Ottawa is an important city in North America that serves as the national capital of which country?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of a specific city country capital relationship. Ottawa is sometimes less famous internationally than other cities in the same country, such as Toronto or Vancouver, but it holds the important status of national capital. Knowing that Ottawa is the capital of Canada is essential for geography exams, as it illustrates that the largest or most famous city is not always the capital.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The city given is Ottawa.
The question asks you to identify the country for which Ottawa is the national capital.
The options are France, Norway, Canada, and Greece.
All options are real countries, but only one uses Ottawa as its capital city.

Concept / Approach:
The central concept is that Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the province of Ontario along the Ottawa River and hosts the Parliament of Canada, official residences, and federal government offices. France has Paris as its capital, Norway has Oslo, and Greece has Athens. None of these countries uses Ottawa as its capital city. By matching Ottawa with Canada, you demonstrate accurate knowledge of North American capitals.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognize that the question is asking for the country that has Ottawa as its capital.Step 2: Recall that Canada is the country where Ottawa serves as the national capital.Step 3: Link each incorrect option to its true capital: France with Paris, Norway with Oslo, and Greece with Athens.Step 4: Eliminate France, Norway, and Greece because their capitals are not Ottawa.Step 5: Choose Canada as the correct answer since it is the only country that uses Ottawa as its capital.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consulting a map of North America or a world atlas will show Canada with Ottawa marked as its capital. Official Canadian government websites and educational materials describe Ottawa as the seat of federal institutions, including the Parliament and Supreme Court. In contrast, maps of Europe show Paris for France, Oslo for Norway, and Athens for Greece. None of these references suggests that Ottawa is associated with European capitals. This confirms that Ottawa is the capital of Canada.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
France's capital is Paris, known worldwide for landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower. Norway's capital is Oslo, situated in Scandinavia. Greece's capital is Athens, famous for ancient monuments like the Acropolis. None of these countries has Ottawa as a capital city, so they are incorrect choices for this question. Only Canada has Ottawa as its national capital, making Canada the correct answer.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to assume that a country's most internationally famous city is always the capital. For Canada, many people think of Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal first and may forget that Ottawa is the seat of the federal government. Another pitfall is to mix up capitals when quickly scanning names in a multiple choice list. To avoid these issues, remember specific examples where the capital is not the largest city, such as Canada with Ottawa, Australia with Canberra, and the United States with Washington, D.C. Recognizing these patterns helps you make more confident choices in exams.

Final Answer:
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada.