Western Immigration of Canada Reading Answers

Feb 1, 2023

Western Immigration of Canada Reading Answers contains sample answers about the immigrant population in Canada. Western Immigration of Canada Reading Answers has 7 different questions. IELTS Western Immigration of Canada Reading Answers sample answers contain 2 types of questions: choose the heading for each paragraph and complete the summary. Candidates are required to read the IELTS Reading passage and choose the heading for each paragraph from the given list of heading and complete the summary using no more than two words from the passage for each answer. To gain efficiency and practice on diverse topics, candidates can undertake IELTS Reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Western Immigration of Canada Reading Answers

By the mid-1870s Canada wanted an immigrant population of agricultural settlers established in the West. No urban centres existed on the prairies in the 1870s, and rural settlement was the focus of the federal government’s attention. The western rural settlement was desired, as it would provide homesteads for the sons and daughters of eastern farmers, as eastern agricultural land filled to capacity. As well, eastern farmers and politicians viewed western Canada, with its broad expanses of unpopulated land, as a prime location for expanding Canada’s agricultural output, especially in terms of wheat production to serve the markets of eastern Canada.

To bolster Canada’s population and agricultural output, the federal government took steps to secure western land. The Dominion of Canada purchased Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1870. In 1872, the federal government enacted the Dominion Lands Act. This act enabled settlers to acquire 160 acres of free land, as long as settlers remained on their land for a period of three years, made certain minor improvements to the land, and paid a $10.00 registration fee. The Canadian government also created a Mounted Police Force in 1873. The Mounties journeyed west to secure the area for future settlers. By 1876 the NWMP had established themselves in the West. The major posts included Swan River, Fort Saskatchewan, Fort Calgary, Fort Walsh and Fort Macleod. All of these initiatives attracted a number of eastern-Canadian settlers, as well as European and American immigrants, to Canada’s West, and particularly to the area of Manitoba.

The surest way to protect Canadian territory, and to achieve the secondary goal for joining British Columbia to the rest of the country, was to import large numbers of Eastern Canadian and British settlers. Settling the West also made the building of a transcontinental railway. The railway would work to create an east-west economy, in which western Canada would feed the growing urban industrial population of the east, and in return become a market for eastern Canadian manufactured goods.

Winnipeg became the metropolis of the West during this period. Winnipeg’s growth before 1900 was the result of a combination of land speculation, growth of housing starts, and the federal government’s solution in 1881 of Winnipeg as a major stop along the CPR. This decision culminated in a land boom between 1881 and 1883 which resulted in the transformation of hamlets like Portage la Prairie and Brandon into towns, and a large increase in Manitoba’s population. Soon, Winnipeg stood at the junction of three transcontinental railway lines which employed thousands in rail yards. Winnipeg also became the major processor of agricultural products for the surrounding hinterland.

The majority of settlers to Winnipeg, and the surrounding countryside, during this early period, were primarily Protestant English-speaking settlers from Ontario and the British Isles. These settlers established Winnipeg upon a British-Ontarian ethos which came to dominate the society’s social, political, and economic spirit. This British-Ontarian ethnic homogeneity, however, did not last very long. Increasing numbers of foreign immigrants, especially from Austria-Hungary and Ukraine soon added a new ethnic element to the recent British, the older First Nation Métis, and Selkirk’s settler population base. Settling the West with (in particular) Eastern Canadians and British immigrants offered the advantage of safeguarding the 49th parallel from the threat of American take-over, had not the Minnesota legislature passed a resolution which provided for the annexation of the Red River district. The Red River in 1870 was the most important settlement on the Canadian prairies. It contained 11,963 inhabitants of whom 9,700 were Métis and First Nations. But neighbouring Minnesota already had a population of over 100,000.

Not all of the settlers who came to western Canada in the 1880s, however, desired to remain there. In the 1870s and 1880s, economic depression kept the value of Canada’s staple exports low, which discouraged many from permanent settlement in the West. Countries including Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and the United States competed with Canada for immigrants. Many immigrants and thousands of Canadians chose to settle in the accessible and attractive American frontier. Canada before 1891 has been called “a huge demographic railway station” where thousands of men, women, and children were constantly going and coming, and where the number of departures invariably exceeded that of arrivals.”

