Free practice test 2
Life in the UK Practice Test 2
24 questions on the Tudors and Stuarts, the 20th century and Leisure. Read through them here with every answer explained, or take the same set as a timed test.
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Questions and answers
Every answer below is marked, with a short explanation and a link to the part of the official handbook it comes from.
Question 1 · The Tudors and Stuarts
How many children of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon survived?
- A.None — all their children died young
- B.Three — two daughters and a son
- C.Two — a son and a daughter
- D.One — a daughter named Mary
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D. One — a daughter named Mary
Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon had a number of children but only one, Mary, survived. Henry's desire for a male heir was a key reason he sought to divorce Catherine.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 2 · The Tudors and Stuarts
During which century did Protestant ideas gradually gain strength in England, Wales and Scotland?
- A.The 15th century
- B.The 16th century
- C.The 18th century
- D.The 13th century
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B. The 16th century
Protestant ideas gradually gained strength in England, Wales and Scotland during the 16th century, as part of the wider Reformation movement against the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 3 · The Tudors and Stuarts
What was the result of English attempts to impose Protestantism in Ireland?
- A.The strengthening of English rule across all of Ireland
- B.The peaceful conversion of Irish chieftains to Protestantism
- C.A peace treaty between England and the Irish chieftains
- D.Rebellion from the Irish chieftains and much brutal fighting
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D. Rebellion from the Irish chieftains and much brutal fighting
When the English attempted to impose Protestantism and introduce their own laws on land inheritance in Ireland, it led to rebellion from the Irish chieftains and much brutal fighting.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 4 · The Tudors and Stuarts
How did the Church of Scotland differ from the Church of England?
- A.The Church of Scotland was led by the monarch, unlike the Church of England
- B.The Church of Scotland was not a state church, unlike the Church of England
- C.The Church of Scotland had no elected leadership, unlike the Church of England
- D.The Church of Scotland was Catholic while the Church of England was Protestant
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B. The Church of Scotland was not a state church, unlike the Church of England
A Protestant Church of Scotland was established with an elected leadership, but unlike the Church of England, it was not a state church.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 5 · The Tudors and Stuarts
What did Charles II understand about his relationship with Parliament when he was restored as king?
- A.That Parliament would have no power over his religious policies
- B.That he could not always do as he wished and would sometimes need to reach agreement with Parliament
- C.That he could dissolve Parliament whenever he disagreed with it
- D.That he could rule without Parliament's approval as long as he had public support
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B. That he could not always do as he wished and would sometimes need to reach agreement with Parliament
When Charles II was restored as king in 1660, he understood that he could not always do as he wished and would sometimes need to reach agreement with Parliament. This marked a significant shift from the approach of his father, Charles I, whose refusal to work with Parliament had led to civil war.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 6 · The Tudors and Stuarts
Which group did James II allow to become army officers, defying an Act of Parliament?
- A.Church of England bishops
- B.Roman Catholics
- C.Puritans
- D.Presbyterians
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B. Roman Catholics
James II favoured Roman Catholics and allowed them to be army officers, which an Act of Parliament had forbidden. This was one of the reasons people feared he wanted to make England a Catholic country again.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 7 · The Tudors and Stuarts
What happened when William of Orange reached England in 1688?
- A.He negotiated a peace deal with James II
- B.Parliament refused to accept him as king
- C.He was defeated by James II's army
- D.There was no resistance and James II fled to France
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D. There was no resistance and James II fled to France
When William of Orange reached England in 1688, there was no resistance. James II fled to France and William took over the throne, becoming William III in England, Wales and Ireland, and William II of Scotland.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 8 · Early Britain
Why did the Roman army leave Britain in AD 410 and what followed?
- A.They left to defend other parts of the Roman Empire and never returned
- B.They were defeated by Anglo-Saxon invaders and driven out of Britain
- C.They were pushed out by the Picts from Scotland and never returned
- D.They left peacefully after granting Britain independence as a Roman province
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A. They left to defend other parts of the Roman Empire and never returned
The Roman army left Britain in AD 410 to defend other parts of the Roman Empire and never returned. Britain was then invaded by tribes from northern Europe — the Jutes, the Angles and the Saxons — whose languages form the basis of modern-day English.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 9 · Early Britain
How did Christianity spread to Britain during the Anglo-Saxon period?
- A.Missionaries from Ireland spread it in the north and missionaries from Rome spread it in the south
- B.The Anglo-Saxons brought Christianity with them when they invaded
- C.The Roman army introduced Christianity before leaving Britain in AD 410
- D.Christianity was introduced by the Vikings during their raids
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A. Missionaries from Ireland spread it in the north and missionaries from Rome spread it in the south
The Anglo-Saxons were not Christians when they first came to Britain. Missionaries from Ireland, including St Columba, spread Christianity in the north, while St Augustine led missionaries from Rome who spread it in the south. St Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 10 · The 20th century
How did the British Empire contribute to the First World War effort?
- A.The Empire provided supplies but no soldiers
- B.Only Australia and Canada sent troops to fight alongside Britain
- C.Men from India, the West Indies, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada all fought with the British
- D.Only British soldiers fought; the Empire provided financial support
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C. Men from India, the West Indies, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada all fought with the British
The whole of the British Empire was involved in WWI. More than a million Indians fought on behalf of Britain and around 40,000 were killed. Men from the West Indies, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada also fought with the British.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 11 · The 20th century
When did the First World War end, and who won?
