ELEC 125 EE Canada: A Study - Teacher\'s Copy

I. Reading                 Canada: A Study               *Teacher’s Copy*

Facts:

Geographic Size: 9,984,670 km²                       

Population: 35,000,000 Canadians

Currency: Canadian dollar ($/CAD)

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): +$40,000

Average Household Income: +$65,000

Political System: multi-party parliamentary system

                         within a constitutional monarchy

 Founding Principle: peace, order, and good government

 Motto: “from sea to sea”

The name Canada comes from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word kanata, meaning "village" or "settlement".

Canada is the world's second largest country by area but its population, at slightly less than that of the state of California, is small by comparison. Canada's largest cities are Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa and Calgary. Even with its small population though, Canada plays a large role in the world's economy and is one of the largest trading partners of the United States.

The Land & Resources

Canada’s industry and land uses vary based on region. The eastern portion of the country is the most industrialized but Vancouver, British Columbia, a major seaport, and Calgary, Alberta are some western cities that are highly industrialized as well. Alberta also produces 75% of Canada’s oil and is important for coal and natural gas.

Canada’s resources include nickel (mainly from Ontario), zinc, potash, uranium, sulphur, asbestos, aluminum and copper. Hydroelectric power and pulp and paper industries are also important. In addition, agriculture and ranching play a significant role in the Prairie Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and several parts of the rest of the country.

Demographics

Canada has one of the highest per-capita immigration rates in the world, driven by economic policy and family reunification, and is aiming for between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents in 2012, a similar number of immigrants as in recent years. In 2010, a record 280,636 people immigrated to Canada. New immigrants settle mostly in major urban areas like Toronto and Vancouver.

Canadian Superlatives:

Longest Coastline

Canada's coastline is the world's longest at 243,792 km or 151,485 miles (including the coastline of the country's 52,455 islands.)

Longest Undefended and Open Border

The 8,893 km (5,526 miles) border between the U.S. and Canada, which includes 2,477 km (1,539 miles) with Alaska, is the world's longest undefended border.

Highest Tides

The tides in Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy are the highest in the world. The rise and fall is 20 to 40 feet in some places.

Oldest Rocks

The world's oldest rocks have been found near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and are about 4 billion years old.

Longest National Highway

The Trans-Canada Highway (using the Perth-Peterborough-Parry Sound route) is 7,604 km (4,725 miles), the longest national highway in the world.

Largest Trade Relationship

US – Canada: +$500 billion between both nations (U.S. - Mexico = $ 236 billion / U.S. - Japan = $ 170 billion)

Best Hockey Nation

Canada!

II. Vocabulary & Definitions

1. population
   the people who inhabit a territory or state
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   The population of Canada is approximately 35 million.

    
2. principle
   a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   An economic principle is: "Every action has a cost."

    
3. motto
   a favorite saying of a sect or political group
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   Nike's motto is: “Just do it.”

    
4. area
   the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   Canada is the world's second largest country by area but its population, at slightly less than that of the state of California, is small by comparison.

    
5. trade
   the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   Even with its small population though, Canada plays a large role in the world's economy and is one of the largest trading partners of the United States.

    
6. natural resources
   resources (actual and potential) supplied by nature
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   Canadian prosperity has had much to do with its vast natural resources.

    
7. industry
   the organized action of making of goods and services for sale
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   Canada’s industry and land uses vary based on region.

    
8. vary
   become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   Does price elasticity vary with economic growth?

    
9. prairie
   a treeless grassy plain
   EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

   In addition, agriculture and ranching play a significant role in the Prairie Provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and several parts of the rest of the country.

    
10. province
    the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    Canada is divided into ten provinces and three territories.

     
11. demographic
    a statistic characterizing human populations (or segments of human populations broken down by age or sex or income etc.)
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    Demographic economics is the application of economics to demography, the study of human populations.

     
12. policy
    a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    Economic policy refers to the actions that governments take in the economic field.

     
13. permanent
    continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    Canada has one of the highest per-capita immigration rates in the world, driven by economic policy and family reunification, and is aiming for between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents in 2012.

    
    
14. resident
    someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    Mrs. Kim is presently a resident of Canada and a citizen of South Korea.

    
    
15. similar
    having the same or similar characteristics
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    Canada has one of the highest per-capita immigration rates in the world, driven by economic policy and family reunification, and is aiming for between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents in 2012, a similar number of immigrants as in recent years.

    
    
16. recent
    of the immediate past or just previous to the present time
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    We were told that more recent economic statistics are unavailable.

    
    
17. settled
    established in a desired position or place; not moving about
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    Canadian history differs from American inasmuch as the government preceded those who settled Western Canada.

    
    
18. urban
    relating to or concerned with a city or densely populated area
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    New immigrants settle mostly in major urban areas like Toronto and Vancouver. 

    
    
19. superlative
    highest in quality
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    I hardly need explain that "number one" means the superlative degree.

    
    
20. route
    an established line of travel or access
    EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

    The Trans-Canada Highway is 7,604 kilometres long (making it the longest national highway route in the world).

III. Exercise: Match the Definitions

         Use: demographic, recent, resident, settled & trade

1. ________________: someone who lives at a particular place for a

    prolonged period or who was born there

    (resident)

2.  ________________:  the commercial exchange (buying and selling on  

     domestic or international markets) of goods and services

     (trade)

3. ________________: established in a desired position or place; not

    moving about

    (settled)

4. __________________: a statistic characterizing human populations (or

    segments of human populations broken down by age or sex or income

    etc.)

    (demographic)

5. ________________: of the immediate past or just previous to the

    present time

    (recent)

IV. Exercise: Fill in the Gaps/Blanks

       Use the following words: area, motto, policy, population, province, route, superlative & urban

 1. The                                              of Canada is approximately 35 million.

     (population)

2. I hardly need explain that "number one" means the

    _____________________ degree.

    (superlative)

3. Canada is the world's second largest country by ____________ but its population, at slightly

    less than that of the state of California, is small by comparison.

    (area)

4. Economic ________________ refers to the actions that governments take

    in the economic field.

    (policy)

5. Nike's _______________ is: “Just do it.”

    (motto)

6. Canada is divided into ten ____________________ and three territories.

    (provinces)

7. New immigrants settle mostly in major ___________________ areas like

    Toronto and Vancouver. 

    (urban)

8. The Trans-Canada Highway is 7,604 kilometres long (making it the

    longest national highway _________________ in the world).

    (route)

V. Exercise: Match the Picture

    Use:  agriculture, Bay of Fundy, ranching, Toronto & Vancouver

 _______________________

(ranching)          

 _________________________

(Vancouver)       

 _______________________

(Toronto)        

 _____________________

(agriculture)       

 ________ ___ ___________

 (Bay of Fundy)                                                   

VI. Listening: Canada - A Study

Introduction to Canada

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQrTIC7T-mw

(4:30)

Dragons' Den Canada - Season 7 Episode 4 HD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWOV8q1jlbc&feature=relmfu

(43:38)

 VII. Just for Fun

I AM CANADIAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg

 (1:00)

Vancouver City

http://www.canada-english.com/en/vancouver

(4:57)

THE LUMBERJACK SONG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zey8567bcg

(2:12)