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Canadian Citizenship Test questions and answers

Every question in the bank, with the answer and an explanation. Written from Discover Canada. Browsing is free and needs no account. But you will learn far more by taking a timed test than by reading answers.

1. 151.Who was the first French-Canadian prime minister since Confederation?

   • ASir George-Étienne Cartier
   • BSir Wilfrid Laurier
   • CSir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine
   • DSir John A. Macdonald

   Sir Wilfrid Laurier became the first French-Canadian prime minister since Confederation. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)

2. 152.On which bill does Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s portrait appear?

   • AThe $10 bill
   • BThe $100 bill
   • CThe $20 bill
   • DThe $5 bill

   Sir Wilfrid Laurier's portrait is on the $5 bill. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)

3. 153.Which group settled the West in the largest numbers before 1914?

   • A40,000 Loyalists
   • B170,000 Ukrainians
   • C8,500 French settlers
   • D115,000 Poles

   The railway made it possible for 170,000 Ukrainians, 115,000 Poles and tens of thousands from Germany, France, Norway and Sweden to settle in the West before 1914. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)

4. 154.How many Canadians served in the First World War?

   • AMore than one million
   • BMore than 600,000
   • CMore than 6,000
   • DMore than 60,000

   More than 600,000 Canadians served in the First World War, most of them volunteers, out of a population of eight million. (The First World War)

5. 155.Which ridge did the Canadian Corps capture in April 1917?

   • AHill 70
   • BJuno Beach
   • CPasschendaele Ridge
   • DVimy Ridge

   The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge in April 1917, with 10,000 killed or wounded. (The First World War)

6. 156.Which date is celebrated as Vimy Day?

   • A11 November
   • B9 April
   • C8 August
   • D6 June

   April 9 is celebrated as Vimy Day. (The First World War)

7. 157.Who was Canada’s greatest soldier, commanding the Canadian Corps in 1918?

   • ACaptain Billy Bishop
   • BGeneral Sir Arthur Currie
   • CSir Sam Steele
   • DMajor-General Sir Isaac Brock

   General Sir Arthur Currie was Canada's greatest soldier and commanded the Canadian Corps in 1918. (The First World War)

8. 158.How many Canadians were killed in the First World War?

   • A600,000
   • B60,000
   • C110,000
   • D44,000

   In total 60,000 Canadians were killed and 170,000 wounded in the First World War. (The First World War)

9. 159.What did the Germans call the Battle of Amiens?

   • AThe black day of the German Army
   • BThe birth of a nation
   • CThe turning point of the war
   • DThe last hundred days

   The Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918 was called the black day of the German Army by the Germans. (The First World War)

10. 160.On what date did the First World War end?

    • A9 April 1917
    • B8 August 1918
    • C11 November 1918
    • D8 May 1945

    The First World War ended in the Armistice on November 11, 1918. (The First World War)

11. 161.Which war did over 7,000 Canadians volunteer for between 1899 and 1902?

    • AThe Korean War
    • BThe South African War
    • CThe First World War
    • DThe Crimean War

    Over 7,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in the South African War of 1899-1902, popularly known as the Boer War, and over 260 died. (The First World War)

12. 162.What is the meaning of the Remembrance Day poppy?

    • ATo celebrate Confederation and the birth of Canada
    • BTo remember the sacrifice of Canadians who served or died in wars
    • CTo mark the founding of the Canadian Forces
    • DTo honour prime ministers of Canada who have died

    Wearing the poppy remembers every Canadian who served or died in war, up to the present day. (Remembrance Day)

13. 163.On what date is Remembrance Day observed?

    • A1 July, Canada Day
    • B9 April, the anniversary of Vimy Ridge
    • C11 November
    • D6 June, the anniversary of D-Day

    Remembrance Day is observed each year on November 11. (Remembrance Day)

14. 164.At what time do Canadians observe a moment of silence on Remembrance Day?

    • AAt noon on Canada Day, the first of July
    • BThe 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
    • CAt sunrise on 9 April, the anniversary of Vimy
    • DAt sunset on 6 June, the anniversary of D-Day

    Canadians wear the red poppy and observe a moment of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. (Remembrance Day)

15. 165.Who wrote the poem In Flanders Fields?

    • ALieutenant-Colonel John McCrae
    • BStephen Leacock, the humorist and economist
    • CRobert W. Service, the poet of the Yukon
    • DPauline Johnson, the Mohawk poet

    Canadian medical officer Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae composed the poem In Flanders Fields in 1915. (Remembrance Day)

16. 166.How many Canadians have given their lives in service?

