UK Practice Test 5

Correct! In 1776, 13 American colonies declared their independence, stating that people had a right to establish their own governments. The colonists eventually defeated the British army and Britain recognized the colonies’ independence in 1783.

Correct! If your driving licence is from a country in the European Union (EU), Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, you can drive in the UK for as long as your licence is valid, subject to UK licence renewal requirements (at the age of 70, or three years after the driver becomes resident). If you have a licence from any other country, you may use it in the UK for up to 12 months.

Correct! In 1284 King Edward I of England introduced the Statute of Rhuddlan, which annexed Wales to the Crown of England.

Correct! The UK is governed by the parliament sitting in Westminster.

Correct! Films were first shown publicly in the UK in 1896 and film screenings very quickly became popular.

Correct! 16 year olds can drink wine or beer with a meal in a hotel or restaurant as long as they are with someone over 18.

Correct! The Blitz was the German air force bombing London and other British cities at night-time. The phrase ‘the Blitz spirit’ is still used today to describe Britons pulling together in the face of adversity.

Correct! The burial place of one of the kings was at Sutton Hoo in modern Suffolk. This king was buried with treasure and armour, all placed in a ship which was then covered by a mound of earth. Scotland and Wales remained free of Anglo Saxon rule.

Correct! The Iron Age people made the first coins to be minted in Britain, some inscribed with the names of Iron Age kings.

Correct! Valentine’s Day, 14 February, is when lovers exchange cards and gifts. Sometimes people send anonymous cards to someone they secretly admire.

Correct! The Habeas Corpus Act became law in 1679. This was a very important piece of legislation which remains relevant today. Habeas corpus is Latin for ‘you must present the person in court’. The Act guaranteed that no one could be held prisoner unlawfully. Every prisoner has a right to a court hearing.

Correct! After the Norman Conquest, the king and his noblemen had spoken Norman French and the peasants had continued to speak Anglo-Saxon. Gradually these two languages combined to become one English language.

Correct! Clement Attlee was born in London in 1883. He was Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951 and led the Labour Party for 20 years.

Correct! In Wales the elected members, known as AMs, meet in the Welsh Assembly in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay

Correct! King Charles III is the head of state of the UK. He is also the monarch or head of state for many countries in the Commonwealth.

Correct! The Turner Prize is recognised as one of the most prestigious visual art awards in Europe. Previous winners include Damien Hirst and Richard Wright.

Correct! The Northern Ireland Assembly was established soon after the Belfast Agreement (or Good Friday Agreement) in 1998. There is a power-sharing agreement which distributes ministerial Offices amongst the main parties. The Assembly has 90 elected members (reduced from 108 in 2016), known as MLAs (members of the Legislative Assembly). They are elected with a form of proportional representation. The Assembly is chaired by a Speaker and three deputy Speakers. At least 10 members (including the Speaker) must be present in order for a vote to be taken on any matter.

Correct! Ministers form the cabinet, a committee which usually meets weekly and makes important decisions about government policy. Many of these decisions have to be debated or approved by Parliament.

Correct! The Edinburgh Festival takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, every summer. The Fringe (One of the festivals) is a showcase of mainly theatre and comedy performances.

Correct! Scientific discoveries, such as James Watt’s work on steam power, helped the progress of the Industrial Revolution

Correct! One of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years War was the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where King Henry V’s vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French. The English left France in the 1450s.

Correct! Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), the grandson of James II, landed in Scotland. He was supported by clansmen from the Scottish Highlands and raised an army.

Correct! West Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands formed the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957. At first the UK did not wish to join the EEC but it eventually did so in 1973.

Correct! To divorce his first wife, Henry VIII needed the approval of the Pope. When the Pope refused, Henry established the Church of England. In this new Church, the king, not the Pope, would have the power to appoint bishops and order how people should worship.