Free practice test 22
Life in the UK Practice Test 22
24 questions on the Middle Ages, Leisure and the government. Read through them here with every answer explained, or take the same set as a timed test.
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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 Middle Ages
What were the two Houses of Parliament established in medieval England?
- A.The House of Lords and the House of Commons
- B.The House of Lords and the House of Bishops
- C.The House of Kings and the House of Commons
- D.The House of Nobles and the House of Knights
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A. The House of Lords and the House of Commons
Parliament was divided into two Houses — the House of Lords, where nobility, great landowners and bishops sat, and the House of Commons, where knights and wealthy people from towns and cities were elected to sit.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 2 · The Middle Ages
Who sat in the House of Lords in medieval England?
- A.Elected representatives from across England
- B.Knights and wealthy people from towns and cities
- C.The nobility, great landowners and bishops
- D.The king and his closest advisers
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C. The nobility, great landowners and bishops
The nobility, great landowners and bishops sat in the House of Lords. Knights and wealthy people from towns and cities were elected to sit in the House of Commons.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 3 · The Middle Ages
Who was elected to sit in the House of Commons in medieval England?
- A.Knights and wealthy people from towns and cities
- B.Representatives chosen by the king
- C.All male landowners regardless of wealth
- D.The nobility, great landowners and bishops
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A. Knights and wealthy people from towns and cities
Knights, who were usually smaller landowners, and wealthy people from towns and cities were elected to sit in the House of Commons. However, only a small part of the population was able to take part in electing them.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 4 · A global power
How many crosses make up the Union Flag?
- A.Two
- B.Five
- C.Four
- D.Three
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D. Three
The Union Flag consists of three crosses, representing England, Scotland and Ireland.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 5 · The Middle Ages
How did the Scottish Parliament differ from the English Parliament in the Middle Ages?
- A.It had two Houses: the lords and the commons
- B.It had no separate Houses and all members sat together
- C.It had four Houses including a separate House for merchants
- D.It had three Houses called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergy
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D. It had three Houses called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergy
While the English Parliament had two Houses, the Scottish Parliament had three Houses called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergy.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 6 · The Middle Ages
What principle regarding judges began to be established in the Middle Ages?
- A.That judges were appointed by the Church
- B.That judges were elected by the nobility
- C.That judges were appointed directly by the king
- D.That judges are independent of the government
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D. That judges are independent of the government
During the Middle Ages, the principle that judges are independent of the government began to be established. In England, judges developed common law through precedent and tradition, while in Scotland laws were codified — that is, written down.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 7 · The Middle Ages
How did English judges develop 'common law' in the Middle Ages?
- A.By adopting laws from the Roman Empire
- B.By consulting the Church and the nobility
- C.By writing down all laws in a legal code
- D.By following previous decisions and tradition
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D. By following previous decisions and tradition
In England, judges developed common law by a process of precedence, meaning following previous decisions, and tradition.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 8 · The Middle Ages
How did the Scottish legal system differ from the English one in the Middle Ages?
- A.Scotland adopted Roman law directly
- B.Scotland codified its laws by writing them down
- C.Scotland allowed the Church to make all laws
- D.Scotland followed common law based on precedence and tradition
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B. Scotland codified its laws by writing them down
While England developed common law through precedence and tradition, Scotland's legal system developed slightly differently, with laws being codified, meaning written down.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 9 · The Middle Ages
What is common law?
- A.Laws adopted directly from the Roman Empire
- B.Laws written down and codified by the Scottish Parliament
- C.Law developed by English judges through following previous decisions and tradition
- D.Laws made by the Church and applied across Britain
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C. Law developed by English judges through following previous decisions and tradition
Common law was developed by English judges in the Middle Ages through a process of precedence — following previous decisions — and tradition. Scotland's legal system developed differently, with laws being codified, meaning written down.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 10 · The Middle Ages
After the Norman Conquest, what two languages gradually combined to form English?
- A.Norman French and Celtic
- B.Norman French and Anglo-Saxon
- C.Norman French and Latin
- D.Anglo-Saxon and Latin
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B. Norman French and Anglo-Saxon
After the Norman Conquest, the king and noblemen spoke Norman French while peasants spoke Anglo-Saxon. Gradually these two languages combined to become the English language.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 11 · The Middle Ages
What significant change happened to the English language by 1400?
