Text 2. Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world. It is situated in North America. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean. It has land borders with the United States. The chief rivers are the Mackenzie and the Saint Lawrence. The Great Lakes form the largest fresh water system on earth, containing18% of the world's supply. As for the Niagara River and its famous Niagara Falls, they form together with the region of the Great Lakes a border between Canada and the USA. The capital of the country is Ottawa. The population of the country is about 33 ml people. The population density is among the lowest in the world. Canada is a bilingual country. Both English and French are official languages at the federal level. In the 1960s the French speakers of the Quebec region of Canada gained political power there. Since then they have passed many laws designed to protect the French Language. Most French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec. The national symbol is a maple leaf. It is depicted on the nation’s flag. Canada's motto is "From sea to sea". Canada is one of the world's wealthiest nations with high income. Canada has a free market economy that is dominated by the service industry. Canada's most important industries are logging and oil industries. Canada is an exporter of energy. Canada is one of the world's most important suppliers of agricultural products, wheat and other grains mostly. The country is a world's leader in such natural resources as gold, nickel, aluminium, and lead. In Canada’s manufacturing sector, automobile and aeronautics branches are particularly important industries. Canada was a British colony until 1866. Now Canada is independent, but being the Commonwealth member, it is a constitutional monarchy with the British Queen as the Head of State. The Monarch's representative in Canada is the Governor-General. Canada is a federation composed of ten provinces and three territories. The country is a parliamentary democracy. The Federal Parliament represents legislature. It is made up of the Queen and two houses: the elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate. Elections are held every five years. Members of the Senate are chosen by the Prime Minister and formally appointed by the Governor-General. Canada's major political parties are the Conservative Party of Canada and the Liberal Party of Canada. Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of ministers. The Prime Minister is the Head of Government. He is the leader of the political party that gets the majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are formally appointed by the Governor General. The judicial branch of power includes the Supreme Court as the highest court of justice and other courts. Canada is a member of different international organisations, namely the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Eight (G7) and NATO.

Задание 1. Прочитайте следующие предложения и назовите, какие предложения не соответствуют информации в тексте.

1. The executive branch consists of the President and his delegates.

2. The President is both the Head of state and the Parliament

3. He is the military commander-in-chief.

4. The Prime Minister is the head of government and the leader of the political party that gets the majority in the House of Commons.

5. Canada's major political parties are the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party of Canada.

6. Both English and French are official languages in Quebec.

Задание 2. Откройте скобки, выбрав правильное слово.

1. Legislative power (is, are) represented by the Federal Parliament.

2. The Federal Parliament (should, must) provide all measures for common defense.

3. The Great Lakes (is, are) situated in Canada.

Задание 3. Допишите предложения.

1. Canada is situated in ……….. .

2. The national symbol of Canada is a ………. .

3. The monarch’s representative in Canada is ……….. .

4. Canada is a parliamentary ………. .

5. In Canada the Head of State is ............. .

Задание 4. Составьте предложения.

1. Canada is a bilingual country

2. The Head of State is Elizabeth II, while

3. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party

4. Canada is a federal state

a) that has the majority in the House of Commons.

b) her representative in Canada is the Governor-General.

c) which consists of ten provinces and three territories.

d) English and French are official languages.

Задание 5. Подберите соответствующие определения к следующим фразам.

1) a line separating two political or geographical areas

2) not the same as another or each other

3) a person, company or organization that sells goods or equipment to customers

4) to pick out or select something or somebody

a) supplier

b) border

c) to choose

d) different

Задание 6. Переведите следующие предложения на русский язык.

1. Частный сектор играет важную роль в экономике Канады. 2. Она, бывало, долго жила в Канаде.3. Следует ли Квебеку отделяться от Канады? 4. Могу я подробнее узнать информацию о лидерах политических партий Канады? 5. Мы должны встречать делегацию канадских парламентариев? – Нет. 6. Когда-то Канада была колонией Великобритании.

Задание 7. Дайте развернутые ответы на следующие вопросы:

1. Where is Canada situated?

2. What is the capital of Canada?

3. What is the population of Canada?

4. What languages are official in Canada?

5. What are the main industries of Canada’s economy?

6. Who is the head of state?

7. Who is the head of government?

8. What are Canada’s major political parties?

9. What does the judicial system include?

10. What international organisations is Canada a member of?

Задание 8. Опираясь на информацию текста, сделайте краткое сообщение по теме "Канада".

Задание 9. Составьте аннотацию к тексту.