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Life in the UK Test questions and answers

Every question in the bank, with the answer and an explanation. Written from Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition). Browsing is free and needs no account. But you will learn far more by taking a timed test than by reading answers.

1. 501.What does Easter Sunday mark?

   • AThe death of Jesus Christ upon the cross
   • BThe end of the 40 days of Lent
   • CThe birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem
   • DThe rising of Jesus Christ from the dead

   Christmas Day, 25 December, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is a public holiday. (Christian festivals)

2. 502.Which TWO Easter days are public holidays?

   Choose two

   • AEaster Monday
   • BEaster Sunday
   • CGood Friday
   • DShrove Tuesday

   Good Friday marks Christ's death and Easter Sunday his rising from the dead. (Christian festivals)

3. 503.How many days before Easter is Lent?

   • A50
   • B40
   • C20
   • D30

   The 40 days before Easter are known as Lent. (Christian festivals)

4. 504.What is the day before Lent starts called?

   • AGood Friday
   • BAsh Wednesday
   • CPalm Sunday
   • DShrove Tuesday

   The day before Lent starts is called Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. (Christian festivals)

5. 505.By what other name is Shrove Tuesday known?

   • ABoxing Day
   • BAsh Wednesday
   • CPancake Day
   • DMothering Sunday

   The day before Lent starts is called Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. (Christian festivals)

6. 506.On which day does Lent begin?

   • AGood Friday
   • BShrove Tuesday
   • CPalm Sunday
   • DAsh Wednesday

   Ash Wednesday opens Lent, Christians receiving an ash cross on the forehead for death and sorrow for sin. (Christian festivals)

7. 507.What do chocolate Easter eggs symbolise?

   • AThe gifts of the Magi
   • BSorrow for sin
   • CThe end of fasting
   • DNew life

   Chocolate Easter eggs are often given as presents at Easter as a symbol of new life. (Christian festivals)

8. 508.Which festival is often called the Festival of Lights?

   • ADiwali
   • BEid al-Fitr
   • CVaisakhi
   • DHannukah

   Diwali normally falls in October or November and lasts for five days. (Other religious festivals)

9. 509.When does Diwali normally fall?

   • AOn 14 April
   • BIn October or November
   • CIn November or December
   • DIn March or April

   Diwali normally falls in October or November and lasts for five days. (Other religious festivals)

10. 510.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)

11. 511.Which TWO faiths celebrate Diwali?

    Choose two

    • ASikhs
    • BMuslims
    • CHindus
    • DJews

    Diwali is often called the Festival of Lights and is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs. (Other religious festivals)

12. 512.In which city is there a famous celebration of Diwali?

    • ABirmingham
    • BLeicester
    • CBradford
    • DLondon

    There is a famous celebration of Diwali in Leicester. (Other religious festivals)

13. 513.What does Hannukah remember?

    • AThe founding of the Khalsa
    • BThe end of a month of fasting
    • CThe Jews’ struggle for religious freedom
    • DThe victory of good over evil

    Hannukah remembers the Jews' struggle for religious freedom. (Other religious festivals)

14. 514.For how many days is Hannukah celebrated?

    • AEight
    • BFive
    • CForty
    • DThree

    Hannukah is in November or December and is celebrated for eight days. (Other religious festivals)

15. 515.What is the stand of eight candles used at Hannukah called?

    • AA khalsa
    • BA menorah
    • CA gurdwara
    • DA shamash

    During Hannukah a candle is lit each day on a stand of eight candles called a menorah. (Other religious festivals)

16. 516.What does Eid al-Fitr celebrate?

    • AThe founding of the Khalsa
    • BThe victory of good over evil
    • CThe willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son
    • DThe end of Ramadan

    Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge. (Other religious festivals)

17. 517.For how long do Muslims fast during Ramadan?

    • AEight days
    • BForty days
    • CA month
    • DFive days

    A month of Muslim fasting, Ramadan, is brought to a close by Eid al-Fitr. (Other religious festivals)

18. 518.What does Eid ul Adha remember?

    • AThe birth of the prophet
    • BThat the prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son
    • CThe end of Ramadan
    • DThe Jews’ struggle for religious freedom

    Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son at God's command is what Eid ul Adha recalls. (Other religious festivals)

19. 519.What does Vaisakhi celebrate?

