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Life in the UK Test Chapter 3 questions · Part 2 — the Norman Conquest to the Stuarts

Updated 26 August 2026

Every question in our 969-question bank that comes from this chapter of the official study material — all 141 of them, grouped by topic, each with the answer and an explanation. Read the chapter first in the free plain-English study guide, or practise in the official 24-question format with the 40 mixed practice tests. The real test has 24 questions in 45 minutes with a 75% pass mark. No sign-up.

The Norman Conquest

1. In which year did William, Duke of Normandy, defeat Harold at the Battle of Hastings?

  1. 1066
  2. 1014
  3. 1215
  4. 1485
Show answer

Answer: A — 1066

The Norman invasion and the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066.

2. William, who invaded England in 1066, was Duke of which territory in what is now northern France?

  1. Normandy
  2. Brittany
  3. Burgundy
  4. Aquitaine
Show answer

Answer: A — Normandy

William was Duke of Normandy, a territory in what is now northern France.

3. William, Duke of Normandy, defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings and became king of England. By what name is he known?

  1. William the Conqueror
  2. William of Orange
  3. William the Lionheart
  4. William Rufus
Show answer

Answer: A — William the Conqueror

Having won at Hastings in 1066 and taken the English throne, William became known as William the Conqueror.

4. About how long is the linen cloth of the Bayeux Tapestry?

  1. Nearly 70 metres (230 feet)
  2. Nearly 20 metres (65 feet)
  3. Nearly 150 metres (490 feet)
  4. Nearly 300 metres (985 feet)
Show answer

Answer: A — Nearly 70 metres (230 feet)

The embroidered linen cloth runs to nearly 70 metres, or 230 feet.

5. What happened in Wales after the Normans first conquered it?

  1. The Welsh gradually won territory back
  2. The Welsh were expelled to Ireland
  3. Wales was granted independence by treaty
  4. The Normans withdrew without a fight
Show answer

Answer: A — The Welsh gradually won territory back

Norman control of Wales was not permanent, as the Welsh steadily recovered territory.

6. What information did the survey known as the Domesday Book record?

  1. The towns and villages, the people who lived there, who owned the land and what animals they owned
  2. Only the names of the noble families who fought at Hastings
  3. The taxes paid by the Church in every diocese
  4. The names of every soldier in the Norman army
Show answer

Answer: A — The towns and villages, the people who lived there, who owned the land and what animals they owned

The Domesday Book listed settlements, the people living there, the landowners and their animals across England.

7. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The Norman Conquest was the last successful foreign invasion of England.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

No foreign invasion of England has succeeded since the Normans arrived in 1066.

8. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Harold, the Saxon king of England, survived the Battle of Hastings.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

Harold died at Hastings, which left the throne open to William.

9. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Norman French was the language of the new ruling class after 1066.
  2. Norman French was spoken only by English peasants after 1066.
Show answer

Answer: A — Norman French was the language of the new ruling class after 1066.

Norman French was the tongue of the incoming ruling class and shaped the English language that followed.

10. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Normans took some land on the border with Scotland but did not invade Scotland.
  2. The Normans invaded Scotland and conquered it soon after 1066.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Normans took some land on the border with Scotland but did not invade Scotland.

Fighting on the border gained the Normans some land, but they never invaded Scotland itself.

11. Which TWO of the following are true of the Bayeux Tapestry?

  1. It is embroidered with coloured wool
  2. It can still be seen in France today
  3. It was painted on wooden panels
  4. It is kept in the Tower of London
Show answer

Answer: A and B — It is embroidered with coloured wool; It can still be seen in France today

The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidery in coloured wool and remains on display in France.

The Middle Ages

12. Henry VII established the House of Tudor. What colour rose became the Tudor emblem?

  1. Red and white
  2. Red
  3. White
  4. Pink
Show answer

Answer: A — Red and white

Lancaster's red rose and York's white rose were combined into a red rose with a white rose inside it, marking the two houses as allies.

13. Which law, introduced by King Edward I in 1284, annexed Wales to the Crown of England?

  1. The Statute of Rhuddlan
  2. The Magna Carta
  3. The Habeas Corpus Act
  4. The Act of Supremacy
Show answer

Answer: A — The Statute of Rhuddlan

The Statute of Rhuddlan of 1284 formally annexed Wales to the English Crown.

14. Who led the Scottish army that defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314?

  1. Robert the Bruce
  2. William Wallace
  3. John Barbour
  4. Edward I
Show answer

Answer: A — Robert the Bruce

Robert the Bruce led the Scots to victory at Bannockburn, and Scotland remained unconquered.

15. By 1200 the English ruled an area of Ireland around Dublin. What was it known as?

  1. The Pale
  2. Ulster
  3. The Marches
  4. The Commonwealth
Show answer

Answer: A — The Pale

The English-ruled district around Dublin was called the Pale.

16. Roughly what proportion of the population of England died in the Black Death of 1348?

  1. One third
  2. One tenth
  3. One half
  4. Two thirds
Show answer

Answer: A — One third

A third of England's people died, making the Black Death one of the worst disasters ever to strike Britain.

17. Which king was forced by his noblemen in 1215 to agree to the Magna Carta?

  1. King John
  2. King Edward I
  3. King Henry V
  4. King Richard III
Show answer

Answer: A — King John

King John's noblemen compelled him to accept the Magna Carta, establishing that even the king was subject to the law.

18. Who wrote The Canterbury Tales, a series of poems about people travelling to Canterbury on a pilgrimage?

  1. Geoffrey Chaucer
  2. William Caxton
  3. John Barbour
  4. Samuel Pepys
Show answer

Answer: A — Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in English in the years leading up to 1400.

