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Life in the UK Test

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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. 651.Which TWO are responsibilities of an MP?

    Choose two

    • AAppointing government ministers
    • BHelping to create new laws
    • CRepresenting everyone in their constituency
    • DNominating life peers

    The UK is divided into parliamentary constituencies, and voters in each elect their member of Parliament in a General Election. (The House of Commons and the House of Lords)

  2. 652.What is the House of Lords’ role in relation to laws?

    • AIt has no role in making laws
    • BIt sets the legislative timetable
    • CIt must approve every law before the Commons votes
    • DIt can suggest amendments and checks laws passed by the Commons

    The House of Lords can suggest amendments or propose new laws and checks laws passed by the House of Commons. (The House of Commons and the House of Lords)

  3. 653.How often does the House of Commons use its powers to overrule the Lords?

    • AOnly during a coalition
    • BNever
    • CNot often
    • DAt every session

    Members of the House of Lords are known as peers and are not elected by the people. (The House of Commons and the House of Lords)

  4. 654.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)

  5. 655.Is the Speaker a member of a political party?

    • AYes, always the governing party
    • BNo, the Speaker is neutral
    • COnly in the House of Lords
    • DYes, but only in constituency matters

    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)

  6. 656.How is the Speaker chosen?

    • ABy the Prime Minister
    • BBy the House of Lords
    • CBy the monarch
    • DBy other MPs in a secret ballot

    The Speaker is chosen by other MPs in a secret ballot. (The Speaker and elections)

  7. 657.Which TWO does the Speaker do?

    Choose two

    • AKeep order during political debates
    • BChoose the cabinet
    • CRepresent Parliament on ceremonial occasions
    • DVote on every division

    The Speaker keeps order during political debates and makes sure the rules are followed. (The Speaker and elections)

  8. 658.How often must a General Election be held?

    • AEvery year
    • BAt least every five years
    • CAt least every three years
    • DAt least every four years

    A General Election, at which MPs are chosen, comes at least once every five years. (The Speaker and elections)

  9. 659.What is a by-election?

    • AA fresh election in a constituency where the MP has died or resigned
    • BA local council election
    • CAn election held in a devolved administration
    • DA second round of voting where no candidate has a majority

    If an MP dies or resigns there will be a fresh election in his or her constituency, called a by-election. (The Speaker and elections)

  10. 660.What is the UK electoral system for MPs called?

    • AFirst past the post
    • BThe alternative vote
    • CProportional representation
    • DThe single transferable vote

    MPs are elected through a system called first past the post. (The Speaker and elections)

  11. 661.Under first past the post, who is elected in each constituency?

    • AThe candidate chosen by the party leader
    • BThe candidate who gets the most votes
    • CThe two candidates with the most votes
    • DThe candidate who gets more than half the votes

    Under first past the post the candidate who gets the most votes in each constituency is elected. (The Speaker and elections)

  12. 662.What happens if no party wins a majority at a General Election?

    • AA second election is held immediately
    • BThe largest party governs automatically
    • CThe monarch chooses the government
    • DTwo parties may join together to form a coalition

    Time to debate subjects of its own choosing is guaranteed to the opposition by the Speaker. (The Speaker and elections)

  13. 663.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)

  14. 664.Who is the Prime Minister?

    • AThe leader of the political party in power
    • BThe leader of the largest party in the House of Lords
    • CThe MP with the longest service
    • DThe Speaker of the House of Commons

    The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party in power. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  15. 665.What is the official home of the Prime Minister?

    • AThe Palace of Westminster
    • B10 Downing Street
    • CBuckingham Palace
    • DChequers

    10 Downing Street, in central London, is the Prime Minister's official home. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  16. 666.What is the Prime Minister’s country house called?

    • ASandringham
    • B10 Downing Street
    • CChequers
    • DBalmoral

    The Prime Minister has a country house outside London called Chequers. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  17. 667.About how many senior MPs does the Prime Minister appoint as ministers in charge of departments?

    • AAbout 10
    • BAbout 20
    • CAbout 100
    • DAbout 50

    Around 20 senior MPs are made departmental ministers by the Prime Minister. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  18. 668.Who is responsible for the economy?

    • AThe Foreign Secretary
    • BThe Home Secretary
    • CThe Prime Minister
    • DThe Chancellor of the Exchequer

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the economy. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  19. 669.Who is responsible for crime, policing and immigration?

    • AThe Chancellor of the Exchequer
    • BThe Home Secretary
    • CThe Foreign Secretary
    • DThe Lord Chancellor

    The Home Secretary is responsible for crime, policing and immigration. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  20. 670.Who is responsible for managing relationships with foreign countries?

    • AThe Chancellor of the Exchequer
    • BThe Home Secretary
    • CThe Prime Minister
    • DThe Foreign Secretary

    The Foreign Secretary is responsible for managing relationships with foreign countries. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  21. 671.What are other ministers in charge of departments called?

    • AParliamentary Under-Secretaries
    • BShadow ministers
    • CMinisters of State
    • DSecretaries of State

    Other ministers are called Secretaries of State and are responsible for subjects such as education, health and defence. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  22. 672.How often does the cabinet usually meet?

    • AWeekly
    • BMonthly
    • CDaily
    • DOnce a session

    Meeting weekly as a committee, the cabinet takes the important decisions on government policy. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  23. 673.Which party is called the opposition?

    • AThe second-largest party in the House of Commons
    • BThe party with the fewest MPs
    • CThe largest party in the House of Lords
    • DAny party not in government

    The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party in power. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  24. 674.What takes place every week while Parliament is sitting?

