Practice questions, not the official test. Independent study aid. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada or IRCC. Questions are written by ChowChow Labs from the official Discover Canada guide.
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Modern Canada
A short summary of what to know, then 14 free practice questions with answers.
What to know
More than 600,000 Canadians served in the First World War. Canadian soldiers won fame at Vimy Ridge in April 1917, and the doctor-soldier John McCrae wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields.” On Remembrance Day, November 11, Canadians wear a red poppy to honour those who served and died.
Women won the right to vote step by step: Manitoba was the first province to grant it, in 1916, and most women could vote in federal elections by 1918. During the Second World War Canada was not neutral: Canadian soldiers defended Hong Kong in 1941, landed at Juno Beach on D-Day in 1944, and helped liberate the Netherlands in 1944–45. The Dutch still thank Canada every year with tulips.
Canada also built new social programs, starting with unemployment insurance in 1940, and after the war it joined new international organizations. It was a founding member of NATO in 1949 and of La Francophonie in 1970, and has taken part in many United Nations peacekeeping missions. Aboriginal people gained the right to vote in federal elections in 1960.
Canadians have made many contributions to the world: James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, Sir Sandford Fleming devised the system of standard time zones, and Joseph-Armand Bombardier invented the snowmobile.
Key facts to remember
- 1916: Manitoba was the first province to give women the vote.
- 1949: Canada was a founding member of NATO.
- 1960: Aboriginal people gained the federal vote.
- Canadians helped liberate the Netherlands in 1944–45.
- John McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields.”
Read the official chapter
This summary is our own and doesn’t replace the official guide. Read “Modern Canada” in Discover Canada on canada.ca, then test yourself below. Next topic: Government.
Written by ChowChow Labs from Discover Canada. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Question 1 · Modern Canada
In 1941, Canadian soldiers fought to defend which territory against Japanese attack?
- A. Singapore
- B. The Philippines
- C. Korea
- D. Hong Kong
Show answer
Answer: D. Hong Kong
Canadian troops took part in the defence of Hong Kong in December 1941 and suffered heavy losses.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 2 · Modern Canada
Which Canadian wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields"?
- A. Stephen Leacock
- B. Robert Service
- C. John McCrae
- D. Pauline Johnson
Show answer
Answer: C. John McCrae
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian medical officer, wrote "In Flanders Fields" during the First World War.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 3 · Modern Canada
Which Canadian invented the game of basketball in 1891?
- A. Lord Stanley
- B. Wayne Gretzky
- C. James Naismith
- D. Terry Fox
Show answer
Answer: C. James Naismith
James Naismith, a Canadian, invented basketball in 1891.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 4 · Modern Canada
Which country did Canadian soldiers help liberate in 1944-1945, whose people still thank Canada with gifts of tulips?
- A. The Netherlands
- B. Belgium
- C. Denmark
- D. Norway
Show answer
Answer: A. The Netherlands
Canadians played a major role in liberating the Netherlands, and the Dutch still send tulips to Ottawa each year in gratitude.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 5 · Modern Canada
Canada was among the founding members of La Francophonie, created in 1970.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: A. True
Canada helped set up this organization of French-speaking countries in 1970.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 6 · Modern Canada
On Remembrance Day, many Canadians wear a red poppy to honour those who served and died for Canada.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: A. True
Remembrance Day is November 11. Canadians wear red poppies and observe a moment of silence at the eleventh hour.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 7 · Modern Canada
Which social program did the federal government introduce in 1940?
- A. Old age pensions
- B. Public health insurance (medicare)
- C. Unemployment insurance
- D. The Canada Pension Plan
Show answer
Answer: C. Unemployment insurance
Unemployment insurance was introduced by the federal government in 1940; old age pensions came earlier, in 1927.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 8 · Modern Canada
Canada has taken part in many United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: A. True
Canadian Armed Forces members have served in numerous UN peacekeeping missions in places such as Egypt, Cyprus and Haiti.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 9 · Modern Canada
Which province was the first to give women the right to vote, in 1916?
- A. Manitoba
- B. Quebec
- C. Nova Scotia
- D. Ontario
Show answer
Answer: A. Manitoba
Manitoba became the first province to grant women the vote in 1916.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 10 · Modern Canada
Canada was a founding member of which military alliance created in 1949?
- A. NATO
- B. NORAD
- C. The Commonwealth
- D. The United Nations
Show answer
Answer: A. NATO
Canada helped found the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 11 · Modern Canada
Who devised the worldwide system of standard time zones?
- A. Joseph-Armand Bombardier
- B. Sir Sandford Fleming
- C. Reginald Fessenden
- D. Alexander Graham Bell
Show answer
Answer: B. Sir Sandford Fleming
Sir Sandford Fleming, a Canadian engineer, developed the system of standard time zones used around the world.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 12 · Modern Canada
In what year did Aboriginal people gain the right to vote in federal elections?
- A. 1918
- B. 1867
- C. 1982
- D. 1960
Show answer
Answer: D. 1960
Aboriginal people were granted the right to vote in federal elections in 1960.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 13 · Modern Canada
Which Canadian invented the snowmobile?
- A. Sir Sandford Fleming
- B. Reginald Fessenden
- C. Joseph-Armand Bombardier
- D. Dr. John A. Hopps
Show answer
Answer: C. Joseph-Armand Bombardier
Joseph-Armand Bombardier of Quebec invented the snowmobile, a lightweight winter vehicle.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
Question 14 · Modern Canada
Canada remained neutral during the Second World War.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: B. False
Canada joined the Second World War in 1939, and over one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served.Source: Discover Canada, “Modern Canada”
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