19. Which battle in 1485 brought the Wars of the Roses to an end?

  1. The Battle of Bosworth Field
  2. The Battle of Agincourt
  3. The Battle of Bannockburn
  4. The Battle of Hastings
Show answer

Answer: A — The Battle of Bosworth Field

Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field in 1485 and Henry Tudor became King Henry VII.

20. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? In Scotland the legal system developed differently from England, and laws were 'codified', that is, written down.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Scots law was codified in writing, while English judges built up common law by precedence and tradition.

21. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Geoffrey Chaucer was the first person in England to print books using a printing press.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — it was WILLIAM CAXTON who introduced printing to England. Chaucer WROTE The Canterbury Tales; Caxton PRINTED it, and it was among the first books he printed.

22. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Hundred Years' War between England and France actually lasted 116 years.
  2. The Hundred Years' War between England and France lasted exactly 100 years.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Hundred Years' War between England and France actually lasted 116 years.

Despite its name, the Hundred Years' War ran for 116 years.

23. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The symbol of the House of York was a white rose.
  2. The symbol of the House of York was a red rose.
Show answer

Answer: A — The symbol of the House of York was a white rose.

York's emblem was the white rose and Lancaster's the red, which is how the Wars of the Roses got their name.

24. Which TWO of the following sat in the House of Lords in the Middle Ages?

  1. Bishops
  2. Great landowners
  3. Knights
  4. Wealthy people from towns and cities
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Bishops; Great landowners

The Lords was made up of the nobility, great landowners and bishops, while knights and wealthy townspeople were elected to the Commons.

25. Broadly speaking, the Middle Ages are taken to run from the end of the Roman Empire in AD 476 until which year?

  1. 1485
  2. 1066
  3. 1215
  4. 1603
Show answer

Answer: A — 1485

The medieval period spans roughly a thousand years, from AD 476 to 1485.

26. Which TWO huge castles were built to maintain English power in Wales?

  1. Conwy
  2. Caernarvon
  3. Windsor
  4. Stirling
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Conwy; Caernarvon

Huge castles including Conwy and Caernarvon were built after the Statute of Rhuddlan annexed Wales to the Crown of England.

27. By roughly when had the last Welsh rebellions against English rule been defeated?

  1. The middle of the 15th century
  2. The middle of the 12th century
  3. The end of the 16th century
  4. The start of the 14th century
Show answer

Answer: A — The middle of the 15th century

By the middle of the 15th century the last Welsh rebellions had been defeated, and English laws and the English language were introduced.

28. Under the Norman system of feudalism, what did the king give his lords, and in return for what?

  1. Land, in return for help in war
  2. Money, in return for taxes
  3. Titles, in return for prayers
  4. Castles, in return for wool
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Answer: A — Land, in return for help in war

The king gave land to his lords in return for help in war, and landowners had to send certain numbers of men to serve in the army.

29. Which TWO statements describe the position of serfs in the Middle Ages?

  1. They had a small area of their lord's land on which to grow food
  2. They could not move away
  3. They owned their land outright
  4. They were paid wages by the king
Show answer

Answer: A and B — They had a small area of their lord's land on which to grow food; They could not move away

Some peasants had their own land, but most were serfs: they farmed a small area of their lord's land, had to work for him, and could not move away.

30. In the north of Scotland and in Ireland during the Middle Ages, who owned the land?

  1. Members of the 'clans', or prominent families
  2. The English Crown
  3. The Church alone
  4. Elected councils
Show answer

Answer: A — Members of the 'clans', or prominent families

Feudalism developed in southern Scotland, but in the north of Scotland and in Ireland land was owned by members of the clans.

31. In which year did the Black Death reach Britain?

  1. 1348
  2. 1215
  3. 1455
  4. 1066
Show answer

Answer: A — 1348

In 1348 a disease, probably a form of plague, came to Britain and killed about a third of the population of England.

32. Which TWO changes followed the Black Death in England?

  1. Labour shortages and peasants demanding higher wages
  2. The rise of new social classes, including the gentry
  3. A sharp increase in cereal growing
  4. The abolition of Parliament
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Labour shortages and peasants demanding higher wages; The rise of new social classes, including the gentry

The smaller population meant less need to grow cereal crops; there were labour shortages, peasants demanded higher wages, and new classes such as the gentry appeared as people moved to the towns.

33. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? In Ireland the Black Death killed many in the Pale, and for a time the area controlled by the English became smaller.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

The plague shrank the English-controlled Pale around Dublin for a time.

34. The origins of Parliament can be traced to what?

  1. The king's council of advisers
  2. The Magna Carta
  3. The Wars of the Roses
  4. The Domesday Book
Show answer

Answer: A — The king's council of advisers

Parliament's origins lie in the king's council of advisers, which included important noblemen and the leaders of the Church.

35. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Magna Carta established the idea that even the king was subject to the law.
  2. The Magna Carta confirmed that the king stood above the law.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Magna Carta established the idea that even the king was subject to the law.

It protected the rights of the nobility and restricted the king's power to collect taxes or to make and change laws.

36. Which TWO groups were elected to sit in the House of Commons in the Middle Ages?

  1. Knights, who were usually smaller landowners
  2. Wealthy people from towns and cities
  3. Bishops
  4. Great landowners
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Knights, who were usually smaller landowners; Wealthy people from towns and cities

The nobility, great landowners and bishops sat in the Lords; knights and wealthy townspeople were elected to the Commons. Only a small part of the population could vote.

37. The Scottish Parliament of the Middle Ages had three Houses. What were they called?

  1. Estates
  2. Chambers
  3. Councils
  4. Wards
Show answer

Answer: A — Estates

The Scottish Parliament had three Houses called Estates: the lords, the commons and the clergy.

