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A modern, thriving society questions
There are 166 a modern, thriving society 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.
51.What does Easter Sunday mark?
- AThe death of Jesus Christ upon the cross
- BThe end of the 40 days of Lent
- CThe birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem
- DThe rising of Jesus Christ from the dead
Good Friday marks Christ's death and Easter Sunday his rising from the dead. (Christian festivals)
52.Which TWO Easter days are public holidays?
Choose two
- AEaster Monday
- BEaster Sunday
- CGood Friday
- DShrove Tuesday
Good Friday and Easter Monday are both public holidays. (Christian festivals)
53.How many days before Easter is Lent?
- A50
- B40
- C20
- D30
The 40 days before Easter are known as Lent. (Christian festivals)
54.What is the day before Lent starts called?
- AGood Friday
- BAsh Wednesday
- CPalm Sunday
- DShrove Tuesday
The day before Lent starts is called Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. (Christian festivals)
55.By what other name is Shrove Tuesday known?
- ABoxing Day
- BAsh Wednesday
- CPancake Day
- DMothering Sunday
The day before Lent starts is called Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day. (Christian festivals)
56.On which day does Lent begin?
- AGood Friday
- BShrove Tuesday
- CPalm Sunday
- DAsh Wednesday
Ash Wednesday opens Lent, Christians receiving an ash cross on the forehead for death and sorrow for sin. (Christian festivals)
57.What do chocolate Easter eggs symbolise?
- AThe gifts of the Magi
- BSorrow for sin
- CThe end of fasting
- DNew life
Chocolate Easter eggs are often given as presents at Easter as a symbol of new life. (Christian festivals)
58.Which festival is often called the Festival of Lights?
- ADiwali
- BEid al-Fitr
- CVaisakhi
- DHannukah
Diwali is often called the Festival of Lights and is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs. (Other religious festivals)
59.When does Diwali normally fall?
- AOn 14 April
- BIn October or November
- CIn November or December
- DIn March or April
Diwali normally falls in October or November and lasts for five days. (Other religious festivals)
60.For how many days does Diwali last?
- AThree
- BFive
- COne
- DEight
Diwali normally falls in October or November and lasts for five days. (Other religious festivals)
61.Which TWO faiths celebrate Diwali?
Choose two
- ASikhs
- BMuslims
- CHindus
- DJews
Diwali is often called the Festival of Lights and is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs. (Other religious festivals)
62.In which city is there a famous celebration of Diwali?
- ABirmingham
- BLeicester
- CBradford
- DLondon
There is a famous celebration of Diwali in Leicester. (Other religious festivals)
63.What does Hannukah remember?
- AThe founding of the Khalsa
- BThe end of a month of fasting
- CThe Jews’ struggle for religious freedom
- DThe victory of good over evil
Hannukah remembers the Jews' struggle for religious freedom. (Other religious festivals)
64.For how many days is Hannukah celebrated?
- AEight
- BFive
- CForty
- DThree
Hannukah is in November or December and is celebrated for eight days. (Other religious festivals)
65.What is the stand of eight candles used at Hannukah called?
- AA khalsa
- BA menorah
- CA gurdwara
- DA shamash
During Hannukah a candle is lit each day on a stand of eight candles called a menorah. (Other religious festivals)
66.What does Eid al-Fitr celebrate?
- AThe founding of the Khalsa
- BThe victory of good over evil
- CThe willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son
- DThe end of Ramadan
A month of Muslim fasting, Ramadan, is brought to a close by Eid al-Fitr. (Other religious festivals)
67.For how long do Muslims fast during Ramadan?
- AA week
- BForty days
- CA month
- DThree months
A month of Muslim fasting, Ramadan, is brought to a close by Eid al-Fitr. (Other religious festivals)
68.What does Eid ul Adha remember?
