English-speaking Countries Project

Canada
Canada, the second biggest country in the world, stretches from the Arctic Ocean to the Great Lakes,
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Consequently Canada's geography includes high mountains, huge
forests and wide fertile plains as well as vast expanses of snow, glaciers and frozen sea. Canada also
has hundreds of rivers and lakes which give it the second largest area of fresh water in the world.
Because of its variety of habitats Canada has a wide range of wildlife from polar bears to buffalo.

Like the USA, Canada has tribes of native "Amerinds", but also lnuits (Eskimos), who live in the far
north. The Indians are believed to have arrived in Canada from Asia over 12,000 years ago (some say
as many as 38,000 years ago), by walking across the Bering Strait when the sea was frozen solid, as
it sometimes is even today. The lnuits, however, were only thought to have come about 2,000 years
ago by the same route. There is evidence to suggest that Canada was first "discovered" by a Viking
called Leiff Ericsson, who sailed across the Atlantic to Canada's east coast. However, his people, the
Norsemen, gave up any idea of colonising the land after resistance from the native population. The
French were the first to colonise, naming part of eastern Canada "New France", and later the British
also developed settlements. After a succession of wars Britain finally established the Dominion of
Canada in 1867, although the French territories retained certain legal and cultural rights. Later, there
was an expansion of territory west and north to create the Canada of today.
Though for its size Canada still has a very small population, over the years it has encouraged open
immigration, not only from France and Britain, but from all over the world and this has influenced both
its culture and its languages. American (USA) culture has also been very influential - Canada has long
lived under the shadow of its next-door neighbour - but in fact Canadians have been responsible for,
among other things, devising the modern sports basketball and ice-hockey (the Canadian national
sport) and the general knowledge game Trivial Pursuit. A lot of people assume when they meet a
Canadian that they are American. This mistake can cause offence, so be careful! It may also explain
why so many travelling Canadians put a maple leaf -the Canadian flag- on their luggage. Finally, if you
ever get the chance, try maple syrup (a bit like honey) - best with pancakes.
Quiz

1 It has been possible to travel by train right across Canada - the transcontinental route -since 1887.
How far do you think it is from the east coast (Atlantic) to the west coast (Pacific)?
a) over 6,000km b) over 8,000km c) over 10,000km
2 Why did the Norsemen decide not to colonise Canada?
a) the Amerinds were too hostile b) it was too cold and snowy c) the Norse were very superstitious and
believed it was the end of the world.
3 What is the name of the mountain chain which stretches down the west of Canada and through the
United States into Mexico?
a) the Himalayas b) the Rockies c) the Coast Mountains.
4 Which of these languages are spoken in Canada?
a) English b) Eskimo c) French d) German e) Italian f) Spanish
5 What is the capital of Canada?
a) Vancouver b) Montreal c) Ottawa
6 What is the traditional lnuit greeting?
a) rubbing noses b) shaking hands c) kissing each other three times on each cheek
7 Which of these animals can be found in Canada?
a) seal b) polar bear c) bison d) huskie dog e) buffalo f) moose g) grisly bear h) mink
8 Which of these famous "Americans" are, in fact, Canadian?
a) Bryan Adams b) Joni Mitchell c) Kevin Costner d) Ben Johnson e) J. K. Galbreith f) Leonard Cohen
9 Canada is famous for its "Mounties". Who are they?
a) People who have trekked alone across the Rocky Mountains b) policemen on horseback c)
delicious traditional Indian cakes cooked on an open fire
10 Canada is also famous for "lumberjacks". They are
a) strong men who wear checked shirts b) the people who cut down trees for Canada's huge timber
and paper industries c) the Indians who bake the traditional cakes above.

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England
Before we start the quiz . . .

. . . can you explain the difference between England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom?
No? Well read on … England is England. No problem. Great Britain is the name of the island which
consists of England, Scotland and Wales. And the United Kingdom (often abbreviates to UK) is the
political name of the country that consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (plus a
few small islands). Got that? A British person is someone who comes from the UK. An English person
is someone who comes from England. So now you know. But how much do you know about England?
Read the questions and choose your answer.

1 Who is the patron saint of England?

a Sebastian
b George
c Simon (Templar )
d Bernard

2 What do English people do on England's national day?

a nothing
b eat Yorkshire puddings
c light fires and organise firework displays
d recite Robert Burns poetry

3 What is the national emblem of England?

a the football hooligan
b God Save the Queen
c the rose
d David Beckham

4 What is an English Breakfast?

a a cure for a hangover
b a hot breakfast with bacon and eggs
c some coffee, if you're lucky
d a rare flower grown only in Kent (the Garden of England)

5 Heathrow Airport is the world's busiest airport. It was originally called London Airport but later
changed its name to Heathrow. Who or what was Heathrow?
a a Conservative Prime Minister
b a character from one of Emily Bronte's novels
c a village located under Terminal 3
d an ancient Saxon god