38. How did judges in England develop 'common law' in the Middle Ages?

  1. By precedence — following previous decisions — and tradition
  2. By writing all laws down in a single code
  3. By royal decree alone
  4. By a vote of the House of Lords
Show answer

Answer: A — By precedence — following previous decisions — and tradition

English judges developed common law by precedence and tradition; in Scotland the laws were 'codified', or written down.

39. Which TWO modern English words come from Norman French?

  1. Park
  2. Beauty
  3. Apple
  4. Cow
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Park; Beauty

'Park' and 'beauty' come from Norman French; 'apple', 'cow' and 'summer' come from Anglo-Saxon.

40. In the pair 'demand' and 'ask', which word comes from Anglo-Saxon?

  1. Ask
  2. Demand
  3. Both
  4. Neither
Show answer

Answer: A — Ask

Modern English often has two words of similar meaning, one French and one Anglo-Saxon: 'demand' (French) and 'ask' (Anglo-Saxon).

41. By roughly which year were official documents in England being written in English?

  1. 1400
  2. 1215
  3. 1485
  4. 1066
Show answer

Answer: A — 1400

By 1400 official documents were written in English, and English had become the preferred language of the royal court and Parliament.

42. Who wrote The Bruce, a poem in the Scots language about the Battle of Bannockburn?

  1. John Barbour
  2. Geoffrey Chaucer
  3. Robert Burns
  4. William Caxton
Show answer

Answer: A — John Barbour

John Barbour was one of the poets who began to write in the Scots language.

43. Which TWO medieval castles are named as still being in use today?

  1. Windsor
  2. Edinburgh
  3. Conwy
  4. Caernarvon
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Windsor; Edinburgh

Many medieval castles are in ruins, but some — such as Windsor and Edinburgh — are still in use.

44. Which building is famous for its medieval stained glass telling stories from the Bible?

  1. York Minster
  2. Westminster Abbey
  3. St Paul's Cathedral
  4. The Tower of London
Show answer

Answer: A — York Minster

Several cathedrals had stained glass windows; the glass in York Minster is a famous example.

45. Which product became a very important English export during the Middle Ages?

  1. Wool
  2. Coal
  3. Cotton
  4. Tea
Show answer

Answer: A — Wool

England was an important trading nation and English wool became a very important export.

46. Which TWO groups of skilled workers came to medieval England from abroad?

  1. Weavers from France
  2. Engineers from Germany
  3. Weavers from Holland
  4. Engineers from Italy
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Weavers from France; Engineers from Germany

Skilled arrivals included weavers from France, engineers from Germany, glass manufacturers from Italy and canal builders from Holland.

47. In which year did the Wars of the Roses begin?

  1. 1455
  2. 1348
  3. 1485
  4. 1215
Show answer

Answer: A — 1455

The civil war to decide who should be king of England began in 1455 and ended at Bosworth Field in 1485.

48. Which rose was the symbol of the House of York?

  1. A white rose
  2. A red rose
  3. A red rose with a white rose inside it
  4. A yellow rose
Show answer

Answer: A — A white rose

Lancaster's symbol was a red rose and York's a white rose; the Tudor rose was a red rose with a white rose inside it.

49. Which king of the House of York was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field?

  1. Richard III
  2. Henry VII
  3. Edward I
  4. John
Show answer

Answer: A — Richard III

Richard III was killed at Bosworth in 1485, and Henry Tudor of the House of Lancaster became King Henry VII.

50. Whom did Henry VII marry in order to unite the Houses of Lancaster and York?

  1. Elizabeth of York, Richard III's niece
  2. Anne Boleyn
  3. Mary of Guise
  4. Catherine of Aragon
Show answer

Answer: A — Elizabeth of York, Richard III's niece

Henry married King Richard's niece, Elizabeth of York, uniting the two families; he was the first king of the House of Tudor.

51. How long did the Hundred Years' War between England and France actually last?

  1. 116 years
  2. 100 years
  3. 86 years
  4. 150 years
Show answer

Answer: A — 116 years

Despite its name, the Hundred Years' War lasted 116 years.

52. At the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, which English king's outnumbered army defeated the French?

  1. Henry V
  2. Henry VII
  3. Edward I
  4. Richard III
Show answer

Answer: A — Henry V

King Henry V's vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French at Agincourt; the English largely left France in the 1450s.

53. In the Crusades, European Christians fought for control of what?

  1. The Holy Land
  2. France
  3. Ireland
  4. Scotland
Show answer

Answer: A — The Holy Land

Many English knights took part in the Crusades, in which European Christians fought for control of the Holy Land.

The Tudors and Stuarts

54. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Isaac Newton, who studied at Oxford University, showed in Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica how gravity applied to the whole universe.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — Newton studied at CAMBRIDGE University, not Oxford. His Principia Mathematica did set out how gravity applied to the whole universe, and he was among the early members of the Royal Society.

55. Which title did Henry VIII take once English authority had been established over the whole of Ireland?

  1. King of Ireland
  2. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
  3. Prince of Ireland
  4. Protector of Ireland
Show answer

Answer: A — King of Ireland

Henry VIII assumed the title 'King of Ireland' as English control spread beyond the Pale.

56. What were the settlements of English and Scottish Protestants on land taken from Catholic landholders in Ulster called?

  1. Plantations
  2. Pales
  3. Estates
  4. Clans
Show answer

Answer: A — Plantations

These Protestant settlements in Ulster were known as plantations and had serious long-term consequences.

