Practice Test 14

Answer key

1. 1. The party or parties that did not form the government and hold the government accountable — The Opposition is made up of elected members from parties that did not form the government; their role is to scrutinize and challenge government decisions.
2. 2. 18 — Canadian citizens who are 18 years of age or older on election day are eligible to vote in federal elections.
3. 3. True — The secret ballot is a cornerstone of Canadian democracy, ensuring that no one can be pressured or penalised for how they vote.
4. 4. A geographic area that elects one Member of Parliament — Canada is divided into electoral districts, also called ridings or constituencies, each of which elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons.
5. 5. A government whose party holds more than half of the seats in the House of Commons — A majority government is one in which the governing party holds more than half of all seats in the House of Commons, giving it the ability to pass legislation without relying on other parties.
6. 6. True — Voting is protected as a right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and is also viewed as a civic responsibility of all eligible citizens.
7. 7. The Atlantic Provinces — The Atlantic Provinces are New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador — the four provinces on Canada's east coast.
8. 8. Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan — Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan are the Prairie Provinces, named for the vast flat grasslands that dominate the landscape.
9. 9. Toronto — Toronto is the capital of Ontario. Note that Ottawa, the national capital of Canada, is also located in Ontario but is not Ontario's provincial capital.
10. 10. Victoria — Victoria, located on Vancouver Island, is the capital of British Columbia. Vancouver is the largest city in BC but not its capital.
11. 11. Winnipeg — Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, situated at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.
12. 12. Halifax — Halifax is the capital and largest city of Nova Scotia, and is also the largest city in the Atlantic region.
13. 13. Charlottetown — Charlottetown is the capital of Prince Edward Island. It is also known as the 'Birthplace of Confederation.'
14. 14. Whitehorse — Whitehorse is the capital of Yukon and is the largest city in any of Canada's three northern territories.
15. 15. Iqaluit — Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut, Canada's newest and largest territory. It is located on Baffin Island.
16. 16. False — False. Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area, after Russia.
17. 17. The United States — The Great Lakes — Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — lie along the Canada-United States border, while Lake Michigan is entirely within the United States. Together they contain about 20% of the world's fresh surface water.
18. 18. Western Canada through British Columbia and Alberta — The Rocky Mountains extend through western Canada, primarily through British Columbia and Alberta, forming a dramatic natural boundary between the Prairies and the Pacific coast.
19. 19. 10 provinces and 3 territories — Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories: Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
20. 20. A trading nation with a market-based economy — Canada is a trading nation with a market-based economy. It relies heavily on international trade — especially with the United States — and values free enterprise.