CANADA

The roots of Canadian English can be found in the events which followed the American Revolution Of 1776. Those who had supported Britain found themselves unable to stay in the new United States, and most went into exile in the Ontario region of Canada. From there they spread to all parts of the country. They were soon followed by many thousands who were attracted by the cheapness of land. Within fifty years, the population of Upper Canada (above Montreal) had reached 100,000 - mainly people from the United States.

In the east, the Atlantic Provinces had been settled with English speakers much earlier (the first contacts were as early as 1497, when the British explorer John Cabot claimed Newfoundland), but even today these areas contain less than 10 per cent of the population, so that they have only a marginal role in the development of the Canadian 'norm'. In Quebec, the use of French language and culture remains from the first period of exploration, with the majority of people using French as a mother-tongue: here, English and French coexist uneasily.

Because of its origins, Canadian English has a great deal in common with the rest of the English spoken in North America - and is often difficult to distinguish for people who live outside the region. To British people, Canadians may sound American; to Americans, they may sound British. Canadians themselves insist on not being identified with either, and certainly there is a great deal of evidence in support of this view.

QUESTIONS

1. Match the following words with the suitable definition or synonym.

event

spread

cheapness

settle

role

tongue

support

	Low in price, costing little money.
	Thing that happens, incident.
	Help; give one’s approval.
	Extend, become distributed.
	Make one’s permanent house.

2. Answer the following questions according to the text.

a. Why did some English people have to escape to Canada after the American Revolution?

b. Why did people go to Canada after the first immigrants?

c. Why id French spoken in Quebec?

d. What kind of English does the Canadian English resemble?

3. Put the verbs into the Present Continuous or the Simple Present.

a. The Weeltech company (make) _______________________ bicycles and mopeds. They (be) _______________________ very successful and at the moment they (build) _______________________ a bigger factory in Nottingham.

b. Normally they (produce) _______________________ more mopeds than bicycles, but this year they (produce) _______________________ 20% more bicycles than mopeds.

4. Put the following verbs into the Simple Past or Past Continuous.

a. Zoë (finish) _______________________ her breakfast and (ring) _______________________ her friend Katy.

b. Katy (listen) _______________________ to the radio when Zoë (phone) _______________________ her.

c. She (turn) _______________________ down the radio when the phone (ring) _______________________ .

5. Composition. Write 80 words about the following topic: How does it feel being a student?