Life in the UK Test full exam 1
The real conditions: 24 questions, 45 minutes on the clock, no explanations until you finish. 18 correct to pass.
Free to read, always
All 24 questions and answers
Every question here was checked by hand against Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition). How we check
1.Who led the scientists who were first to split the atom?
- ASir Frank Whittle
- BErnest Rutherford
- CAlexander Fleming
- DFrancis Crick
First to split the atom were scientists under New-Zealand-born Ernest Rutherford, at Manchester and later Cambridge. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
2.Who gave instructions to local leaders in Ireland?
- AThe Lord Lieutenants in Dublin
- BThe Archbishop of Canterbury
- CThe Pope
- DThe English Parliament directly
Local leaders in Ireland were expected to follow the instructions of the Lord Lieutenants in Dublin. (Ireland under Elizabeth I and James I)
3.Which TWO methods did the suffragettes use?
Choose two
- APetitioning the monarch
- BStanding for Parliament
- CChaining themselves to railings
- DGoing on hunger strike
The suffragettes used civil disobedience, chained themselves to railings, smashed windows and committed arson, and many went on hunger strike. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)
4.What is a local ‘surgery’?
- AA committee of the House of Commons
- BA medical service provided by the local authority
- CA meeting of the local party branch
- DA session where constituents can talk to their representative in person
Local surgeries are held regularly by many MPs, MSPs and Assembly members, so constituents can talk to them face to face. (The Speaker and elections)
5.During whose reign was Wales formally united with England?
- AEdward I
- BElizabeth I
- CHenry VIII
- DHenry VII
Wales became formally united with England during the reign of Henry VIII by the Act for the Government of Wales. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
6.Which of these is an example of civil law?
- AHousing law
- BCarrying a weapon
- CRacial crime
- DSelling drugs
Repairs, eviction and similar landlord and tenant disputes fall under housing law. (Criminal and civil law)
7.What did the 1847 law limit for women and children?
- AThe industries they could work in
- BTheir wages
- CTheir working hours, to 10 per day
- DThe age at which they could start work
A legal cap of 10 hours a day on the work of women and children arrived in 1847. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)
8.What are peers whose title cannot be inherited by their children called?
- ACrossbench peers
- BLords Spiritual
- CLife peers
- DHereditary peers
Nomination of peers for their lifetime alone — life peers — has been the Prime Minister's power since 1958. (The House of Commons and the House of Lords)
9.Who led the first Roman invasion of Britain?
- ABoudicca
- BJulius Caesar
- CThe Emperor Claudius
- DThe Emperor Hadrian
Julius Caesar led a Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC, which was unsuccessful. (The Romans)
10.What will happen if you are arrested and taken to a police station?
- AYou will be told the reason for your arrest and be able to seek legal advice
- BYou will be charged before you may speak to anyone
- CYou will be held for 48 hours before any questioning
- DYou must answer every question put to you at once
On arrest at a station you must be told why, and may seek legal advice. (The police and their duties)
11.What title was Oliver Cromwell given?
- APrime Minister
- BLord Chancellor
- CLord Protector
- DLord Lieutenant
Lord Protector was Oliver Cromwell's title, and he held it until he died in 1658. (Cromwell and the English republic)
12.Where did St Augustine spread Christianity?
- AIn the north of Britain
- BIn Scotland
- CIn the south of Britain
- DIn Ireland
St Augustine led missionaries from Rome and spread Christianity in the south. (The Anglo-Saxons)
13.Which economist published influential new theories between the wars?
- ADavid Hume
- BAdam Smith
- CJohn Maynard Keynes
- DWilliam Beveridge
The economist John Maynard Keynes published influential new theories of economics. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
14.By what other name is the King James Version known?
- AThe Authorised Version
- BThe Great Bible
- CThe Protestant Bible
- DThe Common Version
A new translation of the Bible into English during James I's reign is known as the King James Version or the Authorised Version. (Exploration, Shakespeare and James I)
15.Which organisation campaigns on human rights?
- ALiberty
- BGreenpeace
- CThe National Trust
- DThe CBI
Greenpeace campaigns on the environment and Liberty campaigns on human rights. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)
16.Which king was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field?
- AEdward I
- BHenry V
- CHenry VII
- DRichard III
King Richard III of the House of York was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
17.Who chairs debates in the House of Commons?
- AThe Speaker
- BThe Leader of the House
- CThe Prime Minister
- DThe Lord Chancellor
Debates in the House of Commons are chaired by the Speaker, who is the chief officer of the House of Commons. (The Speaker and elections)
18.What are MPs who represent none of the main parties called?
- ACrossbenchers
- BIndependents
- CBackbenchers
- DShadow ministers
MPs who do not represent any of the main political parties are called independents. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)
19.Who was the co-discoverer of insulin?
- AAlexander Fleming
- BSir Ian Wilmut
- CSir Robert Edwards
- DJohn Macleod
The Scottish physician John Macleod was the co-discoverer of insulin, used to treat diabetes. (British inventions of the 20th century)
20.Where does the parliament that governs the UK sit?
- AWestminster
- BStormont
- CHolyrood
- DCardiff Bay
The UK is governed by the parliament sitting in Westminster. (The countries of the UK)
21.Which is the UK’s most popular sport?
- ACricket
- BTennis
- CRugby
- DFootball
Most popular of British sports is football, its first professional clubs dating from the late 19th century. (Sport)
22.What was the Glorious Revolution of 1688?
- AScotland and England united their parliaments
- BParliament abolished the monarchy
- CCharles II was restored to the throne
- DWilliam of Orange became king without any fighting in England
In 1688 important Protestants in England asked William of Orange to invade England and proclaim himself king. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)
23.Who was elected to the House of Commons in the Middle Ages?
- AAll adult men living in the towns and cities
- BThe nobility, great landowners and bishops
- CThe clergy, sitting as a separate estate
- DKnights and wealthy people from towns and cities
Election to the Commons went to knights and to wealthy townspeople. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
24.Which alliance was Britain part of in the First World War?
- AThe Triple Alliance
- BThe Central Powers
- CThe Axis powers
- DThe Allied Powers
Britain was part of the Allied Powers, which included France, Russia, Japan, Belgium and Serbia. (The First World War)