LANGUAGE IN CANADA

Test Reading

TEXT 1
     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.

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

event       spread       cheap    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.

Task 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 is French spoken in Quebec?
d. What kind of English does Canadian English resemble?


TEXT 2
      Canada is a bilingual country with two official languages, English and French. The vast majority (75 per cent) of Canada's French-speaking inhabitants live in the province of Quebec, which is located in the eastern part of the country but there are French-speaking communities throughout the country.
      According to a 1991 census, French is the mother-tongue of 82 per cent of Quebec's population and is spoken at home by 83 per cent of Quebecers.
      Internationally, it is estimated that some 800 million people speak English and 250 million speak French. As a bilingual nation, Canada offers English as a Second Language (ESL) and French as a Second Language (FSL) training for students wishing to learn either or both languages.

Task 3. Answer the questions:
1. What are the two official languages of Canada?
2. Where in Canada is French predominantly spoken?
3. Which of Canada's official languages is used more throughout the world?