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Modern Canada
Postwar prosperity and social programs, Canada in the world, Quebec, a changing society, and Canadian inventions.
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All 172 questions, with answers
Open a question to see its answer, why, and the official page it comes from.
1.
How are Members of Parliament chosen?
- AThey are appointed by the United Nations.
- BThey are chosen by the provincial premiers.
- CThey are elected by voters in their local constituency (riding).Answer
- DThey are elected by landowners and police chiefs.
Why: The voters in each electoral district elect the member of Parliament who sits in the House of Commons to represent them. The candidate who receives the most votes in that district becomes its MP.
2.
Which three words describe Canada’s system of government?
- AA federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchyAnswer
- BA republic, a direct democracy and a federation
- CA unitary state, a presidential democracy and a monarchy
- DA commonwealth, a parliamentary republic and a confederation
Why: The guide states these as the three key facts about Canada’s system of government.
3.
What are the three parts of Parliament?
- AThe Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the House of Commons
- BThe Sovereign, the Senate and the House of CommonsAnswer
- CThe Governor General, the Supreme Court and the Senate
- DThe provinces, the territories and the federal government
Why: Parliament is made up of the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons.
4.
Until what age do senators serve?
- AAge 65
- BAge 70
- CAge 80
- DAge 75Answer
Why: Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and serve until age 75.
5.
What must happen before a bill can become law in Canada?
- AIt must be approved in a national referendum
- BIt must be approved by a majority of the provinces
- CIt must be passed by both chambers and receive royal assentAnswer
- DIt must be signed by all the provincial premiers
Why: Royal assent is granted by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign, after both chambers have passed the bill.
6.
What is the difference between the role of the Sovereign and that of the Prime Minister?
- AThe Sovereign is the head of state; the Prime Minister is the head of government and directs the governing of the countryAnswer
- BThe Sovereign runs the government; the Prime Minister is ceremonial
- CThey share the same role in turn
- DThe Sovereign leads the Senate; the Prime Minister leads the House of Commons
Why: The guide draws a clear distinction between the head of state and the head of government.
7.
Who represents the Sovereign in each of the ten provinces?
- AThe Premier
- BThe Commissioner
- CThe Lieutenant GovernorAnswer
- DThe mayor of the capital city
Why: The Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, normally for five years. In the three territories the Commissioner represents the federal government instead.
8.
What are the three branches of government?
- AFederal, provincial and municipal
- BThe Executive, the Legislative and the JudicialAnswer
- CThe Crown, the Senate and the House of Commons
- DThe Cabinet, the Opposition and the Courts
Why: The Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches work together, and sometimes in creative tension, which helps secure the rights and freedoms of Canadians. The three levels of government are a different thing.
9.
Which of these is a federal government responsibility?
- AEducation
- BHealth
- CHighways
- DCitizenshipAnswer
Why: Federal responsibilities include defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship. Education, health and highways are provincial.
10.
Which areas do the federal government and the provinces share jurisdiction over?
- AAgriculture and immigrationAnswer
- BDefence and currency
- CEducation and health
- DCriminal law and citizenship
Why: The guide names agriculture and immigration as shared jurisdiction.
11.
In which document were the responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments defined in 1867?
- AThe Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- BThe British North America Act, now the Constitution Act, 1867Answer
- CThe Quebec Act
- DThe Official Languages Act
Why: The British North America Act of 1867 is now known as the Constitution Act, 1867.
12.
The three northern territories have the same status as provinces.
- ATrue
- BFalseAnswer
Why: The territories have small populations and do not have the status of provinces, though their governments and assemblies carry out many of the same functions.
13.
When must federal elections be held under legislation passed by Parliament?
- AOn the first Tuesday in November every five years
- BWhenever the Senate decides
- COn the third Monday in October every four years following the most recent general electionAnswer
- DOn July 1 every three years
Why: The Prime Minister may also ask the Governor General to call an earlier election.
14.
Who is eligible to vote in a Canadian federal election?
- AAny resident of Canada aged 18 or older
- BA Canadian citizen who is at least 18 years old on voting day and is on the voters’ listAnswer
- CAny permanent resident who has lived in Canada for five years
- DAny citizen who owns property in the electoral district
Why: All three conditions must be met: citizenship, age on voting day, and being on the voters’ list.
15.
What is Elections Canada?
- AA department of the Prime Minister’s Office
- BA committee of the Senate
- CA private company hired to run elections
- DA neutral agency of Parliament that produces the voters’ listsAnswer
Why: Elections Canada produces the voters’ lists from the National Register of Electors.
16.
Your employer has the right to insist that you tell them how you voted.
- ATrue
- BFalseAnswer
Why: Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot. You may discuss your vote if you choose, but no one — not family, an employer or a union representative — may insist.
17.
What is a majority government?
- AOne where the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of CommonsAnswer
- BOne where the party in power won a majority of the popular vote
- COne formed by two or more parties together
- DOne where the party in power holds every seat in the Senate
Why: If the party in power holds less than half of the seats, it is a minority government.
18.
After an election, which party usually forms the government?
- AThe party chosen by the Senate
- BThe party with the most seats in the House of CommonsAnswer
- CThe party with the most members across the provinces
- DThe party that held power before the election
Why: The Governor General invites the leader of that party to form the government, and after being appointed that leader becomes Prime Minister.
19.
What is the role of the opposition parties?
- ATo appoint the Cabinet ministers
- BTo run the federal government departments
- CTo peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposalsAnswer
- DTo prepare the federal budget
Why: The opposition party with the most members in the House of Commons is the Official Opposition. Preparing the budget and running departments are Cabinet’s work.
20.
What are the three levels of government in Canada?
- AExecutive, legislative and judicial
- BFederal, provincial or territorial, and municipalAnswer
- CCrown, Senate and Commons
- DNational, regional and community
Why: Each level has its own elected officials: MPs federally, MLAs/MNAs/MPPs/MHAs provincially, and a mayor or reeve with councillors municipally.
21.
What are the laws passed by a municipal council called?
- AStatutes
- BRegulations
- CBy-lawsAnswer
- DOrdinances of the Crown
Why: By-laws affect only the local community.
22.
Cabinet ministers must resign if they are defeated in a non-confidence vote.
- ATrueAnswer
- BFalse
Why: Cabinet ministers are responsible to the elected representatives and must retain the confidence of the House.
23.
In a province, whose role is similar to that of the Prime Minister federally?
- AThe Lieutenant Governor
- BThe PremierAnswer
- CThe Commissioner
- DThe Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Why: The Premier is to a province what the Prime Minister is federally, just as the Lieutenant Governor is to the Governor General.
24.
What does the Cabinet do?
- AIt hears appeals from the provincial courts
- BIt appoints the Governor General
- CIt makes important decisions, prepares the budget and proposes most new lawsAnswer
- DIt supervises the provincial legislatures
Why: The Cabinet is the Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers, who also run the federal government departments.
25.
If you do not receive a voter information card, you can no longer be added to the voters’ list.
- ATrue
- BFalseAnswer
Why: You can be added to the voters’ list at any time, including on election day.
26.
What is a matter of confidence in the House of Commons?
- AA vote on a major issue such as the budgetAnswer
- BAny vote held on a Friday
- CA vote held in the Senate
- DThe election of the Speaker
Why: If a majority of members vote against a major government decision, the party in power is defeated, which usually results in an election being called.
27.
What does federalism allow the provinces to do?
- AAdopt policies tailored to their own populations, and experiment with new ideas and policiesAnswer
- BOpt out of federal criminal law
- CSign their own treaties with foreign countries
- DIssue their own currency
Why: Criminal law and currency are federal responsibilities, and so is foreign policy.
28.
What does every province have?
- AIts own senate
- BIts own elected Legislative Assembly, like the House of Commons in OttawaAnswer
- CIts own supreme court of final appeal
- DIts own Governor General
Why: Provincial legislatures comprise the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Assembly. The Supreme Court of Canada is the country’s highest court, and there is one Governor General for the whole country.
29.
What are elected representatives responsible for?
- AAppointing judges and senators
- BEnforcing the laws
- CPassing laws, approving and monitoring expenditures, and keeping the government accountableAnswer
- DSettling disputes between citizens
Why: The police enforce the laws and the courts settle disputes. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
30.
What happens at the committee stage of a bill?
- ACommittee members study the bill clause by clauseAnswer
- BThe bill receives royal assent
- CMembers vote on the bill for the last time
- DThe bill is printed for the first time
Why: Royal assent is the last step, the final vote is the third reading, and printing happens at first reading.
31.
What role does the Sovereign play in Parliament?
- ALeads the party with the most seats
- BChairs Cabinet meetings
- CAn important, non-partisan role as the focus of citizenship and allegianceAnswer
- DAppoints the Leader of the Opposition
Why: The Sovereign is the Head of State; the Prime Minister, as head of government, is the one who directs the governing of the country and chooses the Cabinet.
32.
Which of these countries does the guide also name as a constitutional monarchy?
- AThe United States
- BFrance
- CGermany
- DJapanAnswer
Why: The guide lists Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, Japan, Jordan and Morocco. Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America.
33.
What is the National Register of Electors?
- AA permanent database of Canadian citizens 18 years of age or older who are qualified to voteAnswer
- BA list of everyone living in Canada
- CA record of how each elector voted
- DA list kept by each political party
Why: Elections Canada produces the voters’ lists from it. How you voted is secret — no record of it exists.
34.
How do you mark a federal ballot?
- AWrite the candidate’s name in full
- BMark an “X” in the circle next to the name of the candidate of your choiceAnswer
- CNumber every candidate in order of preference
- DSign your name beside your choice
Why: You mark it behind a screen, fold it, and the poll official tears off the ballot number and gives it back to you to deposit in the ballot box. Signing it would break the secrecy of the ballot.
35.
Which of these is normally a municipal responsibility?
- ACitizenship
- BSnow removal and garbage removalAnswer
- CNatural resources
- DForeign policy
Why: Municipalities also handle planning, streets and roads, firefighting, ambulance and other emergency services, recreation facilities and public transit. Citizenship and foreign policy are federal; natural resources are provincial.
36.
Who has major responsibilities on First Nations reserves, including housing and schools?
- ABand chiefs and councillorsAnswer
- BThe Lieutenant Governor of the province
- CThe municipal mayor
- DThe Senate
Why: A number of provincial, regional and national Aboriginal organizations are also a voice for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in their dealings with government.
37.
The Citizenship Regulations require an applicant to understand which characteristics of Canada’s system of government?
- AIts characteristics as a federal republic
- BIts characteristics as a constitutional monarchyAnswer
- CIts characteristics as a direct democracy
- DIts characteristics as a unitary state
Why: The Regulations also require a general understanding of Canada’s political and military history, its social and cultural history, and its physical and political geography, plus knowledge of the national symbols.
38.
Who may run as a candidate in a federal election?
- ACanadian citizens who are 18 years old or olderAnswer
- BAnyone who has lived in Canada for 18 years
- COnly people appointed by the Governor General
Why: The people who run for office are called candidates, and there can be many candidates in an electoral district.
39.
Which party is the Official Opposition?
- AThe party with the most seats in the Senate
- BThe party that forms the government
- CThe opposition party with the most members of the House of CommonsAnswer
- DAny party with no members in the House of Commons
Why: The other parties that are not in power are known as opposition parties. Their role is to peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals.
40.
If you cannot or do not wish to vote on election day, what can you do?
- ANothing — you lose your vote in that election
- BVote at the advance polls or by special ballotAnswer
- CVote at any polling station on the day after the election
Why: The dates and location of the advance polls are on your voter information card. When the polls close, every ballot is counted and the results are made public.
41.
Federal elections are held on a fixed date every four years. Who may ask the Governor General to call an earlier election?
- AThe Leader of the Official Opposition
- BElections Canada
- CThe Senate
- DThe Prime MinisterAnswer
Why: Under legislation passed by Parliament, federal elections must be held on the third Monday in October every four years following the most recent general election.
42.
Who chooses the ministers of the Crown?
- AThe Prime Minister, most of them from among members of the House of CommonsAnswer
- BVoters, in a separate election
- CThe Senate
- DThe Supreme Court of Canada
Why: Cabinet ministers are responsible for running the federal government departments. Their decisions can be questioned by all members of the House of Commons.
43.
What are the elected members of a provincial or territorial legislature called?
- ASenators
- BMLAs, MNAs, MPPs or MHAs, depending on the province or territoryAnswer
- CLieutenant Governors
Why: They are members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), of the National Assembly (MNAs), of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs) or of the House of Assembly (MHAs). The Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign in each province.
44.
The rules for voting in provincial, territorial and municipal elections are the same as those for federal elections.
- ATrue
- BFalseAnswer
Why: They are also held by secret ballot, but the rules are not the same. The guide says it is important to find out the rules for voting in provincial, territorial and local elections so that you can exercise your right to vote.
45.
How is the Governor General chosen?
- AElected by all Canadians in a national vote
- BChosen by the House of Commons from among its members
- CAppointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five yearsAnswer
Why: The Governor General represents the Sovereign in Canada. This question is about how the office is filled; who holds it today is on the Facts that change page.
46.
What did the House of Commons recognize in 2006?
- AThat the Quebecois form a nation within a united CanadaAnswer
- BThat Quebec is Canada’s only officially bilingual province
- CThat French is Canada’s only official language
Why: New Brunswick, not Quebec, is the only officially bilingual province, and English and French are both official languages of Canada.
47.
Who provides publicly funded education in Canada?
- AThe federal government
- BThe provinces and territoriesAnswer
- CThe Senate
Why: At Confederation, each province was to elect its own legislature and have control of such areas as education and health.
48.
At which stage of the legislative process do members debate a bill’s principle?
