Part II Canada

A. The following passage is a general description of Canada. While listening to it, write down some key words in the notes column.

B. Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the passage and supply the missing information in order to complete the outline.

Outline

I. A brief introduction of Canada

  A. size: second only to the former Soviet Union

  B. population: 26 million people

  C. area

1. the Great Lakes in the south

2. the Rocky Mountains in the west

3. the Arctic islands in the north

II. Great variations in climate

  A. in winter

1. weather: extremely cold

2. clothing: a heavy overcoat and a fur hat

  B. in summer

1. weather: warm on the whole

2. clothing: lightweight clothing

III. People in Canada

  A. various races in Canada

1. half a million American Indians

2. a million Germans

3. smaller numbers of Italians, Ukrainians and Inuit

  B. official languages: English and French

IV. Eating out in Canada

  A. seafood: Pacific salmon, lobsters and clams

  B. meat dishes: moose steaks and beefsteaks

  C. ethnic foods

  D. the sweet course: waffles served with maple syrup

  E. drinks: good beer but not good local wines

V. Shopping in Canada

  A. having some of the world’s most modern shopping centers

  B. good buys in Canada

1. moccasins

2. woolen gloves and sweaters

3. wood carvings

4. leather goods

5. maple syrup

VI. The monetary system in Canada

  A. the unit of currency: the Canadian dollar

  B. banking hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday, till later on Fridays.

Tapescript:

Thank you for calling the Daily News Information line on Canada.

Canada is a huge country, second in size only to the former Soviet Union. Yet it has only 26 million people, which is less than half the population of the United Kingdom. It extends from the Great Lakes in the south to the majestic Rocky Mountains in the west, and the bleak Arctic Islands in the far north. A third of the country is covered by forest and there are also vast grasslands and countless lakes and rivers.

There are great variations in climate. Winters are extremely cold except in Vancouver which has a milder climate owing to its location on the west coast, so take a heavy overcoat and a fur hat. Canadian summers are warm on the whole, especially inland, so you’ll only need lightweight clothing.

A quarter of all Canadians, mainly those living in the province of Quebec in the east, speak French as their first language. In addition, there are half a million American Indians, a million Germans and smaller numbers of Italians, Ukranians and Inuit. Canada has two official languages: English and French, except in the province of Quebec where French alone is the official language. You’ll find English spoken virtually everywhere apart from Quebec and if you plan to visit Quebec City, you’ll definitely need a French phrasebook if you don’t speak French.

Eating out is a pleasure in Canada and you’ll find restaurants, coffee shops and snack bars to suit every pocket. Menus offer a wide choice with excellent seafood like pacific salmon, lobsters and clams, meat dishes including moose steaks and beefsteaks, and also a range of ethnic foods. For the sweet course, the specialty/speciality is waffles, a kind of thick pancake, served with maple syrup. Beer is good but foreign wines, even those from neighboring America, tend to be quite dear and local wines are not particularly good.

Canada has some of the world’s most modern shopping centers. Clothes tend to be slightly expensive expensive by European standards but there are some bargains to be had. Good buys include moccasins, a kind of soft leather shoe made by Indians, woolen gloves and sweaters, wood carvings, leather goods and maple syrup of course.

The unit of currency is the Canadian dollar. Banking hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday and till later on Fridays.

Have a good trip, and thank you for calling the information line.