Canada Meets the US

Look at the picture and discuss the questions below.
  1. Where is Tom?
  2. What is he doing in the picture?
  3. Where do you think Tom is going?
  4. Why do you think Tom and the girl in front of him are wearing the same caps?

Reading

Listen and read.

Canada meets the US

April 2nd, on the radio

TAKE YOUR IDEAS AND MAKE THEM HAPPEN!

Canadian Railways is sponsoring[explanation: sponsor [ˈspɒnsə(r)] – sponsima, raha andma] an international[explanation: international [ˌɪntəˈnæʃ(ə)n(ə)l] – rahvusvaheline] contest[explanation: contest [ˈkɒntest] – võistlus] called[explanation: called [kɔːld] – nimega, nimetatud] EXCITE[explanation: excite [ɪkˈsaɪt] – siin: innustama, ergutama]!. It’s for middle school[explanation: middle school [ˈmɪd(ə)l ˌskuːl] – (nt USAs) põhikooli 6.–8. klassid] students. The categories[explanation: category [ˈkætəɡri] – kategooria] are Creativity[explanation: creativity [ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvəti] – loovus, loomingulisus], Science[explanation: science [ˈsaɪəns] – teadus], and Entertainment[explanation: entertainment [entəˈteɪnmənt] – meelelahutus]. Make a poster, record[explanation: record [rɪˈkɔːd] – salvestama] a song, write a poem – the sky’s the limit[explanation: The sky’s the limit. [ðə ˌskaɪz ðə ˈlɪmɪt] – Vaid taevas on piiriks!].

The winners[explanation: winner [ˈwɪnə(r)] – võitja] will travel to Banff in Alberta, Canada by train. They will participate[explanation: participate [pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪt] – osalema] in a two-day[explanation: two-day [ˈtuːdeɪ] – kahepäevane] conference[explanation: conference [ˈkɒnf(ə)r(ə)ns] – konverents, nõupidamine] there.

Best of luck[explanation: best of luck [ˌbest əv ˈlʌk] – õnn kaasa, edu] to all the contestants[explanation: contestant [kənˈtest(ə)nt] – võistleja]!

A man in a blue T-shirt and black trousers talking on the radio

Five months later, on a train

TOM:

Wow! Look at the mountains. This is so cool! I can’t believe I’m going to Banff!

MS. BECK:

Do you see that girl? She’s wearing a conference cap, too. I wonder if[explanation: I wonder if ... [aɪ ˈwʌndər ɪf] – Huvitav, kas …] she’s also going to the conference.

TOM:

I can ask her. She looks really nice.

MS. BECK:

Alright, but remember to be polite[explanation: polite [pəˈlaɪt] – viisakas]. You’re representing[explanation: represent [ˌreprɪˈzent] – esindama] our school.

The main character’s teacher on a train
[excerpt beginning]

TOM:

Erm … Hey, excuse me. I noticed[explanation: notice [ˈnəʊtɪs] – märkama] you … I mean your cap. Are you one of the participants[explanation: participant [pɑːˈtɪsɪp(ə)nt] – osaleja] in the EXCITE! conference?

LIZZIE:

Yes, I am.

TOM:

I’m going to the conference, too.

LIZZIE:

You are? Let me guess. You look like[explanation: look like [ˈlʊk ˌlaɪk] – välja nägema] a writer[explanation: writer [ˈraɪtə(r)] – kirjanik]. Did you write a play?

TOM:

No. I made a vlog called “How to Cross[explanation: cross [krɒs] – ületama] the Country Without[explanation: without [wɪˈðaʊt] – ilma] Getting Off the Sofa[explanation: get off the sofa [ˌɡet ɒf ðə ˈsəʊfə] – diivanilt tõusma]”.

LIZZIE:

That’s funny.

TOM:

My turn. You look artistic[explanation: artistic [ɑːˈtɪstɪk] – artistlik]. Did you make a poster?

LIZZIE:

Nope[explanation: nope [nəʊp] – ei].

TOM:

Are you going to give a speech?

LIZZIE:

Not exactly[explanation: Not exactly. [nɒt ɪɡˈzæktli] – Mitte päris.]. I’m giving a presentation about the Canadarm. I even built[explanation: build, built, built [bɪld], [bɪlt], [bɪlt] – ehitama] a model[explanation: model [ˈmɒd(ə)l] – mudel].

TOM:

Really? You’re not going to believe this. One of my uncles worked on the Canadarm. He’s coming to the conference.

LIZZIE:

No way[explanation: No way! [nəʊ ˈweɪ] – Ei või olla!]! I’d love to meet him.

TOM:

Why not, he’ll be there the whole time[explanation: the whole time [ˌhəʊl ˈtaɪm] – kogu aeg].

LIZZIE:

Great!

TOM:

Why don’t you come and sit with us? I’m sure Ms. Beck won’t mind[explanation: mind [maɪnd] – pahaks panema]. She’s my teacher, and she’s really nice.

LIZZIE:

I’ll ask my mom when she comes back from the restaurant car[explanation: restaurant car (BrE) [ˈrestrɒnt ˌkɑː(r)] – restoranvagun].

TOM:

OK. By the way[explanation: by the way [ˌbaɪ ðə ˈweɪ] – muide], my name is Tom. I’m from Seattle.

LIZZIE:

I’m Lizzie Bennet. I’m from Whistler, B.C. That’s in Canada.

TOM:

I know!

[excerpt end]
The main character talking to a girl on a train

I’m going to Banff!

  1. The EXCITE! contest has four categories.
  2. The winners are going to Canada for a conference.
  3. Tom is travelling to Banff in April.
  4. Lizzie made a model of the Canadarm.
  5. One of Tom’s uncles is going to be at the conference.
  6. Lizzie is travelling to Banff with her father.
  7. Lizzie is from Canada.
  • Banff
  • Canadian Railways
  • the Canadarm
  • EXCITE!
  1. the name of the contest and conference
  2. Tom and Lizzie’s destination
  3. the sponsor of the contest
  4. the topic of Lizzie’s presentation

Who does it?

Choose the correct character.

Who ...

  1. would like to meet Tom’s uncle?
  • Tom
  • Lizzie
  • Ms. Beck
  1. notices Lizzie on the train?
  • Tom
  • Lizzie
  • Ms. Beck
  1. invites Lizzie to sit with them?
  • Tom
  • Lizzie
  • Ms. Beck

Who ...

  1. made a vlog with a funny name?
  • Tom
  • Lizzie
  • Ms. Beck
  1. thinks that Tom looks like a writer?
  • Tom
  • Lizzie
  • Ms. Beck
  1. asks Tom to be polite?
  • Tom
  • Lizzie
  • Ms. Beck
How does the story continue? Does Lizzie’s mother let her sit with Tom and Ms. Beck? If so, what do they talk about on their way to Banff? Discuss with your partner.