Life in the UK Practice Test 8 of 19

What is the largest national park in England, and what is its largest stretch of water?

• The Lake District (885 square miles); its largest body of water is WindermereCorrect
• The Peak District; its largest body of water is Ladybower Reservoir
• The Yorkshire Dales; its largest stretch of water is Malham Tarn
• The New Forest; its largest body of water is the River Avon

From the handbook: In 2007, television viewers voted Wastwater as Britain's favourite view. The Lake District is famous for its lakes, mountains and is popular with climbers, walkers and sailors.

What were "plantations" in the context of Tudor and Stuart Ireland?

• Settlements of Scottish and English Protestants in Ulster, taking over land from Catholic landholdersCorrect
• Agricultural estates established by the English crown to produce food for export
• New towns built by the English government to encourage industry in Ireland
• Estates granted to loyal Irish chieftains as a reward for supporting English rule

From the handbook: The plantation policy had serious long-term consequences for the history of England, Scotland and Ireland.

What happened to Charles I after Parliament won the English Civil War?

• He was executed in 1649 after refusing to reach any agreement with ParliamentCorrect
• He fled to France and spent the rest of his life in exile
• He was imprisoned in the Tower of London until his death
• He abdicated and allowed his son Charles II to take the throne

What do new British citizens swear or affirm loyalty to during the citizenship ceremony?

• To the King (His Majesty King Charles the Third, his Heirs and Successors)Correct
• To the United Kingdom, its laws and democratic values
• To the British people and the principles of the British constitution
• To Parliament and the rule of law

From the handbook: The national anthem is "God Save the King (or Queen)" and is played at important national occasions and events attended by the Royal Family.

What is the Giant's Causeway and how was it formed?

• A land formation of columns made from volcanic lava on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland, formed about 50 million years agoCorrect
• A series of prehistoric standing stones on the west coast of Scotland, built during the Bronze Age as a place of worship
• A natural rock arch on the coast of Dorset in England, formed by coastal erosion over thousands of years
• An ancient Roman sea wall on the north-east coast of England, built to defend against Viking raids

From the handbook: There are many legends about how the Giant's Causeway was formed. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Which of the following were British inventions of the 20th century? Select all that apply.

• The World Wide Web, invented by Sir Tim Berners-LeeCorrect
• The jet engine, developed by Sir Frank WhittleCorrect
• The hovercraft, invented by Sir Christopher CockerellCorrect
• The telephone, invented by Alexander Graham Bell

From the handbook: The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, who was Scottish-born but worked in the United States — it is not listed as a 20th century British invention.

What was the Battle of the Boyne in 1690?

• William III defeated James II in Ireland, where James had invaded with a French army to try to regain the throneCorrect
• Oliver Cromwell defeated the Irish Catholic rebels to establish Parliamentary authority in Ireland
• The English navy defeated a Spanish fleet attempting to support the Irish rebellion
• Scottish Jacobites were defeated when they tried to invade Ireland in support of James II

From the handbook: The Battle of the Boyne is still celebrated by some in Northern Ireland today.

The Lake District National Park is located in which English county?

• Yorkshire
• CumbriaCorrect
• Northumberland
• Lancashire

On which date is Christmas Day celebrated in the UK?

• 6 January
• 24 December
• 25 DecemberCorrect
• 26 December

What is the United Nations (UN) and what is the UK's role within it?

• An international organisation of more than 190 countries set up after WWII to prevent war and promote peace; the UK is one of five permanent members of the UN Security CouncilCorrect
• An international organisation of 47 countries set up in 1945 that promotes human rights and democracy; the UK holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council
• A global trade organisation set up after WWII with more than 190 members; the UK is an elected member of its 15-seat governing board
• An international organisation of more than 190 countries; the UK is the only permanent European member of the UN Security Council

From the handbook: The UN Security Council has 15 members and recommends action when there are international crises and threats to peace. The five permanent members have the power of veto.

What is the devolved legislature of Wales called?

• The Welsh Parliament / Senedd CymruCorrect
• The Welsh Assembly / National Assembly
• The Welsh Council
• The Welsh Congress

What event triggered the First World War in 1914?

