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Life in the UK Test Chapter 4 questions — A Modern, Thriving Society

Updated 26 August 2026

Every question in our 969-question bank that comes from this chapter of the official study material — all 249 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 UK Today

1. Roughly how far is it from John O'Groats to Land's End, the longest distance on the UK mainland?

  1. 570 miles
  2. 670 miles
  3. 870 miles
  4. 970 miles
Show answer

Answer: C — 870 miles

The longest distance on the mainland, from John O'Groats in northern Scotland to Land's End in south-west England, is about 870 miles (1,400 kilometres).

2. What is the capital city of Wales?

  1. Swansea
  2. Cardiff
  3. Newport
  4. Bangor
Show answer

Answer: B — Cardiff

Each nation of the UK has its own capital, and Wales's is Cardiff.

3. Which TWO of the following are major cities in Scotland?

  1. Dundee
  2. Aberdeen
  3. Swansea
  4. Bradford
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Dundee; Aberdeen

Dundee and Aberdeen are Scottish cities, while Swansea is in Wales and Bradford is in England.

4. What is the highest-value banknote issued in the UK?

  1. £20
  2. £50
  3. £100
  4. £200
Show answer

Answer: B — £50

UK notes come in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations.

5. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Shops and businesses anywhere in the UK are obliged to accept banknotes issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

Scottish and Northern Irish notes are valid throughout the UK, but no shop or business is required to accept them.

6. Which language, completely different from English, is spoken by many people in Wales and taught in its schools and universities?

  1. Welsh
  2. Gaelic
  3. Irish Gaelic
  4. Cornish
Show answer

Answer: A — Welsh

Welsh is a separate language from English and is taught in Welsh schools and universities.

7. Approximately what share of the UK population lives in England?

  1. About 60%
  2. About 70%
  3. About 84%
  4. About 95%
Show answer

Answer: C — About 84%

The population is spread unevenly, with England accounting for about 84% of the UK total.

8. In surveys of ethnic origin in the UK, which description is chosen most often?

  1. White
  2. Asian
  3. Black
  4. Mixed
Show answer

Answer: A — White

White is the most commonly chosen ethnic description, covering people of European, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and American descent.

9. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. On average, girls leave school with better qualifications than boys.
  2. On average, boys leave school with better qualifications than girls.
Show answer

Answer: A — On average, girls leave school with better qualifications than boys.

Girls on average leave school with better qualifications than boys, and more women than men study at university.

10. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Women in Britain today make up about a quarter of the workforce.
  2. Women in Britain today make up about half of the workforce.
Show answer

Answer: B — Women in Britain today make up about half of the workforce.

Women now make up roughly half of the British workforce and work in all sectors of the economy.

11. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Nearly half of the UK population has a parent or grandparent who was born outside the UK.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — it is nearly ONE PERSON IN TEN, not one in two. Post-war immigration means nearly 10% of the population has a parent or grandparent born abroad.

12. In which part of Europe does the UK sit?

  1. The north west
  2. The south east
  3. The centre
  4. The far north
Show answer

Answer: A — The north west

The UK sits in the north west of Europe.

13. Which TWO of the following are named as major cities in Wales?

  1. Swansea
  2. Newport
  3. Dundee
  4. Bradford
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Swansea; Newport

Wales's major cities named are Swansea and Newport; Dundee is in Scotland and Bradford in England.

14. How many pence are there in a pound?

  1. 100
  2. 50
  3. 20
  4. 1,000
Show answer

Answer: A — 100

The currency is the pound sterling (£), and there are 100 pence in a pound.

15. Which TWO of the following are UK coins?

  1. 20p
  2. £2
  3. £5
  4. 1p note
Show answer

Answer: A and B — 20p; £2

The coins are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2; the notes are £5, £10, £20 and £50.

16. In which parts of the UK is Gaelic spoken?

  1. Some parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
  2. Mid Wales
  3. The west of England
  4. The Channel Islands
Show answer

Answer: A — Some parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland

Gaelic — a different language from English — is spoken in some parts of the Scottish Highlands and Islands; in Northern Ireland some people speak Irish Gaelic.

17. Roughly what was the population of the UK in 1801?

  1. 8 million
  2. 4 million
  3. 20 million
  4. 40 million
Show answer

Answer: A — 8 million

It was just over 4 million in 1600, 5 million in 1700 and 8 million in 1801.

18. Roughly what was the population of the UK in 1901?

  1. 40 million
  2. 20 million
  3. 50 million
  4. 62 million
Show answer

Answer: A — 40 million

The 19th-century surge took the population to 20 million by 1851 and 40 million by 1901.

19. Roughly when did the UK population reach 50 million?

  1. 1951
  2. 1901
  3. 1998
  4. 2010
Show answer

Answer: A — 1951

It reached 50 million in 1951, 57 million in 1998 and just over 62 million in 2010.

20. Which TWO factors are given for the UK's faster population growth in recent years?

  1. Migration into the UK
  2. Longer life expectancy
  3. A fall in emigration
  4. A rise in the birth rate alone
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Migration into the UK; Longer life expectancy

Migration into the UK and longer life expectancy have both played a part.

21. Approximately what share of the UK population lives in Scotland?

  1. Just over 8%
  2. About 5%
  3. Less than 3%
  4. About 84%
Show answer

Answer: A — Just over 8%

England is about 84%, Scotland just over 8%, Wales around 5% and Northern Ireland less than 3%.

22. Which age group in the UK is now at a record number, with an impact on pension and health-care costs?

  1. People aged 85 and over
  2. People under 16
  3. People aged 18 to 25
  4. People aged 65 to 70
Show answer

Answer: A — People aged 85 and over

People are living longer thanks to better living standards and health care, and there is now a record number of people aged 85 and over.

23. Under UK law, men and women must not be discriminated against on which TWO grounds?

  1. Their gender
  2. Whether or not they are married
  3. Their county of residence
  4. Their choice of employer
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Their gender; Whether or not they are married

It is a legal requirement that men and women are not discriminated against because of their gender, or because they are or are not married.

24. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Women in Britain today make up about half of the workforce.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Women make up about half the workforce; on average girls leave school with better qualifications than boys, and more women than men study at university.

25. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Married parents are equally responsible for their children.
  2. The father alone is legally responsible for the children of a marriage.
Show answer

Answer: A — Married parents are equally responsible for their children.

Men and women have equal rights to work, own property, marry and divorce, and married parents are equally responsible for their children.

26. Geordie, Scouse and Cockney are all examples of what?

  1. Dialects of English spoken in England
  2. Languages spoken in the Scottish Highlands
  3. Traditional British dishes
  4. Styles of British folk music
Show answer

Answer: A — Dialects of English spoken in England

English is spoken with many accents and dialects across the UK — in England alone the well-known dialects include Geordie, Scouse and Cockney.

27. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The UK population is ethnically diverse and changing rapidly, especially in large cities such as London.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

The UK population is ethnically diverse and changing rapidly, especially in large cities such as London, so it is not always easy to get an exact picture of the ethnic origin of the whole population.

Religion in the UK

28. In the 2011 Census, what proportion of people identified themselves as Christian?

  1. 25%
  2. 45%
  3. 59%
  4. 71%
Show answer

Answer: C — 59%

The 2011 Census recorded 59% of people describing themselves as Christian, with 25% saying they had no religion.

29. Who is the spiritual leader of the Church of England?

  1. The Archbishop of Canterbury
  2. The Moderator
  3. The Prime Minister
  4. The Archbishop of York
Show answer

Answer: A — The Archbishop of Canterbury

The monarch heads the Church of England, but its spiritual leader is the Archbishop of Canterbury.

30. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of the Church of England.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — the MONARCH is the head of the Church of England; the Archbishop of Canterbury is its SPIRITUAL LEADER. England has a constitutional link between Church and state.

31. Since when has the Church of England existed?

  1. The Norman Conquest of 1066
  2. Magna Carta in 1215
  3. The Reformation in the 1530s
  4. The 1830s
Show answer

Answer: C — The Reformation in the 1530s

The Church of England is a Protestant Church dating from the Reformation of the 1530s.

32. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian Church governed by ministers and elders.
  2. The Church of Scotland is a Roman Catholic Church governed by bishops.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian Church governed by ministers and elders.

Scotland's national Church is Presbyterian and is governed by ministers and elders.

33. For how long is the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland appointed?

  1. One year
  2. Three years
  3. Ten years
  4. For life
Show answer

Answer: A — One year

The Moderator chairs the General Assembly for one year only and often speaks on behalf of the Church.

34. On which date is St David's Day, the patron saint's day of Wales?

  1. 1 March
  2. 17 March
  3. 23 April
  4. 30 November
Show answer

Answer: A — 1 March

St David is the patron saint of Wales and his day falls on 1 March.

35. The patron saint's day celebrated on 23 April belongs to which nation of the UK?

  1. Scotland
  2. Wales
  3. England
  4. Northern Ireland
Show answer

Answer: C — England

St George is the patron saint of England and his day is 23 April.

36. In which TWO nations of the UK is the patron saint's day an official holiday?

  1. Scotland
  2. Northern Ireland
  3. England
  4. Wales
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Scotland; Northern Ireland

Only Scotland and Northern Ireland treat their patron saint's day as an official holiday, though even in Scotland not all businesses close.

37. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? There is no established Church in Wales or Northern Ireland.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

England has the Church of England and Scotland the Church of Scotland, but Wales and Northern Ireland have no established Church.

38. Apart from the Protestant Churches, which is the biggest denomination of Christianity in the UK?

  1. Roman Catholic
  2. Methodist
  3. Baptist
  4. Quaker
Show answer

Answer: A — Roman Catholic

Roman Catholicism is the largest of the other Christian denominations in the UK.

39. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church since 1603.
  2. Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066.
Show answer

Answer: B — Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066.

Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the burial place of many monarchs.

Customs and Traditions

40. Which event is remembered on 5 November each year?

  1. A plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605
  2. The end of the Second World War
  3. The King's birthday
  4. The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588
Show answer

Answer: A — A plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605

Bonfire Night marks the failed plot of 1605 to blow up the Houses of Parliament, which is why bonfires and fireworks light the evening.

41. Diwali is celebrated by which TWO of the following religious groups?

  1. Hindus
  2. Sikhs
  3. Christians
  4. Buddhists
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Hindus; Sikhs

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, normally falls in October or November, lasts five days, and is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs to mark the victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge.

42. How many days does Lent, the period of reflection before Easter, last?

  1. 8 days
  2. 12 days
  3. 40 days
  4. 50 days
Show answer

Answer: C — 40 days

Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter, when Christians reflect and prepare; traditionally people fasted, and many still give up a favourite food.

43. Which day, the day before Lent begins, is also known as Pancake Day?

  1. Shrove Tuesday
  2. Ash Wednesday
  3. Good Friday
  4. Easter Monday
Show answer

Answer: A — Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day, when pancakes were traditionally made to use up eggs, fat and milk before the fast.

44. How many days does Diwali last?

  1. Three days
  2. Five days
  3. Eight days
  4. Ten days
Show answer

Answer: B — Five days

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, normally falls in October or November and lasts five days.

45. Which UK city is known for its famous celebration of Diwali?

  1. Bradford
  2. Glasgow
  3. Leicester
  4. Southampton
Show answer

Answer: C — Leicester

Leicester holds the UK's best-known Diwali celebration. Diwali, the five-day Festival of Lights, falls in October or November and is marked by Hindus and Sikhs.

46. On which date each year is the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi celebrated?

  1. 14 February
  2. 1 April
  3. 14 April
  4. 1 March
Show answer

Answer: C — 14 April

Vaisakhi, which marks the founding of the Khalsa, is celebrated on 14 April with parades, dancing and singing.

47. In Scotland, what name is given to 31 December?

  1. Hogmanay
  2. Boxing Day
  3. Burns Night
  4. Twelfth Night
Show answer

Answer: A — Hogmanay

Hogmanay is the Scottish name for 31 December, and for some Scottish people it is a bigger holiday than Christmas.

48. Which July anniversary is a public holiday in Northern Ireland?

  1. The Battle of Britain
  2. The Battle of Hastings
  3. The Battle of the Boyne
  4. The Battle of Trafalgar
Show answer

Answer: C — The Battle of the Boyne

Northern Ireland has an extra public holiday in July for the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

49. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan, when Muslims have fasted for a month.
  2. Eid ul Adha celebrates the end of Ramadan, when Muslims have fasted for a month.
Show answer

Answer: A — Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan, when Muslims have fasted for a month.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month of fasting, while Eid ul Adha remembers Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son.

50. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Bonfire Night recalls a plot in 1605 by Catholics led by Guy Fawkes to kill the Protestant king.
  2. Bonfire Night recalls a plot in 1605 by Protestants led by Guy Fawkes to kill the Catholic king.
Show answer

Answer: A — Bonfire Night recalls a plot in 1605 by Catholics led by Guy Fawkes to kill the Protestant king.

Bonfire Night on 5 November marks the failure of a Catholic plot, led by Guy Fawkes, to blow up the Protestant king in the Houses of Parliament.

51. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Boxing Day, the day after New Year's Day, is a public holiday.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — Boxing Day is the day after CHRISTMAS DAY. Both Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays.

52. Which TWO of the following happen on Remembrance Day?

  1. A two-minute silence is held at 11.00 am
  2. Wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph in Whitehall
  3. People wear white lilies
  4. Fireworks displays are held across Great Britain
Show answer

Answer: A and B — A two-minute silence is held at 11.00 am; Wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph in Whitehall

Remembrance Day is marked by a two-minute silence at 11.00 am and wreaths laid at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, with people wearing poppies rather than lilies.

53. Which TWO days at Easter are public holidays?

  1. Good Friday
  2. Easter Monday
  3. Shrove Tuesday
  4. Ash Wednesday
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Good Friday; Easter Monday

Good Friday and the following Easter Monday are both public holidays.

54. Which TWO foods are traditionally eaten at Christmas in the UK?

  1. Roast turkey
  2. Mince pies
  3. Haggis
  4. Welsh cakes
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Roast turkey; Mince pies

The Christmas meal is often roast turkey, Christmas pudding and mince pies.

55. By what other name is Father Christmas known?

  1. Santa Claus
  2. St Nicholas Day
  3. The Dame
  4. Old Man Winter
Show answer

Answer: A — Santa Claus

Very young children believe Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, brings presents during the night before Christmas Day.

56. On which day is the death of Jesus Christ marked at Easter?

  1. Good Friday
  2. Easter Sunday
  3. Easter Monday
  4. Ash Wednesday
Show answer

Answer: A — Good Friday

Easter marks the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday.

57. What happens at church services on Ash Wednesday?

  1. Christians are marked with an ash cross on the forehead
  2. Pancakes are eaten
  3. Easter eggs are given out
  4. A menorah is lit
Show answer

Answer: A — Christians are marked with an ash cross on the forehead

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and the ash cross is a symbol of death and sorrow for sin.

58. Why were pancakes traditionally made on Shrove Tuesday?

  1. To use up foods such as eggs, fat and milk before the fast
  2. To celebrate the end of Lent
  3. To mark the start of spring
  4. To remember the Gunpowder Plot
Show answer

Answer: A — To use up foods such as eggs, fat and milk before the fast

Shrove Tuesday — Pancake Day — is the day before Lent starts.

59. What do 'Easter eggs' symbolise?

  1. New life
  2. Sorrow for sin
  3. The victory of good over evil
  4. Religious freedom
Show answer

Answer: A — New life

Chocolate eggs given as presents are a symbol of new life, and Easter is also celebrated by people who are not religious.

60. What does Diwali, often called the Festival of Lights, mark?

  1. The victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge
  2. The Jews' struggle for religious freedom
  3. The founding of the Khalsa
  4. The end of Ramadan
Show answer

Answer: A — The victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge

Diwali normally falls in October or November, lasts five days and is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs.

61. For how many days is Hannukah celebrated, and what is the candle stand called?

  1. Eight days, on a menorah
  2. Five days, on a diya
  3. Eight days, on a Khalsa
  4. Three days, on a menorah
Show answer

Answer: A — Eight days, on a menorah

Hannukah remembers the Jews' struggle for religious freedom and the story of oil that should have lasted a day burning for eight.

62. What does the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi celebrate?

  1. The founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa
  2. The victory of good over evil
  3. The end of a month of fasting
  4. The birth of Guru Nanak
Show answer

Answer: A — The founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa

Vaisakhi is celebrated on 14 April each year with parades, dancing and singing.

63. What does Eid al-Fitr celebrate?

  1. The end of Ramadan, when Muslims have fasted for a month
  2. The prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son
  3. The Jews' struggle for religious freedom
  4. The birth of Jesus Christ
Show answer

Answer: A — The end of Ramadan, when Muslims have fasted for a month

Muslims thank Allah for the strength to complete the fast, and attend special services and meals. The date changes every year.

64. What does Eid ul Adha remember?

  1. That the prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to
  2. The end of Ramadan
  3. The victory of good over evil
  4. The founding of the Khalsa
Show answer

Answer: A — That the prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to

Many Muslims sacrifice an animal to eat during this festival — in Britain this has to be done in a slaughterhouse.

65. Which extra day is a public holiday in Scotland at New Year?

  1. 2 January
  2. 31 December
  3. 1 February
  4. 24 December
Show answer

Answer: A — 2 January

New Year, 1 January, is a public holiday across the UK; in Scotland 2 January is also a public holiday, and for some Hogmanay is a bigger holiday than Christmas.

66. Until what time of day are jokes traditionally played on April Fool's Day?

  1. Midday
  2. Midnight
  3. 6.00 pm
  4. There is no limit
Show answer

Answer: A — Midday

On 1 April people play jokes on each other until midday, and television and newspapers often run April Fool stories.

67. When do Mothering Sunday and Father's Day fall?

  1. Mothering Sunday is the Sunday three weeks before Easter
  2. Father's Day is the third Sunday in June
  3. Mothering Sunday is the first Sunday in May
  4. Father's Day is the second Sunday in July
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Mothering Sunday is the Sunday three weeks before Easter; Father's Day is the third Sunday in June

On each, children send cards or buy gifts for their parents.

68. Halloween has its roots in what?

  1. An ancient pagan festival marking the beginning of winter
  2. A Christian saint's day
  3. The Gunpowder Plot
  4. A Roman harvest festival
Show answer

Answer: A — An ancient pagan festival marking the beginning of winter

On 31 October young people dress up to play 'trick or treat', and many carve lanterns out of pumpkins.

