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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. 51.In which year did the Romans successfully invade Britain?

   • A55 BC
   • BAD 410
   • CAD 600
   • DAD 43

   The Emperor Claudius led a new Roman invasion in AD 43. (The Romans)

2. 52.Who was Boudicca?

   • AA Pictish leader in Scotland
   • BAn Anglo-Saxon queen of Northumbria
   • CThe queen of the Iceni who fought the Romans
   • DA Roman emperor who invaded Britain

   Boudicca was the queen of the Iceni in what is now eastern England and fought against the Romans. (The Romans)

3. 53.Where is there a statue of Boudicca?

   • AIn Trafalgar Square
   • BAt the Tower of London
   • CAt Hadrian’s Wall
   • DOn Westminster Bridge in London

   There is a statue of Boudicca on Westminster Bridge in London. (The Romans)

4. 54.Why did the Emperor Hadrian build a wall in the north of England?

   • ATo keep out the Picts
   • BTo protect a trade route
   • CTo mark the edge of the Empire’s farmland
   • DTo defend against Viking raids

   To keep the Picts out, the Emperor Hadrian walled the north of England. (The Romans)

5. 55.Who were the Picts?

   • AA Roman legion stationed in Britain
   • BTribes from northern Europe
   • CEarly Christian missionaries
   • DAncestors of the Scottish people

   The Picts were the ancestors of the Scottish people. (The Romans)

6. 56.Which TWO forts on Hadrian’s Wall can still be seen?

   Choose two

   • AHousesteads
   • BVindolanda
   • CSutton Hoo
   • DMaiden Castle

   Hadrian's Wall included the forts of Housesteads and Vindolanda and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (The Romans)

7. 57.For how long did the Romans remain in Britain?

   • A600 years
   • B400 years
   • C43 years
   • D100 years

   The Romans remained in Britain for 400 years. (The Romans)

8. 58.Which part of Britain did the Romans never conquer?

   • AWales
   • BCornwall
   • CScotland
   • DEastern England

   Areas of what is now Scotland were never conquered by the Romans. (The Romans)

9. 59.When did the first Christian communities appear in Britain?

   • AAfter the Norman Conquest
   • BDuring the Reformation
   • CIn 55 BC
   • DDuring the 3rd and 4th centuries AD

   The first Christian communities began to appear in Britain during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. (The Romans)

10. 60.In which year did the Roman army leave Britain?

    • AAD 600
    • BAD 43
    • CAD 410
    • DAD 122

    The Roman army left Britain in AD 410 and never returned. (The Anglo-Saxons)

11. 61.Which three tribes invaded Britain after the Romans left?

    • AThe Normans, the Franks and the Jutes
    • BThe Danes, the Norwegians and the Swedes
    • CThe Picts, the Scots and the Celts
    • DThe Jutes, the Angles and the Saxons

    The languages of the Jutes, Angles and Saxons are the basis of modern-day English. (The Anglo-Saxons)

12. 62.Which modern language is based on the languages of the Jutes, Angles and Saxons?

    • AGaelic
    • BEnglish
    • CLatin
    • DWelsh

    The languages of the Jutes, Angles and Saxons are the basis of modern-day English. (The Anglo-Saxons)

13. 63.By about which year were Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established in Britain?

    • AAD 410
    • BAD 1066
    • CAD 600
    • DAD 789

    By about AD 600 Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were established in Britain, mainly in what is now England. (The Anglo-Saxons)

14. 64.What was found at Sutton Hoo?

    • AA Roman fort with a bath house, barracks and a granary
    • BThe burial place of an Anglo-Saxon king, with treasure and armour in a ship
    • CA Viking longship burial on the coast of Scotland
    • DA Bronze Age stone circle surrounded by round barrows

    The Anglo-Saxon king at Sutton Hoo was buried with treasure and armour in a ship covered by a mound of earth. (The Anglo-Saxons)

15. 65.In which modern county is Sutton Hoo?

    • ADorset
    • BSuffolk
    • CWiltshire
    • DKent

    Sutton Hoo in modern Suffolk was the burial place of an Anglo-Saxon king. (The Anglo-Saxons)

16. 66.Who became the patron saint of Ireland?

    • ASt Augustine
    • BSt Patrick
    • CSt Columba
    • DSt Andrew

    St Patrick became the patron saint of Ireland. (The Anglo-Saxons)

17. 67.Who founded a monastery on the island of Iona?

