Life in the UK Test full exam 7
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 appoints the local chief constable?
- AThe local council
- BThe Home Secretary
- CThe Chief Inspector of Constabulary
- DThe Police and Crime Commissioner
Police and Crime Commissioners appoint the local Chief Constable. (The police and their duties)
2.Which TWO are roles of the shadow cabinet?
Choose two
- AAppointing life peers
- BPutting forward alternative policies
- CChallenging the government
- DApproving the budget
The role of the shadow cabinet is to challenge the government and put forward alternative policies. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)
3.Which of these is a fundamental principle of British life?
- AMandatory voting
- BA single state religion
- CCompulsory military service
- DThe rule of law
The fundamental principles of British life include democracy and the rule of law. (The fundamental principles of British life)
4.For how many days does Diwali last?
- AThree
- BFive
- COne
- DEight
Diwali normally falls in October or November and lasts for five days. (Other religious festivals)
5.What is the judiciary?
- ALocal government
- BThe courts
- CThe civil service
- DThe police
The main parts of government in the UK are the monarchy, Parliament, the Prime Minister, the cabinet, the judiciary, the police, the civil service and local government. (The British constitution)
6.Whose ideas about human nature continue to influence philosophers?
- ADavid Hume
- BJames Watt
- CAdam Smith
- DSir Isaac Newton
David Hume's ideas about human nature continue to influence philosophers. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)
7.What did the Bessemer process allow?
- AThe generation of electricity
- BThe spinning of cotton by machine
- CThe mass production of steel
- DThe refining of coal gas
Steel mass-produced by the Bessemer process gave rise to shipbuilding and to the railways. (The Industrial Revolution)
8.In which year was the structure of the DNA molecule discovered?
- A1953
- B1928
- C1996
- D1969
DNA's structure came to light in 1953, from work at universities in London and Cambridge. (British inventions of the 20th century)
9.In which year was the Bill of Rights?
- A1688
- B1689
- C1679
- D1707
Parliament's rights, and the limits on the king, were set out in the 1689 Bill of Rights. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)
10.About how long ago did Britain become permanently separated from the continent?
- AAbout 4,000 years ago
- BAbout 2,000 years ago
- CAbout 10,000 years ago
- DAbout 6,000 years ago
About 10,000 years ago the Channel cut Britain off from the continent for good. (Early Britain)
11.What power does the UK government have over the devolved assemblies?
- AIt can suspend them
- BIt can appoint their members
- CIt has no power over them
- DIt can dissolve them permanently
The UK government has the power to suspend all devolved assemblies. (Devolved administrations)
12.Who wrote The Canterbury Tales?
- AGeoffrey Chaucer
- BWilliam Caxton
- CJohn Barbour
- DWilliam Shakespeare
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, a collection of poems about a group of people going to Canterbury on a pilgrimage. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
13.What is a constitution?
- AA written list of citizens’ rights only
- BA set of principles by which a country is governed
- CThe body of laws passed by Parliament
- DThe rules governing elections
A country is governed by a set of principles, and that set is its constitution. (The British constitution)
14.Where is the Eden Project?
- ACornwall
- BNorth Wales
- CDevon
- DThe Lake District
Cornwall, in England's south west, is where the Eden Project stands. (Landmarks and places of interest)
15.Why was George I chosen as king in 1714?
- AHe was elected by Parliament from several candidates
- BHe was Queen Anne’s nearest Protestant relative
- CHe was Charles II’s legitimate heir
- DHe was the son of Queen Anne
When Queen Anne died in 1714 Parliament chose George I to be the next king because he was her nearest Protestant relative. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)
16.What will you NOT be asked to remember?
- ADates of birth or death
- BThe date of the Battle of Hastings
- CThe capital cities of the UK
- DThe names of the patron saints
You will not need to remember dates of birth or death. (Taking the Life in the UK test)
17.How many Houses, called Estates, did the Scottish Parliament have?
- ATwo
- BThree
- CFour
- DOne
The Scottish Parliament had three Houses called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergy. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
18.Where must a resident’s vehicle be registered?
- AThe local authority for the area you live in
- BHM Revenue & Customs, with your tax record
- CThe Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
- DThe Home Office, with your immigration record
Residents must register a car or motor cycle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. (Taxation, driving and your role in the community)
19.Which bridge designed by Brunel spans the Avon Gorge?
- AThe Clifton Suspension Bridge
- BThe Forth Bridge
- CThe Menai Bridge
- DTower Bridge
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an engineer who built tunnels, bridges, railway lines and ships. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)
20.What was Stonehenge probably used for?
- AA royal burial ground
- BA trading post
- CSeasonal ceremonies
- DA hill fort
Stonehenge in Wiltshire was probably a special gathering place for seasonal ceremonies. (Early Britain)
21.What do National Insurance Contributions pay for?
- AEducation, policing and the fire service
- BLocal authority services such as refuse collection
- CState benefits and services such as the state pension and the NHS
- DRoads, the armed forces and foreign affairs
State benefits and services — the NHS, the state retirement pension — are funded from National Insurance Contributions. (Taxation, driving and your role in the community)
22.Since which year has the Man Booker Prize for Fiction been awarded?
- A1927
- B1968
- C1984
- D1952
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction has been awarded since 1968. (Arts, culture and leisure)
23.Who became king after the Battle of Bosworth Field?
- ARichard III
- BHenry VIII
- CEdward VI
- DHenry VII
Henry Tudor, leader of the House of Lancaster, became King Henry VII. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
24.Which member of Parliament played an important part in abolishing the slave trade?
- AWilliam Wilberforce
- BWilliam Beveridge
- CWilliam Wordsworth
- DSir Robert Walpole
William Wilberforce was an evangelical Christian and a member of Parliament who played an important part in changing the law. (The slave trade and its abolition)