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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. 201.From which country did Charles II return from exile?

   • AFrance
   • BThe Netherlands
   • CSpain
   • DScotland

   Exile in the Netherlands ended for Charles II in May 1660, on Parliament's invitation. (The Restoration)

2. 202.In which year was there a major outbreak of plague in London?

   • A1666
   • B1348
   • C1665
   • D1679

   In 1665 there was a major outbreak of plague in London. (The Restoration)

3. 203.When did the great fire destroy much of London?

   • AThe year after the outbreak of plague
   • BTen years after the outbreak of plague
   • CThe year Charles II returned from exile
   • DThe same year as the outbreak of plague

   A great fire destroyed much of London the year after the plague, including many churches and St Paul's Cathedral. (The Restoration)

4. 204.Who designed the new St Paul’s Cathedral?

   • ASir Christopher Wren
   • BInigo Jones
   • CSir Edwin Lutyens
   • DRobert Adam

   Sir Edmund Halley successfully predicted the return of the comet now called Halley's Comet. (The Restoration)

5. 205.Who wrote a famous diary about the plague and the Great Fire?

   • ASir Isaac Newton
   • BSir Christopher Wren
   • CSir Edmund Halley
   • DSamuel Pepys

   Samuel Pepys wrote about the plague and the great fire in a diary which is still read today. (The Restoration)

6. 206.In which year did the Habeas Corpus Act become law?

   • A1215
   • B1689
   • C1660
   • D1679

   The Habeas Corpus Act became law in 1679. (The Restoration)

7. 207.What does habeas corpus mean?

   • AEvery man has the vote
   • BThe king is subject to the law
   • CYou must present the person in court
   • DNo taxation without representation

   Habeas corpus is Latin for 'you must present the person in court'. (The Restoration)

8. 208.What did the Habeas Corpus Act guarantee?

   • AThat trials would be held before a jury of twelve
   • BThat everyone had a right to vote
   • CThat no one could be held prisoner unlawfully
   • DThat the king could not raise taxes

   The Habeas Corpus Act guaranteed that no one could be held prisoner unlawfully and that every prisoner has a right to a court hearing. (The Restoration)

9. 209.Which society was formed during Charles II’s reign to promote natural knowledge?

   • AThe Royal Geographical Society
   • BThe Royal Academy
   • CThe Royal Institution
   • DThe Royal Society

   The Royal Society was formed during the reign of Charles II to promote natural knowledge. (The Restoration)

10. 210.What is notable about the Royal Society?

    • AIt was founded by Sir Isaac Newton and Halley
    • BIt is the oldest surviving scientific society in the world
    • CIt awards the Nobel Prize for scientific work
    • DIt is funded from the television licence fee

    The Royal Society is the oldest surviving scientific society in the world. (The Restoration)

11. 211.Who predicted the return of the comet now named after him?

    • ASir Bernard Lovell
    • BSir Isaac Newton
    • CSir Edmund Halley
    • DSamuel Pepys

    Sir Edmund Halley successfully predicted the return of the comet now called Halley's Comet. (The Restoration)

12. 212.Where was Isaac Newton born?

    • AScotland
    • BLincolnshire
    • CCambridge
    • DLancashire

    Isaac Newton was born in Lincolnshire and his most famous published work was Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. (The Restoration)

13. 213.What did Isaac Newton show in his most famous work?

    • AThe structure of DNA
    • BHow gravity applied to the whole universe
    • CThat the earth goes round the sun
    • DHow to split the atom

    Gravity acting across the whole universe was Newton's demonstration, and he also found white light to hold the rainbow's colours. (The Restoration)

14. 214.What else did Isaac Newton discover?

    • AThat white light is made up of the colours of the rainbow
    • BThe law of the conservation of energy
    • CThe circulation of the blood around the body
    • DThe existence of radio waves in the atmosphere

    Gravity acting across the whole universe was Newton's demonstration, and he also found white light to hold the rainbow's colours. (The Restoration)

15. 215.Who became king when Charles II died in 1685?

    • AHis brother James
    • BWilliam of Orange
    • CHis son Charles
    • DHis daughter Mary

    Charles II died in 1685 and his Roman Catholic brother became King James II. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

16. 216.What was James II’s religion?

