Canadian Citizenship Test: History practice questions

Anchor a fact to its century before you look at the options: 1608 Quebec, 1759 Plains of Abraham, 1867 Confederation, 1917 Vimy, 1939 Canada's declaration of war, 1982 Charter. A famous name from the wrong war is the usual trap.

Question 1

The Dominion of Canada came into being on

  1. 1 July 1867
  2. 4 July 1776
  3. 15 February 1965
  4. 17 April 1982

Answer: 1 July 1867

1 July 1867 is Confederation, when the British North America Act took effect. 4 July 1776 is the United States' Declaration of Independence. 15 February 1965 is the maple-leaf flag. 17 April 1982 is the patriation of the Constitution and the Charter.

Question 2

Which four provinces formed Canada in 1867?

  1. Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia
  2. Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
  3. Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland
  4. Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Answer: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

The first four were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Manitoba joined in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905, and Newfoundland in 1949. The trap is a later province placed in the original four.

Question 3

Quebec City was founded in 1608 by

  1. John Cabot
  2. Jacques Cartier
  3. Samuel de Champlain
  4. Sir John A. Macdonald

Answer: Samuel de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec in 1608. John Cabot reached the Atlantic coast in 1497. Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence in the 1530s and heard the name Canada, but he did not found Quebec City. Macdonald was the first Prime Minister, in 1867.