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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. 401.Who was Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher?

   • AGordon Brown
   • BJohn Major
   • CDavid Cameron
   • DTony Blair

   Following Mrs Thatcher came John Major, who helped set the Northern Ireland peace process going. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

2. 402.Which Prime Minister helped establish the Northern Ireland peace process?

   • AHarold Macmillan
   • BJohn Major
   • CClement Attlee
   • DMargaret Thatcher

   Following Mrs Thatcher came John Major, who helped set the Northern Ireland peace process going. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

3. 403.Which party led by Tony Blair was elected in 1997?

   • AThe Conservative Party
   • BA coalition
   • CThe Liberal Democrats
   • DThe Labour Party

   In 1997 the Labour Party led by Tony Blair was elected and introduced a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

4. 404.Which TWO did the Blair government introduce?

   Choose two

   • AAn English Assembly
   • BA Northern Ireland Parliament
   • CA Welsh Assembly
   • DA Scottish Parliament

   In 1997 the Labour Party led by Tony Blair was elected and introduced a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

5. 405.In which year was the Good Friday Agreement signed?

   • A2007
   • B1998
   • C1997
   • D1999

   The Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

6. 406.Who took over as Prime Minister in 2007?

   • AGordon Brown
   • BTheresa May
   • CDavid Cameron
   • DTony Blair

   Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister in 2007. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

7. 407.What happened in the General Election of May 2010?

   • AThe Labour Party won a majority
   • BThe Conservatives won a large majority
   • CThe Liberal Democrats formed a government alone
   • DNo political party won an overall majority

   In May 2010 no political party won an overall majority in the General Election, for the first time since February 1974. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

8. 408.Which parties formed the coalition government in 2010?

   • AThe Conservatives and the Scottish National Party
   • BLabour and the Liberal Democrats
   • CThe Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats
   • DThe Conservatives and Labour

   The Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties formed a coalition in 2010 and David Cameron became Prime Minister. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

9. 409.On what date was the referendum on EU membership held?

   • A13 July 2016
   • B31 January 2020
   • C23 June 2016
   • D7 May 2015

   The referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union was held on 23 June 2016. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

10. 410.By what margin did the UK vote to leave the European Union?

    • A51.9% to 48.1%
    • B48.1% to 51.9%
    • C55% to 45%
    • D60% to 40%

    Leaving the European Union carried by 51.9% against 48.1%. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

11. 411.On what date did the UK formally leave the European Union?

    • A23 June 2016
    • B24 July 2019
    • C31 January 2020
    • D13 July 2016

    The UK formally left the European Union on 31 January 2020. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

12. 412.In which year was the European Economic Community formed?

    • A1957
    • B2016
    • C1993
    • D1973

    The European Economic Community was founded in 1957 by Italy, France, West Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

13. 413.Did the UK use the Euro currency?

    • AOnly in Northern Ireland
    • BYes, from 1993
    • CYes, from 2002
    • DNo

    Direct rule from the UK government followed the suspension of Northern Ireland's Parliament in 1972. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

14. 414.When was the Northern Ireland Parliament suspended and direct rule introduced?

    • A1969
    • B1972
    • C1998
    • D2002

    Direct rule from the UK government followed the suspension of Northern Ireland's Parliament in 1972. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

15. 415.About how many people lost their lives in the violence in Northern Ireland after 1969?

    • ASome 30,000
    • BSome 300,000
    • CSome 3,000
    • DSome 300

    Northern Irish violence after 1969 cost some 3,000 lives over the following decades. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)