    • ARoman Catholic
    • BProtestant
    • CPresbyterian
    • DPuritan

    Charles II died in 1685 and his Roman Catholic brother became King James II. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

17. 217.Whom was James II’s elder daughter Mary married to?

    • AWilliam of Orange
    • BJames VI of Scotland
    • CGeorge I
    • DCharles II

    Mary, the elder daughter of James II, had married her cousin William of Orange, Protestant ruler of the Netherlands. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

18. 218.In which year did William of Orange invade England?

    • A1690
    • B1688
    • C1689
    • D1685

    In 1688 important Protestants in England asked William of Orange to invade England and proclaim himself king. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

19. 219.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)

20. 220.What did the Glorious Revolution guarantee?

    • AThe independence of Scotland
    • BThe right of every man to vote
    • CFreedom of the press
    • DThe power of Parliament

    The Glorious Revolution guaranteed the power of Parliament and ended the threat of a monarch ruling on his or her own. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

21. 221.Where did William defeat James II in 1690?

    • AAt Killiecrankie in Scotland
    • BAt the Battle of Culloden
    • CAt the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland
    • DAt the Battle of Naseby

    The Battle of the Boyne is still celebrated by some in Northern Ireland today. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

22. 222.Which clan was late in taking the oath to William and was killed?

    • AThe Stuarts of Appin
    • BThe MacAlpins of Argyll
    • CThe MacDonalds of Glencoe
    • DThe Campbells of Glenorchy

    The MacDonalds of Glencoe were late in taking the oath to accept William as king and were all killed. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

23. 223.What were James II’s supporters known as?

    • AJacobites
    • BWhigs
    • CCavaliers
    • DRoundheads

    James II's supporters became known as Jacobites. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

24. 224.Where was the armed rebellion in support of James defeated in Scotland?

    • AKilliecrankie
    • BCulloden
    • CDunbar
    • DBannockburn

    An armed rebellion in support of James was quickly defeated at Killiecrankie. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)

25. 225.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)

26. 226.What did the Bill of Rights confirm?

    • AThe right of every adult man to vote
    • BThe union of the English and Scottish crowns
    • CFreedom of religion for Roman Catholics
    • DThe rights of Parliament and the limits of the king’s power

    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)

27. 227.What did Parliament declare about the religion of the monarch?

    • AThe monarch may hold any religion
    • BThe king or queen must be a Protestant
    • CThe monarch must be a Catholic
    • DThe monarch must belong to the Church of Scotland

    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)

28. 228.How often must a new Parliament be elected today?

    • AAt least every seven years
    • BAt least every five years
    • CEvery year
    • DAt least every three years

    A new Parliament had to be elected at least every three years, which later became seven years and is now five years. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)

29. 229.What were the two main groups in Parliament after the Glorious Revolution?

    • AThe Cavaliers and the Roundheads
    • BThe Liberals and the Conservatives
    • CThe Puritans and the Jacobites
    • DThe Whigs and the Tories

    The two main groups in Parliament were known as the Whigs and the Tories. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)

30. 230.Which modern party is still sometimes referred to as the Tories?

    • AThe Conservative Party
    • BThe Labour Party
    • CThe Liberal Democrats
    • DThe Green Party

    The modern Conservative Party is still sometimes referred to as the Tories. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)

31. 231.From which year could newspapers operate without a government licence?

    • A1707
    • B1689
    • C1695
    • D1679

    From 1695 newspapers were allowed to operate without a government licence. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)

32. 232.What were constituencies controlled by a single wealthy family called?

    • AClose boroughs
    • BRotten boroughs
    • CPocket boroughs
    • DFree boroughs

    Constituencies controlled by a single wealthy family were called pocket boroughs. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)

33. 233.What were constituencies with hardly any voters called?

    • ARotten boroughs
    • BPocket boroughs
    • CEmpty boroughs
    • DSmall boroughs

    Constituencies which had hardly any voters were called rotten boroughs. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)

34. 234.Who could vote after the Glorious Revolution?

    • AOnly members of the nobility and the bishops
    • BAll men, and women over the age of 30
    • CAll men over the age of 21, whatever their means
    • DOnly men who owned property of a certain value

    Men holding property of a certain value could vote; women could not vote at all. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)

35. 235.Which TWO were required of the monarch by the Bill of Rights?