- AThe birth of the prophet
- BThat the prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son
- CThe end of Ramadan
- DThe Jews’ struggle for religious freedom
Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son at God's command is what Eid ul Adha recalls. (Other religious festivals)
69.What does Vaisakhi celebrate?
- AThe founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa
- BThe victory of good over evil
- CThe Jewish struggle for religious freedom
- DThe end of Ramadan
The Khalsa's founding is celebrated by the Sikh festival Vaisakhi, also spelled Baisakhi. (Other religious festivals)
70.On what date is Vaisakhi celebrated?
- A5 November
- B31 October
- C14 April
- D1 March
Vaisakhi is celebrated on 14 April each year with parades, dancing and singing. (Other religious festivals)
71.What is 31 December called in Scotland?
- AHogmanay
- BTwelfth Night
- CSt Andrew’s Night
- DBurns Night
Hogmanay is Scotland's name for 31 December, and 2 January is a public holiday there too. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
72.Which extra day is a public holiday in Scotland at New Year?
- A30 December
- B2 January
- C3 January
- D31 December
Hogmanay is Scotland's name for 31 December, and 2 January is a public holiday there too. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
73.On what date is Valentine’s Day?
- A14 February
- B14 April
- C1 April
- D31 October
Valentine's Day is 14 February, when lovers exchange cards and gifts. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
74.On what date is April Fool’s Day?
- A14 February
- B1 April
- C5 November
- D1 May
April Fool's Day is 1 April, when people play jokes on each other until midday. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
75.Until what time do people play jokes on April Fool’s Day?
- ASunset
- BThere is no time limit
- CMidday
- DMidnight
April Fool's Day is 1 April, when people play jokes on each other until midday. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
76.When is Mothering Sunday?
- AThe first Sunday in the month of May
- BThe third Sunday in the month of June
- CThe Sunday three weeks before Easter
- DThe Sunday immediately following Easter
Mothering Sunday, or Mother's Day, is the Sunday three weeks before Easter. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
77.When is Father’s Day?
- AThe third Sunday in June
- BThe first Sunday in June
- CThe last Sunday in June
- DThe Sunday three weeks before Easter
Father's Day is the third Sunday in June. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
78.On what date is Halloween?
- A31 October
- B1 November
- C5 November
- D11 November
Halloween, 31 October, is an ancient festival with roots in the pagan festival to mark the beginning of winter. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
79.What are Halloween’s roots?
- AA Christian festival honouring the dead
- BA pagan festival to mark the beginning of winter
- CA Celtic harvest festival held in autumn
- DA Roman festival of light and lanterns
Halloween, 31 October, is an ancient festival with roots in the pagan festival to mark the beginning of winter. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
80.On what date is Bonfire Night?
- A11 November
- B5 November
- C31 October
- D1 November
Bonfire Night is 5 November, when people in Great Britain set off fireworks. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
81.What is remembered on Bonfire Night, 5 November?
- AThe end of the First World War in November 1918
- BThe defeat of the Spanish Armada sent against England
- CThe coronation of Queen Elizabeth I at Westminster
- DA failed plot by Guy Fawkes to kill the Protestant king in 1605
In 1605 Guy Fawkes and fellow Catholics planned to bomb the Houses of Parliament and kill the Protestant king, and failed — the origin of Bonfire Night. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
82.On what date is Remembrance Day?
- A11 November
- B1 January
- C31 October
- D5 November
Those who died fighting for the UK and its allies are commemorated on 11 November, Remembrance Day. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
83.What flower do people wear on Remembrance Day?
- AThe thistle
- BThe daffodil
- CThe poppy
- DThe rose
The poppy worn is the red flower of First World War battlefields. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
84.How long is the silence at 11.00 am on Remembrance Day?
- AAn eleven-minute silence
- BA five-minute silence
- CA one-minute silence
- DA two-minute silence
Whitehall's Cenotaph receives wreaths, and a two-minute silence falls at 11.00 am. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
85.Where are wreaths laid on Remembrance Day?
