Canada history

The first people came to Canada from Siberia. It happened in the Ice Age, about 27, 000 years ago. They crossed a bridge of land which joined Siberia and Alaska. The native people of Canada, Indians and Eskimos (or Inuits), who came from Asia, lived on this land for at least 10, 000 years.

The Vikings came to North America about 1, 000 years ago. There are ruins of a Viking settlement in Newfoundland.

The first Europeans began arriving in Canada in 1497. John Cabot, a sea captain, an Italian navigator in the service of England, looked for a sea route to India. During his voyages Cabot saw land and though claimed it for England he did not realize that it was a new continent. His discovery led to European exploration of Canada.

In 1608, Samuel de Champlain built the first permanent French settlement in Canada. He named it Quebec. Today, eight out of ten people in Quebec are of French origin. The French language they speak is unique. In many ways, it's like 17^th-century French!

Both nations began to expand in the New World. English colonists began to settle along the Atlantic Coast. The French began to explore and build forts in the region south of the great lakes in the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. So Great Britain and France were fighting for control of Canada till 1763. As a result, France signed a treaty giving up all its claims to land on the continent of North America. The French who were living in south regions of Canada did not return to France. They continued to follow the customs and religion of their native land. They became " French Canadians".

Great Britain gained control of the country in 1763, and thousands of British emigrants came to Canada. In 1867, the French and English-speaking Canadians created a united colony called the Dominion of Canada. Canada gained its independence from Britain in 1931. According to the Constitution Act of 1982 the British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, was recognized as the Queen of Canada.

Since that time, millions of immigrants from the United States, Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany, Russia and other countries of the world have moved to Canada. Today about one third of the Canadians speak French and about two thirds speak English. English and French are both official languages of Canada. If the USA is traditionally called the Melting Pot, Canada is always called the Mosaic. The people of Canada kept the traditions, customs and even languages of their countries of origin.

In 1999, one half of Canada's territory was officially returned to the Inuit people. The name of this new territory is Nunavut. In Inuktitut it means 'Our land'.

1. Who lived in America before Europeans came there?

2. When did the first Europeans begin arriving in Canada?

3. When and why did the French come to Canada?

4. What was the name of the first French settlement in Canada?

5. Where did the English colonists settle?

1.1 Read the text again. Make four correct sentences using an item from each column.

1.2 Complete the sentences. Use the passive of the verbs given in brackets.

1. 1804. The first steam locomotive _______ (build) in Britain.

2. 1863. The world's first underground railway ______ (open) in

London.

3. 1898. The first U.S. subway system ______ (open) in Boston.

4. 1964. " Bullet train" service ______ (introduce) in Japan.

5. 1995. Maglevs ______ (test) in several countries. These trains use magnets to lift them above the ground.

6. A speed of 320 mph (512 Kmph) ______ (reach) by the French high-speed train (called " TGV").

1.3 Rearrange the words in 1 to 6 to make questions.

1. Cartier of St. Lawrence River did to establish try a colony on the banks?

2. Samuel de Champlain did what do?

3. English colonists did where to settle began?

4. Canada control countries of which fighting were for?

5. return did French to France?

6. languages do the Canadians what speak?

CANADA HISTORY TEST 1. True or False?

1. Long before Indians first came to America, many groups of Europeans lived there.

2. During his voyages Cabot sighted land and claimed it for England.

3. The French began to explore and soon controlled the whole Canada.

4. The French who were living in south regions of Canada did not return to France.

5. The official language of Canada is English.