&  Vocabulary Development:  top

Instructions:   Identify the word form (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) and use the word in a sentence that illustrates your understanding of the word.  

Vocabulary	Word Form	Your Example Sentence
1.  expand	verb	A bicycle tire expands when you pump air into it.
2.  influx
3.  gaps
4.  apparent
5.  metropolis

$  Reading/Writing  Exercise:    top

Instructions:    Read the following text and answer the comprehension questions.  

Stroll down any street in one of Canada’s metropolises and you can’t help but notice the vast array of languages and cultures.   Canada owes a lot of its lifeblood to the continual stream of immigrants who chose to adopt Canada as their new home.  According to the latest statistics, Canada will receive more than 250,000 immigrants this year (2001); the highest number since 1956.  

So you may ask yourself:  Why has Canada opened its doors to an influx of newcomers?   On a social level, Canadian immigration policy attempts to reunite separated family members.    In addition to this, Canada is suffering from a severe shortage of skilled workers.  Some statisticians predict this shortage could reach crisis level within the next 20 years. 

Elinor Caplan, the Minister of Immigration, has announced a plan to respond to Toronto’s urgent need for construction workers.  Approximately 500 “guest workers” have been recruited from Caribbean nations in order to fulfil this construction shortfall.  The workers will be allowed to stay in Canada for up to two years, and after that time, they will be eligible to apply for “landed immigrant” status.  If this project is successful, the government plans to expand this practice to fill other gaps in the Canadian economy.   The Ontario Home Builders’ Association states that it requires an additional 10,000 to 15,000 workers. 

In another announcement, it is expected that the Canadian government will loosen some of the immigration rules for the families of high-tech workers.  Spouses will be allowed quicker access to employment and immigration status.  Studies have shown that Canada is suffering a ‘brain drain’ because many of our newly arrived high-tech workers are moving to the United States where it is perceived to be easier to establish family roots. 

 

1.  The article states that Canada has a shortage of:  (a) family immigrants   (b) unskilled workers   (c) construction sites   (d) skilled workers

 

2.  The expression “lifeblood” (in the 1^st paragraph) could be replaced by:  (a)  likelihood

(b) livelihood    (c) parenthood   (d) neighborhood

 

3. The word “fuel” (in the 5^th paragraph) is a:  (a) noun  (b) verb  (c) adjective  (d) adverb

 

4.  All of the following statements are true EXCEPT:  (a) The construction industry in Toronto is in need of more skilled workers.    (b) Elinor Caplan is an employee of the Federal Government.

(c) “Guest Workers” will be able to apply for “landed immigrant” status after two months.

(d) Canada’s population is ageing

 

5.  The article states that Canada is suffering from a “brain drain” (in the 4^th paragraph); explain the meaning of this expression in your own words.

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Grammar Exercise:     Use of Transition Words    top

Part One:     top
 Instructions:    Match the transition word with the correct meaning/usage.

Transition Word	Meaning/Usage
for instance	to show concession (something unexpected)
as a result	to provide an example (or examples)
likewise	to show similarity
in other words	to show contrast or an alternative
in brief	to introduce a summary of the main points
nevertheless	to show a deduction
on the other hand	to illustrate a consequence

Part Two:     top
Instructions:    Complete the sentence using the appropriate transition word listed above..

1.  There is a shortage of skilled workers in Canada; ________________, the Canadian government is restructuring its immigration policy.

2.  The Americans view their immigration process as a “melting pot”; ________________, Canadians view their immigration process as “multiculturalism”. 

3.  Immigrants have changed Canadian society in many ways; ________________, they have introduced new foods and cultural events.

4.  Canadians continue to have children; ________________, our population would decrease if we did not accept new immigrants. 

5. Provide your own sentence using one of the remaining transition words.

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6.  Having reviewed the list of transition words provided by your instructor, which other words from the list can be used in the sentences above.  Discuss why some of the transition words from each category may not be appropriate. 

Grammar Through Writing    top

Having Fun with Verb Tenses

Instructions:    Your task is to provide 3 sentences about your life using the verb tenses (and topic) indicated.   

[A]  Present Perfect        --- Complete the following sentence ---

(i)   Since moving to Canada, I    _______________________________________________________.       

(ii)  Since moving to Canada, I    _______________________________________________________.       

(iii) Since moving to Canada, I    _______________________________________________________.       

 

[B]  Future Perfect       --- Complete the following sentence ---

(i)  By this time next year, I ___________________________________________________________.

(ii) By this time next year, I ___________________________________________________________.

(iii) By this time next year, I __________________________________________________________.

 

[C]  Past Perfect       --- Complete the following sentence ---

(i)   By the time I was 18 years old, I ___________________________________________________.

(ii)  By the time I was 18 years old, I ___________________________________________________.

(iii) By the time I was 18 years old, I ___________________________________________________.