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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. 301.Which TWO crosses were combined to make the first Union Flag in 1606?

    Choose two

    • AThe cross of St George
    • BThe Welsh dragon
    • CThe cross of St Andrew
    • DThe cross of St Patrick

    The Act of Union of 1800 created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. (The Union Flag)

  2. 302.In which year did Queen Victoria become queen?

    • A1851
    • B1801
    • C1837
    • D1901

    Aged 18, Victoria took the throne of the UK in 1837. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  3. 303.At what age did Queen Victoria become queen?

    • A18
    • B21
    • C16
    • D25

    Aged 18, Victoria took the throne of the UK in 1837. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  4. 304.For roughly how long did Queen Victoria reign?

    • AAlmost 44 years
    • BAlmost 24 years
    • CAlmost 64 years
    • DAlmost 74 years

    Queen Victoria reigned until 1901, almost 64 years. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  5. 305.What was the estimated population of the British Empire at its height?

    • AMore than 40 million
    • BMore than 400 million
    • CMore than 100 million
    • DMore than 4 billion

    The British Empire had an estimated population of more than 400 million people. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  6. 306.How many British citizens left the country between 1853 and 1913?

    • AAbout 40 million
    • BAbout 1 million
    • CAs many as 13 million
    • DAbout 120,000

    Emigration between 1853 and 1913 took as many as 13 million British citizens overseas. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  7. 307.Roughly how many Russian and Polish Jews came to Britain between 1870 and 1914?

    • AAround 13 million
    • BAround 400,000
    • CAround 1,200
    • DAround 120,000

    Persecution drove around 120,000 Russian and Polish Jews to Britain between 1870 and 1914. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  8. 308.Where did many Russian and Polish Jewish immigrants settle?

    • ALiverpool, Glasgow and Belfast
    • BCardiff, Swansea and Newport
    • CBirmingham, Bristol and Plymouth
    • DLondon’s East End, Manchester and Leeds

    Many Russian and Polish Jews settled in London's East End and in Manchester and Leeds. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  9. 309.Whom did Britain fight in the Boer War?

    • ASettlers from the Netherlands in South Africa
    • BThe French in Canada
    • CThe Ottoman Empire in Egypt
    • DThe Zulu kingdom in southern Africa

    The Boer War of 1899 to 1902 was fought in South Africa against settlers from the Netherlands called the Boers. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  10. 310.When was the Boer War fought?

    • A1837 to 1901
    • B1914 to 1918
    • C1853 to 1856
    • D1899 to 1902

    The Boer War of 1899 to 1902 was fought in South Africa against settlers from the Netherlands called the Boers. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  11. 311.Which writer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907?

    • ARudyard Kipling
    • BHarold Pinter
    • CSir William Golding
    • DSeamus Heaney

    Rudyard Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)

  12. 312.In which year were the Corn Laws repealed?

    • A1851
    • B1832
    • C1846
    • D1847

    The Corn Laws, which had prevented the import of cheap grain, were repealed in 1846. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  13. 313.What had the Corn Laws prevented?

    • AThe import of cotton cloth
    • BThe sale of grain to Ireland
    • CThe export of British wool
    • DThe import of cheap grain

    The Corn Laws, which had prevented the import of cheap grain, were repealed in 1846. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  14. 314.What did the 1847 law limit for women and children?

    • AThe industries they could work in
    • BTheir wages
    • CTheir working hours, to 10 per day
    • DThe age at which they could start work

    A legal cap of 10 hours a day on the work of women and children arrived in 1847. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  15. 315.Who pioneered the railway engine?

    • AJames Watt
    • BGeorge and Robert Stephenson
    • CRichard Arkwright
    • DIsambard Kingdom Brunel

    George and Robert Stephenson, father and son, pioneered the railway engine. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  16. 316.Which railway did Isambard Kingdom Brunel construct?

    • AThe London and Birmingham Railway
    • BThe Caledonian Railway
    • CThe Stockton and Darlington Railway
    • DThe Great Western Railway

    Isambard Kingdom Brunel was responsible for constructing the Great Western Railway, the first major railway built in Britain. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  17. 317.Where does the Great Western Railway run from?

    • APaddington Station in London
    • BBristol Temple Meads
    • CKing’s Cross Station in London
    • DEuston Station in London

    In 1854 Florence Nightingale went to Turkey and worked in military hospitals treating soldiers fighting in the Crimean War. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  18. 318.Which bridge designed by Brunel spans the Avon Gorge?

