Answer the questions according to the text.
1. What is the geographical position of Canada?
2. What is the country bounded by?
3. How much world's fresh water does Canada have?
4. How many regions are there in Canada?
5. What are Canada's highest peaks?
6. Where are the richest grain-producing regions in the world?
7. What is displayed in museums in Canada and around the world?
8. What region is a storehouse of minerals?
9. What is the industrial heartland of Canada? What is produced here?
10. Where are grapes, peaches, pears and other soft fruits cultivated?
11. What is a culinary delicacy first used by the aboriginal North American peoples?
12. Where is one of the richest fishing grounds in the world situated?
13. Where is Canada situated?
14. How many people live in Canada t
15. Where do most Canadians live?
16. Who is the head of state in Canada?
17. When did Canada gain its independence?
18. What are the official languages in Canada?
19. What people live in Canada?
20. What is the main problem facing Canada today?
9. Make up your own sentences according to the model:
1.Canada is the second largest country in the world. (2 предложения), например: China is the third largest country in the world.
2. About 28 million people live in Canada. (2 предложения).
3. The highest point in Canada is Mt. Logan. (2 предложения).
Тема 4: Political System of Canada
1.Прочитайте и выучите слова:
representative | |
executive | |
legislative | |
authority | |
influential | |
community | |
statute | |
amend | |
inception | |
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms | |
entrenched | |
bilingualism |
Прочитайте и письменно переведите текст.
Political System of Canada
Canada is an independent federal parliamentary state. The Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, is the official head of the state, but the Governor General acts as her representative. Canada combines the American federal form of government with the British cabinet system.
As a federation, Canada is made up of ten provinces and two territories. Canadian central government in Ottawa represents all the people of Canada. Each province has its own government and parliament.
Parliament of Canada consists of two houses, the Upper House called the Senate, and the Lower House called the House of Commons. The Senate has 104 members. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Senate has less power than the House of Commons. Members of the House of Commons are elected for a term of five years. The cabinet system of Canada unites the legislative and the executive branches. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are usually members of the House of Commons, which is the highest authority in the government. The Cabinet consists of 20 or more ministers, chosen by the Prime Minister from leaders of the majority party in the House of Commons.
Today most of the Governor General’s powers have disappeared and he follows the directions of the Cabinet.
The two leading political parties in Canada are the Progressive Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The New Democratic Party is also rather influential.
In 1867, Canada was just a colony with internal autonomy; since 1931, it has been an independent state in the world community.
Canada's Constitution is actually a British statute, the British North America Act, 1867, which has been amended more than 20 times since its inception. Since 1982 when Canadians obtained the right to amend the Constitution in Canada — this founding statute has been known as the Constitution Act, 1867.
The Constitutional Framework
Canada is a constitutional monarchy, a federal state and parliamentary democracy with two systems of law and two official languages. Since 1982, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been entrenched in the Constitution.
Official Languages
English and French are the two official languages at the federal level. Institutional bilingualism has existed in Quebec since 1867, in Manitoba since 1870 and in New Brunswick since 1982.
3. Translate the following word combinations:
Parliamentary state, official head, legislative branch, executive branch, leading political party, internal autonomy, independent state.
4. Match the sentences according to the information of the text:
1 Canada is | a the Upper House called the Senate, and the Lower House called the House of Commons. |
2 Canada combines | b the Progressive Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. |
3 As a federation, Canada is made up of | c an independent federal parliamentary state. |
4 Each province has | d on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. |
5 Parliament of Canada consists of two houses, | e for a term of five years. |
6 Senators are appointed by the Governor General | f the American federal form of government with the British cabinet system. |
7 Members of the House of Commons are elected | g its own government and parliament. |
8 The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are usually members of the House of Commons, | h the two official languages at the federal level. |
9 The two leading political parties in Canada are | i ten provinces and two territories. |
10 English and French are | j which is the highest authority in the government. |
5. Complete the sentence according to the information from the text:
1. The Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, is the official head of the state, … .
2. Canadian central government in Ottawa … .
3. The Senate has … members.
4. Senators are appointed by … l on the recommendation of …
5. The cabinet system of Canada unites … .
6. The New Democratic Party is … .
7. Canada's Constitution is actually a British statute, the British North America Act, 1867, ... .
8. Canada is a constitutional monarchy ... .
9. ... are the two official languages at the federal level.
10. The Cabinet consists of … or more ministers.
6. Agree or disagree with the following statements:
1.Canada is an independent federal parliamentary state.
2.The Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, is the official head of the state.
3.Canada is made up of twelve provinces and ten territories.
4.Parliament of Canada consists of two houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
5.The Senate has 504 members.
6.Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Queen.
7.Members of the House of Commons are elected for a term of five years.
8.The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are usually members of the House of Lords.
9.The two leading political parties in Canada are the Progressive Conservative Party and the Liberal Party.
10.Canada's Constitution is actually a British statute.