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Canada - Daily Life
By Ekaterina Zhdanova-Redman
1
Life in Canada differs very little from that in Western countries and the United States.
In fact, visitors see few differences between Canadian and American ways of life, except
for French-speaking parts of the country, especially Quebec. But in general, living
standards and habits are very similar to high western standards.
2
One of the most obvious features that make Canada different from its southern
neighbor is its language. English and French are the country's two official languages.
However, the French spoken in Canada is not, for the most part, the language of France.
In Quebec, where the majority of the population is of French descent, the local tongue is
known as Quebecois. Most Quebeckers, however, will understand formal French.
3
Like many of the people in the United States, most Canadians trace their ancestry to
Europeans. A large part of the people is of British descent, and another large group is
descended from early French settlers. After World War II there was a tremendous amount
of immigrants from Europe, and the last several decades has also seen many people from
Asia, Eastern Europe, and other parts of the world moving to Canada. All these
immigrants to Canada brought their national customs and cultural traditions to the
country, and added them to those of the first settlers. Thus, cultural diversity is one of the
main features of Canada.
4
Arguably the country's most distinctive art is that of the Inuit of the north,
particularly their stone and bone sculptures and carvings. Native Indian artists also excel
at printmaking, basketry and carving.
5
Canada is well known for its natural environment and dozens of national parks.
Canadians as well as thousands of visitors have lots of opportunities for different outdoor
activities, such as wildlife walks, swimming, caving, camping, hiking, canoeing, hotspring soaking, mountain climbing, and many others. Canada is home of some of the
world's greatest sportsmen. You have probably heard about Canada's famous hockey
players and talented ice-skaters.
6
Many areas in Canada, especially its central provinces, have lots of farms. The farms
and country towns are much like those in the neighboring United States. These farms are
usually very big, with average sizes of more than 1,000 acres. Farming requires a lot of
knowledge, experience, and very hard work, and Canadian farmers can provide it all.
Canada's wheat and other grain are very well known in many countries of the world.
7
Like Americans, many Canadians live in big cities. From Vancouver in the west to
Toronto and Montreal in the east, millions of Canadians work and live in population
centers, most of which lie within a few hundred kilometers of Canada's southern border
with the United States. Many Canadians who live in cities find high-skilled jobs in office
buildings. The quality of life in Canadian cities is very high. Because of Canada's strong
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economic and cultural ties to America, some of Canada's high-skilled workforce has
found different job prospects in the United States.
8
Canada's cities feature some of the country's grandest parties and festivals. One of
Canada's most famous festivals, the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Ottawa International
Jazz Festival, bring some of the world's greatest musicians to perform for Canadian
crowds. Dancing, music, ice sculptures, parades, and a snow slide make a visit to the
Quebec City Winter Carnival during February a memorable experience for Canadians.
9
Canada's arctic population--although small--enjoys a daily life quite different from
their city-dwelling neighbors to the south. Some of Canada's native people, the Eskimos,
still call the frozen north home and make their living by hunting wild animals and
traveling by kayak and dogsled. Many scientists from Canada, the United States, and
other countries have scientific settlements in arctic Canada.
10
In the last 50 years, the majority of Canadian life has moved from being rural and
agriculture-based to urban and technology-based. Canada and its southern neighbor--the
United States--have many similarities in their styles of living, yet Canada retains a
distinct and still developing individuality. Unique natural environment, cultural
traditions, and hard work of the people make Canada one of the nicest places to visit and
live.
1. Life in Canada differs tremendously from the
one in the western countries and the United
States.
False
True
2. Which two languages are official languages of
Canada?
French and English
English and German
French and Spanish
French and German
3. Which Canadian province is especially known
for its French descent?
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Quebec
4. Most Canadians can trace their ancestry to Native
Indians and Eskimos.
False
True
5. How did immigration to Canada change after
the World War II?
There is no immigration to Canada
It increased
It did not change
It decreased
6. There are many large farms in Canada, producing
sunflowers and grains.
False
True
7. Most of Canada's big cities are situated within a 8. There is no population living in the arctic regions of
few hundred kilometers with its western border.
Canada.
False
False
True
True
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