By 1891 Eastern Canada had its share of both large urban centres and problems associated with city life. While the booming economic centres of Toronto and Montreal were complete with electricity and telephones in the cities’ wealthiest areas by the turn of the century, slum conditions characterised the poorest areas like the district known as ‘the Ward’ in Toronto. Chickens and pigs ran through the streets; privy buckets spilled onto backyards and lanes creating cesspools in urban slums. These same social reformers believed that rural living, in stark contrast to urban, would lead to a healthy, moral, and charitable way of life. Social reformers praised the ability of fresh air, hard work, and open spaces for ‘Canadianizing’ immigrants. Agricultural pursuits were seen as especially fitting for attaining this ‘moral’ and family-oriented way of life, in opposition to the single male-dominated atmosphere of the cities. Certainly, agriculture played an important part in the Canadian economy in 1891. One-third of the workforce worked on farms.

The Canadian government presented Canada’s attractions to potential overseas migrants in several ways. The government offered free or cheap land to potential agriculturists. As well, the government established agents and/or agencies for the purpose of attracting migrants overseas. Assisted passage schemes, bonuses and commissions to agents and settlers and pamphlets also attracted some immigrants to Canada. The most influential form of attracting others to Canada, however, remained the letters home written by emigrants already in Canada. Letters from trusted friends and family members. Letters home often contained exaggerations of the ‘wonder of the new world.’ Migrant workers and settlers already in Canada did not want to disappoint, or worry, their family and friends at home. Embellished tales of good fortune and happiness often succeeded in encouraging others to come.

Section 2

Questions 1-7

The Reading Passage has eight paragraphs A-H

Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-H from the list below.

Write the correct number, i-xii, in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet

List of Headings

Not all would stay in Canada forever
Government’s safeguard in the West
Eastern Canada is full
Built-up to the new infrastructure
An exclusive British domination in Ontario established ever since
Ethnics and language make-up
Pursuing a pure life
Police recruited from mid-class families
Demand of western immigration
Early major urban development of the West
Attracting urban environment
Advertising of Western Canada

Example: Paragraph A ix

Paragraph B

Answer: ii
Supporting Sentence: To bolster Canada’s population and agricultural output, the federal government took steps to secure western land
Keyword : Canada, population, agricultural, federal, secure
Keyword Location: paragraph B, line 1
Explanation: As per paragraph B, the federal government took action to obtain western land in order to increase the population and agricultural output of Canada. In 1870, the Hudson's Bay Company sold Rupert's Land to the Dominion of Canada. Federal lawmakers passed the Dominion Lands Act in 1872. In 1873, the Canadian government also established the Mounted Police Force.

Paragraph C

Answer: iv
Supporting Sentence: Settling the West also made the building of a transcontinental railway.
Keyword : settling, west, building, railway
Keyword Location: paragraph C, line 3
Explanation: A transcontinental railroad was built as a result of the settlement of the West, as stated in paragraph C. A west-east economy would be developed thanks to the railroad. In it, western Canada would provide food for the east's expanding urban industrial population and serve as a market for its produced goods.

Paragraph D

Answer: x
Supporting Sentence: Winnipeg stood at the junction of three transcontinental railway lines which employed thousands in rail yards. Winnipeg also became the major processor of agricultural products for the surrounding hinterland.
Keyword : transcontinental railway, rail yards, agricultural products
Keyword Location: paragraph D, last 3 lines
Explanation: According to paragraph D, during this time Winnipeg rose to prominence as the capital of the West. The three transcontinental railroad lines that converged in Winnipeg worked hundreds in rail yards. A significant agricultural product processor for the nearby hinterland, Winnipeg also rose to prominence.

Paragraph E

Answer: vi
Supporting Sentence: This British-Ontarian ethnic homogeneity, however, did not last very long
Keyword : british, ontarian, homogeneity
Keyword Location: paragraph E, line 4-5
Explanation: As per paragraph E, Protestant English-speaking migrants made up the bulk of those who moved to Winnipeg and the surrounding region. However, this racial homogeneity among British Ontarians did not continue for very long.

Paragraph F

Answer: i
Supporting Sentence: Not all of the settlers who came to western Canada in the 1880s, however, desired to remain there
Keyword : settlers, Canada, desired, remain
Keyword Location: paragraph F, line 1
Explanation: However, not all of the immigrants who arrived in western Canada in the 1880s wanted to stay there, as is stated in paragraph F. The value of Canada's main exports was low in the 1870s and 1880s due to the economic slump. Many people were put off from settling in the West permanently as a result of this.

