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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.
351.How many British casualties were there in the First World War?
- AAbout 40,000
- BAbout 60,000
- CMore than 10 million
- DMore than 2 million
There were more than 2 million British casualties in the First World War. (The First World War)
352.How many British casualties were there on the first day of the Somme?
- AAbout 60,000
- BAbout 600,000
- CAbout 40,000
- DAbout 6,000
About 60,000 British casualties fell on the first day alone of the Somme attack in July 1916. (The First World War)
353.In which month and year did the British attack on the Somme begin?
- AAugust 1914
- BJuly 1916
- CNovember 1918
- DJune 1914
About 60,000 British casualties fell on the first day alone of the Somme attack in July 1916. (The First World War)
354.At what time and on what date did the First World War end?
- AMidnight on 31 December 1918
- BNoon on 28 June 1919
- C11.00 am on 11 November 1918
- D11.00 am on 11 November 1919
The First World War ended at 11.00 am on 11 November 1918 with victory for Britain and its allies. (The First World War)
355.Which TWO were introduced in Britain in the early 20th century?
Choose two
- AFree school meals
- BThe National Health Service
- CThe welfare state
- DOld-age pensions
The early 20th century saw financial help for the unemployed, old-age pensions and free school meals introduced. (The First World War)
356.What was the 1916 uprising against the British in Dublin called?
- AThe Fenian Rising
- BThe Home Rule Rebellion
- CThe Easter Rising
- DThe Troubles
In 1916 there was an uprising against the British in Dublin known as the Easter Rising. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
357.In which year was the Easter Rising?
- A1916
- B1921
- C1913
- D1922
In 1916 there was an uprising against the British in Dublin known as the Easter Rising. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
358.In which year did Ireland become two countries?
- A1921
- B1922
- C1949
- D1916
A peace treaty in 1921 was followed by Ireland's division into two countries in 1922. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
359.How many counties in the north remained part of the UK?
- ANine
- BSix
- CFour
- DTwelve
Northern Ireland was the name kept by the six mainly Protestant northern counties that stayed British. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
360.What did the rest of Ireland become in 1922?
- ANorthern Ireland
- BA British dominion
- CThe Republic of Ireland
- DThe Irish Free State
The rest of Ireland became the Irish Free State and became a republic in 1949. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
361.In which year did the Irish Free State become a republic?
- A1969
- B1949
- C1922
- D1921
The rest of Ireland became the Irish Free State and became a republic in 1949. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
362.What is the conflict in Northern Ireland often referred to as?
- AThe Partition
- BThe Troubles
- CThe Home Rule crisis
- DThe Easter Rising
The Troubles is the usual name for the conflict between full Irish independence and loyalty to the British government. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
363.In which year did the world enter the Great Depression?
- A1922
- B1929
- C1936
- D1939
Mass unemployment struck parts of the UK when the Great Depression began in 1929. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
364.Which traditional industry was badly affected by the 1930s depression?
- AAviation
- BShipbuilding
- CAutomobiles
- DFinancial services
Traditional heavy industries such as shipbuilding were badly affected by the depression of the 1930s. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
365.What happened to car ownership between 1930 and 1939?
- AIt rose from 2 million to 4 million
- BIt stayed the same
- CIt doubled from 1 million to 2 million
- DIt fell by half
Between 1930 and 1939 the number of cars owned doubled, from 1 million to 2 million. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
366.In which year did the BBC start radio broadcasts?
- A1922
- B1936
- C1945
- D1929
The BBC started radio broadcasts in 1922. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
367.In which year did the BBC begin the world’s first regular television service?
- A1953
- B1929
- C1922
- D1936
The BBC began the world's first regular television service in 1936. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
368.Which economist published influential new theories between the wars?
- ADavid Hume
- BAdam Smith
- CJohn Maynard Keynes
- DWilliam Beveridge
The economist John Maynard Keynes published influential new theories of economics. (The partition of Ireland and the inter-war years)
369.In which year did Adolf Hitler come to power in Germany?