69. When was the Cenotaph in Whitehall unveiled?

  1. 1920
  2. 1918
  3. 1945
  4. 1905
Show answer

Answer: A — 1920

The Cenotaph, unveiled in 1920, is the centrepiece of the Remembrance Day service, where wreaths are laid at 11.00 am on 11 November.

70. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Bank holidays have no religious significance.
  2. Bank holidays all mark Christian festivals.
Show answer

Answer: A — Bank holidays have no religious significance.

Bank holidays fall at the beginning of May, in late May or early June, and in August; in Northern Ireland the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in July is also a public holiday.

Sport

71. On how many occasions has the UK hosted the Olympic Games?

  1. Once
  2. Twice
  3. Three times
  4. Four times
Show answer

Answer: C — Three times

The Games have been held in the UK three times: in 1908, 1948 and 2012.

72. Where was the main Olympic site for the 2012 Games?

  1. Wembley, north-west London
  2. Stratford, East London
  3. Greenwich, south-east London
  4. Cardiff, south Wales
Show answer

Answer: B — Stratford, East London

The 2012 Games were centred on Stratford in East London.

73. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Paralympic Games have their origin in the work of Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman at Stoke Mandeville hospital.
  2. The Paralympic Games have their origin in the work of Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman at a hospital in Cardiff.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Paralympic Games have their origin in the work of Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman at Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman worked at Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire, where he encouraged patients with spinal injuries to take up sport.

74. In which year did Sir Roger Bannister become the first man to run a mile in under four minutes?

  1. 1948
  2. 1954
  3. 1962
  4. 1966
Show answer

Answer: B — 1954

Bannister broke the four-minute mile in 1954, the first man in the world to do so.

75. Who captained the English football team that won the World Cup in 1966?

  1. Bobby Moore
  2. Baron (Ian) Botham
  3. Sir Jackie Stewart
  4. Sir Steve Redgrave
Show answer

Answer: A — Bobby Moore

Bobby Moore was captain of the England side that lifted the World Cup in 1966.

76. Which TWO of the following sports began in Britain?

  1. Basketball
  2. Cricket
  3. Baseball
  4. Golf
Show answer

Answer: B and D — Cricket; Golf

Cricket and golf are among the famous sports that started in Britain, along with football, lawn tennis and rugby.

77. In which sport did Sir Steve Redgrave win gold at five consecutive Olympic Games?

  1. Cycling
  2. Sailing
  3. Rowing
  4. Athletics
Show answer

Answer: C — Rowing

Redgrave took rowing gold at five Games in a row, making him one of Britain's greatest Olympians.

78. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to win the Tour de France when he won it in 2002.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — Wiggins won the Tour de France in 2012, not 2002. He was indeed the first British rider to win it.

79. Which cricket competition is a series of Test matches played between England and Australia?

  1. The Six Nations
  2. The Ashes
  3. The Super League
  4. The Open Championship
Show answer

Answer: B — The Ashes

The Ashes is cricket's most famous series, contested by England and Australia.

80. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Rugby originated in Ireland in the early 18th century.
  2. Rugby originated in England in the early 19th century.
Show answer

Answer: B — Rugby originated in England in the early 19th century.

Rugby began in England in the early 19th century and is now played in two codes, union and league.

81. Where was the first tennis club founded in 1872?

  1. Wimbledon
  2. Leamington Spa
  3. St Andrews
  4. Newmarket
Show answer

Answer: B — Leamington Spa

Modern tennis evolved in England in the late 19th century, and the first club was founded at Leamington Spa in 1872.

82. Where is the Grand National horse race held?

  1. Ascot in Berkshire
  2. Ayr in Scotland
  3. Aintree near Liverpool
  4. Newmarket in Suffolk
Show answer

Answer: C — Aintree near Liverpool

The Grand National is run at Aintree near Liverpool; the Scottish Grand National is run at Ayr.

83. The Paralympic Games have their origin in the work of which doctor?

  1. Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman
  2. Dr Sir Roger Bannister
  3. Dr Alexander Fleming
  4. Dr Joseph Lister
Show answer

Answer: A — Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman

Sir Ludwig Guttman, a German refugee at Stoke Mandeville hospital, encouraged patients with spinal injuries to take part in sport.

84. At which hospital did the work that led to the Paralympic Games take place?

  1. Stoke Mandeville, in Buckinghamshire
  2. Guy's Hospital, in London
  3. The Royal Infirmary, in Edinburgh
  4. Addenbrooke's, in Cambridge
Show answer

Answer: A — Stoke Mandeville, in Buckinghamshire

Dr Sir Ludwig Guttman developed new treatments for spinal injuries at Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire.

85. Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won Olympic gold in 1984 in which sport, and how many consecutive world championships did they win?

  1. Ice dancing
  2. Four world championships
  3. Figure skating pairs
  4. Two world championships
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Ice dancing; Four world championships

Torvill and Dean won gold for ice dancing at the 1984 Olympics and four consecutive world championships.

86. Sir Jackie Stewart, a Scot, won the Formula 1 world championship how many times?

  1. Three times
  2. Once
  3. Five times
  4. Seven times
Show answer

Answer: A — Three times

Sir Jackie Stewart, a Scottish racing driver, was Formula 1 world champion three times.

87. Baron (Ian) Botham captained the English team in which sport?

  1. Cricket
  2. Football
  3. Rugby union
  4. Hockey
Show answer

Answer: A — Cricket

Ian Botham captained the English cricket team and held a number of English Test records for both batting and bowling.

88. How many Paralympic gold medals did Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson win?

  1. 11
  2. 5
  3. 16
  4. 30
Show answer

Answer: A — 11

She won 16 Paralympic medals in total, of which 11 were gold, across five Paralympic Games.

89. How many times did Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson win the London Marathon?

  1. Six times
  2. Twice
  3. Eight times
  4. Eleven times
Show answer

Answer: A — Six times

She won the London Marathon six times and broke a total of 30 world records.

90. Dame Kelly Holmes won two gold medals for running at which Olympic Games?

  1. 2004
  2. 1996
  3. 2008
  4. 2012
Show answer

Answer: A — 2004

Dame Kelly Holmes won two golds for running at the 2004 Olympic Games.