- AFirst Reading
- BSecond ReadingAnswer
- CReport Stage
- DRoyal Assent
Why: At First Reading the bill is considered read for the first time and is printed. At Report Stage members can make other amendments, and Royal Assent comes after the bill has been passed by both Houses.
49.
What does the Canada Health Act ensure?
- AThat every hospital is run directly by the federal government
- BThat health care is paid for only by private insurance
- CCommon elements and a basic standard of coverageAnswer
Why: The guide presents it among the social assistance programs Canada was able to support as prosperity grew, alongside employment insurance and Old Age Security.
50.
The name Canada comes from the Iroquoian word kanata. What does it mean?
- AGreat river
- BVillageAnswer
- COur land
- DThe people
Why: Jacques Cartier heard two captured guides speak the word. “Our land” is what Nunavut means in Inuktitut, and “the people” is what Inuit means.
51.
Who was the first to draw a map of Canada’s East Coast, in 1497?
- ASamuel de Champlain
- BJacques Cartier
- CJohn CabotAnswer
- DMartin Frobisher
Why: John Cabot, an Italian immigrant to England, set foot on Newfoundland or Cape Breton Island and claimed the New Founde Land for England.
52.
In 1608, who built a fortress at what is now Québec City?
- ASamuel de ChamplainAnswer
- BCount Frontenac
- CJean Talon
- DSir Guy Carleton
Why: Champlain had earlier helped establish the first European settlement north of Florida, in 1604.
53.
What did the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759 mark?
- AThe start of the fur trade
- BThe founding of Montreal
- CThe signing of Confederation
- DThe end of France’s empire in AmericaAnswer
Why: The commanders of both armies, Brigadier James Wolfe and the Marquis de Montcalm, were killed in the battle.
54.
What did the Quebec Act of 1774 do?
- AIt allowed religious freedom for Catholics, let them hold public office, and restored French civil lawAnswer
- BIt abolished the French language in the colony
- CIt created the Dominion of Canada
- DIt gave Quebec its own flag
Why: It is one of the constitutional foundations of Canada. Catholics could hold public office here at a time when that was not allowed in Britain, and British criminal law was maintained alongside the restored French civil law.
55.
Who were the Loyalists?
- AFrench settlers deported from Acadia
- BMore than 40,000 people loyal to the Crown who fled the American Revolution to settle in Nova Scotia and QuebecAnswer
- CSoldiers who fought for Napoleon
- DThe first members of the Hudson’s Bay Company
Why: They came from Dutch, German, British, Scandinavian, Aboriginal and other origins. About 3,000 black Loyalists also came north.
56.
The Constitutional Act of 1791 divided the Province of Quebec into which two parts?
- AEast Canada and West Canada
- BNew France and Acadia
- CUpper Canada and Lower CanadaAnswer
- DOntario and Manitoba
Why: Upper Canada later became Ontario and Lower Canada later became Quebec. The Act also granted the Canadas legislative assemblies elected by the people for the first time.
57.
Upper Canada was the first province in the British Empire to move toward the abolition of slavery.
- ATrueAnswer
- BFalse
Why: It did so in 1793, led by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe. The British Parliament abolished slavery throughout the Empire in 1833.
58.
What was the Underground Railroad?
- AA Christian anti-slavery network by which thousands of escaped slaves settled in CanadaAnswer
- BThe first subway line built in Toronto
- CA tunnel dug under the Canada–U.S. border
- DThe railway line that carried settlers to the Prairies
Why: Thousands of slaves escaped from the United States and followed “the North Star” to Canada.
59.
What was the outcome of the War of 1812?
- ACanada became part of the United States
- BFrance regained control of Quebec
- CBritain gave up its North American colonies
- DThe American attempt to conquer Canada failed, ensuring Canada would remain independent of the United StatesAnswer
Why: The present-day Canada–U.S. border is partly an outcome of that war.
60.
What is meant by responsible government?
- AThat ministers of the Crown must have the support of a majority of the elected representatives in order to governAnswer
- BThat the government must balance its budget each year
- CThat the Sovereign appoints the ministers directly
- DThat each province governs itself without federal involvement
Why: This is the system Canada has today: a government that loses a confidence vote must resign.
61.
Who was Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine?
- AThe first Governor General of Canada
- BA champion of democracy and French language rights who became the first leader of a responsible government in the CanadasAnswer
- CThe explorer who named Canada
- DThe founder of the Hudson’s Bay Company
Why: He became the first head of a responsible government in Canada in 1849.
62.
On what date was the Dominion of Canada officially born?
- AJuly 1, 1867Answer
- BJanuary 11, 1815
- CNovember 7, 1885
- DApril 9, 1917
Why: The British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867. Until 1982 the day was celebrated as Dominion Day; today it is Canada Day.
63.
Which four provinces formed the Dominion of Canada in 1867?
- AOntario, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia
- BOntario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New BrunswickAnswer
- CNova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland
- DQuebec, Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan
Why: The old Province of Canada was split into Ontario and Quebec, which joined New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Manitoba and the Northwest Territories came in 1870 and British Columbia in 1871.
64.
Who was Canada’s first Prime Minister?
- ASir Wilfrid Laurier
- BSir George-Étienne Cartier
- CSir Leonard Tilley
- DSir John Alexander MacdonaldAnswer
Why: A Father of Confederation, he became Prime Minister in 1867. His portrait is on the $10 bill and January 11 is Sir John A. Macdonald Day.
65.
Who is seen by many as the father of Manitoba and a defender of Métis rights?
- AGabriel Dumont
- BLouis RielAnswer
- CSir Sam Steele
- DJoseph Brant
Why: Riel led an armed uprising when the 12,000 Métis of the Red River were not consulted, and after a second rebellion in 1885 he was tried and executed for high treason — a decision strongly opposed in Quebec.
66.
What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolize?
- AUnity — the last spike was driven on November 7, 1885Answer
- BThe end of the fur trade
- CVictory in the War of 1812
- DThe founding of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Why: British Columbia joined Canada in 1871 after Ottawa promised the railway. It was built by European and Chinese labour; the Chinese were later subject to the Head Tax, for which the Government of Canada apologized in 2006.
67.
Who was the first French-Canadian prime minister since Confederation?
- ASir George-Étienne Cartier
- BSir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine
- CSir Wilfrid LaurierAnswer
- DSir Étienne-Paschal Taché
Why: Laurier encouraged immigration to the West. His portrait is on the $5 bill.
68.
Which First World War battle secured the Canadians’ reputation for valour and is commemorated on April 9?
- AThe Battle of the Atlantic
- BThe Battle of Vimy RidgeAnswer
- CThe Battle of Beaver Dams
- DThe raid on Dieppe
Why: The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge in April 1917, with 10,000 killed or wounded.
69.
Which province was the first to grant voting rights to women?
- AManitoba, in 1916Answer
- BOntario, in 1921
- CQuebec, in 1940
- DNova Scotia, in 1918
Why: Quebec granted women the vote in 1940. In 1921 Agnes Macphail became the first woman MP.
