:
Unit 17
|
|
From the History of Canada
Indians and Eskimos were the first settlers in Canada who came from Asia. Perhaps, they crossed the narrow Bering Strait in boats. Some scientists say that they came when there was a land bridge between Asia and North America.
The Vikings came to North America about a thousand years ago. There are ruins of a Viking settlement in the northern part of Newfoundland.
After Christopher Columbuss first voyage, the news of his discoveries reached many European countries. Kings and navigators began to dream of the richest just across the sea. One of these dreamers was also a very practical man. He was a sea captain named John Cabot. In 1497 he decided to cross the sea in a boat with his son and seventeen other men. When they saw land, about seven weeks later, they thought they had reached Asia.
They returned home without gold. But during their voyage they found something equally important. It was fish in the waters to the south of Newfoundland.
Fishing became the first important industry of Canada.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Ottawa is a fascinating city of contrast. It resembles a large Old English town with its stately Victorian homes and the magnificent Parliament Buildings that rise majestically above the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River. Youll be charmed by its European personality, its Gothic architecture and its outdoor cafes, not to mention the Byward Market where youll hear both English and French spoken.
Ottawa is home to fantastic festivals and features a calendar of exceptional events all year long. One of 60 festivals held across the National Capital Region during the spring and summer. The Canadian Tulip Festival is a stunning sight that makes spring in the city a visual delight! You cant help but be dazzled by the brilliance of three million beautifully coloured tulips in bloom all at once! The tulip bulbs are an annual gift from the people of the Netherlands, honoring an international friendship and expressing its gratitude for Canadas wartime hospitality to the Dutch Royal Family. This floral celebration has been held every year since 1951.
Exercise 1. Retell the texts.
Exercise 2. Make up a report using the scheme.
MAKING A REPORT (SCHEME)
I. ,
| I want Im going I would like (Id like) | to speak about to give you some information about to tell you a couple of words about to give a talk about render the contents of | an item an article a feature-story an essay | entitled () |
| The item The article The feature-story | under discussion under consideration under review | was written by was contributed by | () (name of the author) |
| The author of | the item the article the feature-story | under discussion under consideration | is () (name of the author) |
| Unfortunately/I am sorry to say the name of the author is not mentioned in the publication |
II.
| The item The article The feature-story | under discussion under consideration under review | is taken from was found in was printed in | the newspaper named () |
III.
| The item The article The feature-story The essay | is about is devoted to is concentrated upon is centred around is focused upon tells us about deals with | the (present-day) situation in the (difficult) position of the (latest) events in the (latest) achievements of the (latest) developments in the relations between the conflict between |
| The item The article The feature-story The essay | gives us a (vivid/detailed) description/ account of describes (very vividly/in detail) shows us | ||
| The item | under discussion | consists of | () logical parts |
| The article | under consideration | is composed of | |
| The feature-story | under review | can be divided into | |
| The essay | can be split into |
| The opening part/passage (The introductory Part/passage) The central part (The main part) The following part The final part (The conclusion) | is about is devoted to is centred around/centres a(round) is concentrated upon/concentrates (up)on is focused on/focuses on deals with tells us about touches upon shows us describes gives a description/an account of |
IV.
| In conclusion By way of conclusion By way of summing up | I want to say I can say I must say I would like to say | () | is fairly interesting is very instructive is quite informative is most pithy in content |
| Generally speaking On the whole | () | made on me | a great impression a favourable impression a good impression an unforgettable impression a pleasant impression |
| Generally speaking On the whole | I was | greatly impressed by favourably impressed by pleasantly impressed by | () |
| In my opinion From my point of view It seems to me There is no doubt | () is | very interesting fairly informative rich in content highly instructive |
| From the item From the article From the feature-story From the essay | under discussion under consideration under review | I got to know I learned | a lot of interesting information/facts about (concerning) |
Plan:
1. I have (just) read the text about - ( )
And now I want to retell it. - .
2. It is a story. - .
It is an extract from -
It is an article from -
3. The title of the text is -
I fully agree with it. - .
It suits here very well. - .
It helps the reader to understand the main idea. - .
It reflects the main problem. - .
I fully disagree with it. - .
It doesnt suit here at all. - .
It doesnt help the reader to understand the main idea. - .
It doesnt reflect the main problem. - .
I would give another title for this story, for example - ,
4. The author of the text is -
He (she) is a famous American (English, ) writer. - () (, ) .
Perhaps, he (she) is a famous American (English, ) writer. -, () (, ) .
But, sorry to say, I have never heard of him (her). - , , .
5. As for the genre, it is a psychological drama (a historical novel, a love story, an adventure story, a detective story, fantasy, ) , ( , , , , ).
6. The main characters of the story are -
The secondary characters are -
7. The action takes place in -
8. The main problem of the story is -
The main idea of the text is -
The author wanted to show -
The author tells about -
The author describes -
The reader may learn about -
9. The plot. - .
10. In conclusion I want to say that - ,
- your opinion about the text (interesting, difficult, boring) (, , )
- your opinion about the situation, the characters, the problem - , ,