Life in the UK Test practice test 33
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 prize celebrates contemporary art?
- AThe Man Booker Prize
- BThe Brit Awards
- CThe Mercury Prize
- DThe Turner Prize
The Turner Prize was established in 1984 and celebrates contemporary art. (Arts, culture and leisure)
2.What does each parliamentary constituency elect?
- AOne member of Parliament
- BOne peer
- CTwo members of Parliament
- DOne councillor
The UK is divided into parliamentary constituencies, and voters in each elect their member of Parliament in a General Election. (The House of Commons and the House of Lords)
3.Who is the patron saint of Wales?
- ASt David
- BSt Patrick
- CSt George
- DSt Andrew
St David's Day, for Wales, is 1 March. (Patron saints)
4.What were women who campaigned for the vote known as?
- AAbolitionists
- BChartists
- CSuffragettes
- DFenians
Women who campaigned for the right to vote formed the women's suffrage movement and became known as suffragettes. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)
5.What was the Crystal Palace made of?
- AConcrete and glass
- BIron and glass
- CBrick and steel
- DStone and timber
Hyde Park held the Great Exhibition of 1851, staged inside the Crystal Palace — iron and glass on a huge scale. (Victorian trade, industry and the Crimean War)
6.What were James II’s supporters known as?
- AJacobites
- BWhigs
- CCavaliers
- DRoundheads
James II's supporters became known as Jacobites. (A Catholic king and the Glorious Revolution)
7.Who advocated Home Rule for Ireland?
- AClement Attlee
- BEmmeline Pankhurst
- CWilliam Wilberforce
- DCharles Stuart Parnell
Home Rule, argued for by Charles Stuart Parnell, would have given Ireland its own parliament inside the UK. (Ireland in the 19th century and the right to vote)
8.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)
9.Whom does the monarch invite to become Prime Minister?
- AThe leader chosen by the House of Lords
- BThe leader of the party with the most votes nationally
- CThe Speaker of the House of Commons
- DThe leader of the party with the largest number of MPs, or of a coalition
An invitation to become Prime Minister goes to whoever leads the party holding most MPs, or leads a coalition. (The monarchy)
10.What else did Isaac Newton discover?
- AThat white light is made up of the colours of the rainbow
- BThe law of the conservation of energy
- CThe circulation of the blood around the body
- DThe existence of radio waves in the atmosphere
Gravity acting across the whole universe was Newton's demonstration, and he also found white light to hold the rainbow's colours. (The Restoration)
11.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)
12.What are other ministers in charge of departments called?
- AParliamentary Under-Secretaries
- BShadow ministers
- CMinisters of State
- DSecretaries of State
Other ministers are called Secretaries of State and are responsible for subjects such as education, health and defence. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)
13.Which of these is a UK banknote denomination?
- A£100
- B£50
- C£25
- D£2
See "Money, languages and traditional food" in the official study guide.
14.What are judges responsible for?
- AMaking the new laws that Parliament approves
- BInterpreting the law and ensuring trials are conducted fairly
- CInvestigating crimes reported to the police
- DProsecuting criminal cases in the Crown Court
Interpreting law, and keeping trials fair, is the work of judges — the judiciary. (The courts)
15.For roughly how long did Queen Victoria reign?
- AAlmost 44 years
- BAlmost 24 years
- CAlmost 64 years
- DAlmost 74 years
Queen Victoria reigned until 1901, almost 64 years. (The Victorian Age and the British Empire)
16.When is Auld Lang Syne traditionally sung?
- AAt Christmas
- BAt New Year
- COn Burns Night
- DOn St Andrew’s Day
Auld Lang Syne is sung when people celebrate the New Year, called Hogmanay in Scotland. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)
17.Is female genital mutilation legal in the UK?
- AOnly where it is carried out abroad rather than here
- BOnly where it is carried out with the consent of both parents
- CNo, and taking a girl or woman abroad for it is also a criminal offence
- DYes, where it is performed with medical consent
Practising female genital mutilation or taking a girl or woman abroad for it is a criminal offence. (Fundamental principles and equal opportunities)
18.Which system are members of the devolved bodies elected by?
- AFirst past the post
- BAppointment by the monarch
- CThe single-member plurality system
- DA form of proportional representation
There are 129 members of the Scottish Parliament, known as MSPs, elected by a form of proportional representation. (Devolved administrations)
19.Which statute annexed Wales to the Crown of England?
- AMagna Carta
- BThe Act for the Government of Wales
- CThe Statute of Rhuddlan
- DThe Act of Union
Wales was annexed to the Crown of England by Edward I's Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)
20.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)
21.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)
22.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)
23.For how long was Britain a republic?
- A11 years
- B2 years
- C20 years
- D5 years
Britain was a republic for 11 years. (Cromwell and the English republic)
24.Which is the best-known convention drawn up by the Council of Europe?
- AThe European Convention on Human Rights
- BThe Treaty of Rome
- CThe Geneva Convention
- DThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The best-known convention of the Council of Europe is the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. (The UK and international institutions)