70.
What happened on June 6, 1944, known as D-Day?
- AGermany surrendered to the Allies
- BCanada declared war on Germany
- C15,000 Canadian troops stormed and captured Juno Beach in the invasion of NormandyAnswer
- DThe Canadian Army liberated Hong Kong
Why: Approximately one in ten Allied soldiers on D-Day was Canadian.
71.
At the end of the Second World War, Canada had the third-largest navy in the world.
- ATrueAnswer
- BFalse
Why: The Royal Canadian Navy saw its finest hour in the Battle of the Atlantic, protecting convoys of merchant ships against German submarines.
72.
What did the Government of Canada apologize for in 1988?
- AThe residential schools
- BThe Chinese Head Tax
- CThe internment of Ukrainian men during the First World War
- DThe forcible relocation of Canadians of Japanese origin during the Second World WarAnswer
Why: Their property was sold without compensation. Ottawa apologized in 2008 for the residential schools and in 2006 for the Head Tax.
73.
Who were the founding peoples of Canada?
- AAboriginal, French and BritishAnswer
- BBritish, American and French
- CFrench, Scottish and Irish
- DAboriginal, Spanish and British
Why: The guide names these three as the founding peoples.
74.
Who are the Métis?
- ADescendants of French colonists in the Maritime provinces
- BInuit who moved south from the Arctic
- CA distinct people of mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry, most of whom live in the Prairie provincesAnswer
- DThe First Nations of the West Coast
Why: They come from both French- and English-speaking backgrounds and speak their own dialect, Michif.
75.
Which Europeans reached Labrador and Newfoundland about 1,000 years ago?
- AThe Vikings from Iceland, who had colonized GreenlandAnswer
- BPortuguese fishermen
- CSpanish explorers looking for gold
- DFrench missionaries
Why: The remains of their settlement, l’Anse aux Meadows, are a World Heritage site.
76.
For which king did Jacques Cartier claim the land on his three voyages?
- AKing George III of Britain
- BKing Francis I of FranceAnswer
- CKing Charles II of England
- DKing Henry VII of England
Why: Cartier made three voyages between 1534 and 1542 and was the first European to explore the St. Lawrence River.
77.
Where was the first European settlement north of Florida established in 1604?
- AAt what is now Québec City
- BAt Fort Garry, on the Red River
- COn Vancouver Island
- DFirst on St. Croix Island, then at Port-Royal in AcadiaAnswer
Why: It was established by the French explorers Pierre de Monts and Samuel de Champlain. Champlain built the fortress at what is now Québec City four years later, in 1608.
78.
Who granted the Hudson’s Bay Company exclusive trading rights in 1670?
- AKing Charles II of EnglandAnswer
- BKing Francis I of France
- CThe Parliament of Great Britain
- DThe Governor of New France
Why: The grant covered the watershed draining into Hudson Bay, and for the next 100 years the Company competed with Montreal-based traders.
79.
Who were the voyageurs and coureurs des bois?
- ABritish soldiers who garrisoned the Citadels
- BThe skilled and courageous men who travelled by canoe and formed strong alliances with First NationsAnswer
- CFrench priests who founded the first schools
- DLoyalists who fled the American Revolution
Why: They worked in the fur-trade economy, which was driven by the demand for beaver pelts in Europe.
80.
Where and when was the first representative assembly in Canada elected?
- AIn Québec City, in 1608
- BIn Toronto, in 1791
- CIn Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1758Answer
- DIn Ottawa, in 1867
Why: Prince Edward Island followed in 1773 and New Brunswick in 1785. Democratic institutions developed gradually and peacefully.
81.
What did the British Parliament do in 1833?
- AIt abolished slavery throughout the EmpireAnswer
- BIt passed the British North America Act
- CIt granted responsible government to Nova Scotia
- DIt united Upper and Lower Canada
Why: It had prohibited the buying and selling of slaves in 1807. Upper Canada had already moved toward abolition in 1793, the first province in the Empire to do so.
82.
Who captured Detroit in 1812 but was killed defending Queenston Heights?
- AChief Tecumseh
- BMajor-General Sir Isaac BrockAnswer
- CLieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry
- DMajor-General Robert Ross
Why: The Americans lost that battle. Tecumseh led the Shawnee who supported the British, de Salaberry turned back an American force at Châteauguay, and Ross led the expedition that burned the White House in 1814.
83.
At Châteauguay in 1813, how many soldiers turned back how many American invaders?
- A4,000 soldiers turned back 460 invaders
- B460 soldiers turned back 4,000 invadersAnswer
- C1,000 soldiers turned back 1,000 invaders
- D600 soldiers turned back 600 invaders
Why: They were led by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry and were mostly French Canadiens. They made their stand at Châteauguay, south of Montreal.
84.
Who suggested the term “Dominion of Canada” in 1864?
- ASir John A. Macdonald
- BSir George-Étienne Cartier
- CSir Leonard TilleyAnswer
- DLord Durham
Why: Tilley was a Father of Confederation from New Brunswick, inspired by a Bible passage referring to dominion from sea to sea. The title was used officially for about 100 years.
85.
About how many Canadians volunteered to fight in the South African War, popularly known as the Boer War?
- AOver 7,000, of whom over 260 diedAnswer
- BAbout 600, all of whom returned
- COver 100,000
- DNone — Canada did not take part
Why: The war ran from 1899 to 1902. In 1900 Canadians took part in the battles of Paardeberg and Lillefontein, victories that strengthened national pride.
86.
What did unemployment reach in 1933, during the Great Depression?
- A7%
- B15%
- C27%Answer
- D50%
Why: The Depression followed the stock market crash of 1929 and is also called the “Dirty Thirties”. Farmers in Western Canada were hit hardest by low grain prices and drought.
87.
What was created in 1934 to manage the money supply and bring stability to the financial system?
- AThe Montreal Stock Exchange
- BThe Bank of CanadaAnswer
- CThe Canada Pension Plan
- DThe World Trade Organization
Why: The Montreal Stock Exchange had opened much earlier, in 1832. The Canada and Quebec Pension Plans date from 1965.
88.
What were Canada’s losses in the Korean War?
- A500 dead and 1,000 woundedAnswer
- B44,000 dead
- C60,000 dead and 170,000 wounded
- DCanada did not take part
Why: Canada took part in the UN operation defending South Korea in 1950–53. The larger figures belong to the two world wars.
89.
In which countries has Canada taken part in UN peacekeeping missions, according to the guide?
- AOnly in Europe
- BEgypt, Cyprus and Haiti, among othersAnswer
- CCanada has never taken part in peacekeeping
- DOnly in Commonwealth countries
Why: Canada has also joined other international security operations, such as those in the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan, and is a member of NATO and NORAD.
90.
Who was the first Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross?
- ABilly Bishop
- BAlexander Roberts DunnAnswer
- CWilliam Hall
- DPaul Triquet
Why: Born in present-day Toronto, Dunn served in the British Army in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in 1854, during the Crimean War.