Paragraph G

Answer: vii
Supporting Sentence: rural living, in stark contrast to urban, would lead to a healthy, moral, and charitable way of life.
Keyword : rural living, healthy, moral, charitable
Keyword Location: paragraph G, line 6-7
Explanation: As per paragraph G, social reformers thought that living in the country would result in a more virtuous, upright, and benevolent lifestyle. Rather than would living in cities. The potential of open areas, hard work, and clean air to "Canadianize" immigrants was lauded by social reformers.

Paragraph H

Answer: xii
Supporting Sentence: The Canadian government presented Canada’s attractions to potential overseas migrants in several ways.
Keyword : canadian government, attraction, potential overseas, migrants
Keyword Location: paragraph H, line 1
Explanation: The government of Canada advertised its benefits to prospective immigrants from abroad in a number of ways, as per paragraph H. Some immigrants to Canada were also drawn there by pamphlets, bonuses and commissions to agents and settlers They were also drawn because of assisted passage programmes. People are frequently persuaded to go by embellished stories of luck and happiness.

Questions 8-13

Complete the following summary of the paragraphs of Reading Passage

Using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.

With the saturation of Eastern Canada, the Western rural area would supply 8 ________ for the descendants of easterners. Politicians also declared that Western has got potential to increase 9 ________ of Canada according to 10 __________ crop that consumed in the East. The federal government started to prepare and made it happen. First, the government bought land from a private 11 _______, and legally offered a certain area to people who stayed for a qualifying period of time. Then, mounted 12 ___________ was found to secure the land. However, the best way to protect citizens was to build a 13 __________ to transport the migrants and goods between the West and the East.

Question 8:

Answer: homesteads
Supporting Sentence: The western rural settlement was desired, as it would provide homesteads for the sons and daughters of eastern farmers
Keyword : rural, western, settlement, eastern farmers
Keyword Location: paragraph A, line 3-4
Explanation: As per paragraph A, the western rural settlement was wanted because it would give homesteads to the children of eastern farmers. Eastern agricultural land had reached its maximum capacity.

Question 9:

Answer: agricultural output
Supporting Sentence: its broad expanses of unpopulated land, as a prime location for expanding Canada’s agricultural output
Keyword : expanses, unpopulated land, prime location
Keyword Location: paragraph A, line 6-7
Explanation: As per paragraph A, western Canada's vast tracts of uninhabited territory attracted the attention of eastern farmers and politicians. It was thought to be an ideal spot for increasing Canada's agricultural output.

Question 10:

Answer: wheat
Supporting Sentence: especially in terms of wheat production to serve the markets of eastern Canada.
Keyword : production, serve, markets, eastern canada
Keyword Location: paragraph A, last line
Explanation: In paragraph A, it is stated how western Canada's vast tracts of uninhabited land were perceived by eastern farmers and politicians. It was considered to be an excellent area for increasing Canada's agricultural output. Particularly with regard to producing enough wheat to supply the eastern Canadian markets.

Question 11:

Answer: company
Supporting Sentence: The Dominion of Canada purchased Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1870.
Keyword : dominion, canada, rupert’s land, 1870
Keyword Location: paragraph B, line 2-3
Explanation: As per paragraph B, the federal government took action to secure western land in order to increase Canada's population and agricultural output. In 1870, Rupert's Land was acquired by the Dominion of Canada from the Hudson's Bay Company.

Question 12:

Answer: police force
Supporting Sentence: The Canadian government also created a Mounted Police Force in 1873
Keyword : canadian, government, 1873
Keyword Location: paragraph B, line 6
Explanation: According to paragraph B, the Canadian government established a Mounted Police Force in 1873. For the purpose of securing the region for potential settlers, the Mounties travelled west. The NWMP was well-established in the West by 1876.

Question 13:

Answer: transcontinental railway
Supporting Sentence: Settling the West also made the building of a transcontinental railway
Keyword : settling, west, building
Keyword Location: paragraph C, line 3
Explanation: As per paragraph C, populating the West paved the way for the construction of a transcontinental railroad. A west-east economy would be developed due to the railroad. It would provide food from western Canada for the expanding urban industrial population to the east.