    • ASt Patrick
    • BSt Columba
    • CSt David
    • DSt Augustine

    St Columba founded a monastery on the island of Iona. (The Anglo-Saxons)

18. 68.Who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury?

    • ASt Columba
    • BSt Patrick
    • CSt Augustine
    • DSt George

    St Augustine led missionaries from Rome and spread Christianity in the south. (The Anglo-Saxons)

19. 69.Where did St Augustine spread Christianity?

    • AIn the north of Britain
    • BIn Scotland
    • CIn the south of Britain
    • DIn Ireland

    The languages of the Jutes, Angles and Saxons are the basis of modern-day English. (The Anglo-Saxons)

20. 70.Which countries did the Vikings come from?

    • ASweden, Finland and Russia
    • BGermany, Denmark and the Netherlands
    • CDenmark, Norway and Sweden
    • DNorway, Iceland and Ireland

    The Vikings came from Denmark, Norway and Sweden. (The Vikings)

21. 71.In which year did the Vikings first visit Britain?

    • AAD 410
    • BAD 1066
    • CAD 600
    • DAD 789

    AD 789 brought the first Viking visit, raiding coastal towns for goods and slaves. (The Vikings)

22. 72.Why did the Vikings first come to Britain?

    • ATo raid coastal towns and take goods and slaves
    • BTo spread Christianity among the kingdoms
    • CTo trade wool and timber with the Anglo-Saxons
    • DTo settle peacefully as farmers in the east

    AD 789 brought the first Viking visit, raiding coastal towns for goods and slaves. (The Vikings)

23. 73.Which king united the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and defeated the Vikings?

    • AHarold
    • BKenneth MacAlpin
    • CCnut
    • DAlfred the Great

    Alfred the Great united England's Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and beat the Vikings. (The Vikings)

24. 74.What was the area of Viking settlement in England called?

    • AThe Danelaw
    • BThe Marches
    • CThe Pale
    • DThe Danelands

    The Danelaw was the name for the eastern and northern area where many Viking invaders settled. (The Vikings)

25. 75.Which TWO place names come from the Viking languages?

    Choose two

    • AGrimsby
    • BWinchester
    • CCanterbury
    • DScunthorpe

    Place names such as Grimsby and Scunthorpe come from the Viking languages. (The Vikings)

26. 76.Who was the first Danish king to rule what is now England?

    • AWilliam the Conqueror
    • BCnut
    • CKenneth MacAlpin
    • DAlfred the Great

    The first Danish king to rule what is now England was Cnut, also called Canute. (The Vikings)

27. 77.Which king did the people in the north unite under?

    • AAlfred the Great
    • BRobert the Bruce
    • CCnut
    • DKenneth MacAlpin

    In the north the threat of Viking attack encouraged the people to unite under one king, Kenneth MacAlpin. (The Vikings)

28. 78.In which year was the Battle of Hastings?

    • A1215
    • B1066
    • C1485
    • D1415

    In 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, at the Battle of Hastings. (The Norman Conquest)

29. 79.Who defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings?

    • ARobert the Bruce
    • BCnut of Denmark
    • CAlfred the Great
    • DWilliam, Duke of Normandy

    In 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, at the Battle of Hastings. (The Norman Conquest)

30. 80.What happened to Harold at the Battle of Hastings?

    • AHe fled to Normandy
    • BHe was killed in the battle
    • CHe agreed to share the throne
    • DHe was captured and imprisoned

    The Battle of Hastings is commemorated in the Bayeux Tapestry, which can still be seen in France. (The Norman Conquest)

31. 81.By what name is William, Duke of Normandy, known?

    • AWilliam the Great
    • BWilliam of Orange
    • CWilliam the Conqueror
    • DWilliam the Lion

    William became king of England and is known as William the Conqueror. (The Norman Conquest)

32. 82.What was significant about the Norman Conquest?

    • AIt ended four centuries of Roman occupation
    • BIt brought Christianity to Britain for the first time
    • CIt united England and Scotland under one crown
    • DIt was the last successful foreign invasion of England

    The Norman Conquest was the last successful foreign invasion of England. (The Norman Conquest)

33. 83.What commemorates the Battle of Hastings?

