Life in the UK Practice Test 7 of 19

What is the role of the Attorney General in England and Wales?

• To lead the Supreme Court
• To serve as the government's chief legal adviser and oversee the Crown Prosecution ServiceCorrect
• To manage the prison and probation service
• To chair the Cabinet in the Prime Minister's absence

What is the official name of the UK?

• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandCorrect
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
• The British Isles and Northern Ireland
• The Commonwealth of Great Britain

Who was Sir Robert Walpole and why did he become the first Prime Minister?

• He served as PM from 1721 to 1742 because King George I, who was German and spoke poor English, relied heavily on his ministersCorrect
• He served as PM from 1721 to 1742 after Parliament passed the Prime Minister Act, creating the role for the first time
• He became PM in 1721 after winning the first democratic election for the position under new constitutional rules
• He served as PM from 1688 to 1715 during the reign of William of Orange, who preferred to stay in the Netherlands

In what year were women first given voting rights in the UK, and what was the age restriction?

• 1918, for women aged 30 and overCorrect
• 1918, for women aged 21 and over
• 1928, for women aged 30 and over
• 1832, for women who owned property

From the handbook: In 1928, women were given the right to vote at age 21, the same as men, shortly before Emmeline Pankhurst's death.

What are the core values of the civil service?

• Integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality (including political neutrality)Correct
• Loyalty, efficiency, transparency and accountability
• Neutrality, dedication, professionalism and public service
• Impartiality, dedication, loyalty and fairness

From the handbook: Civil servants are chosen on merit and are politically neutral — they are not political appointees. They support the government in developing and implementing its policies.

What significant peace agreement was signed in Northern Ireland in 1998?

• The Good Friday AgreementCorrect
• The Stormont Agreement
• The Belfast Accord
• The Northern Ireland Peace Treaty

From the handbook: The Good Friday Agreement was achieved under Tony Blair's Labour government and built on the peace process established by his predecessor John Major.

Which two pop music groups were particularly well known in Britain in the 1960s?

• The Beatles and The Rolling StonesCorrect
• The Who and Led Zeppelin
• The Kinks and Pink Floyd
• The Animals and The Yardbirds

Who can be selected for jury service and what are the age requirements?

• Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 to 70Correct
• Any adult British citizen aged 18 to 65 regardless of whether they are on the electoral register
• Anyone on the electoral register aged 21 to 70
• Any adult resident of the UK aged 18 to 75, whether or not they are on the electoral register

From the handbook: People on the electoral register are randomly selected to serve on a jury.

Which of the following are correct associations between authors and their works? Select all that apply.

• Dylan Thomas (Welsh poet): "Under Milk Wood" and "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night"Correct
• Robert Burns (Scottish poet): "Auld Lang Syne"Correct
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Scottish author): "Sherlock Holmes"Correct
• Roald Dahl (Welsh author): "Oliver Twist"

From the handbook: Roald Dahl wrote "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "George's Marvellous Medicine", not "Oliver Twist" (which was by Charles Dickens).

What is Hannukah and how is it celebrated?

• A Jewish festival lasting eight days, where a candle is lit on a menorah each day to remember a story of religious freedomCorrect
• A Jewish festival celebrating the harvest, marked by building temporary shelters outdoors
• A Jewish New Year festival celebrated with fasting and prayer in September or October
• A Jewish festival of spring celebrated with a special family meal and the reading of scripture

From the handbook: Hannukah remembers the Jews' struggle for religious freedom. The menorah has eight candles, lit one per day, recalling the story of oil that should have lasted one day but lasted for eight.

What was the basis for establishing the Northern Ireland Assembly and how many members does it have?

• The Belfast Agreement (Good Friday Agreement) of 1998; 90 MLAs elected by proportional representation; power-sharing between partiesCorrect
• The 1972 dissolution of the Northern Ireland Parliament; 60 MLAs elected by first past the post
• The 1999 devolution settlement; 129 MLAs elected by proportional representation
• The Belfast Agreement of 1998; 108 MLAs elected by first past the post; single-party government

From the handbook: The Northern Ireland Assembly can make decisions on education, agriculture, the environment, health and social services. It has been running successfully since 2007.

Which novelist wrote Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities?

• Thomas Hardy
• Charles DickensCorrect
• Jane Austen
• George Eliot

How long did Queen Victoria reign?

• Almost 64 years, from 1837 to 1901Correct
• Almost 50 years, from 1837 to 1887
• Almost 70 years, from 1820 to 1890
• Almost 60 years, from 1840 to 1901

From the handbook: At the time of the handbook's writing (2013), this was the longest reign of any British monarch.

Bonfire Night is celebrated on 5 November. What event does it commemorate?

• The signing of the Magna Carta
• The defeat of the Spanish Armada
• The failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 (Guy Fawkes Night)Correct
• The end of the English Civil War

What types of legal instruments does the European Union use to create law?

• Directives, regulations and framework decisionsCorrect
• Acts, statutes and royal charters
• Treaties, conventions and protocols
• Orders, resolutions and declarations

From the handbook: With effect from 2024, no general principle of EU law is part of UK law following Brexit.

What is the "Pay As You Earn" (PAYE) system?

• A system where an employer automatically deducts the correct amount of income tax from an employee's wages and pays it directly to HMRCCorrect
• A system where employees pay their income tax directly to HMRC by monthly direct debit
• A system for self-employed people to pay their tax in quarterly instalments
• A voluntary scheme that allows employees to spread their tax payments over the financial year

From the handbook: Self-employed people pay tax through self-assessment, which includes completing a tax return. Income tax is collected by HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs).

Which of the following freedoms does the UK offer to those living here? Select all that apply.

• Freedom of belief and religionCorrect
• Freedom of speechCorrect
• Freedom from unfair discriminationCorrect
• Freedom from paying any form of tax

What is the Man Booker Prize awarded for?

• The best fiction novel written by an author from the Commonwealth, Ireland or ZimbabweCorrect
• The best non-fiction book published in the UK each year
• The best debut novel by a British author under the age of 35
• The best translation of a foreign novel into English

From the handbook: The prize has been awarded since 1968. Past winners include Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel and Julian Barnes.

Elections to the Scottish Parliament use which voting system?

• First past the post only
• A proportional system (Additional Member System)Correct
• Alternative vote
• Single transferable vote only

Which novel by JRR Tolkien was voted the country's best-loved novel in 2003?

• The Lord of the RingsCorrect
• The Hobbit
• Pride and Prejudice
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Which three crosses make up the Union Flag?

• The crosses of St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland) and St Patrick (Ireland)Correct
• The crosses of St George (England), St David (Wales) and St Andrew (Scotland)
• The crosses of St Patrick (Ireland), St David (Wales) and St George (England)
• The crosses of St Andrew (Scotland), St George (England) and St Columba (Ireland)

From the handbook: Wales is not represented separately because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England.

Which four countries make up the United Kingdom?

• England, Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandCorrect
• England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland
• England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands

From the handbook: The rest of Ireland is an independent country and is not part of the UK.

What is the primary role of the police in the UK?

• To collect taxes on behalf of the government
• To protect people and property and prevent and detect crimeCorrect
• To enforce immigration rules
• To run the prison service

The Great Fire of London occurred in which year?

• 1649
• 1660
• 1666Correct
• 1688