- A.Norman French replaced English as the language of the royal court
- B.Anglo-Saxon was officially replaced by Norman French in all official documents
- C.Latin became the official language of Parliament and the courts
- D.English became the preferred language of the royal court and Parliament
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D. English became the preferred language of the royal court and Parliament
By 1400, official documents in England were being written in English and it had become the preferred language of the royal court and Parliament, reflecting the gradual merging of Norman French and Anglo-Saxon into one English language.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 12 · Leisure
What was the most famous British satirical magazine?
- A.Punch
- B.The Spectator
- C.The Economist
- D.Private Eye
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A. Punch
In the 19th century, satirical magazines began to be published in the UK. The most famous was Punch, which was published for the first time in the 1840s. Today, magazines such as Private Eye continue the tradition of satire.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 13 · Leisure
Which magazine continues the British tradition of satire today?
- A.Private Eye
- B.Punch
- C.The Spectator
- D.The Economist
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A. Private Eye
Magazines such as Private Eye continue the tradition of satire in the UK today. The most famous satirical magazine was Punch, first published in the 1840s.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 14 · Leisure
What was British music hall?
- A.A type of classical music venue popular in the 19th century
- B.A form of political satire performed in theatres
- C.A form of variety theatre popular before television
- D.A type of comedy club popular in the 1960s and 1970s
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C. A form of variety theatre popular before television
British music hall was a form of variety theatre which was very common until television became the leading form of entertainment in the UK. Comedians were a popular feature of music hall performances.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 15 · Leisure
What did Monty Python's Flying Circus introduce to British television?
- A.Situation comedy
- B.Stand-up comedy
- C.A new type of progressive comedy
- D.Political satire
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C. A new type of progressive comedy
In 1969, Monty Python's Flying Circus introduced a new type of progressive comedy on British television.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 16 · Leisure
Which TWO of the following are popular British soap operas?
- A.Monty Python's Flying Circus
- B.EastEnders
- C.Spitting Image
- D.Coronation Street
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B. EastEnders · D. Coronation Street
Popular British television programmes include regular soap operas such as Coronation Street and EastEnders.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 17 · Leisure
Who in the UK needs a television licence?
- A.Anyone who uses a device capable of watching TV
- B.Only people who watch BBC programmes
- C.Only people who have a paid TV subscription
- D.Only people who own a television set
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A. Anyone who uses a device capable of watching TV
Everyone in the UK with a TV, computer or other medium which can be used for watching TV must have a television licence. One licence covers all equipment in one home.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 18 · The government
What is the current name of the Welsh Assembly?
- A.The Welsh Congress
- B.The Senedd
- C.The Welsh Forum
- D.The Welsh Chamber
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B. The Senedd
The Welsh Assembly has been renamed the Senedd. Along with the Scottish Parliament, it has operated since 1999 following the devolution of powers from central government.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 19 · The government
The Northern Ireland Assembly has never been suspended since its establishment.
- A.True
- B.False
- C.-
- D.-
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B. False
The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended on a few occasions since it was established. This sets it apart from the Senedd and the Scottish Parliament, both of which have operated continuously since 1999.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 20 · The government
Which of the following areas remain under central UK government control?
- A.Health and transport
- B.Education and social care
- C.Education and housing
- D.Defence and foreign affairs
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D. Defence and foreign affairs
Defence and foreign affairs are among the policy areas that remain under central UK government control and have not been devolved. Other reserved areas include social security and most taxation. By contrast, many public services such as education are controlled by the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 21 · The government
Education in the UK is controlled by the devolved administrations rather than the central UK government.
- A.True
- B.False
- C.-
- D.-
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A. True
Education is one of the public services controlled by the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, not by the central UK government. Areas such as defence, foreign affairs, social security and most taxation are reserved and remain under central government control.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 22 · The government
How many members does the Senedd have?
- A.129
- B.60
- C.40
- D.80
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B. 60
The Senedd has 60 members, known as SMs. It is based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 23 · Chapter 2: What is the UK?
Which of the following correctly describes the composition of the UK?
- A.England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
- B.England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- C.England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland
- D.England, Scotland and Wales only
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B. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The rest of Ireland is an independent country.
Read this in the study guideQuestion 24 · The values and principles of the UK
Which of the following is NOT a fundamental principle of British life?
- A.Individual liberty
- B.Participation in community life
- C.Compulsory military service
- D.Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
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C. Compulsory military service
The fundamental principles of British life are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and participation in community life. Compulsory military service is not one of these principles.
Read this in the study guide
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