M9 Unit1 Reading 课文电子版.docx

1、Reading.Canadaland of maple treesCanada is one of the largest counties in the world, second only to Russia, and has always been famous for its fantastic natural scenery. Canada has vast areas of wildness , from the Arctic north, where average winter temperatures are usuallyminus 20 degrees centigrad

2、e, to the 892-kilometre-long border with the USA to the south, which is the longest border in the world not defended by an army or the police. On the east and west are the shores of two great oceans-the Atlantic and thePacific.Within this huge country, there are frozen wastes, vast mountain ranges,

3、huge open fields, countless rivers and endless forests. There are many wild animals in the forests and on the freezing lands in the north, and fish are abundant in the seas and rivers.For those who love natural recreation, it is possible to walk, sail or cross- country ski for hours-or even days- -w

4、ithout meeting another person. Canadians, especially wildlife photographers and hunters, are quite fond of the wilderness, and you will be too.Beautiful scenery is just one of the treasures Canada has to offer. The vast majority of Canadas population of more than 30 million people lives in urban are

5、as .You be delighted by Toronto, Montreal ,Vancouver and Edmonton all known around theworld for their urban way of life, beautiful architecture and unique culture.Toronto, the largest city in Canada, ranks among the most multicultural cities in the world. People there have ancestors from Ireland, Po

6、rtugal, China, Lebanon and Italy as well as from many other places. In the heart of Toronto is the Canadian National Tower, which is often called the CN Tower for short. Rising 553 metres into the sky, it is the third tallest tower in the world.Montreal, a port in the province of Quebec, is the seco

7、nd largest city in Canada, and also the second largest French-speaking city in the world, Paris being the largest.Quebec, which was first settled by the French, was lost to the British in 1763，but its population is still over 70 per cent French. Because of this, Montreal has a wonderful mix of Old W

8、orld (European) and New World (North American) architecture and culture. There are old buildings, historic churches, narrow streets and alleys, all alongside glass and steel and concrete skyscrapers towering upwards.As a modern, dynamic city, Montreal has a lively night scene, with many restaurants

9、and clubs, as well as cultural and street festivals to ensure that no visitor is ever bored.Smaller in size, but just as famous, is the city of Vancouver in the province of British Columbia on the Pacific coast. Vancouver has one of the largest Chinese populations in North America. It also has super

10、b scenery, a beautiful harbour, andall the comforts of modern life and international cuisine, in addition to being close to some very popular ski areas.Edmonton, a city in British Columbias nearby province of Alberta, is home to the West Edmonton Mall. The mall is one of the largest indoor shopping

11、centres in the world. It is like an underground city, covering an area of more than 20 acres. The mall consists of eight kilometres of passages, filled with shops, art galleries and even a water park. It attracts over 55,000 customers every day.Nearer to the Atlantic coast is Niagara Falls. It is pe

12、rhaps the best-known natural phenomenon in Canada. The waterfalls, the largest of which is shaped like a semicircle, are 670 metres wide, and fall 56 metres in an awesome white sheet of water. Millions of travellers from all over the world come here every year.Canada has a very interesting history.

13、In 1896, gold was discovered in the Klondike frontier area in the north-west of Canada. Approximately one million people left their homes and travelled westwards to seek their fortune in the Gold Rush.Although only a handful of people became successful, many stayed and built settlements in the area,

14、 and there are now many museums showing what life was like back then.Finally, if you visit during the autumn, you can see Canadas national symbol- -the maple leaf. There are many maple trees in Canada, and a maple leaf is on the Canadian flag. In autumn, maple leaves turn a beautiful red. The tree itself suppliesCanadas most famous food- -maple syrup -which goes well with pancakes.With all of these attractions, you can see why the UN named Canada one of the best countries in the world to live in!