11 Текст для чтения. 9-11 классы

THE OTHER ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

(1)  Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world. It covers the northern part of North America and its total area is 9,975,000 square kilometres. Cana- da's only neighbour is the USA. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Canada's motto, "From Sea to Sea", is appropriate because the country is bounded by three oceans – the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic.

Canada's name comes from an Indian word "kanata", which means "vil- lage". The first French settlers used the Indian name for the colony, but the official name was "New France". When the area came under the British rule in 1897, the new country was called the Dominion of Canada, or simply Canada.

Compared with other large countries, Canada has a small population, only about 27,300,000. The country, however, is one of the world’s most prosperous. Canadians have achieved a high standard of living.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy. It is a member of the Common- wealth of Nations, and Queen Elizabeth II is its official head of state. Although the Queen holds this high position, she doesn't rule. She serves as a symbol of British tradition. Her representative in Canada is the Governor General. The Governor's duties are limited to symbolic, mostly ceremonial acts.

The real power belongs to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The Canadian Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Commons and the Senate.

There are two official languages in the country: English and French. All Canadian children have to learn both French and English at school. "We have two races, two languages, two systems of religious belief, two sets of laws... two systems of everything", said one Canadian journalist.

Names:

Dominion of Canada [də’minjən əv ’kænədə] – Доминион Канада (ад-

министративно-территориальная единица)

Governor General [‘gΛvənə ‘d3en(ə)r(ə)l] – губернатор колонии или доминиона, генерал-губернатор

the Commonwealth [‘komənwelθ] of Nations – Содружество наций

the House of Commons and the Senate [‘senit] – Палата Общин и Сенат

Queen Elizabeth II [‘kwi:n e’lizəbəθ ðə ‘secənd] – королева Елизавета II

Vocabulary:

appropriate [ə‘prəupriət] – подходящий, соответствующий

Canadians – канадцы

Ceremonial [,seri’məuniəl] acts – церемониальные, протокольные действия

chamber [‘t∫æmbə] – зд.: палата парламента

to hold (held, held) – зд.: удерживать, сохранять

motto – девиз, лозунг

neighbour [‘neibə] – сосед

official language – официальный, государственный язык

prosperous [‘prosp(ə)rəs] – процветающий, успешный, благоприятный

representative [‘repri’zentətiv] – представитель

to achieve a high standard of living – достигать высокого уровня жизни

to be limited – быть ограниченным

Questions for self-examination:

1.  What is the total area of Canada?

2.  What is its capital?

3.  What oceans is it boarded by?

4.  What is the population of Canada?

5.  What do you know about the political system of Canada?

6.  How many official languages are there in the country?