Номер 3, страница 5, часть 2 - гдз по английскому языку 11 класс учебник Демченко, Бушуева

3. a. Read the article Maple leaf vs Canadian beaver and say which symbol is older.

Maple leaf vs Canadian beaver

Some people may question why the maple leaf was chosen as the symbol used on Canada’s flag, particularly given that the sugar maple, used as the model for the maple leaf design on Canada’s national flag, is found only in Eastern Canada. Besides, the majority of Canada’s maple trees are, in fact, only found east of Manitoba (one of the Canadian provinces). By contrast, the beaver, a symbol of industriousness, and one of the reasons for Canada’s prosperous fur trade in the 1800s, is found widely across the country.

After the early Europeans explorers had realized that Canada was not the spice-rich Orient, the main financial attraction was the beaver population numbering in millions. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, the fashion of the day demanded fur hats, which needed beaver pelts. As these hats became more popular, the demand for beaver fur turned out to be so successful that in 1678 the Governor of New France suggested the beaver as a suitable emblem for the colony. Despite all this recognition, the population of beavers had been almost destroyed by the mid-19^th century. There were around six million beavers in Canada before the start of the fur trade. During its peak, 100,000 pelts were being shipped to Europe each year; the Canadian beaver was in danger.

Luckily, about that time, Europeans took a liking to silk hats and the demand for beaver fur disappeared. In 1849, when famous Canadian engineer Sandford Fleming was asked to design Canada’s first postage stamp, he chose to portray a beaver building a dam near a waterfall.

However, there are several reasons why the maple leaf was a more appropriate choice. For one thing, the maple leaf is simply easier to draw. For another, the maple leaf is red, one of Canada’s national colors (the other is white). Finally, the fur trade is a part of Canada’s historical past, and the image of the beaver no longer resonated with Canadians in the same manner that it would have in the 19^th century.

Further to these arguments, historically speaking, the image of the maple leaf has frequently been used as a symbol of Canada. To cite a few examples, The Maple leaf forever which had been written a year before 1867 was chosen as a song for Confederation of the colonies that formed Canada. By 1901 the maple leaf had been featured on all Canadian coins; today, the maple leaf is found on the penny.

In 1904, Canadian athletes competing in the Olympic Games wore shirts displaying the maple leaf. What is more, the maple leaf was displayed on soldiers’ caps, badges, and military equipment during World Wars I and II.

As a result of it all today, around the world, the maple leaf is normally associated with Canada.

1. Which is more widely spread in Canada: maple trees or beavers?

2. Why did European explorers earn so much money selling beaver fur?

3. Why did the Governor of New France choose the beaver as a symbol of his area?

4. When did the beaver fur business stop? Why?

5. What was shown in the first Canadian postage stamp?

6. Where can people see the maple leaf?

3. a. Прочитайте статью Кленовый лист против Канадского бобра и скажите, какой символ старше.

3. b. Прочитайте статью еще раз и ответьте на вопросы. Используйте статью для подтверждения своих ответов.

1. Что более широко распространено в Канаде: клены или бобры?

2. Почему европейские исследователи зарабатывали так много денег, продавая мех бобра?

3. Почему губернатор Новой Франции выбрал бобра в качестве символа своей территории?

4. Когда прекратился бизнес на бобровом мехе? Почему?

5. Что было изображено на первой канадской почтовой марке?

6. Где люди могут увидеть кленовый лист?

Ответ:

a. The beaver is the older symbol.

b.

1. Beavers are more widely spread in Canada.

2. Because in the late 1600s and early 1700s, fur hats made from beaver pelts were in fashion.

3. Because the beaver is a symbol of industriousness and the fur trade was very successful.

4. It stopped around the mid-19th century because Europeans started preferring silk hats and the demand for beaver fur disappeared.

5. The first Canadian postage stamp showed a beaver building a dam near a waterfall.

6. People can see the maple leaf on Canada’s flag, on Canadian coins, on athletes’ shirts, and on soldiers’ caps, badges, and military equipment.

Перевод:

a. Символ бобра старше.

b.

1. Бобры более широко распространены в Канаде.

2. Потому что в конце 1600-х и начале 1700-х годов в моде были меховые шляпы из бобровых шкур.

3. Потому что бобр является символом трудолюбия, а торговля мехом была очень успешной.

4. Он прекратился примерно в середине 19-го века, потому что европейцы стали предпочитать шелковые шляпы, и спрос на бобровый мех исчез.

5. На первой канадской почтовой марке был изображен бобр, строящий плотину у водопада.

6. Люди могут увидеть кленовый лист на флаге Канады, на канадских монетах, на футболках спортсменов, а также на солдатских кепках, значках и военной экипировке.