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Life in the UK Test

Life in the UK Test practice test 40

24 questions, no clock, with the answer explained as you go. Use the timed exams when you want to know if you are ready.

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All 24 questions and answers

  1. 1.Which language of the new ruling class influenced English after 1066?

    • ALatin
    • BOld Norse
    • CAnglo-Saxon
    • DNorman French

    English developed under the influence of Norman French, spoken by the new ruling class. (The Norman Conquest)

  2. 2.What does the cross of St Andrew look like?

    • AA diagonal white cross on a blue ground
    • BA red cross on a white ground
    • CA diagonal red cross on a white ground
    • DA white cross on a red ground

    Scotland's St Andrew brings a diagonal white cross on blue ground. (The Union Flag)

  3. 3.What is the shadow cabinet?

    • AA select committee of the House of Lords
    • BSenior opposition MPs appointed to challenge the government
    • CThe junior ministers serving in each department
    • DThe group of independent MPs in the Commons

    The leader of the opposition appoints senior opposition MPs to be shadow ministers, who form the shadow cabinet. (The Prime Minister, the cabinet and the opposition)

  4. 4.Which TWO are responsibilities of everyone living in the UK?

    Choose two

    • ARespect and obey the law
    • BServe in the armed forces
    • CTreat others with fairness
    • DJoin a political party

    Residents should respect and obey the law. (Responsibilities and freedoms)

  5. 5.Approximately how long is that distance?

    • AAbout 870 miles
    • BAbout 400 miles
    • CAbout 1,870 miles
    • DAbout 250 miles

    The distance from John O'Groats to Land's End is about 870 miles, approximately 1,400 kilometres. (Capital cities and geography)

  6. 6.Who defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings?

    • ARobert the Bruce
    • BCnut of Denmark
    • CAlfred the Great
    • DWilliam, Duke of Normandy

    In 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, at the Battle of Hastings. (The Norman Conquest)

  7. 7.On what date is Christmas Day?

    • A25 December
    • B1 January
    • C24 December
    • D26 December

    Christmas Day, 25 December, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is a public holiday. (Christian festivals)

  8. 8.Between which two points is the longest distance on the UK mainland?

    • ALand’s End and Dover
    • BJohn O’Groats and Cardiff
    • CJohn O’Groats and Land’s End
    • DBelfast and London

    The longest distance on the mainland is from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in England. (Capital cities and geography)

  9. 9.In which year did the first Jews since the Middle Ages settle in London?

    • A1720
    • B1680
    • C1707
    • D1656

    London received Britain's first Jewish settlers since the Middle Ages in 1656. (The Act of Union and the first Prime Minister)

  10. 10.Who is the patron saint of Northern Ireland?

    • ASt David
    • BSt Patrick
    • CSt George
    • DSt Andrew

    St Patrick's Day, for Northern Ireland, is 17 March. (Patron saints)

  11. 11.Which country invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982?

    • AArgentina
    • BBrazil
    • CSpain
    • DChile

    Argentina seized the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory of the South Atlantic, in 1982. (The 1970s onwards, Thatcher, Blair and Brexit)

  12. 12.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)

  13. 13.What share of the UK population has a parent or grandparent born outside the UK?

    • ANearly 10%
    • BNearly 3%
    • CNearly 50%
    • DNearly 25%

    Nearly 10% of the population of the UK has a parent or grandparent born outside the UK. (Population and diversity)

  14. 14.Who developed the jet engine?

    • ASir Christopher Cockerell
    • BSir Frank Whittle
    • CJohn Logie Baird
    • DSir Bernard Lovell

    Sir Frank Whittle developed the jet engine here in the 1930s. (British inventions of the 20th century)

  15. 15.Which TWO developments made the Industrial Revolution possible?

    Choose two

    • AThe use of steam power
    • BThe repeal of the Corn Laws
    • CThe building of the railways
    • DThe development of machinery

    Cloth, lace and similar goods made at home were the work of cottage industries. (The Industrial Revolution)

  16. 16.What is the minimum age to be a school governor?

    • A16
    • B21
    • C18
    • D25

    Jury service can fall to anyone on the electoral register aged 18-70, or 18-75 in England and Wales. (Taxation, driving and your role in the community)

  17. 17.What is the London Eye?

    • AA bridge carrying walkers across the Thames
    • BA Ferris wheel on the southern bank of the Thames
    • CA viewing platform at the top of the Shard
    • DAn observatory standing at Greenwich

    The London Eye is a Ferris wheel 443 feet tall on the southern bank of the River Thames. (Landmarks and places of interest)

  18. 18.Where is Snowdonia?

    • ASouth Wales
    • BNorthern Ireland
    • CNorth Wales
    • DThe Scottish Highlands

    Snowdonia is a national park in North Wales covering an area of 838 square miles. (Landmarks and places of interest)

  19. 19.Since which year has the Man Booker Prize for Fiction been awarded?

    • A1927
    • B1968
    • C1984
    • D1952

    The Man Booker Prize for Fiction has been awarded since 1968. (Arts, culture and leisure)

  20. 20.What was the area of Ireland ruled by the English around Dublin called?

    • AThe Danelaw
    • BUlster
    • CThe Pale
    • DThe Marches

    Around Dublin lay the Pale, English-ruled by 1200. (The Middle Ages: war at home and abroad)

  21. 21.Whose ideas about human nature continue to influence philosophers?

    • ADavid Hume
    • BJames Watt
    • CAdam Smith
    • DSir Isaac Newton

    David Hume's ideas about human nature continue to influence philosophers. (The rebellion of the clans and the Enlightenment)

  22. 22.Which TWO are Crown dependencies?

    Choose two

    • AThe Channel Islands
    • BSt Helena
    • CThe Isle of Man
    • DThe Falkland Islands

    The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies and are not part of the UK. (The countries of the UK)

  23. 23.In which year was the Battle of Hastings?

    • A1215
    • B1066
    • C1485
    • D1415

    In 1066 William, Duke of Normandy, defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, at the Battle of Hastings. (The Norman Conquest)

  24. 24.Which is the official Church of the state in England?

    • AThe Roman Catholic Church
    • BThe Church of Scotland
    • CThe Church of England
    • DThe Methodist Church

    The official Church of the state in England is the Church of England. (Religion in the UK)

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