91.
Who was the first black man to be awarded the Victoria Cross?
- AFilip Konowal
- BRobert Hampton Gray
- CWilliam HallAnswer
- DAlexander Roberts Dunn
Why: Able Seaman William Hall of Horton, Nova Scotia, whose parents were American slaves, earned it for his role in the Siege of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
92.
In which war was the last Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross killed?
- AThe First World War
- BThe Boer War
- CThe Second World WarAnswer
- DThe Korean War
Why: Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, a navy pilot born in Trail, B.C., was killed while bombing and sinking a Japanese warship in August 1945, a few days before the war ended.
93.
Who was Billy Bishop?
- AThe Métis military leader of the Red River
- BThe director of the Canadian Pacific Railway
- CCanada’s greatest soldier of the First World War
- DA flying ace who earned the Victoria Cross in the Royal Flying Corps in the First World WarAnswer
Why: Born in Owen Sound, Ontario, he was later an honorary Air Marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The guide calls General Sir Arthur Currie Canada’s greatest soldier, and Gabriel Dumont the Métis’ greatest military leader.
94.
What made Corporal Filip Konowal’s Victoria Cross notable?
- AHe was the first Canadian ever to receive it
- BHe was the first member of the Canadian Corps not born in the British Empire to receive itAnswer
- CHe was the last Canadian to receive it
- DHe received it twice
Why: Born in Ukraine, he showed exceptional courage in the Battle of Hill 70 in 1917.
95.
What did Count Frontenac say when he refused to surrender Quebec to the English in 1690?
- A“Canada will never be conquered.”
- B“My only reply will be from the mouths of my cannons!”Answer
- C“I shall defend this city to my last breath.”
- D“The river is our wall.”
Why: Frontenac was one of the leaders — with Jean Talon and Bishop Laval — who built a French empire in North America reaching from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.
96.
What did Sir Guy Carleton do as Governor of Quebec?
- AHe signed the British North America Act
- BHe introduced responsible government to United Canada
- CHe defended the rights of the Canadiens and defeated an American invasion of Quebec in 1775Answer
- DHe drove the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Why: He also supervised the Loyalist migration to Nova Scotia and Quebec in 1782-83. Responsible government was introduced by Lord Elgin, and the last spike was driven by Donald Smith.
97.
What did Mary Ann Shadd Cary become in 1853?
- AThe first woman publisher in CanadaAnswer
- BThe first woman member of Parliament
- CThe first Canadian woman to practise medicine in Canada
- DThe first woman to receive the Order of Canada
Why: She helped found and edit The Provincial Freeman, a weekly dedicated to anti-slavery, black immigration to Canada and temperance. The first woman MP was Agnes Macphail in 1921, and the first Canadian woman to practise medicine here was Dr. Emily Stowe.
98.
Who founded the women’s suffrage movement in Canada?
- AAgnes Macphail
- BThérèse Casgrain
- CDr. Emily Stowe, the first Canadian woman to practise medicine in CanadaAnswer
- DMary Ann Shadd Cary
Why: Agnes Macphail became the first woman MP in 1921, and it was due to the work of Thérèse Casgrain and others that Quebec granted women the vote in 1940.
99.
Who were the “Bluebirds” of the First World War?
- AThe pilots of the Royal Flying Corps
- BMore than 3,000 nurses who served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical CorpsAnswer
- CThe sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy
- DThe Canadian Corps at Vimy Ridge
Why: 2,500 of them served overseas.
100.
What does the guide record about Canada’s treatment of former Austro-Hungarian subjects from 1914 to 1920?
- AThey were granted citizenship immediately
- BThey were deported to Europe
- CNothing — the guide does not mention them
- DOttawa interned over 8,000 of them, mainly Ukrainian men, as “enemy aliens” in 24 labour camps across CanadaAnswer
Why: The guide calls it regrettable and notes that Britain had advised against the policy.
101.
What did the Germans call the Battle of Amiens of August 8, 1918?
- A“The birth of a nation”
- B“The black day of the German Army”Answer
- C“The last hundred days”
- D“The shock troops of the British Empire”
Why: It opened the last hundred days, in which the Canadian Corps advanced under General Sir Arthur Currie, followed by Arras, Canal du Nord, Cambrai and Mons.
102.
How did a Canadian officer describe the capture of Vimy Ridge?
- A“My only reply will be from the mouths of my cannons!”
- B“Children of a common mother.”
- C“In those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation.”Answer
- D“Dominion from sea to sea.”
Why: He also said “It was Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific on parade”. The victory secured the Canadians’ reputation as the “shock troops of the British Empire”.
103.
During the economic boom of the 1890s and early 1900s, how many British and how many Americans immigrated to Canada?
- AAbout 100,000 of each
- BAbout 500,000 of each
- CAbout 10 million of each
- DOne million of eachAnswer
Why: The railway then made it possible for them and others — including 170,000 Ukrainians and 115,000 Poles — to settle in the West before 1914.
104.
In 1792, where did some black Nova Scotians go after being given poor land?
- ABack to the United States
- BTo Freetown, Sierra Leone — a new British colony for freed slavesAnswer
- CTo Upper Canada
- DTo the Caribbean
Why: About 3,000 black Loyalists, freedmen and slaves, had come north seeking a better life.
105.
In which two Second World War actions does the guide record Canadian losses and failure?
- ANormandy and the liberation of the Netherlands
- BThe Battle of Britain and the Battle of the Atlantic
- CThe defence of Hong Kong in 1941 and the raid on Dieppe in 1942Answer
- DAmiens and Vimy Ridge
Why: Normandy and the liberation of the Netherlands were Canadian achievements; Amiens and Vimy Ridge belong to the First World War.
106.
How many Allied air crew were trained in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan?
- AOver 1,300
- BOver 13,000
- COver 1.3 million
- DOver 130,000Answer
Why: Canada contributed more to the Allied air effort than any other Commonwealth country.
107.
Which group was the last of the Canadians of Asian descent to gain the right to vote, in 1948?
- AChinese-Canadians
- BJapanese-CanadiansAnswer
- CSouth Asian Canadians
- DAboriginal peoples
Why: Aboriginal people were granted the vote in 1960. Today every citizen over the age of 18 may vote.
108.
Which was the first British North American colony to attain full responsible government?
- ANova ScotiaAnswer
- BUpper Canada
- CPrince Edward Island
- DNew Brunswick
Why: Nova Scotia attained it in 1847–48. In 1848–49 Lord Elgin, the governor of United Canada, introduced responsible government there as well.
109.
After the rebellions of 1837–38, what did Lord Durham recommend?
- AThat the Province of Quebec be divided into Upper Canada and Lower Canada
- BThat Upper and Lower Canada be merged and given responsible governmentAnswer
- CThat Canada adopt American republican values
Why: Dividing Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada was the Constitutional Act of 1791. American republican values were what some reformers wanted, not what Durham recommended.
