Canadian Citizenship Practice Test 2025

What drove the first collaborative economy between the French and Aboriginal people in North America?

1. Demand for silk

2. Demand for spices

3. Demand for beaver pelts in Europe

4. Demand for corn

The correct answer is: Demand for beaver pelts in Europe

During the early colonial period in North America, the French and Aboriginal people established a mutually beneficial trade relationship. The French were in high demand for luxurious beaver pelts to make hats and fur coats, while the Aboriginal people valued trade goods such as tools, weapons, and textiles. This demand for beaver pelts in Europe drove the first collaborative economy between the two groups, as it allowed them to exchange goods and foster a relationship that was based on trade and mutual benefit. Demand for silk (A), spices (B), and corn (D) did not play a significant role in this particular trade relationship between the French and Aboriginal people. Silk and spices were in greater demand in Asia, and corn was a staple food source for the Aboriginal people and not a trade commodity at the time. Therefore, the correct answer is C, demand for beaver pelts in Europe.