CAEC Social Studies Preparation Course: Geography and the environment

Untimed topic quiz: 18 questions on Geography and the environment, with an explanation after each answer. Questions and answers are shuffled every time.

Course
Canada
94 questions
Checked October 13, 2026
Fact-checked October 13, 2026

Start with the lessonsCAEC Social Studies Preparation: Lessons: about 300 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

Topic quiz 5: Geography and the environment

Question 1 of 18
Which provinces make up the Prairie region?
- Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
- Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories
- British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
- Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Show answer
Answer: A. Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
The Prairie provinces are Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. British Columbia forms the West Coast region.
Question 2 of 18
Which provinces make up the Atlantic region?
- Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut and Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Quebec
Show answer
Answer: C. Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
The four Atlantic provinces face the Atlantic Ocean. Quebec and Ontario form Central Canada.
Question 3 of 18
What is the capital of Nunavut?
- Iqaluit
- Yellowknife
- Inuvik
- Whitehorse
Show answer
Answer: A. Iqaluit
Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut. Yellowknife is the capital of the Northwest Territories and Whitehorse is the capital of Yukon.
Question 4 of 18
Which three oceans border Canada?
- The Pacific, the Arctic and the Indian
- The Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian
- The Atlantic, the Arctic and the Southern
- The Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic
Show answer
Answer: D. The Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic
Canada is bordered by the Pacific in the west, the Atlantic in the east and the Arctic in the north.
Question 5 of 18
Which of the Great Lakes is the largest freshwater lake in the world?
- Lake Ontario
- Lake Superior
- Lake Erie
- Lake Huron
Show answer
Answer: B. Lake Superior
Lake Superior, between Ontario and the United States, is the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Question 6 of 18
Most people in Quebec live along or near which river?
- The Mackenzie River
- The Fraser River
- The Red River
- The St. Lawrence River
Show answer
Answer: D. The St. Lawrence River
The cities of Central Canada, including most of Quebec's population, are near the St. Lawrence River.
Question 7 of 18
Which group of industries is most closely linked to the Prairie provinces?
- Fruit growing and wine making only
- Grain and oilseed farming, cattle ranching, and oil and gas
- Offshore fishing, shipbuilding and offshore oil and gas on the Atlantic coast
- Diamond mining and trapping only
Show answer
Answer: B. Grain and oilseed farming, cattle ranching, and oil and gas
The Prairies have some of the most fertile farmland in the world and large energy and mining industries, such as potash and uranium.
Question 8 of 18
Which province is Canada's largest producer of hydroelectricity?
- Alberta
- Quebec
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
Show answer
Answer: B. Quebec
Quebec produces the most hydroelectricity. Manitoba and Labrador also have large hydro resources.
Question 9 of 18
The three territories cover about one-third of Canada's land. About how many people live there?
- About 10,000
- About 100,000
- About 1 million
- About 10 million
Show answer
Answer: B. About 100,000
The North is huge but has a small population, about 100,000 people.
Question 10 of 18
On the northern tundra, what is special about the soil?
- It is the best farmland in Canada
- It is mostly desert sand
- It is covered by thick rainforest
- It is permanently frozen
Show answer
Answer: D. It is permanently frozen
The tundra soil is permanently frozen, which makes farming and building difficult.
Question 11 of 18
About 85% of the people in Nunavut belong to which group?
- Métis
- Acadians
- Inuit
- Loyalists
Show answer
Answer: C. Inuit
Nunavut was created in 1999, and about 85% of its population is Inuit.
Question 12 of 18
In the 1890s, thousands of miners rushed to Yukon. In geography, gold is an example of what?
- A pull factor that attracts people to a place
- A push factor that drives people away
- A renewable resource
- A form of government
Show answer
Answer: A. A pull factor that attracts people to a place
Pull factors, such as jobs or gold, attract people. Push factors, such as war or poverty, make them leave a place.
Question 13 of 18
Since the 1970s, where have most immigrants to Canada come from?
- Asian countries
- The United States
- South American countries
- European countries
Show answer
Answer: A. Asian countries
Since the 1970s most immigrants have come from Asian countries, which has changed many Canadian cities.
Question 14 of 18
A made-up town grew from 120,000 people to 138,000 people in ten years. By what percent did its population grow?
- 13%
- 1.8%
- 18%
- 15%
Show answer
Answer: D. 15%
(138,000 − 120,000) ÷ 120,000 = 0.15, which is 15%. Dividing by 138,000 instead gives about 13%, a common mistake.
Question 15 of 18
The table shows average January temperatures for four made-up communities. Which community is most likely farthest north?
Community Average January temperature
Community 1 −4°C
Community 2 −12°C
Community 3 −27°C
Community 4 −15°C
- Community 1
- Community 3
- Community 4
- Community 2
Show answer
Answer: B. Community 3
In Canada, temperatures generally get colder as you go north. Community 3 is by far the coldest at −27°C.
Question 16 of 18
Which of these is a renewable resource if it is managed well?
- Potash deposits
- Diamonds
- Oil in the ground
- Forests that are replanted after logging
Show answer
Answer: D. Forests that are replanted after logging
Renewable resources can grow back or be replaced. Oil, potash and diamonds are non-renewable: once used, they are gone.
Question 17 of 18
Which action best shows environmental stewardship?
- A family leaves its car running all day
- A town sets up a recycling program and protects a local wetland
- A company clears a large forest for lumber and does not replant any trees
- A factory empties waste into a river to save money
Show answer
Answer: B. A town sets up a recycling program and protects a local wetland
Stewardship means caring for the land, water and air for future generations. Canadians are expected to avoid waste and pollution.
Question 18 of 18
What does sustainability mean?
- Using natural resources as fast as possible so that the economy grows quickly today
- Meeting today's needs without harming future generations' ability to meet theirs
- Moving people from rural areas to cities
- Banning all use of natural resources
Show answer
Answer: B. Meeting today's needs without harming future generations' ability to meet theirs
A sustainable choice balances the economy, the environment and society over the long term.

Community	Average January temperature
Community 1	−4°C
Community 2	−12°C
Community 3	−27°C
Community 4	−15°C

Topic quiz 5: Geography and the environment

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