Life in the UK Test practice test 21
24 questions, no clock, with the answer explained as you go. Use the timed exams when you want to know if you are ready.
Free to read, always
All 24 questions and answers
Every question here was checked by hand against Life in the UK: A Guide for New Residents (3rd edition). How we check
1.Which advantage do supporters of an unwritten constitution give?
- AIt is cheaper to maintain than a written one
- BIt prevents devolution to Scotland and Wales
- CIt allows for more flexibility and better government
- DIt gives the monarch more power than otherwise
Some people believe there should be a single constitutional document, while others believe an unwritten constitution allows for more flexibility and better government. (The British constitution)
2.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)
3.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)
4.Who mapped the coast of Australia?
- ASir Francis Drake
- BSir Francis Chichester
- CCaptain James Cook
- DSir Walter Raleigh
Captain James Cook mapped the coast of Australia. (The Industrial Revolution)
5.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)
6.In which year did Ireland become unified with England, Scotland and Wales?
- A1922
- B1707
- C1800
- D1801
Following the Act of Union of 1800, Ireland joined England, Scotland and Wales from 1801. (The Union Flag)
7.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)
8.Where was the first tennis club founded?
- ALeamington Spa
- BAscot
- CSt Andrews
- DWimbledon
Modern tennis evolved in England in the late 19th century and the first tennis club was founded in Leamington Spa in 1872. (Sport)
9.What is notable about The Open Championship?
- AIt is the only Major golf tournament held outside the United States
- BIt is always held at St Andrews
- CIt is the only Major played on grass
- DIt is the oldest golf tournament in the world
The Open Championship is the only Major golf tournament held outside the United States. (Sport)
10.How many national parks are there in England, Wales and Scotland?
- A5
- B15
- C10
- D20
There are 15 national parks in England, Wales and Scotland. (Arts, culture and leisure)
11.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)
12.Which place is known as the home of golf?
- ALeamington Spa
- BSt Andrews
- CRoyal Ascot
- DWimbledon
St Andrews in Scotland is known as the home of golf. (Sport)
13.Why was the London Eye originally built?
- AFor the Great Exhibition
- BFor Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee
- CFor the 2012 Olympic Games
- DAs part of the UK’s celebration of the new millennium
Millennium celebrations were the reason the London Eye was built. (Landmarks and places of interest)
14.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)
15.In which TWO countries of the UK is the patron saint’s day an official holiday?
Choose two
- AScotland
- BEngland
- CWales
- DNorthern Ireland
Official holiday status for the patron saint's day belongs to Northern Ireland and Scotland alone. (Patron saints)
16.About how long ago did Britain become permanently separated from the continent?
- AAbout 4,000 years ago
- BAbout 2,000 years ago
- CAbout 10,000 years ago
- DAbout 6,000 years ago
About 10,000 years ago the Channel cut Britain off from the continent for good. (Early Britain)
17.At what age is it legal to be sold tobacco products?
- A16
- B21
- C18
- D17
It is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. (Criminal and civil law)
18.Which system does Scotland use for children who have committed an offence?
- AYouth conferencing
- BThe Youth Court
- CThe Children’s Hearings System
- DThe Justice of the Peace Court
Children and young people who have offended are dealt with in Scotland through the Children's Hearings System. (The courts)
19.By what other name is Father Christmas known?
- AThe Christmas Man
- BSanta Claus
- CSt Nicholas
- DOld Nick
Father Christmas is also known as Santa Claus. (Christian festivals)
20.On what date is St David’s Day?
- A23 April
- B30 November
- C1 March
- D17 March
St David's Day, for Wales, is 1 March. (Patron saints)
21.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)
22.What has no monarch done since Charles I tried to arrest five parliamentary leaders?
- AAppointed a Prime Minister
- BSet foot in the House of Commons
- CRefused to grant royal assent
- DDissolved Parliament
No monarch has set foot in the House of Commons since Charles I tried to arrest five parliamentary leaders. (The English Civil War)
23.Which organisation campaigns on the environment?
- AThe CBI
- BThe Appointments Commission
- CGreenpeace
- DLiberty
Greenpeace campaigns on the environment and Liberty campaigns on human rights. (Parties, pressure groups, the civil service and local government)
24.How long is the Proms season?
- AA two-week season
- BA four-week season
- CA twelve-week season
- DAn eight-week season
The Proms is an eight-week summer season of orchestral classical music organised by the BBC since 1927. (Arts, culture and leisure)