Thursday, December 14, 2006

Would YOU know the answer?


I was notified yesterday that I am to take my Canadian citizenship test on January 10, 2007. I like how the letter basically says, "You will come." The fine print says, "If you do not attend this test, you must call Citizenship and Immigration Canada as soon as possible." Not "...if you cannot attend this test...etc, etc."

The study guide for the citizenship test is a 47 page "booklet" called "A Look at Canada." I'm having fun exercising my brain for things other than how to change a diaper efficiently and without making too much of a mess. The booklet gives a pretend test in the back. There are over one hundred questions.

Here are some sample questions. Can you answer them? I found some of them quite humorous.

1. What three industries helped the early settlers build communities in the Atlantic region?

2. Who were the United Empire Loyalists?

3. Give the first two lines of Canada's national anthem.

4. Who is Canada's Head of State?

5. What do you mark on a federal election ballot?

6. Why is the British North American Act important in Canadian history?

Last, but certainly not any less important...
7. What animal is an official symbol of Canada?

I challenge you to post your answers in the comments. Check back for the correct ones later.

18 comments:

Dennis said...

My wife is joining my side!!!!!! Yeah!!!

Kate said...

Aren't you going to be a double-agent of sorts? US and CA citizen? Is one of the questions, "What do Canadians say at the end of every sentence?" :)

Anonymous said...

This is a comment on KT's comment. That question you proposed gave me the biggest chulkle in a long time. I think the answer to it is "a" or "eh". I will have to listen to see if Val will pass as an honorable Canadian. Thanks for the laugh. Pat

Anonymous said...

The correct spelling of the word is "eh?". And no, we do not say it at the end of every sentence and it is more melodious than "huh?". So Val I think you should take a copy of an episode of "talking to Americans" home with you but then again, they might not understand just how funny it is to watch from the new Canadian vantage point that you now have!! Anyways, I'm done bashing Americans and now to show just how much I myself do not know about Canada, here goes my answers... don't laugh:
1)Fishing, Logging, Fur trading
2)the people who are loyal to the homeland? I know that's where Loyalist College got it's name and you can find a campus for that college in Bancroft.
3)O Canada, terre de nos aieux, ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux... ou, Oh Canada, our home and NATIVE land, true patriot love in all thy sons command
4)Stephen Harper, prime minister of Canada
5)You mark an X in the circle beside the MP that you would like to vote for.
6)No idea...never heard of it before in my life... I'll guess that it means that we are a member of the commonwealth?
7)An official symbol - the beaver but not the Bell Canada Beavers
I hope I get that one right cause I'm not sure it may be a trick question like did you know that hockey is not our official sport? Weird I think it's Lacrosse - whatever, who makes these decisions anyways?

Anonymous said...

Sound slike Ron commenting above doesn't it?

But he teaches that stuff so surely he would know DNA or is it BNA when he sees it!!

Kate said...

So sorry - didn't mean to step on any Canadian toes! :) But for the record, Canadians use "eh?" much more often than Americans say "huh?" Merry Christmas Northern Neighbors!

Anonymous said...

Sorry mom that was me not Ron not knowing my history. I'm the one who took history in french so even if I had heard of it before, it would have been in french so I would not recognize it--and that's my excuse
Bee

Anonymous said...

The anonymous commentator who answered the questions, must be Canadian because you say anyways up there instead of anyway.
Anyway, what difference does it make?

Anonymous said...

This is Ron, in case I end up being annonymousey too!
1. What three industries helped the early settlers build communities in the Atlantic region?
fur trade, logging, fishing, ship building, oh, that's four, well, ship building was an Industrial Revolution thing, so I guess that's later.
2. Who were the United Empire Loyalists?
Founded a college in Belleville... or American retreaters to Canada

3. Give the first two lines of Canada's national anthem.
Oh, Canada... hmm, hmm, hm hm... In all our hearts (or sons, depending on how pc you want to be..) command
4. Who is Canada's Head of State?
Governor General Michaelle Jean
5. What do you mark on a federal election ballot? "X"

6. Why is the British North American Act important in Canadian history? Was Canada's first "Constitution"

Last, but certainly not any less important...
7. What animal is an official symbol of Canada? Rocky or Bullwinkle, I can never remember...

Anonymous said...