- A.At 11am on 11 November 1918, with a negotiated peace between both sides
- B.At midday on 28 June 1918, with victory for Britain and its allies
- C.At 11am on 11 November 1918, with victory for Britain and its allies
- D.At midnight on 1 January 1919, with victory for Britain and its allies
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C. At 11am on 11 November 1918, with victory for Britain and its allies
The First World War ended at 11am on 11 November 1918 with victory for Britain and its allies. The date is still commemorated every year on Remembrance Day.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 12 · The 20th century
What broadcasting first did the BBC achieve in 1936?
- A.It launched the world's first national radio service
- B.It made the first colour television broadcast
- C.It launched the first satellite broadcasting service
- D.It began the world's first regular television service
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D. It began the world's first regular television service
In 1936, the BBC began the world's first regular television service, having already started radio broadcasts in 1922.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 13 · The Middle Ages
Why did people from other countries come to England during the Middle Ages?
- A.To settle and claim land
- B.To trade and work, bringing specialist skills
- C.To study at English universities
- D.To escape wars in their home countries
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B. To trade and work, bringing specialist skills
During the Middle Ages, England was an important trading nation. People came from abroad to trade and to work, many bringing specialist skills such as weaving, engineering, and glass manufacturing.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 14 · The Tudors and Stuarts
What was Sir Francis Drake's contribution to English history?
- A.He was a founder of England's naval tradition and one of the first to circumnavigate the world
- B.He led the first English settlement on the eastern coast of America
- C.He established new trade routes between England and Asia
- D.He defeated the Spanish Armada single-handedly in 1588
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A. He was a founder of England's naval tradition and one of the first to circumnavigate the world
Sir Francis Drake was one of the founders of England's naval tradition. His ship, the Golden Hind, was one of the first to sail right around the world, and he was one of the commanders in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 15 · Arts and culture
Which building did Inigo Jones design at Greenwich in the 17th century?
- A.The White Tower
- B.St Paul's Cathedral
- C.The Queen's House
- D.The Banqueting House
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C. The Queen's House
In the 17th century, Inigo Jones took inspiration from classical architecture to design the Queen's House at Greenwich and the Banqueting House in Whitehall, London.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 16 · Arts and culture
Which poem did John Milton write, inspired by his Protestant religious views?
- A.Beowulf
- B.Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- C.Paradise Lost
- D.Canterbury Tales
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C. Paradise Lost
As Protestant ideas spread, a number of poets wrote poems inspired by their religious views. One of these was John Milton, who wrote Paradise Lost.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 17 · Leisure
What did British film makers become famous for?
- A.Historical dramas
- B.Animated films
- C.Clever special effects
- D.Silent comedy films
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C. Clever special effects
From the beginning of cinema in the UK, British film makers became famous for clever special effects. This continues to be an area of British expertise today.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 18 · Leisure
Which TWO of the following British actors have won Oscars?
- A.Sir Ian McKellen
- B.Dame Judi Dench
- C.Ralph Fiennes
- D.Colin Firth
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B. Dame Judi Dench · D. Colin Firth
Recent British actors to have won Oscars include Colin Firth, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Dame Judi Dench, Kate Winslet and Tilda Swinton. Earlier British stars such as Sir Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Sir Rex Harrison and Richard Burton also starred in many popular films.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 19 · Leisure
Which TWO of the following are British satirical television shows?
- A.Spitting Image
- B.Monty Python's Flying Circus
- C.That Was The Week That Was
- D.Morecambe and Wise
Show answer
A. Spitting Image · C. That Was The Week That Was
Satire has been an important part of British television comedy. Shows like That Was The Week That Was in the 1960s and Spitting Image in the 1980s and 1990s continued the tradition of political satire.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 20 · Places of interest
What is the official name of the tower that houses Big Ben?
- A.Westminster Tower
- B.Victoria Tower
- C.Parliament Tower
- D.Elizabeth Tower
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D. Elizabeth Tower
The tower that houses Big Ben is officially named Elizabeth Tower, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Big Ben itself is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the Houses of Parliament.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 21 · Places of interest
What are the biomes at the Eden Project?
- A.Giant greenhouses housing plants from all over the world
- B.Giant aquariums housing sea life from around the world
- C.Giant domes housing animals from around the world
- D.Giant gardens showcasing traditional British plants
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A. Giant greenhouses housing plants from all over the world
The Eden Project in Cornwall has biomes, which are like giant greenhouses, that house plants from all over the world. The Eden Project is also a charity which runs environmental and social projects internationally.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 22 · Places of interest
Which organisation looks after Edinburgh Castle?
- A.Historic England
- B.The National Trust for Scotland
- C.The Scottish Government
- D.Historic Environment Scotland
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D. Historic Environment Scotland
Edinburgh Castle is a dominant feature of the skyline in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has a long history dating back to the early Middle Ages and is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 23 · Religion
Since when has the Church of England existed?
- A.The Middle Ages in the 1200s
- B.The Reformation in the 1490s
- C.The Reformation in the 1530s
- D.The Reformation in the 1560s
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C. The Reformation in the 1530s
The Church of England is a Protestant Church that has existed since the Reformation in the 1530s. It is the official Church of the state in England and is known as the Anglican Church in other countries and the Episcopal Church in Scotland and the United States.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 24 · Religion
Who usually selects the Archbishop of Canterbury?
- A.The Prime Minister and a Church committee
- B.The Church of England bishops
- C.The House of Lords
- D.The monarch alone
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A. The Prime Minister and a Church committee
Although the monarch has the right to select the Archbishop of Canterbury and other senior church officials, the choice is usually made by the Prime Minister and a committee appointed by the Church.
Read this in the study guide
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