110.
In 1840, Upper and Lower Canada were united as what?
- AThe Dominion of Canada
- BThe Province of Quebec
- CBritish North America
- DThe Province of CanadaAnswer
Why: The Dominion of Canada was born on July 1, 1867. “Province of Quebec” was the name Great Britain gave the colony after the war with France, and British North America was the collective name for the Atlantic colonies and the two Canadas.
111.
In 1813, who made a dangerous journey on foot to warn Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of a planned American attack?
- AMary Ann Shadd Cary
- BDr. Emily Stowe
- CLaura SecordAnswer
- DAgnes Macphail
Why: Laura Secord walked 19 miles (30 km). Her bravery contributed to victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams, and she is recognized as a heroine to this day.
112.
After the Americans burned the Parliament Buildings in York (now Toronto) in 1813, what did Major-General Robert Ross’s expedition do in 1814?
- ABurned down the White House and other public buildings in Washington, D.C.Answer
- BCaptured Detroit
- CTurned back 4,000 American invaders at Châteauguay
- DFounded the city of York
Why: It was an act of retaliation, led from Nova Scotia. Detroit was captured by Major-General Sir Isaac Brock; Châteauguay was the victory of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry in 1813; York was founded by John Graves Simcoe.
113.
Who led thousands of Loyalist Mohawk Indians into Canada?
- AChief Tecumseh
- BJoseph BrantAnswer
- CGabriel Dumont
- DLouis Riel
Why: Chief Tecumseh led the Shawnee in the War of 1812. Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont were leaders of the Métis.
114.
In what year did the 13 British colonies to the south of Quebec declare independence and form the United States?
- A1759
- B1791
- C1812
- D1776Answer
Why: More than 40,000 people loyal to the Crown, the Loyalists, then fled the American Revolution to settle in Nova Scotia and Quebec.
115.
Which place did the Duke of Wellington choose as the endpoint of the Rideau Canal?
- AYork (Toronto)
- BHalifax
- CBytown (Ottawa)Answer
- DQuébec City
Why: The canal was part of a network of forts to prevent the U.S.A. from invading Canada again. Wellington therefore played a direct role in founding the national capital.
116.
What did Prime Minister Macdonald establish in 1873, after the first Métis uprising?
- AThe Canadian Expeditionary Force
- BThe North West Mounted PoliceAnswer
- CThe Bank of Canada
- DThe Hudson’s Bay Company
Why: The NWMP was set up to pacify the West and assist in negotiations with the Indians. Today the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are the national police force.
117.
What was the Head Tax?
- AA tax on beaver pelts exported to Europe
- BA fee that property owners paid in order to vote
- CA race-based entry fee that discriminated against the ChineseAnswer
Why: Chinese labour helped build the Canadian Pacific Railway; afterwards the Chinese were subject to discrimination, including the Head Tax. The Government of Canada apologized in 2006 for this discriminatory policy.
118.
Out of a total population of eight million, how many Canadians served in the First World War?
- AMore than 60,000
- BMore than 170,000
- CMore than 600,000Answer
- DMore than one million
Why: Most of them were volunteers. In total 60,000 Canadians were killed and 170,000 wounded. More than one million served in the Second World War.
119.
On what date did the First World War end in the Armistice?
- AApril 9, 1917
- BAugust 8, 1918
- CNovember 11, 1918Answer
- DMay 8, 1945
Why: April 9, 1917 was Vimy Ridge and August 8, 1918 the Battle of Amiens; May 8, 1945 was the German surrender in the Second World War. Canadians remember their veterans each year on November 11, Remembrance Day.
120.
Who composed the poem “In Flanders Fields” in 1915?
- ASir Arthur Currie
- BLieutenant-Colonel John McCraeAnswer
- CSir Robert Borden
- DBilly Bishop
Why: McCrae was a Canadian medical officer. The poem is often recited on Remembrance Day.
121.
In 1918, who was granted the right to vote in federal elections?
- AOnly nurses at the battle front
- BMost Canadian female citizens aged 21 and overAnswer
- CJapanese-Canadians
- DAboriginal people
Why: In 1917 the vote had been given first to nurses at the battle front, then to women related to men in active wartime service. Japanese-Canadians gained the vote in 1948 and Aboriginal people in 1960.
122.
Who became the first woman MP, in 1921?
- ADr. Emily Stowe
- BThérèse Casgrain
- CLaura Secord
- DAgnes MacphailAnswer
Why: Agnes Macphail was a farmer and teacher. Dr. Emily Stowe founded the women’s suffrage movement in Canada, and the work of Thérèse Casgrain and others led Quebec to grant women the vote in 1940.
123.
How did the Second World War begin in 1939?
- AGermany attacked Belgium and France
- BAdolf Hitler, the Nazi dictator of Germany, invaded PolandAnswer
- CImperial Japan attacked Hong Kong
Why: Germany’s attack on Belgium and France came in 1914, in the First World War. Canadians defended Hong Kong against Imperial Japan in 1941.
124.
Out of a population of 11.5 million, how many Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the Second World War?
- AMore than one millionAnswer
- BMore than 600,000
- CMore than 130,000
- DMore than 44,000
Why: This was a high proportion, and of these, 44,000 were killed. Newfoundland was then a separate British entity. More than 600,000 had served in the First World War.
125.
Which country did the Canadian Army liberate in 1944–45?
- APoland
- BNorway
- CThe NetherlandsAnswer
Why: It also helped force the German surrender of May 8, 1945, bringing to an end six years of war in Europe.
126.
On what date did Japan surrender, ending the war in the Pacific?
- AJune 6, 1944
- BMay 8, 1945
- CAugust 14, 1945Answer
- DNovember 11, 1918
Why: It was the end of four years of war in the Pacific. June 6, 1944 was D-Day, May 8, 1945 the German surrender, and November 11, 1918 the Armistice that ended the First World War.
127.
After the First World War, the British Empire evolved into a free association of states known as what?
- ALa Francophonie
- BThe United Nations
- CThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- DThe British Commonwealth of NationsAnswer
Why: Canada remains a leading member of the Commonwealth to this day, together with other successor states of the Empire such as India, Australia and New Zealand.
128.
Which peoples did Samuel de Champlain ally the colony of New France with?
- AThe Iroquois
- BThe Algonquin, Montagnais and HuronAnswer
- CThe Sioux and the Cree
Why: They were historic enemies of the Iroquois, a confederation of five (later six) First Nations who battled with the French settlements for a century. The French and the Iroquois made peace in 1701.
129.
Which Aboriginal people were nomadic, following the bison (buffalo) herd?
- AThe Huron-Wendat
- BThe Inuit
- CThe Iroquois
- DThe SiouxAnswer
Why: The Huron-Wendat of the Great Lakes region, like the Iroquois, were farmers and hunters. The Inuit lived off Arctic wildlife.
130.
Which two commanders were killed leading their troops at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759?