    • AThe State Opening of Parliament
    • BA cabinet meeting in public
    • CPrime Minister’s Questions
    • DA vote of confidence

    Prime Minister's Questions takes place every week while Parliament is sitting. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  25. 675.What is the shadow cabinet?

    • AA select committee of the House of Lords
    • BSenior opposition MPs appointed to challenge the government
    • CThe junior ministers serving in each department
    • DThe group of independent MPs in the Commons

    The leader of the opposition appoints senior opposition MPs to be shadow ministers, who form the shadow cabinet. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  26. 676.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)

  27. 677.From what age can a person stand for election as an MP?

    • A16
    • B25
    • C21
    • D18

    Anyone aged 18 or over can stand for election as an MP. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  28. 678.Which of these is a major political party in the UK?

    • AThe CBI
    • BGreenpeace
    • CThe Liberal Democrats
    • DLiberty

    The major political parties are the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and parties representing Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish interests. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  29. 679.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)

  30. 680.What do pressure and lobby groups do?

    • AStand candidates at General Elections
    • BAppoint life peers
    • CDeliver public services
    • DTry to influence government policy

    Pressure and lobby groups are organisations which try to influence government policy. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  31. 681.What does the CBI represent?

    • AEnvironmental campaigners
    • BTrade union members
    • CHuman rights campaigners
    • DThe views of British business

    The CBI, the Confederation of British Industry, represents the views of British business. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  32. 682.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)

  33. 683.Which organisation campaigns on the environment?

    • AThe CBI
    • BThe Appointments Commission
    • CGreenpeace
    • DLiberty

    Greenpeace campaigns on the environment and Liberty campaigns on human rights. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  34. 684.How are civil servants chosen?

    • ABy the monarch
    • BOn merit
    • CBy political appointment
    • DBy election

    Civil servants are accountable to ministers, are chosen on merit and are politically neutral. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  35. 685.Which TWO are core values of the civil service?

    Choose two

    • ALoyalty to the governing party
    • BImpartiality
    • CIntegrity
    • DSeniority

    The core values of the civil service are integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  36. 686.How are local authority services funded?

    • AEntirely by council tax raised locally
    • BBy the devolved administrations of the UK
    • CBy charitable donations and local fundraising
    • DBy funding from central government and by local taxes

    Local authorities are funded by money from central government and by local taxes. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  37. 687.What is the usual role of a mayor appointed by a local authority?

    • ALeader of the largest party
    • BChair of the county council
    • CCeremonial leader of the council
    • DChief executive of the council

    The CBI, the Confederation of British Industry, represents the views of British business. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  38. 688.How many local authorities does London have?

    • A43
    • B23
    • C33
    • D13

    Anyone aged 18 or over can stand for election as an MP. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  39. 689.When are local elections for councillors usually held?

    • AEvery four years in June
    • BIn October every year
    • CEvery five years
    • DIn May every year

    The main political parties hold policy-making conferences every year. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)

  40. 690.Since which year has there been a Welsh Assembly and a Scottish Parliament?

    • A1997
    • B2011
    • C1999
    • D1998

    There has been a Welsh Assembly and a Scottish Parliament since 1999. (Devolved administrations)

  41. 691.In the official handbook, what is the Welsh devolved body called?

    • AThe Welsh Grand Committee
    • BThe National Assembly for Wales
    • CThe Welsh Executive
    • DThe Council of Wales

    In the handbook the Welsh body is the National Assembly for Wales, meeting in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. (Devolved administrations)

  42. 692.How many members does the National Assembly for Wales have?

    • A60
    • B129
    • C108
    • D33

    The National Assembly for Wales has 60 Assembly members, known as AMs. (Devolved administrations)

  43. 693.What are members of the National Assembly for Wales known as?

    • AMLAs
    • BMPs
    • CMSPs
    • DAMs

    The National Assembly for Wales has 60 Assembly members, known as AMs. (Devolved administrations)

  44. 694.How many members does the Scottish Parliament have?

    • A60
    • B108
    • C129
    • D650

    There are 129 members of the Scottish Parliament, known as MSPs, elected by a form of proportional representation. (Devolved administrations)

  45. 695.What are members of the Scottish Parliament known as?

    • AMPs
    • BMSPs
    • CAMs
    • DMLAs

    There are 129 members of the Scottish Parliament, known as MSPs, elected by a form of proportional representation. (Devolved administrations)

  46. 696.Where does the Scottish Parliament sit?

    • ACardiff
    • BGlasgow
    • CBelfast
    • DEdinburgh

    The Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999 and sits in Edinburgh. (Devolved administrations)

  47. 697.How many members does the Northern Ireland Assembly have?

    • A60
    • B129
    • C650
    • D108

    The Northern Ireland Assembly has 108 elected members, known as MLAs, members of the Legislative Assembly. (Devolved administrations)

  48. 698.What are members of the Northern Ireland Assembly known as?

    • AAMs
    • BMPs
    • CMLAs
    • DMSPs

    The Northern Ireland Assembly has 108 elected members, known as MLAs, members of the Legislative Assembly. (Devolved administrations)

  49. 699.Which TWO areas remain under central UK government control?

    Choose two

    • ADefence
    • BForeign affairs
    • CEducation
    • DHealth

    Policy and laws governing defence, foreign affairs, immigration, taxation and social security remain under central UK government control. (Devolved administrations)

  50. 700.Which of these is controlled by the devolved administrations?

    • ASocial security
    • BEducation
    • CImmigration
    • DDefence

    The Scottish Parliament can legislate on civil and criminal law, health, education, planning and additional tax-raising powers. (Devolved administrations)

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