    • AThe founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa
    • BThe victory of good over evil
    • CThe Jewish struggle for religious freedom
    • DThe end of Ramadan

    Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge. (Other religious festivals)

20. 520.On what date is Vaisakhi celebrated?

    • A5 November
    • B31 October
    • C14 April
    • D1 March

    Vaisakhi is celebrated on 14 April each year with parades, dancing and singing. (Other religious festivals)

21. 521.What is 31 December called in Scotland?

    • AHogmanay
    • BTwelfth Night
    • CSt Andrew’s Night
    • DBurns Night

    Hogmanay is Scotland's name for 31 December, and 2 January is a public holiday there too. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

22. 522.Which extra day is a public holiday in Scotland at New Year?

    • A30 December
    • B2 January
    • C3 January
    • D31 December

    Hogmanay is Scotland's name for 31 December, and 2 January is a public holiday there too. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

23. 523.On what date is Valentine’s Day?

    • A14 February
    • B14 April
    • C1 April
    • D31 October

    Valentine's Day is 14 February, when lovers exchange cards and gifts. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

24. 524.On what date is April Fool’s Day?

    • A14 February
    • B1 April
    • C5 November
    • D1 May

    April Fool's Day is 1 April, when people play jokes on each other until midday. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

25. 525.Until what time do people play jokes on April Fool’s Day?

    • ASunset
    • BThere is no time limit
    • CMidday
    • DMidnight

    April Fool's Day is 1 April, when people play jokes on each other until midday. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

26. 526.When is Mothering Sunday?

    • AThe first Sunday in the month of May
    • BThe third Sunday in the month of June
    • CThe Sunday three weeks before Easter
    • DThe Sunday immediately following Easter

    Mothering Sunday, or Mother's Day, is the Sunday three weeks before Easter. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

27. 527.When is Father’s Day?

    • AThe third Sunday in June
    • BThe first Sunday in June
    • CThe last Sunday in June
    • DThe Sunday three weeks before Easter

    Father's Day is the third Sunday in June. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

28. 528.On what date is Halloween?

    • A31 October
    • B1 November
    • C5 November
    • D11 November

    Halloween, 31 October, is an ancient festival with roots in the pagan festival to mark the beginning of winter. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

29. 529.What are Halloween’s roots?

    • AA Christian festival honouring the dead
    • BA pagan festival to mark the beginning of winter
    • CA Celtic harvest festival held in autumn
    • DA Roman festival of light and lanterns

    Halloween, 31 October, is an ancient festival with roots in the pagan festival to mark the beginning of winter. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

30. 530.On what date is Bonfire Night?

    • A11 November
    • B5 November
    • C31 October
    • D1 November

    Bonfire Night is 5 November, when people in Great Britain set off fireworks. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

31. 531.What is remembered on Bonfire Night, 5 November?

    • AThe end of the First World War in November 1918
    • BThe defeat of the Spanish Armada sent against England
    • CThe coronation of Queen Elizabeth I at Westminster
    • DA failed plot by Guy Fawkes to kill the Protestant king in 1605

    In 1605 Guy Fawkes and fellow Catholics planned to bomb the Houses of Parliament and kill the Protestant king, and failed — the origin of Bonfire Night. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

32. 532.On what date is Remembrance Day?

    • A11 November
    • B1 January
    • C31 October
    • D5 November

    Those who died fighting for the UK and its allies are commemorated on 11 November, Remembrance Day. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

33. 533.What flower do people wear on Remembrance Day?

    • AThe thistle
    • BThe daffodil
    • CThe poppy
    • DThe rose

    The poppy worn is the red flower of First World War battlefields. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

34. 534.How long is the silence at 11.00 am on Remembrance Day?

    • AAn eleven-minute silence
    • BA five-minute silence
    • CA one-minute silence
    • DA two-minute silence

    Whitehall's Cenotaph receives wreaths, and a two-minute silence falls at 11.00 am. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

35. 535.Where are wreaths laid on Remembrance Day?

    • AAt the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London
    • BAt Westminster Abbey
    • CAt the Houses of Parliament
    • DAt the Tower of London

    In 1605 Guy Fawkes and fellow Catholics planned to bomb the Houses of Parliament and kill the Protestant king, and failed — the origin of Bonfire Night. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

36. 536.When do bank holidays fall?