6 What percentage of the United Kingdom's population lives in England?

a approximately 23 per cent
b approximately 43 per cent
c approximately 83 per cent
d exactly 98.8 per cent

7 Why was 1966 an important year for England?

a it was the last time England won the World Cup
b England won the Battle of Hastings
c England was granted independence from Scotland
d it didn't rain

8 Who said: "Oh, to be in England, Now that April's there."

a poet Robert Browning

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b rock star Noel Gallagher

c Prime Minister Tony Blair
d Victoria Adams

9 Complete this quote from the great Samuel Johnson: "When two Englishmen meet, their first talk is
of _____________."
a the weather
b tea
c sport
d sex

10 What happened in Farriner's bakery in Pudding Lane?

a the world's first pudding was created
b George Danone was born
c William Shakespeare was born
d the Great Fire of London started

11 Which city is famous for producing the band Oasis and having the most popular football team in
England?
a Liverpool
b Manchester
c Birmingham
d Luton

12 Which is the second largest city in England after London?

a Liverpool
b Manchester
c Birmingham
d Luton

13 What is (or was) Hadrian's Wall?

a the wall around Buckingham Palace which Hadrian Bloom managed to climb in 1987
b slang for a toilet
c the code name used to identify Margaret Thatcher during the Falklands War
d the wall that Hadrian built to keep the Scots out of England

14 What did Napoleon Bonaparte say about England? Complete the quote: "England is a nation of
___________"
a cowards
b puddings
c accountants
d shopkeepers

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United States of America

1 Who was president of the United States before Ronald Reagan? (Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford,
Richard Nixon)
2 What does George Bush have in common with Tony Blair? (brand of toothpaste, foreign policy, love
of baseball)
3 What does the Hawaian word "Aloha" mean? (hello, goodbye, I love you - this is a trick question
because it means all three)
4 What was the name of the native American woman who helped the first American settlers in
Virginia? (Pocahontas, Big White Sun, Red Tree)
5 What television station is based in Atlanta? (CNN, ABC, CBS)
6 What city was Elvis Presley from? (Memphis, New Orleans, Tallahasee)
7 What is the Kentucky Derby? (a horse race, a whiskey, a fast food chain)
8 What's the longest river in the US? (Mississippi, Missouri, Potomac)
9 Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 what? (lakes, villages, trees)
10 The American Constitution gives every citizen the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of...." what?
(happiness, money, employment)
11 How old do you have to be to buy a drink in the US? (21, 18, 16)
12 How many time zones are there in the US? (four, two, none)
13 What do people eat on Thanksgiving? (turkey, chicken, goose)
14 What's the phone number for emergencies? (911, 999, 01)
15 Where's Death Valley? (California, New Mexico, New York)
16 Where is Sears Tower? (Chicago, New York, Minneapolis)
17 Where did the Statue of Liberty come from? (France, Germany, Britain)
18 What can't you buy in a "dry town"? (alcohol, water, property)
19 Which animal do you associate with buses in America? (greyhound, horse, zebra)
20 How did Abraham Lincoln die in 1865? (he was shot, he drowned, he fell off his horse)
21 What was invented at the St. Louis World Fair in 1903? (ice cream cones, moving pictures,
hamburgers)
22 What did William Semple patent in 1869? (chewing gum, Coca Cola, Levi's)
23 Where does the name hot dog come from? (Chicago, Hollywood, Washington)
24 (one dollar, five dollars, ten dollars)

test your knowledge of the states of the U.S. in a quiz

1 How many states are there in the USA?
2 Each state has at least one nickname, something which is characteristic of that
particular state. Can you match the state with the correct nickname?
A Alabama i Lone star state
B Alaska ii Empire state
C Arizona iii Cotton state
D California iv Peach state
E Georgia v Land of the Midnight Sun
F Florida vi Creole state
G Hawaii vii Grand Canyon state
H Louisiana viii Sunshine state
I New York ix Aloha state
J Texas x Golden state
4 The largest state was also the second last state to join. What was the state?
5 What states are Atlanta and Los Angeles in?

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Scotland
1 Where is Scotland?
a) in England b) not in England c) in France

2 What do you call a person from Scotland?

a) a Sassenach b) a Scotch c) a Scot

3 What language do the majority of people in Scotland speak?

a) Gaelic b) English c) sign language

4 What is the capital city of Scotland?

a) Glasgow b) Edinburgh c) Aberdeen

5 Which sport was first played in Scotland?

a) cricket b) tennis c) golf

6 Which of these Shakespeare characters came from Scotland?

a) Macbeth b) Othello c) Hamlet

7 The Loch Ness monster lives in Loch Ness. Loch is a Scottish word for
a) river b) lake c) pond

8 A lot of people in Scotland are called Mac-something (MacDonald, for example). What does Mac
mean?
a) big b) son c) never wet

9 January 25th is Burns Night which people from Scotland always celebrate. What is Burns Night?
a) the anniversary of the night when Scotland burnt the Houses of Parliament in London.
b) the anniversary of the birth of Scotland's most famous poet.
c) the anniversary of the death of Robert the Burns, who won the battle of Bannockburn, one of the
most famous battles in Scotland's history.