    • A60,000
    • B44,000
    • C600,000
    • D110,000

    Over a million brave men and women have served, and 110,000 have given their lives. (Remembrance Day)

17. 167.Which beach did Canadian troops capture on D-Day?

    • AOmaha Beach
    • BJuno Beach
    • CGold Beach
    • DSword Beach

    On D-Day, June 6, 1944, 15,000 Canadian troops stormed and captured Juno Beach in Normandy. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

18. 168.On what date was D-Day?

    • A11 November 1918
    • B6 June 1944
    • C8 May 1945
    • D14 August 1945

    On D-Day, June 6, 1944, 15,000 Canadian troops stormed and captured Juno Beach in Normandy. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

19. 169.How many Canadian troops stormed Juno Beach?

    • A1,500
    • B15,000
    • C150,000
    • D44,000

    On D-Day, June 6, 1944, 15,000 Canadian troops stormed and captured Juno Beach in Normandy. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

20. 170.Roughly what proportion of Allied soldiers on D-Day was Canadian?

    • AAbout one in fifty
    • BAbout one in ten
    • CAbout one in three
    • DAbout half

    Canadians fought in the unsuccessful defence of Hong Kong in 1941 and a failed raid on Dieppe in 1942. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

21. 171.How many Canadians were killed in the Second World War?

    • A44,000
    • B110,000
    • C60,000
    • D600,000

    44,000 Canadians were killed in the Second World War. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

22. 172.Which country did the Canadian Army liberate in 1944-45?

    • ABelgium, in the advance out of Normandy
    • BNorway, after the German withdrawal there
    • CDenmark, in the closing weeks of the war
    • DThe Netherlands

    The Canadian Army liberated the Netherlands in 1944-45. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

23. 173.What did the stock market crash of 1929 lead to?

    • AThe Second World War
    • BThe Quiet Revolution
    • CThe Roaring Twenties
    • DThe Great Depression

    The stock market crash of 1929 led to the Great Depression, also called the Dirty Thirties. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

24. 174.In which year was the Bank of Canada created?

    • A1929
    • B1939
    • C1934
    • D1945

    The Bank of Canada, a central bank to manage the money supply, was created in 1934. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

25. 175.How large was Canada’s navy at the end of the Second World War?

    • ASmaller than before the war
    • BThe largest in the world
    • CThe third-largest in the world
    • DThe tenth-largest in the world

    At the end of the Second World War Canada had the third-largest navy in the world. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

26. 176.In which naval campaign did the Royal Canadian Navy see its finest hour?

    • AThe Battle of Trafalgar
    • BThe Battle of the Plains of Abraham
    • CThe Battle of the Atlantic
    • DThe Battle of Britain

    The Royal Canadian Navy saw its finest hour in the Battle of the Atlantic, protecting convoys of merchant ships against German submarines. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

27. 177.What peak did unemployment reach in 1933?

    • A7%
    • B37%
    • C27%
    • D17%

    Unemployment reached 27% in 1933. (Between the wars and the Second World War)

28. 178.What began Canada’s modern energy industry?

    • AThe creation of the Bank of Canada
    • BThe discovery of oil in Alberta in 1947
    • CThe opening of the oil sands in 1985
    • DThe building of hydro-electric dams in Quebec

    The discovery of oil in Alberta in 1947 began Canada's modern energy industry. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

29. 179.Which war did Canada fight in as part of a UN operation from 1950 to 1953?

    • AThe Boer War
    • BThe Vietnam War
    • CThe Korean War
    • DThe Gulf War

    Canada participated in the UN operation defending South Korea in the Korean War of 1950-53, with 500 dead and 1,000 wounded. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

30. 180.What is NATO?

    • AA military alliance
    • BA peacekeeping mission
    • CA trade agreement
    • DA United Nations agency

    Canada joined other democratic countries to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

31. 181.What is the era of rapid change in 1960s Quebec called?

    • AThe Quiet Revolution
    • BThe Dirty Thirties
    • CThe Great Upheaval
    • DThe Roaring Twenties

    Quebec experienced an era of rapid change in the 1960s known as the Quiet Revolution. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

32. 182.Which 1969 Act guarantees federal services in French and English?

    • AThe Constitution Act
    • BThe British North America Act
    • CThe Canada Health Act
    • DThe Official Languages Act

    The Official Languages Act of 1969 guarantees French and English services in the federal government across Canada. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

33. 183.In which years was Quebec sovereignty defeated in referendums?

    • A1963 and 1969
    • B1980 and 1995
    • C1970 and 1982
    • D1949 and 1965

    The movement for Quebec sovereignty was defeated in a referendum in 1980 and again in 1995. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

34. 184.When was unemployment insurance introduced by the federal government?

