Who is General Sir Arthur Currie?
Quick answer: Canada's greatest soldier in the First World War. In our practice tests 72% of 95 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “A military leader of the Métis in the 19th century”.
Why is this the correct answer?
General Sir Arthur Currie was Canada's greatest soldier in WWI. He led the Canadian Corps to victory at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, earning a reputation for tactical brilliance.
Study Tip
General Sir Arthur Currie is a figure closely associated with Canada's military history during a significant global conflict. He played a key role in Canada's involvement in a major war.
What should you know about this topic?
General Sir Arthur Currie was the commander of the Canadian Corps during the First World War. Discover Canada calls him Canada's greatest soldier in the First World War. He was born in Ontario, worked as a teacher and businessman in British Columbia, and served in the militia before the war.
In 1917, Currie became the first Canadian-born commander of the Canadian Corps, which until then had been led by British generals. He was known for careful planning, training and reconnaissance, which helped reduce casualties and win battles. He helped plan the successful attack at Vimy Ridge in April 1917 and then led the Canadians at Hill 70 and Passchendaele. During the last hundred days of the war in 1918, the Canadian Corps under Currie played a major part in breaking through German lines, including at the Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918.
More than 600,000 Canadians served in the First World War out of a population of about eight million, and more than 60,000 were killed. The war helped build Canada's sense of nationhood. This topic connects to test questions about Vimy Ridge, Remembrance Day on November 11, and other Canadian heroes such as Sam Steele and Louis Riel. Remember the three key facts about Currie: Canadian-born, commander of the Canadian Corps, and the First World War. After the war, he became principal of McGill University in Montreal.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- A great frontier hero: This describes Sir Sam Steele, a North-West Mounted Policeman and soldier.
- An explorer of western Canada: This could describe explorers like David Thompson, not Currie.
- A military leader of the Métis in the 19th century: This describes Louis Riel or Gabriel Dumont, not Arthur Currie.
What is the most common mistake?
Learners sometimes mix up Currie with Sam Steele or Louis Riel because all three are listed as historical figures. Currie is the First World War general.
How can you remember the answer?
Currie led Canada "currently" in charge in 1917: the first Canadian-born commander of the Canadian Corps.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
72% of 95 practice answers from about 69 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "A military leader of the Métis in the 19th century", chosen 18% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 48th hardest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's History chapter is 68% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canada's History questions.
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Test yourself with questions from Canada's History. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's History section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 61 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.