
| ice shelf | layer of ice above the water |
| iceberg | huge chunks of ice that break off of an ice shelf |
| marsupial | mammals that carry their young in a pouch |
| Great Barrier Reef | largest collection of coral in the world |
| Ring of Fire | a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur |
| eucalyptus | trees native to Australia and nearby islands |
| pasture | grasses and other plants that are feed for grazing animals |
| breadfruit | a starchy pod that can be cooked in several ways and is a food staple in Oceania |
| lichen | tiny, sturdy plants that grow in rocky areas along the Antarctic coast |
| boomerang | a flat, bent, wooden tool that hunters throw to stun prey |
| trust territory | an area temporarily placed under the control of another country |
| aborigine | a member of the earliest people of Australia |
| penal colony | a place where people convicted of crimes are sent |
| bush | rural areas of Australia |
| station | cattle or sheep ranches |
| pidgin language | formed by combining parts of several different languages |
| action song | this art form blends traditional dance with modern music |
| fale | Samoan homes that have open sides that allow cooling ocean breezes to circulate |
| poi | a mash of paste that Pacific Islanders make from Taro plants |
| lawsuit | legal action in court intended to address a problem |
| merino | a breed of sheep known for its fine wool |
| kiwifruit | a small oval fruit with a brownish-green fuzzy skin |
| copra | the meat from dried coconuts |
| lingua franca | a common language used for communication and trade |
| fa'a Samoa | the Samoan way of life |
| habitat | living areas |
| extinction | disappearance from Earth |
| krill | a tiny shrimp-like creature |
| ozone | a gas that forms a layer around the Earth in the atmosphere and protects all living things on the Earth from certain harmful rays of the sun |
