How many people live in Quebec, mostly along or near the St. Lawrence River?

Discover Canada records this in one direct sentence. The guide writes: Nearly eight million people live in Quebec, the vast majority along or near the St. Lawrence River. More than three-quarters speak French as their first language. The number the test wants is therefore nearly eight million.

Three commitments in one sentence. Discover Canada commits Quebec's population to THREE specific facts: (1) nearly eight million people; (2) vast majority along or near the St. Lawrence River; and (3) more than three-quarters speak French as their first language. So Quebec's population is large in absolute numbers, geographically clustered along the river, and predominantly French-speaking.

The St. Lawrence shapes Quebec's geography. Discover Canada commits the river to one specific population pattern: vast majority of Quebecers along or near the St. Lawrence. So Quebec's population is concentrated in the river valley running from Montreal to Quebec City and beyond — making the St. Lawrence the spine of the province's population pattern.

Quebec is Canada's second-largest province by population. Discover Canada writes that "the resources of the Canadian Shield have helped Quebec to develop important industries, including forestry, energy and mining. Quebec is Canada's main producer of pulp and paper. The province's huge supply of fresh water has made it Canada's largest producer of hydro-electricity. Quebecers are leaders in cutting-edge industries such as pharmaceuticals and aeronautics." So the eight-million-strong Quebec population powers diverse industries — from traditional resource extraction (forestry, mining, pulp and paper, hydro-electricity) to cutting-edge industries (pharmaceuticals, aeronautics). The guide also writes that "Quebec films, music, literary works and food have international stature, especially in La Francophonie." Quebec's population places it second after Ontario (more than 12 million) in Canada's population ranking. The Quebecois were recognised by the House of Commons in 2006 as a nation within a united Canada. So when the test asks Quebec's population, the source-precise answer is nearly eight million.

The question is testing whether new citizens know Quebec's population. Discover Canada commits to one figure: nearly eight million. The right test answer matches that.

The wrong answer choices each pick a different number. "5 million" is too low. "6 million" is also too low. "10 million" is too high — Quebec has nearly eight, not ten. Only 8 million — the source's exact named figure — matches.