Chaya Choudhry is spending time studying for the Canadian citizenship test and she's optimistic that she'll do well.
"I think it will be easy," Choudhry says.
However, documents recently obtained by the Canadian Press show that after the citizenship test changed in March the failure rate soared from a high of 8 per cent to about 30 per cent across the country.
In Winnipeg, the failure rate is higher, at 31.5 per cent.
Even though people who fail do have the option of rewriting, immigration lawyer David Matas says the test is too hard.
"That does concern me and alarm me because I think it's unrealistic to say 30 per cent of our citizenship applicants are unworthy applicants," he says.
Taken from a 63-page guide that applicants are asked to study, the test expects the applicants to know information such as what the Canadian Pacific Railway represented and the significance of Banting and Best's discovery of insulin.
Linda Lalande, executive director of the Immigrant Centre in Winnipeg, calls the test "very very difficult"
"For one thing, it's multiple choice. Plus, it's very high language levels," she says.
That means some people may not even understand the difficult questions they're being asked.
-with a report from CTV's Jon Hendricks
Think you can pass the tough test?
Check out these example questions provided by the federal government.
1. What are three responsibilities of citizenship?
a) Being loyal to Canada, recycling newspapers, serving in the navy, army or air force.
b) Obeying the law, taking responsibility for oneself and one's family, serving on a jury.
d) Buying Canadian products, owning your own business, using less water.
2. What is the meaning of the Remembrance Day poppy?
a) To remember our Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II.
b) To celebrate Confederation.
c) To honour prime ministers who have died.
d) To remember the sacrifice of Canadians who have served or died in wars up to the present day.
3. How are Members of Parliament chosen?
a) They are appointed by the United Nations.
b) They are chosen by the provincial premiers.
c) They are elected by voters in their local constituency (riding).
d) They are elected by landowners and police chiefs.
Answers: 1 b, 2 d, 3 c.
More sample questions:
Name two key documents that contain our rights and freedoms.
Identify four (4) rights that Canadians enjoy.
Name four (4) fundamental freedoms that Canadians enjoy?
What is meant by the equality of women and men?
What are some examples of taking responsibility for yourself and your family?
Who were the founding peoples of Canada?
Who are the Métis?
What does the word "Inuit" mean?
What is meant by the term "responsible government"?
Who was Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine?
What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolize?
What does Confederation mean?
What is the significance of the discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best?
What does it mean to say that Canada is a constitutional monarchy?
What are the three branches of government?
What is the difference between the role of the Queen and that of the Prime Minister?
What is the highest honour that Canadians can receive?
When you go to vote on election day, what do you do?
Who is entitled to vote in Canadian federal elections?
In Canada, are you obliged to tell other people how you voted?
After an election, which party forms the government?
Who is your Member of Parliament?
What are the three levels of government?
What is the role of the courts in Canada?
In Canada, are you allowed to question the police about their service or conduct?
Name two Canadian symbols.
What provinces are sometimes referred to as the Atlantic Provinces?
What is the capital of the province or territory that you live in?
The citizenship guide can be found online here.
An online in-depth practice citizenship test can be found here: http://www.yourlibrary.ca/citizenship/