91. In 2004, Dame Ellen MacArthur became the fastest person to do what?

  1. Sail around the world singlehanded
  2. Row across the Atlantic
  3. Swim the English Channel
  4. Cycle around the world
Show answer

Answer: A — Sail around the world singlehanded

Dame Ellen MacArthur, a yachtswoman, became the fastest person to sail around the world singlehanded in 2004.

92. Sir Chris Hoy, a Scot, won six Olympic gold medals in which sport?

  1. Cycling
  2. Rowing
  3. Sailing
  4. Athletics
Show answer

Answer: A — Cycling

Sir Chris Hoy won six Olympic golds and one silver as a cyclist, plus 11 world championship titles.

93. David Weir, a Paralympian who uses a wheelchair, won the London Marathon how many times?

  1. Eight times
  2. Three times
  3. Six times
  4. Once
Show answer

Answer: A — Eight times

David Weir won six Paralympic gold medals over two Games and the London Marathon eight times.

94. Sir Mo Farah won Olympic gold at both the 2012 and 2016 Games in which TWO events?

  1. The 5,000 metres
  2. The 10,000 metres
  3. The marathon
  4. The 1,500 metres
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The 5,000 metres; The 10,000 metres

Sir Mo Farah, born in Somalia, took gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at both Games, and was the first Briton to win Olympic gold in the 10,000 metres.

95. Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill won her 2012 Olympic gold in the heptathlon. How many events does the heptathlon span?

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

Answer: A — Seven

The heptathlon spans seven track and field events; she took gold in 2012 and silver in 2016.

96. Sir Andy Murray's 2012 US Open win made him the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles title since which year?

  1. 1936
  2. 1966
  3. 1912
  4. 1977
Show answer

Answer: A — 1936

His 2012 US Open title was the first Grand Slam singles win by a British man since 1936.

97. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Sir Andy Murray won the Wimbledon men's singles title in 2013 and again in 2016.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

He won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, alongside Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016.

98. Ellie Simmonds won Paralympic gold medals in which sport?

  1. Swimming
  2. Athletics
  3. Cycling
  4. Rowing
Show answer

Answer: A — Swimming

Ellie Simmonds won swimming golds at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, and was the youngest member of the British team in 2008.

99. Besides England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which TWO countries play in the Six Nations Championship?

  1. France
  2. Italy
  3. Spain
  4. Argentina
Show answer

Answer: A and B — France; Italy

The Six Nations is contested by England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy.

100. What is the best-known rugby league club competition?

  1. The Super League
  2. The Six Nations
  3. The Premiership
  4. The Champions Cup
Show answer

Answer: A — The Super League

Rugby has two types with different rules — union and league. The Super League is the best-known rugby league club competition.

101. Royal Ascot, attended by members of the Royal Family, is a race meeting of what length, held in which county?

  1. Five days, in Berkshire
  2. Three days, in Surrey
  3. One day, in Suffolk
  4. Two days, in Ayrshire
Show answer

Answer: A — Five days, in Berkshire

Royal Ascot is a five-day meeting in Berkshire attended by members of the Royal Family.

102. Where is the Scottish Grand National held?

  1. Ayr
  2. Aintree
  3. Ascot
  4. Newmarket
Show answer

Answer: A — Ayr

The Scottish Grand National is run at Ayr; the Grand National itself is at Aintree, near Liverpool.

103. In which town is the National Horseracing Museum?

  1. Newmarket, in Suffolk
  2. Ascot, in Berkshire
  3. Ayr, in Scotland
  4. Aintree, in Merseyside
Show answer

Answer: A — Newmarket, in Suffolk

The National Horseracing Museum is in Newmarket, Suffolk.

104. The modern game of golf can be traced back to which century, and to which country?

  1. 15th-century Scotland
  2. 12th-century England
  3. 16th-century Wales
  4. 18th-century Ireland
Show answer

Answer: A — 15th-century Scotland

Golf traces back to 15th-century Scotland, and St Andrews is known as the home of golf.

105. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Open Championship is the only golf 'Major' held outside the United States.
  2. The Open Championship is the only golf 'Major' held inside the United States.
Show answer

Answer: A — The Open Championship is the only golf 'Major' held outside the United States.

The Open is the only Major played outside the US, and it is hosted by a different course every year.

106. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tennis event played on grass.
  2. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tennis event played on clay.
Show answer

Answer: A — Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tennis event played on grass.

Wimbledon, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, is the oldest tournament in the world and the only Grand Slam played on grass.

107. In 1966/67, Sir Francis Chichester became the first person to do what?

  1. Sail single-handed around the world via the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn
  2. Sail non-stop around the world
  3. Row across the Pacific Ocean
  4. Swim the Channel both ways
Show answer

Answer: A — Sail single-handed around the world via the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn

Sir Francis Chichester sailed single-handed around the world in 1966/67; Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first to do it without stopping two years later.

108. Who became the first person to sail single-handed around the world without stopping?

  1. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
  2. Sir Francis Chichester
  3. Dame Ellen MacArthur
  4. Sir Steve Redgrave
Show answer

Answer: A — Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston achieved it two years after Chichester's 1966/67 voyage, which had included stops.

109. Where is the UK's most famous sailing event held?

  1. Cowes, on the Isle of Wight
  2. Cardiff Bay
  3. Loch Lomond
  4. Brighton
Show answer

Answer: A — Cowes, on the Isle of Wight

Many sailing events are held around the UK; the most famous is at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

110. The famous yearly rowing race on the Thames is contested between which two universities?

  1. Oxford and Cambridge
  2. London and Durham
  3. Edinburgh and Glasgow
  4. Bristol and Bath
Show answer

Answer: A — Oxford and Cambridge

The annual Boat Race on the Thames is between Oxford and Cambridge universities.

111. Which TWO of the following are recent British winners of the Formula 1 World Championship?

  1. Lewis Hamilton
  2. Jenson Button
  3. Sir Chris Hoy
  4. Sir Bradley Wiggins
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Lewis Hamilton; Jenson Button

Recent British F1 world champions include Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Hoy is a cyclist and Wiggins a cyclist and Tour de France winner.

112. In which year did motor-car racing begin in the UK?

  1. 1902
  2. 1866
  3. 1934
  4. 1950
Show answer

Answer: A — 1902

Motor-car racing in the UK started in 1902, and the UK remains a world leader in motor-sport technology.