Hi I want to answer the questions too eh. So like, well, eh ya I agree with Ron on #one being as I'm married to an Atlantic Canadian I hope I'm right eh :)
2. The Loyalists were people from the now USA who didn't want to separate from Britian during the War of Independance so they moved to Upper and Lower Canada... Val, remember that cemetery we went to in Saint John, it was shaped like a Union Jack and was the burial ground for a lot of loyalists...
3.I'll leave that one to Janelle... thanks to school that's her new favourite song... she knows it all now but still prefers the last 2 lines... I'm glad she's standing on guard for Canada :) precious little soul!!
4. I was going to say the Queen but Bruce says it's the Governor General who is the Queen's representative... ok that suits me fine...
5. same as any other election ballot... an X
6. The BNA joined the first parts of Canada together (not sure)
7. beaver eh!
:) Thanks for the quizzing... hope you make out better than some or all of us:)
A year or so ago one of the secretaries at school did her test and asked us a lot of questions from the book... I was surprised at how easy some were but also how difficult others were...Bruce's barber got only one wrong... something like what was the Queen's name.... I can't quite remember...
Anyway(s) better stop hogging the space.
Patti

Dennis and Valerie said...

Ok, boys and girls, time out! Thank you for taking my little quiz. It was fun, huh? I see that a few of the questions tripped up even the most eager of answerers, eh? Oh well, you won't be tested, and I have the handy-dandy book as a study guide. :)

1. What three industries helped the early settlers build communities in the Atlantic region?
-farming, fishing and ship building (good job, Ron, for thinking of that one)

2. Who were the United Empire Loyalists?
-Settlers of British origin who left the United States to settle mainly in Atlantic Canada during the American Revolution

3. Give the first two lines of Canada's national anthem.
-Well, obviously, eh... It is "O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command..."

4. Who is Canada's Head of State?
-Ok, folks... Patti, you were right before you asked Bruce. The rest of you, shame shame shame! I'm wagging my finger at y'all (youse). The official government study guide says, "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of Canada and Canada's Head of State". Who are we to argue with the government? :)

5. What do you mark on a federal election ballot?
-an 'X'

6. Why is the 'British North American Act' important in Canadian history?
-It made confederation legal. It was originally Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that joined together to create Canada in 1867- you all should remember the date! July 1st, 1867! The BNAA made it all official.

7. What animal is an official symbol of Canada?
-the beaver (a mighty warrior is he! Can you see me sticking my front teeth out?)

Anonymous said...

Oh, Val
Somewhere I have your personal beaver picture. You were about 7 or 8 years old. If I come across it, I might have Sarah scan it in on your blog. And then again, maybe I "woodn"t". Mom

Anonymous said...

I think the date was March 13th or something like that, when the BNA Act was actually ratified, symbolically, it kicked off as a country on July 1th. (still fuming over the Queen though...;) )
Ron

Dennis and Valerie said...

Oh- ok, Ron. I was wondering about that actually, since my booklet didn't actually specify when in the year the BNA passed. Thanks for clearing that up! ;)

Anonymous said...

Aunt Valerie, I don't know anything about Canada but I read In Dad's World Atlas
that Canada has less that 1 inflation, whatever that means. Bailey

Anonymous said...

I see that I am a latecomer to this conversation. Oh well. Interesting that Nebraska became a state on March 1, 1867 five months before Canada became a confederation. Here is a little Nebraska quiz for your enjoyment:

1. What are the two first lines of Nebraska's State Song?
2. Along with the state of Indiana, Nebraska is the world's top producer of what crop?
3. What endangered beetle can only be found along the Salt Creek in Lancaster County, Nebraska?
4. What is the motto of the State of Nebraska?
5. What is the only county in the state of Nebraska that has more registered Democrats than Republicans?
6. What is unique about Nebraska's Legislature?
7. List one important contribution that Ernie Chambers has made during his long career in Nebraska's legislature.

Happy Quizzing! Matt

Anonymous said...

This is really late....back to the quiz for future Canadian citizens...we made a group effort to answer them coming up with 5 1/3 out of 7 correct. We had lumber as one of the industries in the Maritimes and we missed the queen rather perfering her repersentative or the PM. Our group consisted of 2 teacher & a housewife or if your prefer; 1 naturalized Canadian, 1 "free born" Canadian & 1 American .... gues who? J.

Ron Easton for Dads UnLimited said...

1. What are the two first lines of Nebraska's State Song? "Get on out here, cause there's lots of room"
2. Along with the state of Indiana, Nebraska is the world's top producer of what crop? "Marijuana"
3. What endangered beetle can only be found along the Salt Creek in Lancaster County, Nebraska? "Ringo"
4. What is the motto of the State of Nebraska? "Corn, corn, the musical fruit"
5. What is the only county in the state of Nebraska that has more registered Democrats than Republicans?
"Trick question, cause they kicked it out and now its its own independent district"
6. What is unique about Nebraska's Legislature? "Named after a tractor"
7. List one important contribution that Ernie Chambers has made during his long career in Nebraska's legislature. "Had the judge's office behind the courtroom named after him"