Unit 5. Traditions, customs and culture of English-speaking countries

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DIALOGUES

Text 12. 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. Canada's only neighbour is the USA. The border between the two countries is the longest unguarded border in the world.

Canada's motto, "From Sea to Sea," is particularly appropriate because the country is bounded by three oceans — the Pacific, the Arctic and the Atlantic. Its vast area includes some of the world's largest lakes and countless smaller ones. One-third of all fresh water on Earth is in Canada.

Canada's name comes from an Indian word kanata, which means "village". 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. Canada is a union of ten provinces and two territories.

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 developed its rich natural resources and, in the process, have achieved a high standard of living.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy. It is a member of the Commonwealth 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, whom she appoints on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. 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, but Francophones and Anglophones do not enjoy learning each other's language.

"We have two races, two languages, two systems of religious belief, two sets of laws... two systems of everything," said one Canadian journalist.

There was a time when Quebec Province (its population is 90% French) decided to separate from Canada and form a new country. Fortunately, the movement has waned.

The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

— What do you usually imagine when you think of Great Britain?

— Well, I usually imagine the country where it rains all year round. The British Isles have never been famous for good weather.

— Actually, the popular belief that it rains all the time in Britain is simply not true. In fact, London gets no more rain in a year than most other European cities. But the climate in Britain is mild due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. And this mild climate is good for plants.

— Yes. you are right. Britain seems to be a very green country with lots of beautiful gardens and parks. The British love flowers very much and you can see them everywhere. No wonder that some of the flowers have become the symbols of the UK.

— What are they?

— Don't you know? The red rose is the national emblem of England and the daffodil is the national emblem of Wales.

— What about Scotland and Ireland?

— Oh, they have their own emblems, too. The national emblem of Scotland is the thistle and the emblem of Ireland is the shamrock.

— Arc there any mountains in Great Britain?

— Yes, but there are not very' high. The Highlands of Scotland arc among the oldest mountains in the world. They reach their highest point in Ben Nevis. Many valleys between the hills are filled with lakes.

— What is the most famous lake in Scotland?

— The best-known of them is Loch Ness where according to the legend a large monster lives.

— Well, I have never been to Britain, but I hope to go there someday to sec everything with my own eyes.

— I completely agree with you. Seeing is believing.

— Mike, you have just returned from Great Britain! What's your impression of this country?

— Well, Britain is a very interesting country. It has more living symbols of the past than many other countries. For example, you can still see the famous red telephone and letter boxes, which were designed in the last century.

— Yes, I've heard that the British are very conservative. They don't like changes.

— Yes, indeed. But the most striking feature of the British people is their politeness. Before going to Britain I had thought that the British were reserved and cold. But that's not true at all. They are always helpful, especially if you speak English.

— People often say that British talk about the weather all the time. Is that so?

— Perhaps, this is an exaggeration, but it is certainly true that the weather is a good way to start a conversation with a stranger.

— By the way, what was the weather like during your journey? Did it rain all the time?

— No, it didn't. Perhaps we were lucky, but the weather was warm and sunny. Spring is the driest season in Great Britain and this is the best time for visiting the UK.

— Hello! How are you?

— Hi! I'm fine, thanks. And you?

— Oh, I have a problem. I need to prepare a report about the geographical position of the USA. Could you help me, please?

— OK. First of all, the USA is the fourth largest country in the world after Russia, Canada and China. It is situated in the central part of the North American continent excluding Alaska and Hawaii.

— And the USA is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the east and by the Pacific Ocean in the west. In the north it borders Canada" and in the south it borders Mexico. Is that so?

— Right. Besides, it also has a sea border with Russia.

— And what are the main mountains and rivers in the USA?

— The main rivers are the Mississippi, the Rio Grande, the Missouri, the Columbia and others. And the main mountains are the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada.

— And what about the climate of the USA?

— The climate in the USA varies greatly. There are four climatic? ones: arctic, continental, marine and subtropical. The climate along the Pacific coast is much warmer than that of the Atlantic coast.

— OK, thank you for your help. Bye! -Bye!

— If you had a chance to visit an English-speaking country, which one would you go to?

— As for me, I'd like to visit the USA.

— Why have you chosen this country?

— America is a great country with great history. But the main reason for my visit is that I'd like to listen to American speech! because it differs a lot from standard British English we are used to.. Besides, I'd like to visit Niagara Falls and Disneyland.

— I completely agree with you that the USA is a great country. It is the fourth largest country in the world so its territory varies greatly in climate and relief. If you travel across the country, you will go over mountain ranges and cross hundreds of rivers.

— Well, as far as American landscape is concerned, the USA greatly resembles a giant plate with Central Lowland and Great Plains in the middle. The plate's fringes rise gradually towards the Appalachians in the east, to the Cordillera in the west and to the Canadian Shield in the north.

— And what about the south? There are no mountain chains in the south, are there?

— No, there aren't. The plate opens to the Gulf Coastal Plain which connects with the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

— You describe it so vividly that I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

— I'm fond of geography, besides I'm really interested in the USA. I want to know everything about this wonderful country.

— Then you can tell me about the climate of this country, can't you?

— The climate of the United States is extremely diverse. While people go to the beach in Florida, California and Hawaii, others in Alaska, the midwest and the northeast are wearing thick coats and trying to keep warm.

— So the climate in the USA resembles Russia's. Is that so?

— Well, I wouldn't say that. Of course, the climate in Russia is also very diverse, but you shouldn't forget that Russia is one of world's coldest and most northern countries. So the climate in the USA is much warmer than that in Russia, so American crops yield more bountifully.

— That explains why America is one of the richest countries in the world.

— I think that the main reason is in the people. Americans are very hard-working and persistent. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is their favourite saying.

— Oh, you know so much about America and its people that listening to you I feel like a traveller. Now I also want to visit this wonderful country.

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