    • AIn 1934
    • BIn 1940
    • CIn 1965
    • DIn 1927

    Unemployment insurance, now called employment insurance, was introduced by the federal government in 1940. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

35. 185.Which level of government provides publicly funded education?

    • AThe federal government
    • BThe provinces and territories
    • CMunicipal governments
    • DSchool boards independently

    Publicly funded education is provided by the provinces and territories. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

36. 186.What did Canada help found in 1970?

    • ANORAD, the joint air defence command with the U.S.A.
    • BNATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
    • CLa Francophonie, an association of French-speaking countries
    • DThe Commonwealth of Nations, from the former Empire

    In 1970 Canada helped found La Francophonie, an international association of French-speaking countries. (Modern Canada, the Cold War and Quebec)

37. 187.What is the significance of the discovery of insulin by Banting and Best?

    • AIt was the first Canadian Nobel Prize
    • BIt treats diabetes and has saved 16 million lives worldwide
    • CIt made Canada a leader in radio technology
    • DIt led to the founding of McGill University

    The discovery of insulin has saved 16 million lives worldwide. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

38. 188.Who discovered insulin?

    • AMatthew Evans and Henry Woodward
    • BDr. Wilder Penfield and Dr. John A. Hopps
    • CAlexander Graham Bell and Reginald Fessenden
    • DSir Frederick Banting and Charles Best

    Sir Frederick Banting of Toronto and Charles Best discovered insulin, a hormone to treat diabetes. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

39. 189.Who invented the worldwide system of standard time zones?

    • AJoseph-Armand Bombardier
    • BAlexander Graham Bell
    • CReginald Fessenden
    • DSir Sandford Fleming

    Sir Sandford Fleming invented the worldwide system of standard time zones. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

40. 190.Who invented the snowmobile?

    • AJames Naismith
    • BSir Sandford Fleming
    • CJoseph-Armand Bombardier
    • DMike Lazaridis

    Joseph-Armand Bombardier invented the snowmobile, a light-weight winter vehicle. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

41. 191.Who invented the first cardiac pacemaker?

    • ADr. Wilder Penfield
    • BCharles Best
    • CSir Frederick Banting
    • DDr. John A. Hopps

    Dr. John A. Hopps invented the first cardiac pacemaker. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

42. 192.What did Reginald Fessenden achieve?

    • ABuilding the Canadarm for use in outer space
    • BInventing the telephone at his summer house
    • CInventing the first electric light bulb
    • DSending the first wireless voice message in the world

    Reginald Fessenden contributed to the invention of radio, sending the first wireless voice message in the world. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

43. 193.Who invented basketball?

    • APaul Henderson
    • BLord Stanley
    • CWayne Gretzky
    • DJames Naismith

    Basketball was invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

44. 194.What is Canada’s official summer sport?

    • ALacrosse
    • BSoccer
    • CCanadian football
    • DBaseball

    Lacrosse, an ancient sport first played by Aboriginals, is the official summer sport. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

45. 195.What is considered Canada’s national winter sport?

    • AHockey
    • BSpeed skating
    • CCurling
    • DLacrosse

    Hockey is Canada's most popular spectator sport and is considered the national winter sport. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

46. 196.Which robotic arm used in space was invented in Canada?

    • AThe Snowbird
    • BThe Canadarm
    • CThe BlackBerry
    • DThe pacemaker

    SPAR Aerospace and the National Research Council invented the Canadarm, a robotic arm used in outer space. (Canadian achievements and inventions)

47. 197.What are the three key facts about Canada’s system of government?

    • AIt is a confederation, a republic and a monarchy
    • BIt is a republic, a federation and a parliamentary democracy
    • CIt is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy
    • DIt is a unitary state, a monarchy and a democracy

    Canada's system of government is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. (Three facts about Canada’s system of government)

48. 198.What are the three branches of government?

    • AThe Sovereign, the Senate and the Commons
    • BThe Cabinet, the Commons and the courts
    • CThe Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial
    • DThe federal, provincial and municipal

    The three branches of government are the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial. (Three facts about Canada’s system of government)

49. 199.What does the interplay between the three branches help to secure?

    • AThe neutrality of the Governor General
    • BThe rights and freedoms of Canadians
    • CThe independence of the provinces
    • DThe supremacy of Parliament

    The interplay between the three branches of government helps to secure the rights and freedoms of Canadians. (Three facts about Canada’s system of government)

50. 200.From what age should Canadians participate by voting?

    • A21
    • B25
    • C18
    • D16

    It is important for Canadians aged 18 or more to participate in their democracy by voting in federal, provincial or territorial and municipal elections. (Three facts about Canada’s system of government)