Read the text about the political system of Australia. For statements

Read the text about the political system of Australia. For statements 1-5, decide which answer is correct. Circle the corresponding letter.
1. A. Australia is a parliamentary democracy.
B. Australia is a monarchy and a parliamentary democracy.
2. A. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are elected directly.
B. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet come from the Federal Parliament.
3. A. The Federal Parliament includes the Senate and the House of Representatives.
B. The Federal Parliament includes the House of Commons and the House of Representatives.
4. A. The representatives of the executive branch are responsible to the Queen.
B. The representatives of the executive branch are responsible to the Federal Parliament.
5. A. Now Australia is in the process of changing to a republic.
B. Now Australia is in the process of becoming closer to the British Crown.

Australia is an independent country within the Commonwealth. Formally the British monarch is the head of state and has royal representatives in the country and in each of the six states.
According to the Australian Constitution, that was adopted on January 1, 1901, the legislative branch is represented by the Federal Parliament. The parliament is мейд up of two houses: the Senate with 76 senators and the House of Representatives with 148 members. The lawmakers are elected by the people. Voting is compulsory (непременно). Australian citizens can vote by mail. Those who abstain from (удерживаются от) voting are fined (штрафуются). Australians are proud of the fact that secret ballot (скрытое голосование) was first introduced in Australia.
The party or a coalition of parties with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives forms the Cabinet and its leader becomes Prime Minister. So, the executive branch in Australia includes the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Like in Great Britain they come from the Federal Parliament and are responsible to it for government decisions. The main political parties are the Liberal Party and the National Party. Normally they act in coalition. The Australian Labour Party and the Australian Democrats also play a great role in politics.
There is a question whether Australia should become a republic with an Australian head of state. The debate on the problem started several years ago. Everybody in Australia understands that a change to a republic needs the assent of the Australian people at a referendum. In February 1998, Australia began the process of severing (разъединения) its constitutional link to the Queen.