Which of these best explains why most of canada's population has settled near its border with the united states? a) canada is populated primarily by former american citizens. b) canadians prefer the culture of the united states to that of their own. c) the climate there is less harsh than in more northern areas of the country. d) there are few resources north of the united states to sustain large populations. 17) the primary obstacle to population growth in the area known as the "canadian shield" is that a) the area is not capable of intensive agricultural output. b) the climate cannot support adequate human activity. c) the area is rich in mineral resources. d) it lies mostly in an arctic zone. 18) which languages are the official languages of canada? a) french and german b) english and german c) french and spanish d) english and french