Large Lake Ontario sign installed in Canada in latest jab at US
Sunday, 30 August 2026
Warm-up
- Have you ever visited a big lake? What did you see there?
- What famous signs are in your city or country?
- Do you follow news about Canada or the United States?
Vocabulary
- unveil
- to show something new in public for the first time
- billboard
- a very large outdoor sign used to show a message
- shoreline
- the edge where land meets a sea, lake, or river
- executive order
- a decision signed by a president that directs government action
- rename
- to give something a new name
- tariff
- a tax on goods brought in from another country
- counter-tariff
- a tax added in reply to tariffs from another country
- dismiss
- to say an idea or action is not serious or not worth support
Reading
Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a large billboard on Canada's shoreline. The billboard reads: "Lake Ontario. Now and Always." The sign answers US President Donald Trump's plan to rename the lake. On Thursday, Mr Trump signed an executive order to rename it "Lake America". He also shared AI-made videos showing the name change. He can decide how the US lists landmarks, but other countries do not have to follow. The row began after trade talks collapsed. The US set 50% tariffs on $20bn (C$28bn) of Canadian goods. Canada says it will answer with "dollar for dollar" counter-tariffs next month. Canadian officials have dismissed the move. The order gives US officials 30 days to update the name in a government database. Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes.
Comprehension
- What exact words are on the new billboard?
- Why did Doug Ford put up the sign on the shoreline?
- What did President Trump sign on Thursday, and what did it try to do?
- What trade step did the US take after talks collapsed?
- How many days do US officials have to update the name?
Grammar focus
Phrasal verbs (inseparable)
Phrasal verbs with a verb + particle are inseparable: the particle must stay next to the verb (you cannot put the object between them). Write the verb and particle together. (Examples constructed.)
- The order **came from** the White House.
- Officials **looked into** the trade row.
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- Citizens (came across / across came) AI videos online.
- Talks (ran into / into ran) problems early.
- Officials (looked into / into looked) the tariffs.
- Volunteers (the sign look after / look after the sign) during events.
- Protesters (came up against / up came against) criticism.
Discussion
- Do signs help protect a place's name or image? Why or why not?
- What message would you put on a sign for your town or city?
- How can trade disputes affect people's daily lives?
- Should other countries follow US name changes for shared places?
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