    • AOnly during the months of December and January
    • BOnly at Easter and at Christmas in each year
    • CAt the beginning of May, in late May or early June, and in August
    • DOn each of the four patron saints’ days in turn

    In 1605 Guy Fawkes and fellow Catholics planned to bomb the Houses of Parliament and kill the Protestant king, and failed — the origin of Bonfire Night. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

37. 537.Which additional public holiday does Northern Ireland have in July?

    • AThe anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne
    • BOrange Day
    • CThe anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement
    • DSt Patrick’s Day

    In 1605 Guy Fawkes and fellow Catholics planned to bomb the Houses of Parliament and kill the Protestant king, and failed — the origin of Bonfire Night. (Other festivals and bank holidays)

38. 538.How many times has the UK hosted the Olympic Games?

    • AThree
    • BOnce
    • CFour
    • DTwo

    Three Olympic Games have been hosted here: 1908, then 1948, then 2012. (Sport)

39. 539.In which years has the UK hosted the Olympic Games?

    • A1908, 1948 and 2016
    • B1912, 1948 and 2012
    • C1908, 1948 and 2012
    • D1948, 1966 and 2012

    Three Olympic Games have been hosted here: 1908, then 1948, then 2012. (Sport)

40. 540.Where was the main site for the 2012 Olympic Games?

    • AManchester
    • BCardiff
    • CWembley, north London
    • DStratford, East London

    Stratford in East London held the main site of the 2012 Games. (Sport)

41. 541.Where did the British team finish in the 2012 Olympic medal table?

    • AFifth
    • BSecond
    • CThird
    • DFirst

    The British team finished third in the medal table at the 2012 Olympic Games. (Sport)

42. 542.Whose work at Stoke Mandeville hospital led to the Paralympics?

    • ASir Roger Bannister
    • BDame Tanni Grey-Thompson
    • CDr Sir Ludwig Guttman
    • DFlorence Nightingale

    Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman, a German refugee working at Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire, is where the Paralympics began. (Sport)

43. 543.Which is the UK’s most popular sport?

    • ACricket
    • BTennis
    • CRugby
    • DFootball

    Many famous sports began in Britain, including cricket, football, lawn tennis, golf and rugby. (Sport)

44. 544.What is the most famous cricket competition?

    • AThe Open Championship
    • BThe Ashes
    • CThe Super League
    • DThe Six Nations Championship

    The most famous cricket competition is the Ashes, a series of Test matches played between England and Australia. (Sport)

45. 545.Between which two countries is the Ashes played?

    • AEngland and Australia
    • BEngland and India
    • CEngland and the West Indies
    • DEngland and South Africa

    The most famous cricket competition is the Ashes, a series of Test matches played between England and Australia. (Sport)

46. 546.When was England’s only international football tournament victory?

    • AThe World Cup of 1966
    • BThe World Cup of 1948
    • CThe European Championship of 1996
    • DThe World Cup of 2012

    Bobby Moore captained the English football team that won the World Cup in 1966. (Sport)

47. 547.Who captained the English football team that won the World Cup in 1966?

    • ASir Andy Murray
    • BBobby Moore
    • CSir Jackie Stewart
    • DSir Ian Botham

    Bobby Moore captained the English football team that won the World Cup in 1966. (Sport)

48. 548.Which are the two types of rugby?

    • ATest and county
    • BUnion and league
    • CLeague and super
    • DUnion and premier

    Rugby originated in England in the early 19th century and has two types with different rules, union and league. (Sport)

49. 549.Which countries compete in the Six Nations Championship?

    • AEngland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy
    • BEngland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia and New Zealand
    • CEngland, Wales, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal
    • DEngland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, France and Italy

    Cricket began in England, and a game may run five days and still be drawn. (Sport)

50. 550.Where is the Grand National held?

    • ANewmarket in Suffolk
    • BAintree near Liverpool
    • CAyr in Scotland
    • DRoyal Ascot

    Three famous races: Royal Ascot; Ayr's Scottish Grand National; and Aintree's Grand National, near Liverpool. (Sport)