高中英语必修10Module 6 The Maple Leaf Country-Background information

Module 6 The Maple Leaf CountrySection Two Background of Canada1. About the flag of CanadaCanada, also known as Americas Frosted Hat, Soviet Canuckistan, Canadia or The Shizzle North of Hizzle, but more commonly known as the Great White North, is situated somewhere near the inconsequential continental U.S.A., and slightly south of the North Pole. The United Nations has managed to narrow it down further to not only north of the U.S. but also up, eh? To answer the question the entire world is asking, yes, Canada has an Army, and no, Canada doesnt know about it. Canadians are known for their peacefulness and politeness in distressing situations, such as during a war or hockey playoffs. The world looks to Canada for international peace-keepers, since they possess no weapons other than snow shovels, and their jovial accent and flannel clothing are comforting . The unanimously agreed upon capital of Canada is Toronto, although a small number of government offices are located in the far less important city of Ottawa. Proposals made entirely and only by Torontonians have been made to move offices to Toronto, but have yet to be approved. The city has considered separating from the country because of this. The rest of Canada, meanwhile, continues to think that Toronto blows and that the citys curling team, the Leafs, suck.1. Encyclopedia about CanadaCanadianA Canadian anticipating his next beer Canadian is a white person who lives outside the northern boundaries of the United States. Etymologically, Canadian is a shortened form of Beer Can Ad, a reference to the many billboards dotting the Trans-Canada Highway. Beer Canadians are now simply referred to as Canadians.Habitat and RangeCanadians were successfully introduced on the island of Newfoundland in 1904 where they are now the dominant beer consumers, and somewhat less successfully on Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where they established macaroni-and-cheese farms. Ten Canadians were also introduced in Quebec in 1910, but they apparently died off. Nevertheless, there have been reported sightings and there is continuing speculation about the existence of Canadians in Quebec.Physical characteristicsThe male Canadians antlers arise as cylindrical beams projecting on each side at right angles to the middle line of the skull, which after a short distance divide in a fork-like manner. The lower prong of this fork may be either simple, or divided into two or three tines, with some flattening. The antlers are useful for the carrying of beer cans in their plastic rings.Beer CansThe male Canadian will drop its beer cans after mating season in order to conserve energy for the winter season. It will then regrow them in the spring.The beer cans take about three minutes to grow, making them one of the fastest growing brews in the world. The beer cans initially have a layer of aluminum, which will shed off once fully grown.Behavior and breedingThe Canadian male, moments before breeding，although Canadians are generally timid, the males become very bold during the autumn breeding season; it is not uncommon for them to charge at moving trains. The females utter a loud call, similar to the lowing of cattle, which can be heard from up to 3 km away. During breeding (the rut), males will compete for females by fighting with their beer cans and sneakers and by fierce clashing of macaroni-and-cheese dinners.As well as bellowing, the female Canadian emits a strong, odoriferous pheromone in order to attract a mate. She also secretes pheromones in her urine which lets the males know that she is waiting in a motel room in Toronto. Females may begin to breed at 15, but more usually 13 years of age.The female gives birth to one or (occasionally) two Canadians at a time, in spring. The gestation period for a Canadian is about 216-240 days. Canadian babies grow very quickly, nourished by their mothers beer bottles, which are very high in fat and other nutrients.In North America, during the winter, Canadians may form loose aggregations in fairly sparse urban centers, which they keep open by trampling the snow. In the spring, Canadians can often be seen in drainage ditches at the side of roads, taking advantage of beer foam which has run off the road. These minerals replace electrolytes missing from their winter diet.In North America, changes in land use patterns, mainly the clearing of northern forests for settlement and agriculture, have led to the range of the Canadian expanding northward. Where their ranges overlap, Canadians may become infected by parasites carried by the deer such as brain worm, Parelaphostrongylus tenn0+is, and winter ticks, Dermacentor albipictus, which, though fairly harmless to deer, can be fatal to Canadians, especially when mixed with maple syrup.The lifespan of a Canadian in the wild is roughly 35 to 45 years.CultureCanadian rock art and cave paintings reveal that the Canadians have lived in Canada since about 1867.In downtown Toronto one can still find trapping pits in use for hunting elk.These pits, which can measure up to 4 x 7 meters in width and be up to 2 meters deep, are camouflaged with branches and leave in the middle of the major boulevards. They have steep sides lined with planks, making it impossible for an elk or motorbus to escape once it has fallen in. When Canadians trap a motorbus, they will eat it.The first written description of the Canadian is in the Davinci Code, where it is described thus:There are also animals which are called Canadians. The shape of these, and the varied color of their skins, is much like roes, but in size they surpass them a little and are destitute of horns, and have legs without joints and ligatures; nor do they lie down for the purpose of rest, nor, if they have been thrown down by any accident, can they raise or lift themselves up. Trees serve as beds to them; they lean themselves against them, and thus reclining only slightly, they take their rest. When they have leant upon them, according to their habit, they knock down by their weight the unsupported trees, and fall down themselves along with them. This is due to the beer they have consumed, hallelujah. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was referring to the male Canadians relentless behavior during breeding when he said I am as horny as a Canuck.The Canadian in popular cultureIn Western culture, the Canadian is often depicted as laconic and good-natured but not terribly bright. Bullwinkle J. Moose of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, an animated Canadian news show, is the most famous example, although Rutt and Tuke (voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas in a return to their Bob and Doug McKenzie|MacKenzie Brothers roles) from the Disney release Brother Bear are also excellent examples.A Canadian for Jessica chronicles the 76-day relationship between a Canadian man and a Hereford cow named Jessica in Shrewsbury, Vermont, USA.In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the opening credits are given mock-Swedish subtitles that quickly degenerate into vandalism, including such lines as A Canadian once bit my sister and Mynd you, Canadian bites kan be pretty nast.In poker, a loose or inexperienced player is often referred to as a Manitoban.The quest to see (and possibly catch) Canadians is a recurring theme in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Cheese Wiz.According to Invader Zim, what lies at the end of a wormhole is a Canadian.Some people might tell you that these references in fact refer to a moose. But we dont listen to them.Vehicle collisions and Canadian warning signs A Canadians body structure, with a large heavy body suspended on long spindly legs, makes these people particularly dangerous when hit by motor vehicles (skidoos). Such collisions are often fatal for both the Canadian and the motorist. This has led to the development of a vehicle test in Manitoba referred to as the beer run.In an advertising campaign the Swedish car manufacturer Volvo warned people of buying Japanese cars by stating There are no Canadians to practice on in Japan.Generally, upon impact the bumper of the car (skidoo) will break the Canadians legs. The main body of the Canadian, along with a hail of