Life in the UK Practice Test 18 of 19

How did James VI of Scotland come to rule England?

• Elizabeth I died in 1603 with no children, and James was her heir as her cousinCorrect
• He invaded England and defeated the English army to claim the throne
• He married Elizabeth I and inherited her throne on her death
• Parliament invited him to be king after deposing Elizabeth I

From the handbook: James became King James I of England, Wales and Ireland, but Scotland remained a separate country.

What was the Battle of Hastings in 1066?

• William, Duke of Normandy defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, becoming William the ConquerorCorrect
• King Alfred the Great defeated a Viking invasion force led by the Danish king
• The Anglo-Saxons defeated a Roman attempt to re-occupy Britain after AD 410
• The Scots defeated an English army attempting to invade Scotland from the north

From the handbook: The Norman Conquest of 1066 was the last successful foreign invasion of England. It is commemorated in the Bayeux Tapestry, which can still be seen in France.

The Grand National is a famous horse race held at which course?

• Cheltenham
• Ascot
• Newmarket
• AintreeCorrect

From the handbook: The Grand National is run at Aintree, near Liverpool, every April. It is the most watched horse race in the UK. Cheltenham hosts the Gold Cup; Ascot hosts Royal Ascot; Newmarket is the home of flat racing.

The Wars of the Roses were fought between which two royal houses?

• Lancaster and YorkCorrect
• Tudor and Stuart
• Plantagenet and Windsor
• Hanover and Saxe-Coburg

From the handbook: The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) were a series of civil wars between the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose). They ended when Henry VII (Tudor) took the throne.

Which courts handle minor criminal cases in different parts of the UK?

• Magistrates' Courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Justice of the Peace Courts in ScotlandCorrect
• Magistrates' Courts in England and Wales; Sheriff Courts in Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Crown Courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Sheriff Courts in Scotland
• Justice of the Peace Courts in England and Wales; Magistrates' Courts in Scotland and Northern Ireland

From the handbook: Magistrates and JPs are members of the local community who usually work unpaid and do not need legal qualifications. In Northern Ireland, cases are heard by a District Judge who is legally qualified and paid.

What is Sir Edward Elgar's best-known work, and where is it traditionally performed?

• The Pomp and Circumstance Marches (Land of Hope and Glory), usually played at the Last Night of the PromsCorrect
• The Planets suite, traditionally performed at the opening of the Edinburgh Festival
• A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, performed in schools across the UK
• The Water Music, traditionally performed at Royal events and state occasions

Who is responsible for forming the government after a general election?

• The leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Lords
• The monarch, who appoints the leader of the largest party in the CommonsCorrect
• The outgoing Prime Minister
• The Electoral Commission

From the handbook: After a general election, the monarch invites the leader of the party with most Commons seats to form a government. The Prime Minister takes office only after being formally appointed by the King or Queen.

What is the Prime Minister's official London residence and country home?

• 10 Downing Street in London; Chequers in the countryCorrect
• 11 Downing Street in London; Windsor Castle in the country
• 10 Downing Street in London; Balmoral Castle in Scotland
• Buckingham Palace in London; Chequers in the country

Who sat in the House of Lords in the medieval English Parliament?

• The nobility, great landowners and bishopsCorrect
• Knights, merchants and wealthy town dwellers
• The king's personal advisers and military commanders
• Representatives elected by all men who owned property

Between which years was the English Civil War fought?

• 1603–1625
• 1642–1651Correct
• 1660–1688
• 1688–1714

The Suffragettes campaigned for which right?

• The right of workers to strike
• Women's right to voteCorrect
• The abolition of slavery
• Universal free education

What legal rights do men and women have equally in the UK? Select all that apply.

• The right to workCorrect
• The right to own propertyCorrect
• The right to marry and divorceCorrect
• Equal pay guaranteed by law in all sectors

From the handbook: It is a legal requirement that men and women should not be discriminated against because of their gender or marital status. If married, both parents are equally responsible for their children.

What is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe known for?

• A showcase of mainly theatre and comedy performances, often showing experimental workCorrect
• A classical music festival featuring the world's leading orchestras
• An international film festival attracting major Hollywood productions
• An annual gathering of Scottish traditional music and Highland games

When did the BBC start radio broadcasts, and when did it begin the world's first regular television service?

• Radio in 1922; television in 1936Correct
• Radio in 1936; television in 1939
• Radio in 1918; television in 1932
• Radio in 1922; television in 1945

What should you know about donating blood and organs in the UK? Select all that apply.

• Giving blood takes about an hourCorrect
• Living people can also donate a kidneyCorrect
• You can register to be an organ donor at organdonation.nhs.ukCorrect
• Blood can only be donated by people under 50 years old

From the handbook: Donated blood is used by hospitals to help people with a wide range of injuries and illnesses. Registering as an organ donor makes it easier for your family to make decisions when you die.

Which of the following is a responsibility of UK citizens?

• Serving in the armed forces
• Paying all their taxes and obeying the lawCorrect
• Joining a trade union
• Attending at least one civic ceremony per year

What is the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)?

• To lead day-to-day policing operations in a force area
• To hold the chief constable to account and set the policing plan for the areaCorrect
• To prosecute criminal cases on behalf of the Crown
• To manage prison services in a region

Which of the following are responsibilities expected of permanent residents and citizens of the UK? Select all that apply.

• Respect and obey the lawCorrect
• Treat others with fairnessCorrect
• Look after yourself and your familyCorrect
• Attend a place of worship regularly

How many national parks are there in England, Wales and Scotland?

• 15Correct
• 10
• 12
• 20

What is the currency of the UK?

• The pound sterling (£), divided into 100 pence; notes come in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominationsCorrect
• The pound sterling (£), divided into 100 pence; notes come in £1, £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations
• The euro (€), shared with most European Union countries; coins range from 1 cent to £2
• The pound sterling (£), divided into 100 pence; the highest denomination coin is £5

From the handbook: Coins come in 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2 denominations. Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own banknotes, which are valid everywhere in the UK though shops do not have to accept them.

How many British casualties resulted from the attack on the Somme on the first day alone in July 1916?

• About 60,000Correct
• About 6,000
• About 600,000
• About 20,000

What is the capital city of Wales?

• Swansea
• CardiffCorrect
• Newport
• Bangor

Which composer wrote Water Music for King George I and the oratorio Messiah?

• George Frederick HandelCorrect
• Henry Purcell
• Gustav Holst
• Sir Edward Elgar

From the handbook: Handel was German-born but spent many years in the UK and became a British citizen in 1727. Messiah is regularly sung by choirs, often at Easter.

Which of the following are traditional foods associated with specific parts of the UK? Select all that apply.

• Haggis in ScotlandCorrect
• Ulster fry in Northern IrelandCorrect
• Welsh cakes in WalesCorrect
• Cornish pasty in England (as the national dish)

From the handbook: Traditional English food includes roast beef with Yorkshire puddings and fish and chips. The Cornish pasty is regional, not a national dish.