113. How many ski centres does Scotland have?

  1. Five
  2. Two
  3. Ten
  4. None
Show answer

Answer: A — Five

Scotland has five ski centres, and the UK's longest dry ski slope is near Edinburgh.

114. Which TWO of the following are major UK stadiums named as hosts of major sporting events?

  1. Wembley Stadium in London
  2. The Principality Stadium in Cardiff
  3. The Aviva Stadium in Dublin
  4. The Stade de France in Paris
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Wembley Stadium in London; The Principality Stadium in Cardiff

Major sporting events take place at stadiums such as Wembley in London and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

115. England's women's football team won the European Championships in which years?

  1. 2022 and 2025
  2. 1966 and 1970
  3. 2012 and 2016
  4. 2018 and 2021
Show answer

Answer: A — 2022 and 2025

England's men won the World Cup in 1966; England's women won the European Championships in 2022 and 2025.

116. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? A game of cricket lasts a single day at most and cannot end in a draw.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — games can last up to FIVE DAYS and STILL END IN A DRAW, part of what makes the game idiosyncratic.

117. Which UK football league attracts a huge international audience and many of the world's best players?

  1. The English Premier League
  2. The Super League
  3. The Six Nations
  4. The Champions League
Show answer

Answer: A — The English Premier League

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have separate leagues; the English Premier League has the largest international following.

Arts and Culture

118. Since which year has the Proms been organised by the BBC?

  1. 1901
  2. 1927
  3. 1945
  4. 1966
Show answer

Answer: B — 1927

The Proms, an eight-week summer season of classical music, has been run by the BBC since 1927.

119. Who composed The Planets, a suite themed on the planets of the solar system?

  1. Sir Edward Elgar
  2. Benjamin Britten
  3. Gustav Holst
  4. Ralph Vaughan Williams
Show answer

Answer: C — Gustav Holst

Holst wrote The Planets and adapted its Jupiter theme as the hymn tune 'I vow to thee my country'.

120. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. George Frederick Handel was born in Germany and became a British citizen in 1727.
  2. George Frederick Handel was born in Italy and became a British citizen in 1827.
Show answer

Answer: A — George Frederick Handel was born in Germany and became a British citizen in 1727.

Handel was German by birth, settled in Britain and took British citizenship in 1727.

121. Which play has been running in London's West End since 1952 and has had the longest initial run of any show?

  1. Cats
  2. The Mousetrap
  3. The Phantom of the Opera
  4. Evita
Show answer

Answer: B — The Mousetrap

The Mousetrap, Agatha Christie's murder mystery, has run continuously in the West End since 1952.

122. Which TWO operas is Benjamin Britten best known for?

  1. Peter Grimes
  2. The Mikado
  3. Billy Budd
  4. HMS Pinafore
Show answer

Answer: A and C — Peter Grimes; Billy Budd

Britten's best-known operas are Peter Grimes and Billy Budd; The Mikado and HMS Pinafore are by Gilbert and Sullivan.

123. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a showcase of mainly classical music and opera.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — the Fringe shows mainly THEATRE AND COMEDY, often experimental. It is the biggest and best known of the Edinburgh festivals.

124. Which TWO of the following artists belonged to the Pre-Raphaelites?

  1. Henry Moore
  2. Holman Hunt
  3. David Hockney
  4. Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Show answer

Answer: B and D — Holman Hunt; Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The Pre-Raphaelites were an important group in the second half of the 19th century who painted detailed pictures on religious or literary themes in bright colours; the group included Holman Hunt, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Sir John Millais.

125. Which artist is most famous for painting landscapes of Dedham Vale?

  1. Thomas Gainsborough
  2. Joseph Turner
  3. John Constable
  4. Sir John Lavery
Show answer

Answer: C — John Constable

Constable's best-known landscapes show Dedham Vale on the Suffolk-Essex border.

126. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Tate Modern is based in the former Battersea Power Station in central London.
  2. Tate Modern is based in the former Bankside Power Station in central London.
Show answer

Answer: B — Tate Modern is based in the former Bankside Power Station in central London.

Tate Modern occupies the former Bankside Power Station in central London.

127. Which architect designed New Delhi as the seat of government in India?

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

Answer: D — Sir Edwin Lutyens

Lutyens designed New Delhi and, after the First World War, many war memorials including the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

128. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Agatha Christie's detective novels have been translated into more languages than those of any other author.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Christie's detective fiction holds the record for translation into the greatest number of languages.

129. Which early poem recorded in Britain tells of a hero's battles against monsters?

  1. Beowulf
  2. Paradise Lost
  3. The Faerie Queene
  4. The Canterbury Tales
Show answer

Answer: A — Beowulf

Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic and among the earliest poetry recorded in Britain.

130. At which London venue is the Proms most famously held?

  1. The Royal Albert Hall
  2. The O2
  3. Wembley Stadium
  4. The Globe Theatre
Show answer

Answer: A — The Royal Albert Hall

The Proms is an eight-week summer season of orchestral classical music held in various venues, including the Royal Albert Hall.

131. How long does the Proms season last?

  1. Eight weeks
  2. One week
  3. Three days
  4. Six months
Show answer

Answer: A — Eight weeks

The Proms is an eight-week summer season, and the Last Night of the Proms is its most famous concert.

132. Henry Purcell was the organist at which building?

  1. Westminster Abbey
  2. St Paul's Cathedral
  3. Canterbury Cathedral
  4. York Minster
Show answer

Answer: A — Westminster Abbey

Purcell was organist at Westminster Abbey and developed a British style distinct from the rest of Europe.

133. George Frederick Handel was born in which country, and became a British citizen in which year?

  1. Germany, in 1727
  2. Austria, in 1714
  3. Italy, in 1750
  4. France, in 1689
Show answer

Answer: A — Germany, in 1727

Handel was born in Germany, spent many years in the UK and became a British citizen in 1727.

134. Which TWO of these works did Handel write for the royal family?

  1. The Water Music
  2. Music for the Royal Fireworks
  3. The Planets
  4. Belshazzar's Feast
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks

Handel wrote the Water Music for King George I and Music for the Royal Fireworks for his son George II.