- AAt the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London
- BAt Westminster Abbey
- CAt the Houses of Parliament
- DAt the Tower of London
Whitehall's Cenotaph receives wreaths, and a two-minute silence falls at 11.00 am. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
86.When do bank holidays fall?
- AOnly during the months of December and January
- BOnly at Easter and at Christmas in each year
- CAt the beginning of May, in late May or early June, and in August
- DOn each of the four patron saints’ days in turn
Early May, late May or early June, and August: bank holidays, carrying no religious significance. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
87.Which additional public holiday does Northern Ireland have in July?
- AThe anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne
- BOrange Day
- CThe anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement
- DSt Patrick’s Day
July's Battle of the Boyne anniversary is an additional public holiday in Northern Ireland. (Other festivals and bank holidays)
88.How many times has the UK hosted the Olympic Games?
- AThree
- BOnce
- CFour
- DTwo
Three Olympic Games have been hosted here: 1908, then 1948, then 2012. (Sport)
89.In which years has the UK hosted the Olympic Games?
- A1908, 1948 and 2016
- B1912, 1948 and 2012
- C1908, 1948 and 2012
- D1948, 1966 and 2012
Three Olympic Games have been hosted here: 1908, then 1948, then 2012. (Sport)
90.Where was the main site for the 2012 Olympic Games?
- AManchester
- BCardiff
- CWembley, north London
- DStratford, East London
Stratford in East London held the main site of the 2012 Games. (Sport)
91.Where did the British team finish in the 2012 Olympic medal table?
- AFifth
- BSecond
- CThird
- DFirst
The British team finished third in the medal table at the 2012 Olympic Games. (Sport)
92.Whose work at Stoke Mandeville hospital led to the Paralympics?
- ASir Roger Bannister
- BDame Tanni Grey-Thompson
- CDr Sir Ludwig Guttman
- DFlorence Nightingale
Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman, a German refugee working at Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire, is where the Paralympics began. (Sport)
93.Which is the UK’s most popular sport?
- ACricket
- BTennis
- CRugby
- DFootball
Most popular of British sports is football, its first professional clubs dating from the late 19th century. (Sport)
94.What is the most famous cricket competition?
- AThe Open Championship
- BThe Ashes
- CThe Super League
- DThe Six Nations Championship
The most famous cricket competition is the Ashes, a series of Test matches played between England and Australia. (Sport)
95.Between which two countries is the Ashes played?
- AEngland and Australia
- BEngland and India
- CEngland and the West Indies
- DEngland and South Africa
The most famous cricket competition is the Ashes, a series of Test matches played between England and Australia. (Sport)
96.When was England’s only international football tournament victory?
- AThe World Cup of 1966
- BThe World Cup of 1948
- CThe European Championship of 1996
- DThe World Cup of 2012
One international football trophy has come England's way: the 1966 World Cup, held here. (Sport)
97.Who captained the English football team that won the World Cup in 1966?
- ASir Andy Murray
- BBobby Moore
- CSir Jackie Stewart
- DSir Ian Botham
Bobby Moore captained the English football team that won the World Cup in 1966. (Sport)
98.Which are the two types of rugby?
- ATest and county
- BUnion and league
- CLeague and super
- DUnion and premier
Rugby originated in England in the early 19th century and has two types with different rules, union and league. (Sport)
99.Which countries compete in the Six Nations Championship?
- AEngland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy
- BEngland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia and New Zealand
- CEngland, Wales, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal
- DEngland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, France and Italy
Union rugby's showpiece is the Six Nations, contested by Italy, France, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England. (Sport)
100.Where is the Grand National held?
- ANewmarket in Suffolk
- BAintree near Liverpool
- CAyr in Scotland
- DRoyal Ascot
Three famous races: Royal Ascot; Ayr's Scottish Grand National; and Aintree's Grand National, near Liverpool. (Sport)
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 166 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.