Canada is surrounded on three sides by oceans. To the north, the Arctic Ocean borders Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Off the west coast of British Columbia is the Pacific Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean, meanwhile, sits to the east of Canada’s Maritime provinces, which include Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

To Whom It May Concern,
I don’t usually write emails like this, but I had an experience with one of your bus drivers this morning that has stayed with me all day, and I felt I should share it with you. Having recently moved from Gloucester to the downtown area, it has taken me some time to learn the routes of the local buses. I first tried looking at the map at the station and asking my apartment manager, but I still wasn’t clear about how to get around town. I also couldn’t find any information kiosks near to my home. Nevertheless, I finally figured it out using your online maps and schedules at www.catchmybus.com.
Over the weekend, I planned the best routes to my new office. I knew that I would get on the #2 at Bank and Queen, then transfer to the #42 once I got to McLeod. However, the weekend was a busy one for me, and I didn’t get caught up on my sleep. I was up early enough to get ready for my first day at work. I even made my way to the stop at Bank and Queen by 7:30 to catch the 7:37 bus. The problem was, I closed my eyes for a moment at the bus stop and ended up nodding off. Fortunately, when the bus approached, the driver saw me sitting there and honked his horn at me. I was so pleased that he stopped and took a moment to wake me up. If it weren’t for him, I would have been late on my first day! He then greeted me with a big smile and said, “Good morning!” as I got on the bus.
In my sleepy haze, I forgot to look at the driver’s nametag (and I almost left my bag on the bus), but perhaps the shift supervisor can look at the schedule. Could you please pass along my thanks to the driver and make sure his excellent customer service is recognized?
Regards,
Adam Stevenson

A.Belonging to an order of carnivorous insects called Odonates (a word which derives from the Greek word for “tooth”), dragonflies have existed for more than 300 million years, yet scientists have only recently begun researching them. The exact number of dragonfly species is not known, but scientists believe that there are over 5000 worldwide, with more than 450 in North America, including over 80 in British Columbia alone. Dragonflies are unique creatures with a diverse range of habitats. They have been detected in both acidic bogs and alkaline lakes. Although dragonflies can be found in a wide range of environments, they all live near water.
B. Dragonflies lay their fertilized eggs in ponds or marshes during the spring and summer. From these eggs emerge nymphs, immature water-dwelling insects. Depending on the species, a dragonfly may spend anywhere from 1 to 4 years in the nymph stage, living just below the water surface before becoming a fully developed adult, mature enough to climb out of its watery home, shed its skin, and fly away. Relative to its entire life cycle, the time a dragonfly spends as an adult is short, lasting only several months.
C. Dragonflies are skilled predators whose hunting techniques are specific to each phase of their life cycle. As nymphs, they stalk their quarry on low-lying greenery or shoots; lie in the mud at the bottom of a pond to wait for prey; or bury themselves in the mud to search for food. They eat aquatic insects and, once they grow big enough, sometimes consume tadpoles and even small fish. As adults, though, dragonflies hunt while flying through the air, positioning their legs to form a basket that captures mosquitoes, small midges, and other tiny flying insects.
D. Researchers are continually uncovering interesting facts about the dragonfly. An adult can fly at top speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour, making it one of the fastest insects in the world. Each dragonfly eye has a 360-degree field of vision and 30,000 lenses that help it detect motion. In Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia, dragonflies have been introduced to watery locations for their habit of eating mosquito larvae—an effective strategy for controlling mosquito-transmitted diseases such as dengue fever. Who knows what future research will reveal about this fascinating creature!
E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.

The Canadian government has a long history of funding visual and performing arts across the country. Unfortunately, in the face of difficult fiscal choices, the government has increasingly withdrawn its support. Meanwhile, some influential groups have recently claimed that funding for the arts is a waste of public money and falls outside the purview of the government.
In an interview, Myriam Donahue of the Canadian Taxpayers League expanded on this subject. “Society doesn’t accept government intervention in other economic sectors; the arts should be no different. Government intervention distorts the market. Artists should be more entrepreneurial and obtain money from the private sector,” claimed Donahue. “We appreciate a work of art the same way we appreciate a good meal or a sports game. Just as the government doesn’t tell us what to eat for dinner or what sports to watch, it shouldn’t be in the business of selecting which artist is fittest for public consumption. When that happens, taxpayers subsidize the leisure pursuits of society’s wealthiest people.”
Understandably, artists have resisted. “It’s not realistic to imagine that private sponsorship and philanthropy are a panacea to replace government funding,” explained community arts organizer Katarina Bakir. “Businesses see government support of the arts as a stamp of approval ensuring high standards of quality and integrity. With government cutbacks, the private sector has actually been more reluctant to sponsor events and artists. Earnings for most professional Canadian artists are already hovering around the poverty level. If funding cuts continue, artists will have to choose between falling further into poverty or changing professions.”
Eastern University sociologist Dr. Peter Horvath agrees that artists need entrepreneurial skills and sees many social benefits to public patronage for the arts. “The arts are often accused of being elitist, but surveys show that Canadians actually prefer artistic events to live sports. By funding the arts, governments create a shared meaning and a joint understanding of our country’s values. Supporting the arts provides a common good in the form of public shows and events, but it also enhances our cohesiveness as a community. It fosters a healthy society.”