- ABrigadier James Wolfe and the Marquis de MontcalmAnswer
- BCount Frontenac and Sir Guy Carleton
- CSir Isaac Brock and Charles de Salaberry
Why: The British defeated the French in the battle, at Québec City — marking the end of France’s empire in America.
131.
In what year did Newfoundland and Labrador join Canada?
- A1867
- B1873
- C1905
- D1949Answer
Why: In the guide’s list of the expansion of the Dominion, 1867 is Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 1873 is Prince Edward Island and 1905 is Alberta and Saskatchewan.
132.
Which provinces joined Canada in 1905?
- AManitoba and British Columbia
- BAlberta and SaskatchewanAnswer
- CPrince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador
- DOntario and Quebec
Why: Manitoba joined in 1870 and British Columbia in 1871; Prince Edward Island in 1873 and Newfoundland and Labrador in 1949. Ontario and Quebec were founding provinces in 1867.
133.
Why did British Columbia join Canada in 1871?
- AOttawa promised to build a railway to the West CoastAnswer
- BGold was discovered in the Yukon
- CIt was promised that Victoria would become the national capital
Why: The last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven on November 7, 1885. The Yukon Gold Rush came in the 1890s, and the capital of Canada is Ottawa; Victoria is the capital of British Columbia.
134.
When Canada took over the northwest from the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1869 without consulting the Métis of the Red River, what did Louis Riel do?
- AHe led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry, the territorial capitalAnswer
- BHe founded the North West Mounted Police
- CHe took his seat in Parliament to negotiate
Why: Ottawa sent soldiers to retake Fort Garry in 1870; Riel fled to the United States and Canada established a new province, Manitoba. Riel was elected to Parliament but never took his seat.
135.
Who was the key architect of Confederation from Quebec?
- ASir Leonard Tilley
- BSir Wilfrid Laurier
- CSir George-Étienne CartierAnswer
- DJacques Cartier
Why: Sir George-Étienne Cartier, a close ally of Macdonald, led Quebec into Confederation. Sir Leonard Tilley was a Father of Confederation from New Brunswick, and Jacques Cartier was the explorer who made three voyages between 1534 and 1542.
136.
What inspired Sir Leonard Tilley to suggest the term “Dominion of Canada” in 1864?
- AThe Iroquoian word kanata
- BPsalm 72 in the BibleAnswer
- CThe flag of the Royal Military College in Kingston
Why: Psalm 72 refers to “dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth.” The Iroquoian word kanata, meaning “village,” is where the name Canada comes from.
137.
What was the Quiet Revolution?
- AThe peaceful arrival of responsible government in the 1840s
- BAn era of rapid change in Quebec in the 1960sAnswer
- CThe movement that won women the right to vote
Why: Many Quebecers sought to separate from Canada. The movement that won women the vote is known as the women’s suffrage movement.
138.
In 1982 the Constitution was amended with the agreement of Quebec.
- ATrue
- BFalseAnswer
Why: After much negotiation, the Constitution was amended in 1982 without the agreement of Quebec. The movement for Quebec sovereignty had been defeated in a referendum in the province in 1980, and was defeated again in a second referendum in 1995.
139.
About how many refugees who escaped Soviet tyranny in Hungary did Canada welcome in 1956?
- AAbout 3,700
- BAbout 37,000Answer
- COver 50,000
- DAbout 370,000
Why: Over 50,000 is the figure the guide gives for the Vietnamese who sought refuge in Canada after the Communist victory in the Vietnam War in 1975.
140.
By the 1960s, what share of Canadians had origins that were neither British nor French?
- AOne-tenth
- BOne-thirdAnswer
- CThree-quarters
Why: They took pride in preserving their distinct culture in the Canadian fabric, and the idea of multiculturalism gained a new impetus.
141.
What did the Group of Seven, founded in 1920, develop?
- AModern abstract art, pioneered in Quebec
- BModern Inuit art in prints and soapstone
- CA style of painting to capture the rugged wilderness landscapesAnswer
Why: Les Automatistes of Quebec, most notably Jean-Paul Riopelle, were pioneers of modern abstract art in the 1950s. Kenojuak Ashevak pioneered modern Inuit art.
142.
Who pioneered modern Inuit art with etchings, prints and soapstone sculptures?
- AEmily Carr
- BJean-Paul Riopelle
- CLouis-Philippe Hébert
- DKenojuak AshevakAnswer
Why: Emily Carr painted the forests and Aboriginal artifacts of the West Coast; Louis-Philippe Hébert was a celebrated sculptor of historical figures.
143.
Who invented basketball, in 1891?
- AJames NaismithAnswer
- BPaul Henderson
- CLord Stanley
- DLord Grey
Why: Naismith was Canadian. Lord Stanley donated the Stanley Cup and Lord Grey the Grey Cup; Paul Henderson scored the winning goal of the 1972 Canada-Soviet Summit Series.
144.
What was Terry Fox’s “Marathon of Hope”?
- AA journey around the globe in a wheelchair to raise funds for spinal cord research
- BA cross-country run begun in 1980 to raise money for cancer researchAnswer
- CAn Olympic race in which he set a world record
Why: Terry Fox, a British Columbian, had lost his right leg to cancer at the age of 18. He did not finish the run, but his legacy continues through yearly fundraising events in his name. The journey around the globe in a wheelchair was Rick Hansen’s, in 1985.
145.
In 1972, Paul Henderson scored the winning goal for Canada in which hockey series?
- AThe Stanley Cup final
- BThe Canada-Soviet Summit SeriesAnswer
- CThe Olympic Winter Games
Why: The goal is often referred to as “the goal heard around the world” and is still remembered as an important event in both sports and cultural history.
146.
What did Sir Frederick Banting of Toronto and Charles Best discover?
- AInsulin, a hormone to treat diabetesAnswer
- BThe first cardiac pacemaker
- CThe world system of standard time zones
Why: The guide says insulin has saved 16 million lives. The pacemaker was invented by Dr. John A. Hopps and standard time zones by Sir Sandford Fleming.
147.
What did Joseph-Armand Bombardier invent?
- AThe telephone
- BThe snowmobileAnswer
- CThe Canadarm
- DThe BlackBerry
Why: The snowmobile is a light-weight winter vehicle. Alexander Graham Bell hit on the idea of the telephone; SPAR Aerospace and the National Research Council invented the Canadarm; the BlackBerry came from Research in Motion (RIM).
148.
Which Canadian contributed to the invention of radio, sending the first wireless voice message in the world?
- AReginald FessendenAnswer
- BWilder Penfield
- CSir Sandford Fleming
- DMarshall McLuhan
Why: Wilder Penfield was a pioneering brain surgeon at McGill University; Sir Sandford Fleming invented the world system of standard time zones; Marshall McLuhan was a pioneer thinker.
149.
What first guaranteed Aboriginal territorial rights and established the basis for negotiating treaties?
