Life in the UK Practice Test 15 of 19

What is Hogmanay and why is it significant in Scotland?

• The Scottish New Year's Eve celebration on 31 December; for some Scots it is a bigger holiday than Christmas, and 2 January is also a public holidayCorrect
• The Scottish celebration of Burns Night on 25 January, honouring the poet Robert Burns with haggis and poetry
• A Scottish winter festival in early February marking the end of the Christmas holiday season
• A traditional Scottish celebration on 30 November, the feast day of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland

What is the minimum age for jury service in the UK?

• 16
• 18Correct
• 21
• 25

Why did the British government encourage immigration from the West Indies, India and Pakistan during the 1950s?

• There was a shortage of labour needed to rebuild and run the economyCorrect
• The government wanted to increase cultural diversity in British cities
• Former colonies were owed preferential immigration rights by treaty
• Britain needed to increase its population following wartime losses

How many Oscars has animator Nick Park won, and for which characters is he best known?

• Four Oscars, including three for films featuring Wallace and GromitCorrect
• Two Oscars, for the animated feature films Aardman produced for Hollywood studios
• Three Oscars, for his stop-motion technique pioneered at Aardman Animations
• Four Oscars, including two for the Shaun the Sheep film series

What is Hansard?

• The official written report of proceedings in ParliamentCorrect
• The name for the televised coverage of Prime Minister's Questions
• The register of all MPs and their declared financial interests
• The government's official annual report on public spending

From the handbook: Proceedings in Parliament are broadcast on television and published in Hansard. The UK has a free press, but TV and radio must give balanced coverage to political parties.

The public house (pub) has been described as an important social institution in Britain because it serves what role?

• It is a government-licensed venue for political meetings
• It acts as a community meeting place central to British social lifeCorrect
• It exclusively serves alcohol to adults over 21
• It is a place where citizens pay local taxes

Florence Nightingale is famous for her work during which war?

• The First World War
• The Boer War
• The Crimean WarCorrect
• The Napoleonic Wars

From the handbook: Florence Nightingale revolutionised nursing during the Crimean War (1853–1856), drastically reducing death rates in military hospitals. She is known as "the lady with the lamp".

What are the hours of polling stations on election day?

• 7.00 am until 10.00 pmCorrect
• 8.00 am until 8.00 pm
• 7.00 am until 8.00 pm
• 9.00 am until 10.00 pm

From the handbook: In Northern Ireland you must show photographic identification at the polling station. You can register for a postal ballot if it is difficult to get to a polling station.

Diwali is celebrated by which religious communities in the UK? Select all that apply.

• HindusCorrect
• SikhsCorrect
• Muslims
• Buddhists

From the handbook: Diwali is often called the Festival of Lights and celebrates the victory of good over evil. There is a famous Diwali celebration in Leicester.

Where can you find the application forms and list of fees for permanent residence or citizenship?

• The UK Border Agency websiteCorrect
• The local council offices
• The nearest police station
• The Department for Work and Pensions website

Who discovered penicillin, and in what year?

• Alexander Fleming, in 1928Correct
• Howard Florey, in 1940
• Ernest Rutherford, in 1935
• John MacLeod, in 1921

From the handbook: Fleming discovered penicillin while researching influenza. It was further developed by Howard Florey and Ernst Chain and was in mass production by the 1940s.

Which of the following are shared values and responsibilities of citizens in the UK? Select all that apply.

• To obey and respect the lawCorrect
• To treat everyone equally regardless of sex, race, religion, age, disability, class or sexual orientationCorrect
• To vote in local and national government electionsCorrect
• To speak English as the primary language in all public interactions

From the handbook: Other responsibilities include being aware of the rights of others, treating others with fairness, behaving responsibly, helping and protecting your family, respecting the environment, working to provide for yourself and your family, and helping others.

Why is the House of Commons regarded as the more important of the two chambers of Parliament?

• Its members are democratically elected; the Prime Minister and almost all cabinet members are MPsCorrect
• It has the power to veto all legislation proposed by the House of Lords
• It is the older of the two chambers, having been established before the House of Lords
• It is the only chamber that can raise and spend public money

From the handbook: MPs represent everyone in their constituency, help create new laws, scrutinise government, and debate important national issues.

Why was Britain the first country to industrialise on a large scale?

• The development of machinery and the use of steam powerCorrect
• Britain had the world's largest coal reserves and exploited them first
• The British government invested heavily in state-owned factories
• Britain's island geography protected it from European wars, enabling development

The Spanish Armada attempted to invade England in which year?

• 1558
• 1570
• 1588Correct
• 1605

Which of the following is one of the responsibilities expected of those wishing to be a permanent resident of the UK?

• Look after the area in which you live and the environmentCorrect
• Volunteer for the armed forces reserve
• Register with a political party
• Attend English language classes for at least one year

Which city hosts the annual Notting Hill Carnival, one of the largest street festivals in Europe?

• Birmingham
• Manchester
• LondonCorrect
• Bristol

What was the first television broadcast made between, in 1932, by John Logie Baird?

• London and GlasgowCorrect
• London and Edinburgh
• London and Birmingham
• London and Manchester

What are the protected characteristics under UK equality law? Select all that apply.

• AgeCorrect
• DisabilityCorrect
• RaceCorrect
• Political opinion

From the handbook: Other protected characteristics include sex, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sexuality and marital status. Political opinion is not a protected characteristic in the same way.

What were the Wars of the Roses, and which two families fought in them?

• A civil war from 1455 between the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose)Correct
• A series of border wars between England and Scotland from 1455, named after regional symbols
• A religious conflict between Catholic Lancaster and Protestant York in the 15th century
• A war between England and France in which English roses symbolised the two sides of the conflict

Who led the English forces at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415?

• King Richard II
• King Henry VCorrect
• King Edward III
• King Henry VIII

What is Boxing Day and when does it fall?

• A public holiday on 26 December, the day after Christmas DayCorrect
• A public holiday on 24 December, the day before Christmas Day
• A bank holiday in late December with no fixed date
• A Scottish holiday celebrating New Year traditions

What powers are reserved to the UK Parliament and cannot be devolved?

• Defence, foreign affairs, immigration, taxation and social securityCorrect
• Health, education, housing and economic development
• Justice, policing, agriculture and the environment
• Defence and foreign affairs only; all other matters can be devolved

From the handbook: Since 1997, many powers have been devolved to give people in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland more control over matters that directly affect them.

Which of the following are British Formula 1 World Champions? Select all that apply.

• Damon HillCorrect
• Lewis HamiltonCorrect
• Jenson ButtonCorrect
• Sir Jackie StewartCorrect

From the handbook: Sir Jackie Stewart won the F1 World Championship three times. Motor-car racing in the UK started in 1902.