10 Men in Scotland sometimes do not wear trousers but wear a "skirt". These are not called skirts in
Scotland. What are they called?
a) kilts b) tartans c) clans

11 Which of the following is not a brand of whisky?

a) Teachers b) Bells c) Jimmie Walker

12 What is a Scottish Terrier?

a) a type of dog b) a Scottish football supporter c) a mineral water

13 Which is Scotland's highest mountain?

a) Big Ben b) Ben Lomond c) Ben Nevis

14 Which famous novel set in Scotland did Robert Louis Stevenson write?
a) Treasure Island b) Robinson Crusoe c) Kidnapped

15 One of Scotland's traditional meals is haggis. What is haggis?

a) bits of sheep wrapped in a sheep's stomach
b) fish heads in a whisky sauce
c) horses' brains served with jacket potatoes and a lump of butter.

Wales
1 The capital of Wales is
a) Cardiff b) Edinburgh c) Llanfairpwllgwyngyll-gogerychwynrdrobwllllantisiliogogogoch

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2 Everyone in Wales speaks English, but Wales also has its own language - Welsh. Not everyone in
Wales speaks Welsh though. What percentage of the population is bi-lingual?
a)1O% b)35% c)50%

3 Saint David, Dewi in Welsh, is the patron saint of Wales. Tradition says that he was responsible for
the association of Wales with one particular vegetable. In a battle between the Welsh and the Anglo
Saxons he suggested that all the Welshmen put one of these vegetables in their caps so they could
recognise (and so not kill) each other. The vegetable was a
a) tomato b) cabbage c) leek

4 What do you think the population of Wales is?

a) just under 3 million b) Just over 5 million c) 65 million

5 A festival called an Eisteddfod takes place in many towns and villages in Wales every year. This is a
festival of
a) Welsh songs and poetry b) farming customs and animals, especially sheep c) traditional Welsh food
and drink

6 If someone gave you a Welsh rarebit what would you do with it?
a) kill it b) eat it c) give it a carrot

7 What is the most common Welsh surname?

a) Jones b) Smith c) McDonald

8 Wales was incorporated politically with England in 1536. Where is Wales geographically in relation
to England?
a) west b) south c) north

9 Which of these people are/were WeIsh?

a) the Prince of Wales b) Richard Burton c) Dylan Thomas d) Bertrand Russell e) Tom Jones f)
Lawrence of Arabia g) Shirley Bassey

10 Rugby is a very popular sport in Wales. What is the symbol on the Welsh flags that people wave at
international matches?
a) a leek b) a daffodil c) a red dragon

Ireland
1 The 17th March is the saint's day of the Patron Saint of Ireland. Although he was responsible for
bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century, he was in fact born in Britain! Legend says he rang a

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bell to drive out all the snakes, toads and other "venemous creatures" from Ireland, and it is true that
now there are no snakes in Ireland. He was
a) St. George b) St. Patrick C) St. Peter.

2 The National Emblem of Ireland, a green plant said to bring good luck, is the
a) Shamrock b) Shelalegh c) potato.

3 Since 1921 Ireland has been divided into the Irish Republic (south) and Northern Ireland, part of the
U.K. The capital of the Republic is
Belfast b) Dublin c) Cork. The capital of the North is a) Belfast b) Dublin c) Londonderry.

4 Irish whiskey (with an "e", as distinct from Scotch Whisky) is called "Uisce beathe" in the ancient
Irish language Gaelic. This means
a) water of life b) be careful this is dangerous c) Irish whiskey.

5 The Irish also play a very physical game called Gaelic football. This is a mixture of:
a) football and ice-hockey b) football and cricket c) football and rugby.

6 Ireland is famous for the friendly hospitality of its people, its folk music and its wet weather (which
makes it so green). It's also famous for playwrights, writers and poets. Which of the following are Irish?
a) Oscar Wilde b) Shakespeare c) James Joyce d) Samuel Beckett e) George Bernard Shaw f) Scott
Fitzgerald g) W.B. Yeats h) Eugene O'Neill

7 Ireland has a lot of ancient monuments, including many monestaries and castles. Blarney Castle is
well-known because it houses the famous "Blarney Stone". There is an old tradition that if you kiss the
Blarney Stone you will receive the "gift of the gab". This is
a) a free night in a luxury hotel b) the ability to speak well c) 20 Irish pounds.

8 Throughout its troubled history, millions of Irish people have emigrated, most of them to England,
Australia, Canada and the USA. Which of these US Presidents had Irish ancestors?
Abraham Lincoln b) Ronald Reagan c) George Bush d) J.F. Kennedy.

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