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on 28 June 1914Correct
• Germany's invasion of France across the Rhine
• The sinking of a British naval vessel by German submarines
• A Russian attack on the Austro-Hungarian Empire

From the handbook: The assassination provided the trigger, but other factors — nationalism, militarism, imperialism, and the division of Europe into two camps — set the conditions for war.

Which of the following is a fundamental British value?

• Monarchy above democracy
• Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefsCorrect
• English as the only permitted language
• Mandatory participation in the Church of England

What was the "Divine Right of Kings" believed by James I and Charles I?

• The idea that the king was directly appointed by God to rule and should not need Parliament's approvalCorrect
• The belief that the king's eldest son always had the divine right to inherit the throne
• The principle that the king could only be removed from power by the Church
• The doctrine that the king's laws took precedence over Parliamentary statutes

From the handbook: Charles I ruled for 11 years without Parliament before being forced to recall it, which eventually led to the Civil War.

Why did the Huguenots come to Britain between 1680 and 1720?

• They were French Protestant refugees fleeing religious persecutionCorrect
• They were skilled merchants seeking trading opportunities
• They were invited by the British government to help industrialise the country
• They were political refugees fleeing the French Revolution

King Alfred the Great is most closely associated with defending England against which invaders?

• The Normans
• The Romans
• The VikingsCorrect
• The Scots

Why is the British constitution described as "unwritten"?

• It is not written down in any single document, because unlike the USA or France, the UK has never had a revolution that created a totally new system of governmentCorrect
• It was originally written down but the document was lost in the Great Fire of London in 1666
• British law does not permit constitutional documents to be codified, so it exists only in tradition
• It was deliberately kept unwritten to allow Parliament absolute sovereignty over all constitutional matters

From the handbook: Some people believe there should be a single document; others believe the unwritten constitution allows for more flexibility and better government.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314?

• The Scottish, led by Robert the Bruce, defeated the English and Scotland remained unconqueredCorrect
• The English defeated the Scots and annexed Scotland to the English Crown
• The battle ended in a draw and led to a peace treaty between England and Scotland
• The Scottish king surrendered and accepted English rule in exchange for limited autonomy

How many members does a jury have in England, Wales and Northern Ireland compared to Scotland?

• 12 members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; 15 members in ScotlandCorrect
• 12 members everywhere in the UK
• 15 members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; 12 members in Scotland
• 12 members in England and Wales; 15 in Scotland and Northern Ireland

From the handbook: Jurors are chosen at random from the local electoral register. In Scotland, a third verdict of "not proven" is possible in addition to guilty and not guilty.

Which parts of the UK do NOT have an established (official state) Church?

• Wales and Northern IrelandCorrect
• Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Wales and Scotland
• All parts of the UK have an established Church

From the handbook: England has the Church of England and Scotland has the Church of Scotland as established churches. There is no established Church in Wales or Northern Ireland.

Magistrates' courts in England and Wales deal with which types of cases?

• Only the most serious criminal cases such as murder
• Civil cases involving large sums of money
• Less serious criminal cases and some civil mattersCorrect
• Appeals against decisions of the Crown Court

Which of Henry VIII's wives were executed? Select all that apply.

• Anne BoleynCorrect
• Catherine HowardCorrect
• Catherine of Aragon
• Jane Seymour

From the handbook: Catherine of Aragon was divorced. Jane Seymour died after childbirth. Anne of Cleves was divorced. Catherine Parr survived Henry.

What characterised the Iron Age in Britain?

• People made weapons and tools from iron, lived in roundhouses, and built hill forts for defenceCorrect
• People first learned to make bronze objects and buried their dead in round barrows
• The Romans introduced iron-working technology to the native British tribes
• People first began to farm and build permanent settlements across Britain

From the handbook: Maiden Castle in Dorset is an impressive example of an Iron Age hill fort still visible today. Iron Age people also minted the first coins in Britain.

What does the right to a fair trial mean in the UK?

• Anyone accused of a crime can choose their own judge
• An accused person is presumed guilty until proven innocent
• An accused person is entitled to a hearing before an independent tribunalCorrect
• Trials must always take place in a Crown Court