    • AThe Cenotaph
    • BThe Bayeux Tapestry
    • CNelson’s Column
    • DThe Domesday Book

    The Battle of Hastings is commemorated in the Bayeux Tapestry, which can still be seen in France. (The Norman Conquest)

34. 84.Where can the Bayeux Tapestry be seen today?

    • AIn France
    • BIn London
    • CIn Edinburgh Castle
    • DIn Normandy Cathedral in Kent

    The Battle of Hastings is commemorated in the Bayeux Tapestry, which can still be seen in France. (The Norman Conquest)

35. 85.What was the Domesday Book?

    • AA survey of the Scottish borders
    • BThe first English translation of the Bible
    • CA record of Norman military victories
    • DLists of all the towns and villages of England

    The Domesday Book listed all the towns and villages of England, who lived there, who owned the land and what animals they owned. (The Norman Conquest)

36. 86.Which language of the new ruling class influenced English after 1066?

    • ALatin
    • BOld Norse
    • CAnglo-Saxon
    • DNorman French

    English developed under the influence of Norman French, spoken by the new ruling class. (The Norman Conquest)

37. 87.What did the Normans do about Scotland?

    • AThey took some border land but did not invade Scotland
    • BThey conquered Scotland entirely
    • CThey made a treaty of union with Scotland
    • DThey left Scotland untouched

    The Normans took over some land on the border between England and Scotland but did not invade Scotland. (The Norman Conquest)

38. 88.Which statute annexed Wales to the Crown of England?

    • AMagna Carta
    • BThe Act for the Government of Wales
    • CThe Statute of Rhuddlan
    • DThe Act of Union

    A thousand years separate the end of the Roman Empire in AD 476 from 1485, the span of the Middle Ages. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

39. 89.In which year was the Statute of Rhuddlan introduced?

    • A1485
    • B1415
    • C1284
    • D1314

    Wales was annexed to the Crown of England by Edward I's Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

40. 90.Which king introduced the Statute of Rhuddlan?

    • AHenry V
    • BRichard III
    • CEdward I
    • DHenry VIII

    Wales was annexed to the Crown of England by Edward I's Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

41. 91.Which TWO castles were built to maintain English power in Wales?

    Choose two

    • AWindsor
    • BConwy
    • CCaernarvon
    • DEdinburgh

    Huge castles including Conwy and Caernarvon were built to maintain English power in Wales. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

42. 92.Who led the Scottish to victory at the Battle of Bannockburn?

    • AWilliam Wallace
    • BKenneth MacAlpin
    • CRobert the Bruce
    • DBonnie Prince Charlie

    Bannockburn in 1314 saw Robert the Bruce lead the Scottish to victory over the English. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

43. 93.In which year was the Battle of Bannockburn?

    • A1314
    • B1066
    • C1415
    • D1284

    Bannockburn in 1314 saw Robert the Bruce lead the Scottish to victory over the English. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

44. 94.What was the area of Ireland ruled by the English around Dublin called?

    • AThe Danelaw
    • BUlster
    • CThe Pale
    • DThe Marches

    Around Dublin lay the Pale, English-ruled by 1200. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

45. 95.What were the Crusades?

    • AThe long English wars against the Scottish kings
    • BThe Norman invasions of Wales and its borders
    • CWars in which European Christians fought for control of the Holy Land
    • DThe wars fought between Lancaster and York

    Knights joined the Crusades in numbers, European Christians fighting for the Holy Land. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

46. 96.How long did the Hundred Years War actually last?

    • A86 years
    • B116 years
    • C150 years
    • D100 years

    The Hundred Years War with France actually lasted 116 years. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

47. 97.Which king’s outnumbered army won the Battle of Agincourt?

    • ARichard III
    • BHenry VII
    • CEdward I
    • DHenry V

    At the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 King Henry V's vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

48. 98.In which year was the Battle of Agincourt?

    • A1066
    • B1485
    • C1415
    • D1314

    At the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 King Henry V's vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

49. 99.When did the Middle Ages end, according to the handbook?

    • A1215
    • B1485
    • C1066
    • DAD 476

    A thousand years separate the end of the Roman Empire in AD 476 from 1485, the span of the Middle Ages. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

50. 100.What was the Norman system of land ownership called?

    • AThe Danelaw
    • BFeudalism
    • CThe manorial charter
    • DThe clan system

    The Normans used a system of land ownership known as feudalism. (Feudalism and the Black Death)