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Canada's history is an exciting story of development of a
vast wilderness into a great nation. Most experts believe that
the first people who lived on this land came from Asia about
15000 years ago. They came over a land bridge that once
connected Asia and North America. Their descendants are
known today as Indians. The ancestors of the Eskimos came
to Alaska after them probably about 5000 years ago.
In 1497, John Cabot, an italian navigator in the service of
England, found rich fishing grounds off Canada's southeast
coast. His discovery led to the European exploration of
Canada. France set up a colony in eastern Canada in the early
1600's. Great Britain gained control of the country in 1763,
and thousands of British emigrants came to Canada. In 1867,
the French and English-speaking Canadians helped to create
a united colony called the Dominion of Canada. Two groups
worked together to settle the country and to develop its great
mineral deposits and other natural resources.
Canada gained its independence from Britain in 1931.
During the middle of 20th century^ hard-working Canadians
turned their country into an economic giant. Today Canada
is a leading producer of wheat, oats, and barley. Canada also
ranks among the world's top manufacturing countries, and
it is a major producer of electric power.
Throughout its history, Canada has often been troubled
by lack of unity among its people. French Canadians, most
of whom live in the province of Quebec, have struggled to
preserve their own culture. They have long been angered by
Canadian policies based on British traditions. Many of them
support a movement to make Quebec a separate nation. People
in Canada's nine other provinces also frequently favour local
needs over national interests.
Questions:
1. Who were the first people to live in Canada?
2. How did they come to Canada?
3. What countries took part in exploration of Canada?
4. When did Canada gain it's independence?
5. Is Canada a developed country now?
6. What problems does Canada face today?
Vocabulary:
vast — обширный
wilderness — пустыня
land bridge — перешеек
descendant — потомок
Indians — индейцы
ancestor — предок
Escimos — эскимосы
navigator — мореплаватель
fishing grounds — рыбные места
exploration — исследование
to set up — основать
Dominion of Canada — доминион Канада
to settle — заселить
to develop — разработать
mineral deposits — залежи полезных ископаемых
natural resources — природные ресурсы
hard-working — прилежный
to turn into — превратить
wheat — пшеница
oats — овес
barley — ячмень
electric power — электроэнергия
lack — нехватка
to struggle — стремиться
to preserve — сохранить
to favour — предпочитать
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