- A1939
- B1933
- C1940
- D1929
Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933. (The Second World War)
370.What made Britain and France declare war in 1939?
- AHitler’s invasion of Poland
- BThe German invasion of the Soviet Union
- CThe bombing of London
- DHitler’s occupation of Austria
Britain and France declared war to halt Hitler's aggression after he invaded Poland in 1939. (The Second World War)
371.Which countries were the Axis powers?
- AGermany, Poland and Italy
- BGermany, Austria and the Ottoman Empire
- CGermany, Italy and the Empire of Japan
- DGermany, the Soviet Union and Italy
The Axis powers were fascist Germany and Italy and the Empire of Japan. (The Second World War)
372.Who became Prime Minister and Britain’s war leader in 1940?
- AClement Attlee
- BWinston Churchill
- CHarold Macmillan
- DNeville Chamberlain
Winston Churchill became Prime Minister and Britain's war leader in 1940. (The Second World War)
373.How many men were rescued from the beaches around Dunkirk?
- AMore than 3 million
- BAbout 60,000
- CMore than 300,000
- DMore than 30,000
More than 300,000 men were rescued from the beaches around Dunkirk. (The Second World War)
374.Who helped the Navy rescue soldiers at Dunkirk?
- ACivilian volunteers in small pleasure and fishing boats
- BThe French navy
- CThe Royal Air Force alone
- DMerchant ships from the United States
Many civilian volunteers in small pleasure and fishing boats helped the Navy at Dunkirk. (The Second World War)
375.Which phrase came from the evacuation of Dunkirk?
- AThe few
- BThe finest hour
- CThe Blitz spirit
- DThe Dunkirk spirit
The evacuation of Dunkirk gave rise to the phrase 'the Dunkirk spirit'. (The Second World War)
376.What was the Battle of Britain?
- AA naval battle in the North Sea
- BThe crucial aerial battle against the Germans in the summer of 1940
- CA tank battle in North Africa
- DThe defence of London against invasion by sea
Summer 1940 brought the decisive aerial battle with the Germans, won by the British and called the Battle of Britain. (The Second World War)
377.Which TWO planes were most important to the RAF in the Battle of Britain?
Choose two
- AThe Lancaster
- BThe Spitfire
- CThe Hurricane
- DThe Harrier
The Spitfire and the Hurricane were designed and built in Britain. (The Second World War)
378.What was the German bombing of British cities at night called?
- AThe Battle of Britain
- BThe Dunkirk evacuation
- CThe Blitz spirit
- DThe Blitz
The German bombing of London and other British cities at night-time was called the Blitz. (The Second World War)
379.Which city was almost totally destroyed in the Blitz?
- ACoventry
- BSheffield
- CNorwich
- DPlymouth
Coventry was almost totally destroyed in the Blitz. (The Second World War)
380.What does the phrase ‘the Blitz spirit’ describe?
- ABritons pulling together in the face of adversity
- BThe rescue of soldiers from Dunkirk
- CThe bravery of RAF pilots
- DThe rebuilding of London after the war
Britons pulling together under adversity are still described by the phrase 'the Blitz spirit'. (The Second World War)
381.On what date did allied forces land in Normandy?
- A11 November 1918
- B8 May 1945
- C3 September 1939
- D6 June 1944
On 6 June 1944 allied forces landed in Normandy, an event often referred to as D-Day. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
382.By what name is the Normandy landing often referred to?
- AD-Day
- BThe Dunkirk evacuation
- CThe Battle of Britain
- DThe Blitz
On 6 June 1944 allied forces landed in Normandy, an event often referred to as D-Day. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
383.When did the Allies comprehensively defeat Germany?
- ADecember 1941
- BAugust 1945
- CJune 1944
- DMay 1945
The Allies comprehensively defeated Germany in May 1945. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
384.How did the war against Japan end?
