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Life in the UK Test questions and answers
There are 811 practice questions here, each with its correct answer and an explanation, written from Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition). The real Life in the UK Test is 24 questions in 45 minutes and you need 18 correct to pass. Reading is free and needs no account.
You will learn more by taking a timed test than by reading answers.
101.Under feudalism, what did the king give land to his lords in return for?
- ALoyalty to the Church
- BPayment of taxes
- CService at court
- DHelp in war
Land came to lords from the king under feudalism, the return being help in war. (Feudalism and the Black Death)
102.What were most peasants under feudalism?
- AGentry
- BLandowners
- CSerfs
- DFreemen
Most peasants were serfs, who had a small area of their lord's land and had to work for their lord and could not move away. (Feudalism and the Black Death)
103.Who owned the land in the north of Scotland and in Ireland?
- AMembers of the clans
- BThe gentry
- CThe king directly
- DThe Church
In the north of Scotland and in Ireland land was owned by members of the clans, which were prominent families. (Feudalism and the Black Death)
104.In which year did the Black Death come to Britain?
- A1066
- B1284
- C1348
- D1485
In 1348 a disease, probably a form of plague, came to Britain and was known as the Black Death. (Feudalism and the Black Death)
105.What proportion of England’s population died in the Black Death?
- AOne third
- BTwo thirds
- COne tenth
- DOne half
One third of the population of England died in the Black Death, and a similar proportion in Scotland and Wales. (Feudalism and the Black Death)
106.What did peasants begin to demand after the Black Death?
- ATheir own coats of arms
- BHigher wages
- CThe right to vote
- DFreedom of religion
After the Black Death there were labour shortages and peasants began to demand higher wages. (Feudalism and the Black Death)
107.Which new social class of large landowners appeared after the Black Death?
- AThe nobility
- BThe gentry
- CThe clans
- DThe serfs
New social classes appeared after the Black Death, including owners of large areas of land later called the gentry. (Feudalism and the Black Death)
108.What developed in the towns as their wealth grew?
- AA new nobility
- BThe clan system
- CThe feudal system
- DA strong middle class
Growing wealth in the towns led to the development of a strong middle class. (Feudalism and the Black Death)
109.In which year was Magna Carta agreed?
- A1215
- B1284
- C1689
- D1066
Magna Carta was agreed in 1215. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
110.Which king was forced to agree to Magna Carta?
- AKing John
- BKing Henry V
- CKing Edward I
- DKing Richard III
King John was forced by his noblemen to agree to Magna Carta. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
111.What does Magna Carta mean?
- AThe Great Council
- BThe Common Law
- CThe Charter of Freedoms
- DThe Great Charter
Magna Carta means the Great Charter. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
112.What idea did Magna Carta establish?
- AThat all men could vote
- BThat even the king was subject to the law
- CThat Parliament could remove the king
- DThat the Church was above the law
Even the king answered to law: that was Magna Carta's idea. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
113.Which of these did Magna Carta restrict?
- AThe rights of the nobility
- BThe independence of judges
- CThe king’s power to collect taxes
- DThe power of the House of Commons
Magna Carta guarded the nobility's rights and curbed the king's power over taxes and over making or changing law. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
114.Who sat in the House of Lords in the Middle Ages?
- AThe nobility, great landowners and bishops
- BElected representatives of the counties
- CJudges and lawyers
- DKnights and wealthy townspeople
The nobility, great landowners and bishops sat in the House of Lords. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
115.Who was elected to the House of Commons in the Middle Ages?
- AAll adult men living in the towns and cities
- BThe nobility, great landowners and bishops
- CThe clergy, sitting as a separate estate
- DKnights and wealthy people from towns and cities
Election to the Commons went to knights and to wealthy townspeople. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
116.How many Houses, called Estates, did the Scottish Parliament have?
- ATwo
- BThree
- CFour
- DOne
The Scottish Parliament had three Houses called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergy. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
117.Which THREE Estates made up the Scottish Parliament?
- AThe king, the lords and the commons
- BThe lords, the commons and the clergy
- CThe lords, the knights and the burghers
- DThe nobility, the gentry and the serfs
The Scottish Parliament had three Houses called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergy. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
118.How did English judges develop common law?
