Life in the UK Practice Test 17 of 19

During which prehistoric age did people first begin using iron tools in Britain?

• Stone Age
• Bronze Age
• Iron AgeCorrect
• Copper Age

How is healthcare provided by the NHS at the point of use for most services?

• Patients pay a fixed annual fee
• It is free at the point of use, funded by taxationCorrect
• Patients pay per visit and claim reimbursement later
• It is funded entirely by charitable donations

What is the legal status of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK?

• It is illegal in the UK; practising FGM or taking a girl or woman abroad for FGM is a criminal offenceCorrect
• It is illegal unless carried out in a registered medical facility by a qualified surgeon
• It is regulated but not illegal, provided it is carried out with the consent of the adult woman
• It is illegal only when carried out on girls under 16; adults over 16 can consent to the procedure

Which of the following cannot stand for election to the House of Commons?

• Members of the House of LordsCorrect
• Citizens of the Irish Republic resident in the UK
• Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over
• Former civil servants who have retired

From the handbook: Members of the armed forces, civil servants and people convicted of certain criminal offences also cannot stand for public office. Members of the House of Lords are eligible for all other public offices.

Who played an important role in abolishing the British slave trade?

• William Wilberforce, an evangelical Christian and Member of ParliamentCorrect
• Robert Burns, the Scottish poet and reformer
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who used freed slaves as labourers
• Florence Nightingale, who campaigned for humane treatment

Which British architect designed St Paul's Cathedral after the Great Fire of London?

• Inigo Jones
• Christopher WrenCorrect
• John Nash
• Norman Foster

From the handbook: Sir Christopher Wren designed St Paul's Cathedral after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The dome is one of the largest in the world. Wren's epitaph inside reads: "Si monumentum requiris, circumspice" (If you seek his monument, look around).

What are the two types of rugby played in the UK and what is the most famous competition in each?

• Rugby union (Six Nations Championship) and rugby league (Super League)Correct
• Rugby union (Super League) and rugby league (Six Nations Championship)
• Rugby union (Premiership) and rugby league (World Club Challenge)
• Rugby union (Six Nations) and rugby league (Challenge Cup)

From the handbook: The Six Nations Championship is played between England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. Rugby originated in England in the early 19th century.

What can visitors see at the Tower of London, and who gives the tours?

• Visitors can see the Crown Jewels; tours are given by Yeoman Warders, also known as BeefeatersCorrect
• Visitors can see medieval weapons and armour; tours are given by members of the Household Cavalry
• Visitors can see the original Magna Carta; tours are given by Historic England guides
• Visitors can see the Crown Jewels; tours are given by members of the Coldstream Guards

From the handbook: The Tower of London was first built by William the Conqueror after he became king in 1066.

What are the two Houses of Parliament?

• The House of Commons and the House of LordsCorrect
• The Senate and the House of Representatives
• The Upper House and the Lower Assembly
• The Crown and the Cabinet

How many Houses did the medieval Scottish Parliament have, and what were they called?

• Three Houses called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergyCorrect
• Two Houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons
• Four Houses representing the lords, clergy, merchants and landowners
• One House in which all landowners sat together

The Edinburgh Festival, the world's largest arts festival, takes place in which month?

• June
• July
• AugustCorrect
• September

What is a constitutional monarchy?

• The king or queen does not rule the country but appoints the government chosen by the people in a democratic electionCorrect
• The king or queen rules the country directly but must seek Parliament's approval for all legislation
• The king or queen is the supreme head of government with powers checked by a written constitution
• The king or queen is elected by Parliament and serves for a fixed term as head of state

From the handbook: The monarch invites the leader of the party with the largest number of MPs to become Prime Minister. The monarch has regular meetings with the PM and can advise, warn and encourage.

In which year did Britain fight in the Battle of Waterloo, defeating Napoleon?

• 1805
• 1812
• 1815Correct
• 1820

From the handbook: The Battle of Waterloo (18 June 1815) ended the Napoleonic Wars. Wellington's allied forces and the Prussian army defeated Napoleon, who was then exiled to St Helena.

Who were the first two people to sail solo around the world, and what distinguished their voyages?