    • AThe Clifton Suspension Bridge
    • BThe Forth Bridge
    • CThe Menai Bridge
    • DTower Bridge

    The Corn Laws, which had prevented the import of cheap grain, were repealed in 1846. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  19. 319.What did the UK produce more than half of the world’s supply of in the 19th century?

    • AShips, railways and machinery
    • BSugar, tobacco and tea
    • CIron, coal and cotton cloth
    • DSteel, wool and grain

    Over half the world's iron, coal and cotton cloth came from the 19th-century UK. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  20. 320.Where was the Great Exhibition of 1851 held?

    • AAt the Royal Albert Hall
    • BAt the Tower of London
    • CIn Trafalgar Square
    • DIn the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park

    Hyde Park held the Great Exhibition of 1851, staged inside the Crystal Palace — iron and glass on a huge scale. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  21. 321.What was the Crystal Palace made of?

    • AConcrete and glass
    • BIron and glass
    • CBrick and steel
    • DStone and timber

    Hyde Park held the Great Exhibition of 1851, staged inside the Crystal Palace — iron and glass on a huge scale. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  22. 322.Who did Britain fight against in the Crimean War?

    • ARussia
    • BFrance
    • CTurkey
    • DThe Boers

    Russia was the enemy in the Crimean War of 1853 to 1856, with Britain alongside Turkey and France. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  23. 323.When was the Crimean War?

    • A1853 to 1856
    • B1846 to 1851
    • C1899 to 1902
    • D1914 to 1918

    Russia was the enemy in the Crimean War of 1853 to 1856, with Britain alongside Turkey and France. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  24. 324.What was notable about the media coverage of the Crimean War?

    • AIt was the first war to be filmed for showing in cinemas
    • BIt was the first war to be broadcast live on the radio
    • CIt was the first war reported home to Britain by telegraph
    • DIt was the first war extensively covered by news stories and photographs

    News stories and photographs covered the Crimean War at length, a first for any conflict. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  25. 325.Which medal did Queen Victoria introduce during the Crimean War?

    • AThe Victoria Cross
    • BThe Order of the Bath
    • CThe George Cross
    • DThe Distinguished Service Order

    Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross medal during the Crimean War, which honours acts of valour by soldiers. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  26. 326.What does the Victoria Cross honour?

    • AContributions to medicine
    • BActs of valour by soldiers
    • CService to the Crown
    • DLong service in the armed forces

    Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross medal during the Crimean War, which honours acts of valour by soldiers. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  27. 327.Where was Florence Nightingale born?

    • AEngland
    • BTurkey
    • CItaly
    • DGermany

    Florence Nightingale was born in Italy to English parents and trained as a nurse in Germany at the age of 31. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  28. 328.What did Florence Nightingale establish in 1860?

    • AThe Nightingale Training School for nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital
    • BThe British Red Cross for wartime nursing
    • CThe first military hospital in Turkey at Scutari
    • DThe Royal College of Nursing for trained nurses

    St Thomas' Hospital in London housed the Nightingale Training School for nurses, established in 1860. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  29. 329.What is Florence Nightingale often regarded as?

    • AThe first woman MP
    • BThe founder of modern nursing
    • CThe founder of the Victoria Cross
    • DThe first female doctor in Britain

    Florence Nightingale is often regarded as the founder of modern nursing. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)

  30. 330.What happened in Ireland in the middle of the 19th century?

    • AThe potato crop failed and Ireland suffered a famine
    • BIreland was granted Home Rule and its own parliament
    • CIreland was partitioned into North and South
    • DThe Irish Parliament in Dublin was abolished

    In the middle of the 19th century the potato crop failed and Ireland suffered a famine. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  31. 331.How many people died in the Irish famine?

    • ATwo million
    • BA hundred thousand
    • CA million
    • DHalf a million

    A million people died from disease and starvation in the Irish famine and another million and a half left Ireland. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  32. 332.Which group favoured complete independence for Ireland?

    • AThe Fenians
    • BThe suffragettes
    • CThe Home Rulers
    • DThe Chartists

    The Fenians favoured complete independence for Ireland. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  33. 333.Who advocated Home Rule for Ireland?

    • AClement Attlee
    • BEmmeline Pankhurst
    • CWilliam Wilberforce
    • DCharles Stuart Parnell

    Home Rule, argued for by Charles Stuart Parnell, would have given Ireland its own parliament inside the UK. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  34. 334.What was Home Rule?