    Choose two

    • ATo live at Westminster while Parliament was sitting
    • BTo appoint ministers only from among the Tories
    • CTo ask Parliament each year to renew funding for the army and navy
    • DTo be a Protestant

    Who could reign became Parliament's to decide, and a Protestant was required. (The Bill of Rights and constitutional monarchy)

36. 236.In which year was the Act of Union agreed?

    • A1801
    • B1689
    • C1707
    • D1714

    1707 brought the Act of Union — Scotland calls it the Treaty of Union — and with it the Kingdom of Great Britain. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

37. 237.What did the Act of Union of 1707 create?

    • AThe Kingdom of Great Britain
    • BThe Kingdom of England and Wales
    • CThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
    • DThe Commonwealth

    1707 brought the Act of Union — Scotland calls it the Treaty of Union — and with it the Kingdom of Great Britain. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

38. 238.What is the Act of Union known as in Scotland?

    • AThe Declaration of Rights
    • BThe Act of Settlement
    • CThe Statute of Rhuddlan
    • DThe Treaty of Union

    1707 brought the Act of Union — Scotland calls it the Treaty of Union — and with it the Kingdom of Great Britain. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

39. 239.Which THREE things did Scotland keep after the Act of Union?

    • AIts own monarch, its flag and its navy
    • BIts own parliament, its currency and its army
    • CIts own legal and education systems and Presbyterian Church
    • DIts own taxes, its courts and its coinage

    Scotland kept its own legal and education systems and Presbyterian Church after the Act of Union. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

40. 240.Who were the Huguenots?

    • ACatholic settlers in Ireland
    • BJewish refugees from Russia
    • CGerman merchants in London
    • DProtestant refugees from France

    Between 1680 and 1720 many refugees called Huguenots came from France. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

41. 241.In which year did the first Jews since the Middle Ages settle in London?

    • A1720
    • B1680
    • C1707
    • D1656

    London received Britain's first Jewish settlers since the Middle Ages in 1656. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

42. 242.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)

43. 243.Who was the first man to be called Prime Minister?

    • AWilliam Pitt
    • BThe Duke of Wellington
    • CSir Robert Walpole
    • DSir Christopher Wren

    The first man to be called Prime Minister was Sir Robert Walpole, who was Prime Minister from 1721 to 1742. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

44. 244.For which years was Sir Robert Walpole Prime Minister?

    • A1707 to 1714
    • B1689 to 1702
    • C1721 to 1742
    • D1760 to 1783

    The first man to be called Prime Minister was Sir Robert Walpole, who was Prime Minister from 1721 to 1742. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

45. 245.By what name is Charles Edward Stuart known?

    • AThe Iron Duke
    • BThe Young Chevalier of York
    • CThe Bard
    • DBonnie Prince Charlie

    In 1745 Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, landed in Scotland to put a Stuart king back on the throne. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)

46. 246.Whose grandson was Bonnie Prince Charlie?

    • AWilliam III
    • BGeorge I
    • CCharles II
    • DJames II

    Bonnie Prince Charlie was the grandson of James II. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)

47. 247.At which battle was Bonnie Prince Charlie defeated?

    • ACulloden
    • BKilliecrankie
    • CNaseby
    • DBannockburn

    Culloden in 1746 was where George II's army beat Bonnie Prince Charlie. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)

48. 248.In which year was the Battle of Culloden?

    • A1715
    • B1745
    • C1746
    • D1707

    Culloden in 1746 was where George II's army beat Bonnie Prince Charlie. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)

49. 249.What were the Highland Clearances?

    • AThe removal of Jacobite supporters from Scotland
    • BThe eviction of English settlers from the highlands
    • CThe clearing of forests for shipbuilding
    • DLandlords destroying small farms to make space for sheep and cattle

    Small farms called crofts were destroyed by Scottish landlords in the Highland Clearances, to clear space for large flocks of sheep and cattle. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)

50. 250.What were the small Scottish farms destroyed in the Clearances called?

    • ABarrows
    • BCrofts
    • CAllotments
    • DBoroughs

    Small farms called crofts were destroyed by Scottish landlords in the Highland Clearances, to clear space for large flocks of sheep and cattle. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)