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GCOMPARING COUNTRIES

FACT!Canada has the third-largest forest area in the world. (The United States is fourth on the list of forest area, and Australia is sixth.)

Peyto Lake is in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Hi! My name is Philippe and I live in Canada, in North America. Canada is the best country in the world because it is huge, we have some of the most amazing scenery you will see anywhere and it is very multicultural!

SizeDid you know that Canada is the second-largest country in the world? It also has the longest coastline in the world! The coastline is over 200 000 kilometres long, and stretches through three di� erent oceans. Our biggest national park is Alberta’s Wood Bu� alo National Park, which is bigger than the whole country of Denmark!

SceneryBecause Canada is so large, much of our landscape is still untouched by the e� ects of humans. The Canadian Rocky Mountains have beautiful blue lakes, such as Peyto Lake. The blue colour of the water is caused by sediment from glaciers. We also have some picturesque mountain peaks. In the north, the Canadian Arctic is mostly covered in frozen ground, called permafrost.FA

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OZBOX Year 5 © Oxford University Press 2016

QUESTIONS

1. What are the three main points that Philippe makes about why Canada is the best place to live?

2. How is Canada similar to Australia? How is it di� erent?

3. Find Canada and Australia on a world map. Which hemisphere is each country in? Which other countries are they near?

4. Research Australia’s population, the main cultural groups in Australia and other pieces of information so that you can compare Australia with Philippe’s account of Canada.

5. Write a persuasive piece about why Australia is the best country to live in. Choose three main points to support your point of view. Incorporate geographical terms in your arguments and add images and other relevant resources.

Multicultural CanadaThe original inhabitants of Canada are known as the First Nations, or the First Peoples of Canada. European settlement began in the 16th century, and since then people from all over the world have migrated to Canada. In 1971, the Canadian Government was the fi rst government in the world to o� cially embrace multiculturalism. Multiculturalism means that all citizens are valued equally, regardless of their race or culture.

Canada even has two o� cial languages: English and French. This is because French colonists began arriving in Canada in the 16th century. Today, more than fi ve million of the 35 million people in Canada are of French-Canadian descent. Many of these people live in the province of Québec. The Old Québec area is a World Heritage treasure. It is surrounded by a city wall and has many 17th, 18th and 19th century buildings.

People from Britain, various European countries (including Germany and Italy) and China also contribute to Canada’s multicultural character. Large numbers of immigrants from Africa, the Middle East and Asia live in Canada, too.

Canada is a beautiful and welcoming country. It is unique in the world. I’m sure you will agree that it’s a great place to live!

The historic district of old Québec dates from the early 17th century.

Scan the code to learn more about Québec City.


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GFACT!Around 93 per cent of the food we eat comes from Australian farms.

FARMING AND THE LAND

Farming has had an enormous impact on the development of Australia, and on its environment. The farming industry provides us with food and many other products that we rely on – but it has also changed the land we live on.

The growth of farmingAfter the fi rst European settlers arrived in Australia, farming became increasingly important. Sheep were farmed for meat and wool, and sheep farming was quickly successful. Other early crops included wheat, oats, maize and hay.

However, in order to plant crops or farm livestock, it was necessary to start clearing the land. This meant that trees and other vegetation had to be removed. Land clearing continued, and about half of Australia’s rainforests have been cleared for farming and other purposes. Land clearing has had two major e� ects. It has taken away the habitat of our native wildlife. It has also led to soil salinity, which is when increased salt in the soil makes it hard for plants to grow.

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QUESTIONS

1. What are two ways that farming has changed the land? Can you think of any other ways?

2. Explain what irrigation is. Why do farmers use irrigation?

3. Watch the fi rst minute of the video about irrigation at http://bit.ly/1UDZ8MJ. Which are the three most common types of modern irrigation? How is technology helping to improve irrigation?

4. List the points in the text in favour of farming, and those against. With a partner, write an exposition or persuasive piece on the topic ‘Farming is good for Australia’. Decide which side you are going to take and include a statement of position, arguments and conclusion.

5. Find a pair of students who wrote their exposition piece from the opposite point of view. Share your pieces with each other. What did you learn?

Farming and waterThe lack of fresh water was one of the biggest challenges faced by early farmers in Australia. As the need for food for the growing colony increased, farmers had to think of ways to make more of Australia’s land suitable for crops.

In 1887, the fi rst attempts at irrigation were made in Mildura, Victoria. Water was pumped from the Murray River to irrigate the surrounding land. Nobody considered what removing water from the river might do. Once water is taken from one part of a river, there is less water to fl ow down to the other parts. Over time, we have come to understand the impact that irrigation can have on the environment.

The farming industry is necessary to Australia – but so is a healthy environment. We should be seeking ways to farm that have only a small impact on the land.

Scan the code to learn more.

The lack of fresh water was one of the biggest challenges faced by early farmers in Australia. As the need for food for the growing colony increased, farmers had to think of ways to make more of Australia’s land suitable for crops.

Murray River to irrigate the surrounding land. Nobody considered what removing water from the river might do. Once water is taken from one part of a river, there

The farming industry is necessary to Australia – but so

Irrigation in Mildura, 1887


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FACT!

Indigenous Australians often warned early settlers that the local area was prone to fl ooding. Sometimes settlers ignored the advice, and whole towns were washed away by fl oods.

AUSTRALIAN FLOODS

Floods have always been a part of life in Australia. They a� ected Indigenous Australians well before European settlement. In the years since Europeans fi rst settled in Australia, the details of many fl oods have been recorded. Floods have destroyed thousands of homes and farms, and taken the lives of about 900 people.

Most fl oods in Australia happen when rivers become too full after heavy rain and spill into the surrounding areas. Australia has large areas of fl at land, so the water from fl ooding rivers can spread quickly across vast areas.

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In the Great Flood of 1893, the Brisbane River burst its banks, rising about 7 metres above its usual level and leaving a path of destruction in its wake.


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Worst fl oodsThese are some of the worst Australian fl oods of the last 160 years.

Gundagai 1852Australia’s most deadly fl ood happened in Gundagai, New South Wales. In 1852, the Murrumbidgee River swept most of the town away, killing 89 people and destroying 71 buildings. Only three buildings remained standing after the fl oods.

Queensland 2010–11The Queensland fl oods of 2010–11 took 35 lives and caused a great deal of damage to homes and farmlands. About 75 per cent of Queensland’s banana crops were destroyed in the fl oods. Three-quarters of Queensland was declared a disaster zone.

Northern Tasmania 1929Heavy rains caused severe fl ooding in north-eastern Tasmania in 1929. Twenty-two people lost their lives, and more than 1000 houses in Launceston were fl ooded. Another 14 people died when a dam on the Cascade River collapsed, fl ooding the town of Derby.

QUESTIONS

1. What causes fl ooding in Australia?

2. Why do you think people build houses in fl ood-prone areas?

3. Go to http://bit.ly/1f0cwvb to watch the video of the Queensland fl oods. With a partner, discuss the e� ect of how the images in the video were shot. Do they give you an idea of what it would be like to be in the fl oods? How?

4. Listen to the song ‘Rise again’ and watch the video about the 2011 Queensland fl oods at http://bit.ly/1PbN6Zo. Why do you think it was written? How do the music and images work together to give you an idea of what the fl oods were like?

5. Write a poem or song of your own about what it might look, feel and sound like to be caught in a fl ood. Think about the imagery you use and whether or not your piece will rhyme.

Scan the code to learn more about the 2011 Queensland � oods.

Flooding in Launceston, 1929


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