Western Immigration of Canada
Read Western Immigration of Canada and check the IELTS 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 atte…
Passage preview
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.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- annexation noun
The action of seizing or taking over a territory, especially by a state
The local population protested the illegal annexation of the neighboring province by the military.
- bolster verb
To support or strengthen; to prop up or reinforce
The government implemented new tax incentives to bolster the domestic manufacturing sector.
- demographic adjective
Relating to the structure of populations, often used to describe statistical data
The marketing team analyzed the demographic profile of their customers to refine their strategy.
- embellished adjective
Made more attractive or interesting by the addition of extra, often false, details
The traveler embellished his stories of adventure to impress his friends back home.
- enacted verb
Put into practice; made into a law or formal regulation
The legislature enacted a series of reforms designed to improve public health standards.
- homogeneity noun
The quality or state of being all of the same or a similar kind or nature
The cultural homogeneity of the small town began to change as more international residents arrived.
- homogeneous adjective
Of the same kind; alike; consisting of parts all of the same kind
The study focused on a homogeneous group of participants to minimize external variables.
- initiative noun
An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation; a fresh approach
The city launched a new green initiative to reduce carbon emissions by thirty percent.
- staple noun
A main or important element of something, especially a primary trade commodity
Rice remains a staple food for a significant portion of the global population.
- transcontinental adjective
Crossing or extending across a continent
The completion of the transcontinental railroad revolutionized travel and trade across the country.
Answers with explanations
- 1. ii
This paragraph discusses how the federal government created the Mounted Police Force, and how they **journeyed west to secure the area**. This directly matches the concept of the **Government's safeguard in the West**. The focus is on protection and security initiatives to safely attract settlers.
- 2. iv
The primary focus of this paragraph is that settling the territory required the **building of a transcontinental railway**. A railway is a massive piece of infrastructure, directly matching the heading regarding the **built-up to the new infrastructure** necessary to feed and supply the east and west.
- 2-3: G
2: The primary focus of this paragraph is that settling the territory required the **building of a transcontinental railway**. A railway is a massive piece of infrastructure, directly matching the heading regarding the **built-up to the new infrastructure** necessary to feed and supply the east and west.
3: The text explicitly states that **Winnipeg became the metropolis** (a major city/urban center) of the West. It goes on to detail its growth, land booms, and railways, perfectly matching the heading about the **early major urban development of the West**.
- 3. x
The text explicitly states that **Winnipeg became the metropolis** (a major city/urban center) of the West. It goes on to detail its growth, land booms, and railways, perfectly matching the heading about the **early major urban development of the West**.
- 3-4: F
3: The text explicitly states that **Winnipeg became the metropolis** (a major city/urban center) of the West. It goes on to detail its growth, land booms, and railways, perfectly matching the heading about the **early major urban development of the West**.
4: The paragraph explains how the initial British-Ontarian population shifted when foreign immigrants from Austria-Hungary and Ukraine arrived, adding a **new ethnic element**. This detailed breakdown of nationalities and spoken groups directly corresponds to the heading focusing on the **ethnics and language make-up** of the region.
- 4. vi
The paragraph explains how the initial British-Ontarian population shifted when foreign immigrants from Austria-Hungary and Ukraine arrived, adding a **new ethnic element**. This detailed breakdown of nationalities and spoken groups directly corresponds to the heading focusing on the **ethnics and language make-up** of the region.
- 5. i
The opening sentence of the paragraph explicitly states that **not all of the settlers... desired to remain there**. It further notes that the number of departures exceeded arrivals. This is an exact conceptual match for the heading stating that **not all would stay in Canada forever**.
- 6. vii
The text contrasts terrible urban slums with rural living, noting that reformers believed agriculture led to a **healthy, moral, and charitable way of life**. This idealized view of farming and country living accurately matches the heading about **pursuing a pure life**.
- 7. xii
This paragraph details how the government used agents, bonuses, and pamphlets to **present Canada's attractions** to overseas migrants. These are all methods of promotion and marketing, which perfectly matches the heading about the **advertising of Western Canada** to bring in immigrants.
- 8. homesteads
The summary blank requires a plural noun indicating what would be supplied for descendants. The text states the rural settlement would provide **homesteads** for the **sons and daughters** (descendants) of eastern farmers. The grammatical fit and synonymous phrasing confirm this is the correct answer.
- 9. agricultural output
The summary needs a noun phrase describing what politicians declared could be increased. The text explicitly mentions the region was viewed as a prime location for **expanding** (increasing) Canada's **agricultural output**. The phrase fits the grammatical slot perfectly while preserving the exact meaning of the passage.
- 10. wheat
The blank requires a specific noun (a type of crop) that was consumed in the East. The passage specifies **wheat** production was needed to **serve the markets** of eastern Canada. The noun fits the syntactic requirement perfectly and directly links to the source's agricultural details.
- 11. company
The sentence needs a noun indicating who the government bought land from. The text explicitly states the Dominion of Canada **purchased** (bought) land from the Hudson's Bay **Company**. It is a singular noun that correctly completes the historical fact presented in the summary.
- 12. Police Force
The blank requires a noun phrase describing a 'mounted' entity created to secure the land. The passage explicitly states the government created a **Mounted Police Force** whose members journeyed west to secure the area. The phrase accurately answers the factual and grammatical requirements.
- 13. transcontinental railway
The blank requires a noun phrase detailing what was built to transport migrants. The text notes that achieving their goals made the building of a **transcontinental railway** imperative. This explicitly links the need for an east-west economy and transportation system to the requested infrastructure.