Life in the UK Practice Test 5 of 19

Which of the following is a devolved legislature in the United Kingdom?

• The House of Commons
• The House of Lords
• The Scottish ParliamentCorrect
• The Privy Council

What is The Canterbury Tales and who wrote it?

• A collection of poems by Geoffrey Chaucer about a group of people on a pilgrimage to CanterburyCorrect
• A history of the English Church written by William Caxton in the 14th century
• A series of Scottish poems by John Barbour about the Battle of Bannockburn
• A Norman French epic poem translated into English by an unknown medieval author

From the handbook: The Canterbury Tales was one of the first books to be printed by William Caxton, the first person in England to print books using a printing press.

What title was Oliver Cromwell given when he became leader of the English republic?

• Lord ProtectorCorrect
• President
• Prime Minister
• Lord Chancellor

From the handbook: England declared itself a republic called the Commonwealth after Charles I's execution. Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector until his death in 1658.

Why was Hadrian's Wall built?

• To mark the border between England and Wales
• To defend the northern frontier of Roman Britain from tribes to the northCorrect
• To prevent flooding along the River Tyne
• To serve as a trade route across northern England

Which missionaries helped spread Christianity to Britain? Select all that apply.

• St Patrick, who became the patron saint of IrelandCorrect
• St Columba, who founded a monastery on the island of IonaCorrect
• St Augustine, who spread Christianity in the south and became the first Archbishop of CanterburyCorrect
• St George, who converted the Anglo-Saxon kings of England

From the handbook: St George is the patron saint of England but is not associated with spreading Christianity to Britain. Missionaries from Ireland spread the religion in the north.

On which date is St David's Day celebrated?

• 1 MarchCorrect
• 17 March
• 23 April
• 30 November

Which long-running British film franchise features the fictional spy James Bond?

• The Carry On series
• The Ealing Comedies series
• The Eon Productions / James Bond seriesCorrect
• The Harry Potter series

Which of the following best describes the concept of mutual respect and tolerance as a British value?

• Everyone must follow the same religion
• People with different beliefs should be treated with respectCorrect
• Tolerance means accepting all behaviour regardless of the law
• Respect is only owed to people born in the UK

Who is eligible to vote in UK General Elections?

• Adult citizens of the UK, and citizens of the Commonwealth and the Irish Republic who are resident in the UKCorrect
• All adult residents of the UK regardless of nationality
• Only British citizens who were born in the UK or naturalised as British citizens
• Adult citizens of the UK and all EU citizens resident in the UK

From the handbook: Adult citizens of other EU states resident in the UK can vote in all elections except General Elections. The UK has had a fully democratic voting system since 1928.

People on which types of work visa are normally required to pass the Life in the UK test to become permanent residents?

• Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the points based systemCorrect
• Student visas and family reunion visas
• Seasonal worker visas and diplomatic visas
• Visitor visas and transit visas

In what year did it become illegal to trade slaves in British ships or from British ports?

• 1807Correct
• 1789
• 1833
• 1776

From the handbook: The Emancipation Act of 1833 then abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. William Wilberforce was a key figure in achieving abolition.

In what year did Ireland become two separate countries?

• 1922Correct
• 1916
• 1921
• 1949

From the handbook: The six northern counties (mainly Protestant) became Northern Ireland, remaining part of the UK. The rest became the Irish Free State, which became a republic in 1949.

Norman Foster is a renowned British architect. Which iconic London building did he design?

• The Shard
• The Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe)Correct
• The Millennium Dome
• Tate Modern

Which scientist, born in Woolsthorpe, Lincolnshire in 1643, developed the laws of motion and gravity?

• Charles Darwin
• Michael Faraday
• Isaac NewtonCorrect
• Robert Hooke

What tactics did the suffragettes use to campaign for women's votes?

• Civil disobedience including chaining themselves to railings, smashing windows and going on hunger strikeCorrect
• Presenting peaceful petitions to Parliament and publishing pamphlets
• Standing as parliamentary candidates and winning seats in the House of Commons
• Organising nationwide strikes to force Parliament to act

From the handbook: Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903, the first group whose members were called suffragettes.

What is the main function of local councils in the UK?

• To pass national legislation
• To deliver local services such as rubbish collection, planning, and local roadsCorrect
• To manage immigration and border controls
• To elect members of the House of Lords

What is the National Eisteddfod of Wales?

• An annual cultural festival including music, dance, art and performances largely in Welsh, with competitions for Welsh poetryCorrect
• A Welsh parliament session held annually to debate cultural and language policy
• A series of classical music concerts touring Wales each summer
• A national competition for Welsh schools to perform traditional folk songs

The Turner Prize is awarded in the field of which creative discipline?

• Literature
• Music
• Visual artCorrect
• Theatre

What is Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's sporting record?

• She won 16 Paralympic medals (including 11 gold) across five Paralympic Games, won the London Marathon six times, and broke 30 world recordsCorrect
• She won 11 Paralympic swimming medals and holds world records in six different events
• She won gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games and was the youngest member of the British team
• She won 16 Paralympic medals and became the first wheelchair athlete to complete the London Marathon

How are Members of Parliament (MPs) elected?

• By proportional representation
• By first past the postCorrect
• By the Prime Minister
• By the House of Lords

From the handbook: The UK uses the "first past the post" (FPTP) system: the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins, regardless of whether they have a majority. Proportional representation is used in some devolved elections.

When did the First World War end?

• 11.00 am on 11th November 1918Correct
• 11.00 am on 11th November 1919
• Midnight on 31st December 1918
• 11.00 am on 28th June 1919

Which of the following are fundamental principles of British life?

• Democracy and the rule of lawCorrect
• Monarchy and military service
• Socialism and collective ownership
• Nationalism and border control

From the handbook: The five fundamental principles are: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and participation in community life.

What is the role of the shadow cabinet?

• Senior opposition MPs who challenge the government and put forward alternative policies; they are appointed by the leader of the oppositionCorrect
• Former cabinet ministers who advise the current government from the House of Lords
• Senior civil servants who advise the cabinet on policy implementation without political bias
• MPs from the governing party who are not in the cabinet but who support government policy in debates

From the handbook: Prime Minister's Questions takes place every week while Parliament is sitting and gives the opposition an important opportunity to challenge the government.

Who was Britain's first female Prime Minister?

• Margaret ThatcherCorrect
• Theresa May
• Barbara Castle
• Shirley Williams

From the handbook: Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979 after the Conservative victory and remained in office until 1990, making her the longest-serving PM of the 20th century.