135. Which Handel oratorio is still regularly sung by choirs, often at Easter?

  1. Messiah
  2. Peter Grimes
  3. Facade
  4. Paradise Lost
Show answer

Answer: A — Messiah

Messiah is Handel's best-known oratorio and is often performed at Easter.

136. Gustav Holst adapted which movement of The Planets as the tune of the hymn 'I vow to thee my country'?

  1. Jupiter
  2. Mars
  3. Venus
  4. Neptune
Show answer

Answer: A — Jupiter

Holst adapted Jupiter from The Planets as the tune of that hymn.

137. Which Elgar march is usually played at the Last Night of the Proms?

  1. Pomp and Circumstance March No 1, 'Land of Hope and Glory'
  2. The Water Music
  3. Facade
  4. A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
Show answer

Answer: A — Pomp and Circumstance March No 1, 'Land of Hope and Glory'

Sir Edward Elgar, born in Worcester, is best known for the Pomp and Circumstance Marches; March No 1 closes the Last Night.

138. Which composer's work was strongly influenced by traditional English folk music?

  1. Ralph Vaughan Williams
  2. Henry Purcell
  3. George Frederick Handel
  4. Sir William Walton
Show answer

Answer: A — Ralph Vaughan Williams

Vaughan Williams wrote for orchestras and choirs and drew strongly on traditional English folk music.

139. Which TWO works are Sir William Walton best known for?

  1. Facade
  2. Belshazzar's Feast
  3. The Planets
  4. Billy Budd
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Facade; Belshazzar's Feast

Walton wrote everything from film scores to opera, including coronation marches; Facade — which became a ballet — and Belshazzar's Feast are his best known.

140. Benjamin Britten's A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra is built on a piece of music by which composer?

  1. Henry Purcell
  2. Gustav Holst
  3. Sir Edward Elgar
  4. George Frederick Handel
Show answer

Answer: A — Henry Purcell

It introduces the sections of an orchestra using a piece by Purcell.

141. Which music festival, still internationally important, was founded by Benjamin Britten?

  1. The Aldeburgh festival, in Suffolk
  2. Glastonbury, in Somerset
  3. The National Eisteddfod, in Wales
  4. Creamfields
Show answer

Answer: A — The Aldeburgh festival, in Suffolk

Britten founded the Aldeburgh festival in Suffolk.

142. The Punk movement in British music belongs to which period?

  1. The late 1970s
  2. The early 1950s
  3. The mid-1990s
  4. The 1920s
Show answer

Answer: A — The late 1970s

British pop kept innovating: the Punk movement of the late 1970s, then the boy and girl bands of the 1990s.

143. Which TWO of these are named as big UK venues hosting music events?

  1. The O2 in Greenwich
  2. The SEC Centre in Glasgow
  3. The Royal Crescent in Bath
  4. Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The O2 in Greenwich; The SEC Centre in Glasgow

Big venues include Wembley Stadium, The O2 in Greenwich and the SEC Centre in Glasgow.

144. Which TWO of the following are famous British music festivals?

  1. Glastonbury
  2. Creamfields
  3. The Proms Fringe
  4. The Laurence Olivier Festival
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Glastonbury; Creamfields

Famous festivals include Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight Festival and Creamfields.

145. The National Eisteddfod is an annual cultural festival held in which country?

  1. Wales
  2. Scotland
  3. Northern Ireland
  4. England
Show answer

Answer: A — Wales

The National Eisteddfod of Wales is held in a different part of Wales each year, largely in Welsh, with important poetry competitions.

146. The Mercury Prize is awarded each September for what?

  1. The best album from the UK and Ireland
  2. The best British film
  3. The best contemporary artwork
  4. The best new play
Show answer

Answer: A — The best album from the UK and Ireland

The Mercury Prize is given each September for the best album from the UK and Ireland.

147. Which annual awards have categories such as best British group and best British solo artist?

  1. The Brit Awards
  2. The Mercury Prize
  3. The Turner Prize
  4. The Laurence Olivier Awards
Show answer

Answer: A — The Brit Awards

The Brit Awards are an annual music event with categories including best British group and best British solo artist.

148. London's West End is so famous for theatre that it has which nickname?

  1. Theatreland
  2. The Fringe
  3. The Globe
  4. Poets' Corner
Show answer

Answer: A — Theatreland

The West End is known as 'Theatreland'.

149. Which TWO of these comic operas were written by Gilbert and Sullivan?

  1. HMS Pinafore
  2. The Mikado
  3. Peter Grimes
  4. Evita
Show answer

Answer: A and B — HMS Pinafore; The Mikado

Gilbert and Sullivan wrote HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado in the 19th century.

150. Which TWO musicals did Baron (Andrew) Lloyd-Webber write with Sir Tim Rice?

  1. Jesus Christ Superstar
  2. Evita
  3. Cats
  4. The Phantom of the Opera
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Jesus Christ Superstar; Evita

With Sir Tim Rice he wrote Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita; he also wrote Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

151. In a British pantomime, who traditionally plays the Dame?

  1. A man
  2. A child
  3. Two actors in one costume
  4. A member of the audience
Show answer

Answer: A — A man

The Dame is a woman played by a man; there is often also a pantomime horse or cow played by two actors in one costume.

152. At what time of year is pantomime traditionally produced?

  1. Christmas
  2. Easter
  3. Midsummer
  4. New Year only
Show answer

Answer: A — Christmas

Pantomime is a peculiarly British tradition of light-hearted plays with music and comedy, based on fairy stories, produced at Christmas for family audiences.

153. The Laurence Olivier Awards are named after a British figure best known for his roles in whose plays?

  1. Shakespeare's
  2. Milton's
  3. Chaucer's
  4. Dickens's
Show answer

Answer: A — Shakespeare's

Sir Laurence Olivier, later Lord Olivier, was best known for his roles in various Shakespeare plays.

154. Which TWO painters working in Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries came from abroad?

  1. Hans Holbein
  2. Sir Anthony Van Dyck
  3. Thomas Gainsborough
  4. John Constable
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Hans Holbein; Sir Anthony Van Dyck

Many painters working in Britain then came from abroad, such as Holbein and Van Dyck; Gainsborough and Constable were British.