- ABy precedence and tradition
- BBy act of Parliament
- CBy royal decree
- DBy codifying it in writing
In England judges developed common law by a process of precedence and tradition. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
119.What happened to laws in Scotland?
- AThey were set by the clans
- BThey were imposed by England
- CThey were codified, that is, written down
- DThey were developed by precedence
In Scotland the laws were codified, that is, written down. (Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament)
120.Who wrote The Canterbury Tales?
- AGeoffrey Chaucer
- BWilliam Caxton
- CJohn Barbour
- DWilliam Shakespeare
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, a collection of poems about a group of people going to Canterbury on a pilgrimage. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
121.What is The Canterbury Tales about?
- AThe life and reign of William the Conqueror
- BA group of people telling stories on a pilgrimage to Canterbury
- CThe Wars of the Roses between York and Lancaster
- DThe Battle of Bannockburn and Robert the Bruce
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, a collection of poems about a group of people going to Canterbury on a pilgrimage. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
122.Who was the first person in England to print books using a printing press?
- ASir Christopher Wren
- BGeoffrey Chaucer
- CWilliam Caxton
- DJohn Barbour
William Caxton was the first person in England to print books using a printing press. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
123.Who wrote The Bruce, about the Battle of Bannockburn?
- AJohn Barbour
- BRobert Burns
- CGeoffrey Chaucer
- DSir Walter Scott
John Barbour wrote The Bruce about the Battle of Bannockburn in the Scots language. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
124.Which cathedral is famous for its stained glass?
- ACanterbury Cathedral
- BSalisbury Cathedral
- CYork Minster
- DLincoln Cathedral
The stained glass in York Minster is a famous example. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
125.Which was a very important English export in the Middle Ages?
- ACotton cloth
- BCoal
- CSteel
- DWool
English wool became a very important export in the Middle Ages. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
126.In which year did the Wars of the Roses begin?
- A1415
- B1485
- C1348
- D1455
The Wars of the Roses began in 1455 as a civil war to decide who should be king of England. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
127.Which two houses fought the Wars of the Roses?
- AThe House of Normandy and the House of Plantagenet
- BThe House of Lancaster and the House of York
- CThe House of York and the House of Windsor
- DThe House of Tudor and the House of Stuart
The Wars of the Roses was fought between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
128.What was the symbol of the House of Lancaster?
- AA white hart
- BA red dragon
- CA white rose
- DA red rose
A red rose stood for Lancaster, a white rose for York. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
129.What was the symbol of the House of York?
- AA white rose
- BA red dragon
- CA thistle
- DA red rose
A red rose stood for Lancaster, a white rose for York. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
130.Which battle ended the Wars of the Roses?
- AThe Battle of Naseby
- BThe Battle of Agincourt
- CThe Battle of Bannockburn
- DThe Battle of Bosworth Field
The Wars of the Roses ended with the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
131.In which year was the Battle of Bosworth Field?
- A1066
- B1415
- C1485
- D1455
The Wars of the Roses ended with the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
132.Which king was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field?
- AEdward I
- BHenry V
- CHenry VII
- DRichard III
King Richard III of the House of York was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
133.Who became king after the Battle of Bosworth Field?
- ARichard III
- BHenry VIII
- CEdward VI
- DHenry VII
Henry Tudor, leader of the House of Lancaster, became King Henry VII. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
134.Whom did Henry VII marry to unite the two families?
- AMary Stuart
- BCatherine of Aragon
- CAnne Boleyn
- DElizabeth of York
Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, uniting the two families. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
135.What was the symbol of the House of Tudor?
- AA white rose alone, taken from York
- BA red rose with a white rose inside it
- CA white rose with a red rose inside it
- DA red dragon on a green and white ground
Tudor's badge set a white rose inside a red one. (A distinct identity and the Wars of the Roses)
136.What is Henry VIII most famous for?
- AUniting England and Scotland into one kingdom
- BBreaking away from the Church of Rome and marrying six times
- CDefeating the Spanish Armada sent against England
- DBeing forced by his noblemen to sign Magna Carta
Two things made Henry VIII famous: six marriages, and the break with the Church of Rome. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
137.Why did Henry VIII establish the Church of England?