57. James I and his son Charles I both believed in which idea?

  1. The Divine Right of Kings
  2. The sovereignty of Parliament
  3. The rule of common law
  4. The Great Charter
Show answer

Answer: A — The Divine Right of Kings

The Divine Right of Kings held that the monarch was appointed directly by God and need not seek Parliament's approval.

58. In which year did civil war between the king and Parliament begin?

  1. 1642
  2. 1640
  3. 1646
  4. 1649
Show answer

Answer: A — 1642

War broke out in 1642 after Charles I failed to arrest five parliamentary leaders in the Commons.

59. What title was Oliver Cromwell given as leader of the new republic?

  1. Lord Protector
  2. Lord Lieutenant
  3. King of England
  4. Chief Justice
Show answer

Answer: A — Lord Protector

Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector from his recognition as leader until his death in 1658.

60. In May 1660, Parliament invited Charles II to return from exile in which country?

  1. The Netherlands
  2. France
  3. Spain
  4. Scotland
Show answer

Answer: A — The Netherlands

Charles II came back from the Netherlands in May 1660 to be crowned king of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

61. What did Isaac Newton discover about white light?

  1. It is made up of the colours of the rainbow
  2. It is a single pure colour that cannot be divided
  3. It is made up of red and blue light only
  4. It is produced only by burning
Show answer

Answer: A — It is made up of the colours of the rainbow

Newton discovered that white light is made up of the colours of the rainbow. His other great achievement was showing, in the Principia Mathematica, how gravity applied to the whole universe.

62. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The supporters of James II became known as Jacobites.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Those who went on believing James was the rightful king, especially in Scotland, were called Jacobites.

63. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Those who supported the king in the Civil War were known as the Cavaliers.
  2. Those who supported the king in the Civil War were known as the Roundheads.
Show answer

Answer: A — Those who supported the king in the Civil War were known as the Cavaliers.

The king's supporters were the Cavaliers, while Parliament's were the Roundheads.

64. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The new St Paul's Cathedral was designed by the architect Sir Christopher Wren.
  2. The new St Paul's Cathedral was designed by the diarist Samuel Pepys.
Show answer

Answer: A — The new St Paul's Cathedral was designed by the architect Sir Christopher Wren.

Sir Christopher Wren designed the new St Paul's after the great fire, while Pepys recorded the events in his diary.

65. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. William defeated James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690.
  2. James II defeated William at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690.
Show answer

Answer: A — William defeated James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690.

William's victory at the Boyne in 1690 ended James II's attempt to regain the throne through Ireland.

66. Which TWO of the following happened in London during the reign of Charles II?

  1. A major outbreak of plague in 1665
  2. A great fire that destroyed much of the city
  3. The Battle of the Boyne
  4. The massacre of the MacDonalds of Glencoe
Show answer

Answer: A and B — A major outbreak of plague in 1665; A great fire that destroyed much of the city

Plague struck London in 1665 and a great fire destroyed much of the city the following year.

67. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Sir Isaac Newton was a famous musician from the 18th century.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

Newton was one of the great scientists of the age — remembered for gravity and for showing that white light is made of the colours of the rainbow. He lived from 1643 to 1727, so the century is not the error in the statement; 'musician' is.

68. Local leaders in Tudor Ireland were expected to follow the instructions of whom?

  1. The Lord Lieutenants in Dublin
  2. The Scottish Parliament
  3. The Pope
  4. The Lord Protector
Show answer

Answer: A — The Lord Lieutenants in Dublin

English laws were introduced in Ireland and local leaders had to follow the instructions of the Lord Lieutenants in Dublin.

69. In which Irish province were the plantations of English and Scottish Protestants concentrated?

  1. Ulster
  2. Munster
  3. Leinster
  4. Connacht
Show answer

Answer: A — Ulster

The English government encouraged Scottish and English Protestants to settle in Ulster, the northern province, taking land from Catholic landholders.

70. Many of the new Ulster settlers came from which region?

  1. South-west Scotland
  2. Northern England
  3. Cornwall
  4. The Netherlands
Show answer

Answer: A — South-west Scotland

Many came from south-west Scotland, and other land was given to companies based in London.

71. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Elizabeth I was very skilled at managing Parliament.
  2. Elizabeth I refused to summon Parliament throughout her reign.
Show answer

Answer: A — Elizabeth I was very skilled at managing Parliament.

She balanced her own wishes against those of the Lords and of the Commons, which was increasingly Protestant in its views.

72. For how many years did Charles I find ways to rule and raise money without Parliament's approval?

  1. 11 years
  2. 3 years
  3. 20 years
  4. 1 year
Show answer

Answer: A — 11 years

He ruled without Parliament for 11 years, until trouble in Scotland forced him to recall it.

73. Charles I tried to impose a revised Prayer Book on which Church?

  1. The Presbyterian Church in Scotland
  2. The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland
  3. The Church of Wales
  4. The Church of England
Show answer

Answer: A — The Presbyterian Church in Scotland

He wanted more ceremony in worship and tried to impose the revised Prayer Book on the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, which led to serious unrest.

74. In which year did Charles I recall Parliament to ask for funds?

  1. 1640
  2. 1642
  3. 1649
  4. 1660
Show answer

Answer: A — 1640

He recalled Parliament in 1640 because he could not fund an army against the Scots without it.

75. Who were the Puritans?

  1. Protestants who advocated strict and simple religious doctrine and worship
  2. Roman Catholic supporters of the king
  3. Scottish clan leaders
  4. Members of the House of Lords
Show answer

Answer: A — Protestants who advocated strict and simple religious doctrine and worship

Many in Parliament were Puritans, who disagreed with the king's religious views and disliked his reforms of the Church of England.