- AJapan surrendered after the fall of Germany
- BThe United States dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- CJapan was invaded by allied forces
- DThe Soviet Union defeated Japan in Manchuria
Atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the war against Japan in August 1945. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
385.Which TWO events happened during the Second World War?
Choose two
- AThe Great Exhibition
- BThe evacuation of Dunkirk
- CThe Battle of Trafalgar
- DThe Battle of Britain
December 1941 brought the United States into the war, after Japan bombed its naval base at Pearl Harbour. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
386.Who led the scientists who were first to split the atom?
- ASir Frank Whittle
- BErnest Rutherford
- CAlexander Fleming
- DFrancis Crick
First to split the atom were scientists under New-Zealand-born Ernest Rutherford, at Manchester and later Cambridge. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
387.Who discovered penicillin?
- AHoward Florey
- BJohn Macleod
- CAlexander Fleming
- DErnst Chain
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 while researching influenza. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
388.In which year did Alexander Fleming discover penicillin?
- A1953
- B1928
- C1945
- D1940
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 while researching influenza. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
389.Which party won the 1945 General Election?
- AThe Conservative Party
- BThe Liberal Party
- CThe Labour Party
- DA coalition
Alexander Fleming won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
390.Who became Prime Minister in 1945?
- AHarold Macmillan
- BWinston Churchill
- CAneurin Bevan
- DClement Attlee
In 1945 the British people elected a Labour government and Clement Attlee became Prime Minister. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
391.Which report outlined the welfare state?
- AThe Beveridge Report
- BThe Butler Report
- CThe Attlee Report
- DThe Bevan Report
Clement Attlee promised to introduce the welfare state outlined in the Beveridge Report. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
392.Who led the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948?
- AWilliam Beveridge
- BR A Butler
- CAneurin Bevan
- DClement Attlee
Aneurin Bevan, as Minister for Health, brought the National Health Service into being in 1948. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
393.In which year was the National Health Service established?
- A1944
- B1945
- C1951
- D1948
Aneurin Bevan, as Minister for Health, brought the National Health Service into being in 1948. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
394.Which TWO were nationalised by the post-war government?
Choose two
- AThe coal mines
- BThe banks
- CThe shipyards
- DThe railways
The post-war government nationalised the railways, coal mines and gas, water and electricity supplies. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
395.Which Act introduced free secondary education in England and Wales?
- AThe National Insurance Act 1948
- BThe Beveridge Act 1942
- CThe Education Act 1944
- DThe Butler Reform Act 1947
The Education Act 1944, often called the Butler Act, introduced free secondary education in England and Wales. (Allied victory and post-war reform)
396.In which year was independence granted to India, Pakistan and Ceylon?
- A1948
- B1947
- C1945
- D1951
Nine countries gained independence in 1947, Ceylon — today Sri Lanka — along with India and Pakistan. (Decolonisation, migration and the 1960s)
397.What is Ceylon now called?
- ABangladesh
- BSri Lanka
- CMyanmar
- DPakistan
Nine countries gained independence in 1947, Ceylon — today Sri Lanka — along with India and Pakistan. (Decolonisation, migration and the 1960s)
398.What was NATO set up to resist?
- AThe spread of fascism across post-war Europe
- BThe decolonisation of Africa and the Caribbean
- CThe perceived threat of invasion by the Soviet Union and its allies
- DThe rearmament of Germany after the war
NATO, joined by the UK, allied nations against the perceived threat of Soviet invasion. (Decolonisation, migration and the 1960s)
399.Which Prime Minister made the ‘wind of change’ speech about decolonisation?
- AMargaret Thatcher
- BWinston Churchill
- CHarold Macmillan
- DClement Attlee
Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was famous for his wind of change speech about decolonisation. (Decolonisation, migration and the 1960s)
400.In which year were people from the West Indies invited to come and work in the UK?
- A1948
- B1968
- C1947
- D1951
In 1948 people from the West Indies were invited to come and work in the UK. (Decolonisation, migration and the 1960s)
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.