- ABecause the Pope refused to approve his divorce
- BTo end the Wars of the Roses
- CBecause Parliament demanded it
- DTo raise money for a war with France
Henry VIII established the Church of England when the Pope refused to approve his divorce. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
138.In the Church of England, who had the power to appoint bishops?
- AThe king
- BThe Archbishop of Canterbury alone
- CThe Pope
- DParliament
In the Church of England the king, not the Pope, had the power to appoint bishops and order how people should worship. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
139.What was the Reformation?
- AThe reform of Parliament and the franchise during the 19th century
- BA movement against the authority of the Pope and the practices of the Roman Catholic Church
- CThe union of the English and Scottish parliaments under one crown
- DThe rebuilding of London after the Great Fire destroyed the city
Papal authority, and Roman Catholic ideas and practices, were what the Reformation set itself against. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
140.In which language did Protestants read the Bible?
- ALatin
- BGreek
- CTheir own languages
- DHebrew
Protestants read the Bible in their own languages instead of in Latin. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
141.Which TWO were Protestant beliefs?
Choose two
- AAccepting the authority of the Pope
- BThat a person’s own relationship with God mattered most
- CReading the Bible in their own language
- DPraying to saints at shrines
Protestants read the Bible in their own languages instead of in Latin. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
142.How was Wales formally united with England?
- ABy the Act of Settlement
- BBy the Treaty of Union
- CBy the Act for the Government of Wales
- DBy the Statute of Rhuddlan
Wales became formally united with England during the reign of Henry VIII by the Act for the Government of Wales. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
143.During whose reign was Wales formally united with England?
- AEdward I
- BElizabeth I
- CHenry VIII
- DHenry VII
Wales became formally united with England during the reign of Henry VIII by the Act for the Government of Wales. (Henry VIII and the Reformation)
144.How many times did Henry VIII marry?
- AThree
- BFive
- CSix
- DFour
The six wives of Henry VIII were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. (The six wives of Henry VIII)
145.Who was Henry VIII’s first wife?
- AJane Seymour
- BCatherine of Aragon
- CAnne Boleyn
- DCatherine Parr
The six wives of Henry VIII were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. (The six wives of Henry VIII)
146.Which of Henry VIII’s wives was the mother of Elizabeth I?
- AAnne Boleyn
- BCatherine Howard
- CCatherine of Aragon
- DJane Seymour
The six wives of Henry VIII were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. (The six wives of Henry VIII)
147.Which of Henry VIII’s wives was the mother of Edward VI?
- AAnne of Cleves
- BAnne Boleyn
- CJane Seymour
- DCatherine of Aragon
The six wives of Henry VIII were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. (The six wives of Henry VIII)
148.Which of Henry VIII’s wives was a Spanish princess?
- AAnne Boleyn
- BCatherine of Aragon
- CAnne of Cleves
- DCatherine Parr
The six wives of Henry VIII were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. (The six wives of Henry VIII)
149.Which of Henry VIII’s wives was a German princess?
- ACatherine Howard
- BCatherine of Aragon
- CAnne of Cleves
- DJane Seymour
Anne of Cleves was a German princess whom Henry VIII married for political reasons and divorced soon after. (The six wives of Henry VIII)
150.Which of Henry VIII’s wives survived him?
- AAnne Boleyn
- BCatherine Howard
- CJane Seymour
- DCatherine Parr
Catherine Parr was a widow who married Henry VIII late in his life and survived him. (The six wives of Henry VIII)
Common questions
- How many questions are in the Life in the UK Test?
- The real test is 24 multiple-choice questions with 45 minutes to answer them, and you need 18 correct to pass. This page lists 811 practice questions drawn from the same official material, which is far more than any single sitting will ask you.
- Are these the real Life in the UK Test questions?
- No, and nobody has them. No government publishes its live exam questions. These are written from Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition), the official study guide the real questions are drawn from, so the facts being tested are the same even though the wording is ours.
- Do I need an account to read the questions and answers?
- No. Every question, its correct answer and its explanation is on this page with no signup and no payment. An account only matters if you want your progress saved across devices.
- How should I use the question bank?
- Reading answers is the weakest form of revision. Sit a timed test first to find out which chapters you are losing marks on, then come back here and read only those. Recognition feels like knowledge and is not the same thing.