76. How many parliamentary leaders did Charles I try to arrest when he entered the House of Commons?

  1. Five
  2. Three
  3. Ten
  4. One
Show answer

Answer: A — Five

He tried to arrest five parliamentary leaders, but they had been warned and were not there. No monarch has set foot in the Commons since.

77. In the English Civil War, which TWO names were given to the opposing sides?

  1. The Cavaliers, who supported the king
  2. The Roundheads, who supported Parliament
  3. The Jacobites, who supported the king
  4. The Puritans, who supported the Crown
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The Cavaliers, who supported the king; The Roundheads, who supported Parliament

The country split into Cavaliers (for the king) and Roundheads (for Parliament).

78. At which TWO battles was Charles I's army defeated?

  1. Marston Moor
  2. Naseby
  3. Dunbar
  4. Worcester
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Marston Moor; Naseby

The king's army was defeated at Marston Moor and Naseby; Dunbar and Worcester were Cromwell's later victories over Charles II's Scottish army.

79. By which year was it clear that Parliament had won the Civil War?

  1. 1646
  2. 1642
  3. 1649
  4. 1660
Show answer

Answer: A — 1646

By 1646 Parliament had won; Charles was held prisoner and, still unwilling to reach agreement, was executed in 1649.

80. What was the English republic declared after the execution of Charles I called?

  1. The Commonwealth
  2. The Protectorate Union
  3. The Free State
  4. The Dominion
Show answer

Answer: A — The Commonwealth

England declared itself a republic called the Commonwealth, with no monarch.

81. In which year had the revolt in Ireland begun that Cromwell was sent to put down?

  1. 1641
  2. 1649
  3. 1660
  4. 1690
Show answer

Answer: A — 1641

Cromwell was sent to Ireland where the revolt begun in 1641 continued; he established the authority of the English Parliament with such violence that he remains a controversial figure in Ireland.

82. At which TWO battles did Cromwell defeat the Scottish army that supported Charles II?

  1. Dunbar
  2. Worcester
  3. Naseby
  4. Bosworth
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Dunbar; Worcester

The Scots crowned Charles II king of Scotland; Cromwell defeated his army at Dunbar and Worcester.

83. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? After his defeat at Naseby, Charles II escaped, famously hiding in an oak tree, and fled to Europe.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — Charles II was defeated at WORCESTER. He escaped, hid in an oak tree on one occasion, and eventually fled to Europe. NASEBY was one of the battles where his father, Charles I, was defeated.

84. In which year did Oliver Cromwell die?

  1. 1658
  2. 1649
  3. 1660
  4. 1666
Show answer

Answer: A — 1658

Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector until his death in 1658; his son Richard succeeded him but could not control the army or the government.

85. For how long was Britain a republic?

  1. 11 years
  2. 3 years
  3. 20 years
  4. 40 years
Show answer

Answer: A — 11 years

Britain was a republic for 11 years, but without Oliver Cromwell there was no clear leader or system of government, and people began to talk of the need for a king.

86. Which faith again became the established official Church after the Restoration?

  1. The Church of England
  2. The Roman Catholic Church
  3. The Presbyterian Church
  4. The Puritan congregations
Show answer

Answer: A — The Church of England

The Church of England became the established Church again, and both Roman Catholics and Puritans were kept out of power.

87. In which year was there a major outbreak of plague in London during the reign of Charles II?

  1. 1665
  2. 1666
  3. 1649
  4. 1679
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Answer: A — 1665

The plague of 1665 killed thousands, especially in poorer areas; the great fire followed in 1666.

88. Which architect designed the new St Paul's Cathedral after the Great Fire of London?

  1. Sir Christopher Wren
  2. Inigo Jones
  3. Robert Adam
  4. Sir Edwin Lutyens
Show answer

Answer: A — Sir Christopher Wren

The fire destroyed much of the city including St Paul's; London was rebuilt with a new St Paul's designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

89. Who wrote a famous diary describing the plague and the Great Fire of London?

  1. Samuel Pepys
  2. Geoffrey Chaucer
  3. John Barbour
  4. Sir Edmund Halley
Show answer

Answer: A — Samuel Pepys

Samuel Pepys wrote about these events in a diary which was later published and is still read today.

90. In which year did the Habeas Corpus Act become law?

  1. 1679
  2. 1665
  3. 1689
  4. 1690
Show answer

Answer: A — 1679

The Habeas Corpus Act of 1679 guaranteed that no one could be held prisoner unlawfully, and that every prisoner has a right to a court hearing.

91. What does the Latin phrase 'habeas corpus' mean?

  1. You must present the person in court
  2. The king is subject to the law
  3. Let justice be done
  4. The people shall decide
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Answer: A — You must present the person in court

Habeas corpus is Latin for 'you must present the person in court'.

92. The Royal Society, formed during the reign of Charles II, is best described as what?

  1. The oldest surviving scientific society in the world
  2. The first university in England
  3. A society of poets
  4. The forerunner of Parliament
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Answer: A — The oldest surviving scientific society in the world

The Royal Society was formed to promote 'natural knowledge' and is the oldest surviving scientific society in the world.

93. Which early member of the Royal Society successfully predicted the return of a comet?

  1. Sir Edmund Halley
  2. Sir Isaac Newton
  3. Samuel Pepys
  4. Sir Christopher Wren
Show answer

Answer: A — Sir Edmund Halley

Sir Edmund Halley predicted the return of the comet now named after him.

94. Where was Isaac Newton born, and where did he first become interested in science?

  1. Born in Lincolnshire; studied at Cambridge University
  2. Born in Cambridge; studied at Oxford University
  3. Born in London; studied in Edinburgh
  4. Born in Lincolnshire; studied in London
Show answer

Answer: A — Born in Lincolnshire; studied at Cambridge University

Newton was born in Lincolnshire in eastern England and first became interested in science at Cambridge University.