• Sir Francis Chichester (1966/67) was first to do it single-handed; Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (two years later) was first to do it without stoppingCorrect
• Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (1966/67) was first to do it single-handed; Sir Francis Chichester (two years later) was first to do it without stopping
• Dame Ellen MacArthur was the first to sail solo around the world in 2004, breaking all previous records
• Sir Francis Chichester was first to sail solo around the world in 1966/67; Dame Ellen MacArthur became the fastest in 2004

From the handbook: The most famous sailing event in the UK is at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Dame Ellen MacArthur became the fastest person to sail around the world single-handed in 2004.

What is Snowdon and why is it significant?

• The highest mountain in Wales and the most well-known landmark in Snowdonia, a national park in North WalesCorrect
• The highest mountain in the UK, located in the Scottish Highlands within the Cairngorms National Park
• The highest peak in England, located in the Lake District and popular with walkers and climbers
• The highest mountain in Wales, located in the Brecon Beacons national park in South Wales

From the handbook: Snowdonia national park covers 838 square miles (2,170 square kilometres) in North Wales.

When do bank holidays fall in England, Wales and Scotland? Select all that apply.

• At the beginning of MayCorrect
• In late May or early JuneCorrect
• In AugustCorrect
• In October

From the handbook: Bank holidays have no religious significance. In Northern Ireland, the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in July is also a public holiday.

What proportion of England's population died during the Black Death of 1348?

• One thirdCorrect
• One quarter
• Half
• One fifth

From the handbook: A similar proportion died in Scotland and Wales. It was one of the worst disasters ever to strike Britain.

What is the Eden Project and where is it located?

• A series of giant greenhouse biomes housing plants from around the world, located in Cornwall, and also a charity running environmental projects internationallyCorrect
• A botanical garden in Kew, west London, housing the world's largest collection of living plants
• A nature reserve in Scotland containing plants native to the Scottish Highlands, managed by the National Trust for Scotland
• A science museum in Bristol exploring environmental and climate issues, funded by the BBC

What did Andy Murray achieve in 2012 that no British man had done since 1936?

• He won the men's singles title at the US Open, becoming the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles title since 1936Correct
• He won Wimbledon, becoming the first British man to win the singles title at Wimbledon since 1936
• He reached the final of all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single year
• He won an Olympic gold medal in singles tennis, the first British man to do so since 1936

From the handbook: In 2012, Murray also won Olympic gold and silver medals and was runner-up in the men's singles at Wimbledon.

Who needs a television licence in the UK?

• Everyone with a TV, computer or other medium that can be used for watching TVCorrect
• Only households with a television set; computers and mobile devices are exempt
• Only people who watch BBC programmes; other channels do not require a licence
• Only commercial businesses; private households are exempt from the licence fee

From the handbook: The fine for watching TV without a licence can be up to £1,000. People over 75 can apply for a free TV licence and blind people can get a 50% discount.

What are the three key roles of school governors and school board members?

• Setting the strategic direction of the school; ensuring accountability; monitoring and evaluating school performanceCorrect
• Managing the school budget; hiring teaching staff; setting the curriculum
• Representing parents at local council meetings; fundraising for the school; appointing the headteacher
• Inspecting school facilities; reviewing Ofsted reports; setting local authority targets

From the handbook: Governors and school board members must be aged 18 or over. There is no upper age limit. They play an important part in raising school standards.

Which Protestant Christian groups exist in the UK? Select all that apply.

• BaptistsCorrect
• MethodistsCorrect
• QuakersCorrect
• Mormons

From the handbook: Other Protestant groups include Presbyterians. The biggest non-Protestant Christian denomination in the UK is Roman Catholic.

Who led the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948?

• Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, the Minister for HealthCorrect
• Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister
• William Beveridge, the social reformer
• R A Butler, the Secretary of State for Education

What did the Statute of Rhuddlan (1284) do?

• It annexed Wales to the Crown of England under King Edward ICorrect
• It granted Wales its own parliament and system of laws
• It united Scotland with England under a single monarch
• It established the Pale as the area of English rule in Ireland

From the handbook: Huge castles including Conwy and Caernarvon were built to maintain English power in Wales.