Maturita Card 21: Canada

zz What basic facts do you know about Canada? is unicameral / single-chambered. The head of the
Canada is located in the north of the continent of government in each province is the premier.
North America… is the second largest country by
zz What do you know about the history of Canada?
area in the world… is part of the Commonwealth.
Unlike many other Commonwealth nations it Settlement in Canada goes back 25,000 years in some
does not have the Union Jack on the flag. There is areas. The first Europeans to colonize the Canadian
a maple leaf on the flag. The name ‘Canada’ comes territory were the Portuguese in the 15th century. They
from the Iroquois word ‘kanata’, meaning ‘village’ were replaced by the French who slowly established
or ‘settlement’. Despite its vast size, Canada has a colony up to the 18th century. From the 18th century,
a relatively small population of 30 million. It is control moved to the British. In 1812, the British
a multicultural / diverse country with two official colonies in Canada fought a war against the USA.
languages, English and French. About 70% of the In 1867, the country became more independent
population speak English and 22% speak French. when it became a dominion of the United Kingdom.
This status meant it was independent of the United
zz What do you know about the geography of Kingdom except in foreign affairs. In 1982 through the
Canada? Canada Act, Canada became formally separated from
Canada is bordered by the USA to the south and the the United Kingdom.
north-west (Alaska). Most people / About 80% of the
zz What are some popular places to visit in Canada?
population live 150 kilometres from the US‑Canadian
border. The southern part of the country is covered The most visited places are / include Ottawa, the
in forest. The northern part is mostly tundra. The capital of Canada, which is in Ontario; Montreal,
Canadian Rocky Mountains lie along / skirt the west the largest city in the French-speaking province of
coast. There are also many lakes and rivers, the Quebec, and Toronto, the largest Canadian metropolis,
Mackenzie and St Lawrence rivers are the longest. The also in the province of Ontario. Toronto’s attractions
country is divided into ten provinces (British Columbia, include the CN Tower, the world’s tallest tower.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Vancouver is also a popular destination and is the
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova largest city on the west coast. Tourists / visitors can
Scotia and Prince Edward Island) and three territories admire the natural beauty in several national parks,
(Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon). Canada such as Banff National Park in Alberta, which stands
mostly has a continental climate with cold snowy out / is notable for its dramatic landscape and wildlife.
winters and warm summers. The far north has a polar zz What are some characteristic Canadian sports
climate. Canada has / provides natural environment and pastimes?
/ habitat for many different animal species. Animals Canada is a great sporting nation. Popular sports
commonly found in Canada include the beaver, the include ice-hockey, American (Canadian) football,
Canadian national animal, the moose, the Canada basketball and lacrosse. Another popular sport in
goose, the black bear, the grizzly bear, which lives Canada is curling. This team / group sport, originally
mostly in the north‑west, the polar bear in the Arctic from Scotland, is played on an ice rink. Players in
region and the coyote. pairs try to sweep a curling stone with broomsticks
zz Could you describe the Canadian political to a mark.
system? zz Do you know any famous Canadians?
Canada is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch of The award‑winning writers Margaret Atwood, the
the United Kingdom, currently Queen Elizabeth II, is author of The Blind Assassin, and Michael Ondaatje, the
in fact the ceremonial head of state. She exercises / author of The English Patient, are Canadian. In music,
holds little power. Her representative is the Governor famous Canadians are the singer and poet Leonard
General. Canada has a federal system of government. Cohen, one of the most influential song-writers of the
It has a federal / national parliament located in last 50 years… the guitarist / singer‑songwriter Neil
the capital, Ottawa. The parliament is bicameral / Young, a very influential musician… the pop singer
has two houses / chambers, the Senate (the Upper Nelly Furtado. Celine Dion is known as Queen of Pop.
House) and House of Commons (the Lower House). Prominent Canadian actors are the comedian Jim
The government sits in the House of Commons. The Carrey… Dan Aykroyd, who is famous for appearing in
leader of the government is called the prime minister. the film Ghostbusters.
Each province also has its own parliament, which
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Leonard Margaret
Cohen Atwood

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