95. What did Newton's Principia Mathematica show?

  1. How gravity applied to the whole universe
  2. That white light is made of colours
  3. How to predict comets
  4. The laws of chemistry
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Answer: A — How gravity applied to the whole universe

His most famous published work showed how gravity applied to the whole universe; he separately discovered that white light is made up of the colours of the rainbow.

96. When James became king in 1685, what title did he hold in Scotland?

  1. James VII
  2. James II
  3. James III
  4. James I
Show answer

Answer: A — James VII

He was James II in England, Wales and Ireland, and James VII of Scotland.

97. Which TWO actions of James II alarmed people in England?

  1. He allowed Roman Catholics to be army officers, which an Act of Parliament had forbidden
  2. He arrested some of the bishops of the Church of England
  3. He abolished the House of Lords
  4. He sold Ireland to France
Show answer

Answer: A and B — He allowed Roman Catholics to be army officers, which an Act of Parliament had forbidden; He arrested some of the bishops of the Church of England

James favoured Roman Catholics and did not seek agreement with Parliament, and people feared he wanted to make England Catholic again.

98. What changed the expectation that a Protestant monarch would soon follow James II?

  1. James's wife had a son
  2. His daughters converted to Catholicism
  3. Parliament was dissolved
  4. William of Orange died
Show answer

Answer: A — James's wife had a son

His heirs were his two firmly Protestant daughters — until his wife had a son, making a Catholic succession suddenly likely.

99. Whom did James II's elder daughter Mary marry?

  1. William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands
  2. Charles II of England
  3. A French Catholic prince
  4. Her cousin Richard Cromwell
Show answer

Answer: A — William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands

Mary married her cousin William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands.

100. In which year did William of Orange come to England at the invitation of important English Protestants?

  1. 1688
  2. 1685
  3. 1690
  4. 1660
Show answer

Answer: A — 1688

In 1688 he was asked to invade and proclaim himself king; when he reached England there was no resistance and James fled to France.

101. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Glorious Revolution was so called because there was no fighting in England and it guaranteed the power of Parliament.
  2. The Glorious Revolution was so called because of the scale of the battles fought across England.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Glorious Revolution was so called because there was no fighting in England and it guaranteed the power of Parliament.

It ended the threat of a monarch ruling alone as he or she wished. William ruled jointly with Mary.

102. At which battle in 1690 did William defeat James II in Ireland?

  1. The Battle of the Boyne
  2. The Battle of Killiecrankie
  3. The Battle of Culloden
  4. The Battle of Dunbar
Show answer

Answer: A — The Battle of the Boyne

The Battle of the Boyne in 1690 is still celebrated by some in Northern Ireland today; William re-conquered Ireland and James fled back to France.

103. Where was the armed rebellion in Scotland in support of James quickly defeated?

  1. Killiecrankie
  2. Culloden
  3. Bannockburn
  4. Glencoe
Show answer

Answer: A — Killiecrankie

The rising in support of James was defeated at Killiecrankie, after which all Scottish clans had to take an oath accepting William as king.

104. Which clan was late in taking the oath to William and was massacred as a result?

  1. The MacDonalds of Glencoe
  2. The MacGregors of Argyll
  3. The Campbells of Inveraray
  4. The Stewarts of Appin
Show answer

Answer: A — The MacDonalds of Glencoe

The MacDonalds of Glencoe were late in taking the oath and were all killed; the memory of the massacre made some Scots distrust the new government.

105. After the Wars of the Roses, how did Henry VII make his position as king more secure?

  1. He strengthened the central administration and reduced the power of the nobles
  2. He gave the nobles more land and power
  3. He moved the capital away from London
  4. He abolished Parliament
Show answer

Answer: A — He strengthened the central administration and reduced the power of the nobles

Henry VII deliberately strengthened the central administration of England and reduced the power of the nobles, and he built up the monarchy's financial reserves.

106. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? When Henry VII died, his son Henry VIII continued the policy of centralising power.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Henry VIII continued his father's policy of centralising power in the hands of the monarchy.

107. Henry VIII is most famous for which TWO of the following?

  1. Breaking away from the Church of Rome
  2. Marrying six times
  3. Writing the Book of Common Prayer
  4. Founding the Royal Society
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Breaking away from the Church of Rome; Marrying six times

Henry VIII is remembered for establishing the Church of England after breaking away from the Church of Rome, and for his six marriages. The Book of Common Prayer came in Edward VI's reign and the Royal Society in Charles II's.

108. How many times did Henry VIII marry?

  1. Six
  2. Four
  3. Five
  4. Seven
Show answer

Answer: A — Six

Henry VIII married six times: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr.

109. Who was Henry VIII's first wife?

  1. Catherine of Aragon
  2. Anne Boleyn
  3. Jane Seymour
  4. Catherine Parr
Show answer

Answer: A — Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was a Spanish princess. She had several children, but only her daughter Mary survived.

110. Why did Henry VIII divorce Catherine of Aragon?

  1. She was too old to give him another child, and he hoped a new wife would give him a son
  2. She was accused of taking lovers
  3. She refused to convert to Protestantism
  4. She plotted against him with Spain
Show answer

Answer: A — She was too old to give him another child, and he hoped a new wife would give him a son

Only Catherine's daughter Mary had survived, and when Catherine was too old to give Henry another child he decided to divorce her, hoping a different wife would give him the son he wanted.

111. Which of Henry VIII's wives was the mother of Elizabeth I?

  1. Anne Boleyn
  2. Catherine of Aragon
  3. Jane Seymour
  4. Anne of Cleves
Show answer

Answer: A — Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth — the future Elizabeth I.

112. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Anne Boleyn was executed at the Tower of London, accused of taking lovers.
  2. Anne Boleyn died of natural causes shortly after Elizabeth's birth.
Show answer

Answer: A — Anne Boleyn was executed at the Tower of London, accused of taking lovers.

Anne Boleyn was unpopular in the country and was accused of taking lovers; she was executed at the Tower of London.

113. Which of Henry VIII's wives gave him the son he wanted?

  1. Jane Seymour
  2. Anne Boleyn
  3. Catherine Howard
  4. Catherine of Aragon
Show answer

Answer: A — Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour, Henry's third wife, gave birth to his son Edward — but she died shortly after the birth.

114. Why did Henry VIII marry Anne of Cleves, and what happened to the marriage?

  1. He married her for political reasons and divorced her soon after
  2. He married her for love and stayed married until his death
  3. He married her to unite England and Spain
  4. He married her to secure peace with Scotland
Show answer

Answer: A — He married her for political reasons and divorced her soon after

Anne of Cleves was a German princess whom Henry married for political reasons; the marriage ended in divorce soon afterwards.

115. What happened to Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's fifth wife?

  1. She was executed, accused of taking lovers
  2. She outlived Henry and married again
  3. She was divorced and sent back to Germany
  4. She became a nun
Show answer

Answer: A — She was executed, accused of taking lovers

Catherine Howard, a cousin of Anne Boleyn, was also accused of taking lovers and executed.

116. Which of Henry VIII's wives survived him?

  1. Catherine Parr
  2. Catherine Howard
  3. Jane Seymour
  4. Anne Boleyn
Show answer

Answer: A — Catherine Parr

Catherine Parr, a widow who married Henry late in his life, survived him and married again — but died soon after.

117. Why did Henry VIII establish the Church of England?

  1. The Pope refused to approve his divorce from Catherine of Aragon
  2. He wanted the Church to be run from Rome
  3. Parliament ordered him to do so
  4. He converted to Protestant beliefs after visiting Germany
Show answer

Answer: A — The Pope refused to approve his divorce from Catherine of Aragon

Henry needed the Pope's approval to divorce his first wife, and the Pope refused — so Henry established the Church of England with the king, not the Pope, as its head.

118. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. In the Church of England established by Henry VIII, the king had the power to appoint bishops and order how people should worship.
  2. In the Church of England established by Henry VIII, the Pope kept the power to appoint bishops.
Show answer

Answer: A — In the Church of England established by Henry VIII, the king had the power to appoint bishops and order how people should worship.

In the new Church of England the king, not the Pope, was head of the Church, with the power to appoint bishops and order how people should worship.

119. Which TWO of the following were beliefs or practices of the Protestants during the Reformation?

  1. Reading the Bible in their own languages
  2. Believing a person's own relationship with God mattered more than submitting to the authority of the Church
  3. Praying to saints and at shrines
  4. Accepting the authority of the Pope
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Reading the Bible in their own languages; Believing a person's own relationship with God mattered more than submitting to the authority of the Church

The Protestants read the Bible in their own languages instead of Latin, did not pray to saints or at shrines, and believed a person's own relationship with God was more important than submitting to the authority of the Church.

120. What was the Reformation?

  1. A movement against the authority of the Pope and the ideas and practices of the Roman Catholic Church
  2. A campaign to reform the English Parliament
  3. A movement to restore Catholicism in England
  4. A reform of the feudal system of land ownership
Show answer

Answer: A — A movement against the authority of the Pope and the ideas and practices of the Roman Catholic Church

The Reformation was the 16th-century movement across Europe against the authority of the Pope and the ideas and practices of the Roman Catholic Church; the Protestants formed their own churches.

121. During whose reign did Wales become formally united with England?

  1. Henry VIII
  2. Henry VII
  3. Edward VI
  4. Elizabeth I
Show answer

Answer: A — Henry VIII

During Henry VIII's reign the Act for the Government of Wales formally united Wales with England; the Welsh sent representatives to the House of Commons and the Welsh legal system was reformed.

122. What did the Act for the Government of Wales do?

  1. Formally united Wales with England
  2. Gave Wales its own parliament
  3. Made Wales an independent kingdom
  4. United Wales with Ireland
Show answer

Answer: A — Formally united Wales with England

Under Henry VIII, the Act for the Government of Wales formally united Wales with England, with Welsh representatives sent to the House of Commons.

123. The Book of Common Prayer was written during the reign of which king?

  1. Edward VI
  2. Henry VIII
  3. James I
  4. Charles I
Show answer

Answer: A — Edward VI

Edward VI was strongly Protestant, and during his reign the Book of Common Prayer was written for use in the Church of England — a version is still used in some churches today.

124. How old was Edward VI when he died, and how long had he ruled?

  1. He died at 15, after ruling for six years
  2. He died at 25, after ruling for ten years
  3. He died at 40, after ruling for twenty years
  4. He died at 18, after ruling for one year
Show answer

Answer: A — He died at 15, after ruling for six years

Edward VI died at the age of 15 after ruling for just six years, and his half-sister Mary became queen.

125. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Queen Mary was a devout Catholic who persecuted Protestants.
  2. Queen Mary was a Protestant who persecuted Catholics.
Show answer

Answer: A — Queen Mary was a devout Catholic who persecuted Protestants.

Mary, Edward VI's half-sister, was a devout Catholic and persecuted Protestants during her short reign; she was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth.

126. Elizabeth I was the daughter of which couple?

  1. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
  2. Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
  3. Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
  4. James I and Anne of Denmark
Show answer

Answer: A — Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn — and, like her father, she was head of the Church of England, which she re-established as the official Church.

127. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Elizabeth I, a Catholic, re-established the Church of England as the official Church in England.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — Elizabeth I was a PROTESTANT. She did re-establish the Church of England as the official Church; everyone had to attend their local church, but she did not ask about people's real beliefs.

128. What was the Spanish Armada?

  1. A large fleet of ships sent by Spain to conquer England and restore Catholicism
  2. A Spanish trading company operating in the Americas
  3. A treaty between England and Spain
  4. A Spanish army that invaded Ireland
Show answer

Answer: A — A large fleet of ships sent by Spain to conquer England and restore Catholicism

In 1588 the English defeated the Spanish Armada, a large fleet sent to conquer England and restore Catholicism — a victory that made Elizabeth I one of the most popular monarchs in English history.

129. In which year did the English defeat the Spanish Armada?

  1. 1588
  2. 1558
  3. 1601
  4. 1546
Show answer

Answer: A — 1588

The defeat of the Spanish Armada came in 1588, during the reign of Elizabeth I.

130. What did the predominantly Protestant Scottish Parliament do in 1560?

  1. It abolished the authority of the Pope in Scotland, and Roman Catholic religious services became illegal
  2. It made Scotland formally part of England
  3. It restored Catholicism throughout Scotland
  4. It elected Mary, Queen of Scots as its leader
Show answer

Answer: A — It abolished the authority of the Pope in Scotland, and Roman Catholic religious services became illegal

In 1560 the predominantly Protestant Scottish Parliament abolished the authority of the Pope in Scotland, and Roman Catholic religious services became illegal.

131. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Protestant Church of Scotland had an elected leadership and, unlike in England, was not a state Church.
  2. The Protestant Church of Scotland was a state Church headed by the monarch, exactly as in England.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Protestant Church of Scotland had an elected leadership and, unlike in England, was not a state Church.

A Protestant Church of Scotland with an elected leadership was established — but, unlike in England, it was not a state Church.

132. How old was Mary, Queen of Scots when she became queen of Scotland?

  1. One week old
  2. Five years old
  3. Fifteen years old
  4. Twenty-one years old
Show answer

Answer: A — One week old

Mary Stuart was only a week old when her father died and she became queen; much of her childhood was spent in France.

133. What did Mary, Queen of Scots do when she was suspected of involvement in her husband's murder?

  1. She fled to England, giving her throne to her Protestant son James VI
  2. She raised an army and conquered England
  3. She retired to a convent in France
  4. She confessed and abdicated in favour of Elizabeth I
Show answer

Answer: A — She fled to England, giving her throne to her Protestant son James VI

Suspected of involvement in her husband's murder, Mary fled to England and gave her throne to her Protestant son, James VI of Scotland.

134. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Elizabeth I kept her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots prisoner for 20 years, and Mary was eventually executed, accused of plotting against Elizabeth.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Mary, Queen of Scots was held prisoner in England for 20 years and eventually executed after being accused of plotting against her cousin Elizabeth I.

135. What was the name of Sir Francis Drake's ship?

  1. The Golden Hind
  2. The Mayflower
  3. The Victory
  4. The Endeavour
Show answer

Answer: A — The Golden Hind

Sir Francis Drake, one of the commanders in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, sailed the Golden Hind — one of the first ships to circumnavigate the world.

136. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Elizabethan period was a time of growing English patriotism, when English settlers began to colonise the eastern coast of America.
  2. During the Elizabethan period, England withdrew entirely from exploration and overseas trade.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Elizabethan period was a time of growing English patriotism, when English settlers began to colonise the eastern coast of America.

The Elizabethan period saw growing pride in being English; explorers sought new trade routes, and English settlers began to colonise the eastern coast of America.

137. Which TWO of the following are true of William Shakespeare?

  1. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon
  2. He was a playwright and actor
  3. He wrote only in Latin
  4. He refused to portray ordinary people in his plays
Show answer

Answer: A and B — He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon; He was a playwright and actor

Shakespeare (1564–1616) was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and was a playwright and actor; he dramatised great events but was also one of the first to portray ordinary Englishmen and women.

138. The line 'To be or not to be' comes from which of Shakespeare's plays?

  1. Hamlet
  2. Romeo and Juliet
  3. Henry V
  4. Macbeth
Show answer

Answer: A — Hamlet

'To be or not to be' is from Hamlet; 'Once more unto the breach' is from Henry V, and 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet' is from Romeo and Juliet.

139. At which London theatre were Shakespeare's plays performed?

  1. The Globe Theatre
  2. The Royal Albert Hall
  3. The Old Vic
  4. The National Theatre
Show answer

Answer: A — The Globe Theatre

Shakespeare's plays were performed at the Globe Theatre; a modern copy of the Globe stands on the south bank of the Thames today.

140. Who became king when Elizabeth I died in 1603?

  1. Her cousin James VI of Scotland, who became King James I of England, Wales and Ireland
  2. Her half-brother Edward VI
  3. Her nephew Philip of Spain
  4. Her son Charles I
Show answer

Answer: A — Her cousin James VI of Scotland, who became King James I of England, Wales and Ireland

Elizabeth never married and died with no children of her own; her heir was her cousin James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England, Wales and Ireland — though Scotland remained a separate country.

141. What is the 'Authorised Version' of the Bible also known as?

  1. The King James Bible
  2. The Book of Common Prayer
  3. The Latin Vulgate
  4. The Wycliffe Bible
Show answer

Answer: A — The King James Bible

A new translation of the Bible into English was produced during James I's reign — the 'King James Bible', also known as the 'Authorised Version'. It was not the first English Bible, but a version still used in many Protestant churches today.

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