- AThe Quebec Act of 1774
- BThe Constitutional Act of 1791
- CThe Royal Proclamation of 1763 by King George IIIAnswer
- DThe British North America Act of 1867
Why: The guide adds that the treaties negotiated with the newcomers were not always fully respected. Aboriginal and treaty rights are in the Canadian Constitution.
150.
Why did the federal government place many Aboriginal children in residential schools, from the 1800s until the 1980s?
- ATo educate and assimilate them into mainstream Canadian cultureAnswer
- BTo teach them their own Aboriginal languages
- CTo train them for the Canadian Forces
Why: The schools were poorly funded and inflicted hardship on the students; some were physically abused. Aboriginal languages and cultural practices were mostly prohibited. In 2008, Ottawa formally apologized to the former students.
151.
What was the “Great Upheaval”?
- AThe Great Depression of the 1930s
- BThe rebellions of 1837–38
- CThe deportation of more than two-thirds of the Acadians from their homeland between 1755 and 1763Answer
Why: It happened during the war between Britain and France. Despite this ordeal the Acadians survived and maintained their unique identity. They are the descendants of French colonists who began settling in what are now the Maritime provinces in 1604.
152.
What are the three main types of industry in Canada’s economy?
- AAgriculture, tourism and banking
- BService industries, manufacturing industries and natural resources industriesAnswer
- CMining, fishing and forestry
- DPublic, private and non-profit
Why: Mining, fishing and forestry are part of the natural resources industries, not separate categories.
153.
What share of working Canadians have jobs in service industries?
- AMore than 25%
- BMore than 50%
- CMore than 75%Answer
- DMore than 90%
Why: Service industries provide jobs in transportation, education, health care, construction, banking, communications, retail, tourism and government.
154.
Who is Canada’s largest trading partner?
- AThe United StatesAnswer
- BThe United Kingdom
- CJapan
- DMexico
Why: Canada and the United States are each other’s largest trading partner, and together have the biggest bilateral trading relationship in the world.
155.
How much of Canada’s exports go to the United States?
- AAbout one-quarter
- BAbout one-half
- COver three-quartersAnswer
- DAlmost none
Why: Millions of Canadians and Americans cross what is traditionally called “the world’s longest undefended border” every year.
156.
Canada has always been a trading nation, and commerce remains the engine of its economic growth.
- ATrueAnswer
- BFalse
Why: Canadians could not maintain their standard of living without trade with other nations.
157.
Which phrase from Canada’s original constitutional document of 1867 do its institutions uphold?
- A“Liberty, equality and fraternity”
- B“Peace, Order, and Good Government”Answer
- C“From sea to sea”
- D“The supremacy of God and the rule of law”
Why: It is a key phrase in the British North America Act. “From sea to sea” is the national motto, and “the supremacy of God and the rule of law” opens the Charter.
158.
Canada is the only constitutional monarchy in North America.
- ATrueAnswer
- BFalse
Why: Canada has also inherited the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world.
159.
What kinds of products do Canada’s manufacturing industries make?
- AOnly raw materials for export
- BPaper, high technology equipment, aerospace technology, automobiles, machinery, food and clothingAnswer
- CMainly military equipment
- DOnly goods sold inside Canada
Why: Manufacturing industries make products to sell in Canada and around the world. Canada’s largest international trading partner is the United States.
160.
Which industries does the guide count as natural resources industries?
- ABanking, insurance and retail
- BAerospace, automobiles and machinery
- CForestry, fishing, agriculture, mining and energyAnswer
- DTourism, transportation and communications
Why: These industries have played an important part in the country’s development, and a large percentage of Canada’s exports are natural resource commodities. The other options are manufacturing or service industries.
161.
In which areas do service industries provide jobs?
- ATransportation, education, health care, banking, communications, retail, tourism and governmentAnswer
- BForestry, fishing and mining
- CPaper, machinery and automobiles
- DOil and gas extraction only
Why: Service industries provide thousands of different jobs, and more than 75% of working Canadians have one.
162.
In 1988, Canada enacted free trade with which country?
- AMexico
- BThe United Kingdom
- CJapan
- DThe United StatesAnswer
Why: Mexico became a partner in 1994, in a broader North American agreement.
163.
Where does Canada rank among the world’s economies?
- AIt has the largest economy in the world
- BIt has one of the ten largest economies in the worldAnswer
- CIt is among the fifty largest, but no higher
- DThe guide does not say
Why: Trade is what sustains it: Canadians could not maintain their standard of living without trading with other nations.
164.
Canada and the United States have the biggest bilateral trading relationship in the world.
- ATrueAnswer
- BFalse
Why: Each is the other’s largest trading partner, and over three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the United States.
165.
What is traditionally known as “the world’s longest undefended border”?
- AThe border between Canada and the United StatesAnswer
- BCanada’s Arctic coastline
- CThe boundary between Ontario and Quebec
- DThe border between Canada and Greenland
Why: Millions of Canadians and Americans cross it every year, in safety.
166.
What does the Peace Arch at Blaine, Washington symbolize?
- AThe spot where the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed
- BThe Canadians who died in the First World War
- CThe close ties and common interests of Canada and the United StatesAnswer
- DThe signing of the Constitution Act, 1982
Why: It is inscribed with the words “children of a common mother” and “brethren dwelling together in unity”. The memorial to those who died in the First World War is the Peace Tower in Ottawa.
167.
What was discovered in Alberta in 1947 that began Canada’s modern energy industry?
- AOilAnswer
- BUranium
- CPotash
- DDiamonds
Why: Alberta is now the largest producer of oil and gas. The world’s richest deposits of uranium and potash are in Saskatchewan, and the diamond mines are in the North.
168.
In what year did the federal government introduce unemployment insurance, now called employment insurance?
- A1927
- B1940Answer
- C1965
- D1982
Why: Old Age Security was devised as early as 1927, and the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans date from 1965.
169.
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is now known as what?
- AThe Commonwealth
- BLa Francophonie
- CThe World Trade Organization (WTO)Answer
- DThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Why: Treaties like it opened up the restrictive trading policies of the Depression era. NATO is a military alliance, and La Francophonie is an association of French-speaking countries.
170.
Which of these does Canada export billions of dollars’ worth of every year?
- AEnergy products, machinery, agricultural, fishing and forestry productsAnswer
- BNothing — Canada imports far more than it exports
- COnly unprocessed minerals
- DOnly services, not goods
Why: Integrated Canada–U.S. supply chains compete with the rest of the world.
171.
For centuries, what was Canada’s economy based mainly on?
- AManufacturing automobiles and aerospace technology
- BBanking and tourism
- CFarming and exporting natural resources such as fur, fish and timberAnswer
Why: These goods were transported by roads, lakes, rivers and canals. The first companies in Canada were formed during the French and British regimes and competed for the fur trade.
172.
In what year did the Montreal Stock Exchange open?
- A1670
- B1832Answer
- C1934
Why: The first financial institutions opened in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 1670 is the year the Hudson’s Bay Company was granted its trading rights, and 1934 the year the Bank of Canada was created.