    • AComplete independence for Ireland
    • BDirect rule from Westminster
    • CThe partition of Ireland into two countries
    • DIreland remaining in the UK but having its own parliament

    Home Rule, argued for by Charles Stuart Parnell, would have given Ireland its own parliament inside the UK. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  35. 335.What did the Reform Act of 1832 abolish?

    • AThe pocket and rotten boroughs
    • BThe House of Lords’ veto
    • CThe property requirement for voting
    • DThe Corn Laws

    The Reform Act of 1832 greatly increased the number of people with the right to vote and abolished the old pocket and rotten boroughs. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  36. 336.Who were the Chartists?

    • AMembers of the women’s suffrage movement
    • BSupporters of Irish Home Rule
    • CCampaigners who demanded the vote for the working classes
    • DAnti-slavery campaigners

    The Chartists were campaigners who presented petitions to Parliament demanding the vote for the working classes. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  37. 337.What did the Reform Act of 1867 do?

    • AGave the vote to every man over the age of 21
    • BGave the vote and the right to stand to women over 30
    • CAbolished the pocket boroughs and the rotten boroughs
    • DCreated more urban seats and reduced the property requirement for voting

    Urban seats multiplied and the property bar for voting came down under the Reform Act of 1867. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  38. 338.Before 1870, what happened to a woman’s property when she married?

    • AIt was held in trust for her children
    • BIt automatically belonged to her husband
    • CIt was taxed at a higher rate
    • DIt remained entirely her own

    Until 1870 a woman's earnings, property and money automatically belonged to her husband when she married. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  39. 339.In which years did Acts of Parliament give wives the right to keep their own earnings?

    • A1846 and 1847
    • B1918 and 1928
    • C1832 and 1867
    • D1870 and 1882

    Wives won the right to keep their earnings and property through Acts of 1870 and 1882. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  40. 340.What were women who campaigned for the vote known as?

    • AAbolitionists
    • BChartists
    • CSuffragettes
    • DFenians

    Women who campaigned for the right to vote formed the women's suffrage movement and became known as suffragettes. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  41. 341.Who founded the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903?

    • AMargaret Thatcher
    • BEmmeline Pankhurst
    • CMary Peters
    • DFlorence Nightingale

    Emmeline Pankhurst was born in Manchester in 1858 and set up the Women's Franchise League in 1889. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  42. 342.Which TWO methods did the suffragettes use?

    Choose two

    • APetitioning the monarch
    • BStanding for Parliament
    • CChaining themselves to railings
    • DGoing on hunger strike

    The suffragettes used civil disobedience, chained themselves to railings, smashed windows and committed arson, and many went on hunger strike. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  43. 343.What happened in 1918 for women?

    • AWomen were given the right to equal pay in the workplace
    • BWomen were given the vote at 21, the same age as men
    • CWomen were allowed to keep their own earnings and property
    • DWomen over 30 were given voting rights and the right to stand for Parliament

    Voting rights and the right to stand for Parliament came to women over 30 in 1918. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  44. 344.In which year did women get the right to vote at 21, the same as men?

    • A1918
    • B1882
    • C1969
    • D1928

    The voting age for women fell to 21 in 1928, matching men. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)

  45. 345.Whose assassination set off the chain of events leading to the First World War?

    • AThe Kaiser of Germany, Wilhelm II
    • BThe Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II
    • CArchduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
    • DThe King of Serbia, Peter I

    On 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated. (The First World War)

  46. 346.On what date was Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated?

    • A11 November 1918
    • B28 June 1914
    • C1 July 1916
    • D4 August 1914

    On 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated. (The First World War)

  47. 347.When did the First World War take place?

    • A1939 to 1945
    • B1914 to 1918
    • C1899 to 1902
    • D1853 to 1856

    The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918. (The First World War)

  48. 348.Which alliance was Britain part of in the First World War?

    • AThe Triple Alliance
    • BThe Central Powers
    • CThe Axis powers
    • DThe Allied Powers

    Britain was part of the Allied Powers, which included France, Russia, Japan, Belgium and Serbia. (The First World War)

  49. 349.Which of these was one of the Central Powers?

    • ABelgium
    • BRussia
    • CThe Austro-Hungarian Empire
    • DFrance

    The Central Powers were mainly Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire and later Bulgaria. (The First World War)

  50. 350.How many Indians fought on behalf of Britain in the First World War?

    • AMore than a million
    • BMore than 2 million
    • CAbout 40,000
    • DAbout 100,000

    More than a million Indians fought on behalf of Britain and around 40,000 were killed. (The First World War)

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