155. Tate Modern in London is housed in what kind of former building?

  1. A power station
  2. A railway station
  3. A church
  4. A prison
Show answer

Answer: A — A power station

Tate Modern is based in the former Bankside Power Station in central London.

156. Which TWO of the following are named national galleries or museums outside London?

  1. The National Museum in Cardiff
  2. The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh
  3. Tate Britain
  4. The National Gallery
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The National Museum in Cardiff; The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh

Works hang in the National Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern in London, the National Museum in Cardiff and the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh.

157. Thomas Gainsborough was a painter best known for what?

  1. Portraits, often set in country or garden scenery
  2. Large bronze abstract sculptures
  3. Engravings and stained glass
  4. Art Deco ceramics
Show answer

Answer: A — Portraits, often set in country or garden scenery

Gainsborough was a portrait painter who often set his subjects in country or garden scenery.

158. The Scottish portrait painter David Allan is most famous for which work?

  1. The Origin of Painting
  2. The Hay Wain
  3. Dedham Vale
  4. The Fighting Temeraire
Show answer

Answer: A — The Origin of Painting

David Allan's most famous work is The Origin of Painting.

159. Joseph Turner is considered the artist who did what for British painting?

  1. Raised the profile of landscape painting
  2. Founded the Pre-Raphaelites
  3. Introduced pop art
  4. Revived religious wall painting
Show answer

Answer: A — Raised the profile of landscape painting

Turner was an influential landscape painter in a modern style, considered the artist who raised the profile of landscape painting.

160. Sir John Lavery was a very successful portrait painter from which part of the UK?

  1. Northern Ireland
  2. Cornwall
  3. The Scottish Highlands
  4. Mid Wales
Show answer

Answer: A — Northern Ireland

Sir John Lavery was a Northern Irish portrait painter whose subjects included the Royal Family.

161. Henry Moore is best known for what kind of work?

  1. Large bronze abstract sculptures
  2. Detailed religious paintings
  3. Stained glass
  4. Furniture design
Show answer

Answer: A — Large bronze abstract sculptures

Henry Moore was an English sculptor best known for his large bronze abstract sculptures.

162. John Petts was a Welsh artist known for which two forms?

  1. Engravings and stained glass
  2. Portraits and landscapes
  3. Ceramics and furniture
  4. Sculpture and film
Show answer

Answer: A — Engravings and stained glass

John Petts was known for engravings and stained glass.

163. Lucian Freud, a German-born British artist, is best known for what?

  1. His portraits
  2. His landscapes
  3. His abstract sculpture
  4. His pop art prints
Show answer

Answer: A — His portraits

Lucian Freud is best known for his portraits.

164. David Hockney was an important contributor to which movement of the 1960s?

  1. Pop art
  2. The Pre-Raphaelites
  3. Art Deco
  4. The gothic revival
Show answer

Answer: A — Pop art

Hockney contributed to the 'pop art' movement of the 1960s and remains influential today.

165. In which year was the Turner Prize established?

  1. 1984
  2. 1968
  3. 1927
  4. 2003
Show answer

Answer: A — 1984

The Turner Prize was established in 1984 and is named after Joseph Turner.

166. How many works are shortlisted for the Turner Prize each year?

  1. Four
  2. Two
  3. Six
  4. Ten
Show answer

Answer: A — Four

Four works are shortlisted every year and shown at Tate Britain or a regional venue.

167. Which TWO of the following are previous winners of the Turner Prize?

  1. Damien Hirst
  2. Richard Wright
  3. Henry Moore
  4. David Allan
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Damien Hirst; Richard Wright

Previous Turner Prize winners include Damien Hirst and Richard Wright.

168. Which TWO of the following are named among the great medieval cathedrals still standing in the UK?

  1. Durham
  2. Salisbury
  3. Bankside
  4. Greenwich
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Durham; Salisbury

Cathedrals at Durham, Lincoln, Canterbury and Salisbury are among those built in the Middle Ages that still stand.

169. The White Tower in the Tower of London is an example of what, built on whose orders?

  1. A Norman castle keep, built for William the Conqueror
  2. A gothic revival tower, built for Queen Victoria
  3. A classical villa, built for Inigo Jones
  4. A Tudor palace, built for Henry VIII
Show answer

Answer: A — A Norman castle keep, built for William the Conqueror

The White Tower is a Norman castle keep, built on the orders of William the Conqueror.

170. Hardwick Hall, in Derbyshire, is an example of what kind of building?

  1. A grand country house
  2. A Norman keep
  3. A gothic cathedral
  4. A power station
Show answer

Answer: A — A grand country house

As the countryside became more peaceful and landowners richer, grand country houses such as Hardwick Hall appeared.

171. Which TWO London buildings were designed by Inigo Jones?

  1. The Queen's House at Greenwich
  2. The Banqueting House in Whitehall
  3. St Paul's Cathedral
  4. St Pancras Station
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The Queen's House at Greenwich; The Banqueting House in Whitehall

Inigo Jones took inspiration from classical architecture for the Queen's House at Greenwich and the Banqueting House in Whitehall.

172. Which Scottish architect designed the interior decoration as well as the buildings of great houses such as Dumfries House?

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

Answer: A — Robert Adam

Robert Adam influenced architecture in the UK, Europe and America, and his ideas shaped architects in cities such as Bath.

173. The Royal Crescent, built in the simpler 18th-century style, is in which city?

  1. Bath
  2. Edinburgh
  3. Manchester
  4. Cardiff
Show answer

Answer: A — Bath

Robert Adam's ideas shaped architects in cities such as Bath, where the Royal Crescent was built.

174. Which TWO buildings are named as examples of the 19th-century gothic revival?

  1. The Houses of Parliament
  2. St Pancras Station
  3. The Banqueting House
  4. The Royal Crescent
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The Houses of Parliament; St Pancras Station

In the 19th century the medieval 'gothic' style became popular again, producing the Houses of Parliament, St Pancras Station and town halls in cities such as Manchester and Sheffield.

175. Who designed the Cenotaph in Whitehall, the centrepiece of the annual Remembrance Day service?

  1. Sir Edwin Lutyens
  2. Sir Christopher Wren
  3. Sir Norman Foster
  4. Robert Adam
Show answer

Answer: A — Sir Edwin Lutyens

Lutyens designed New Delhi as the seat of government in India and, after the First World War, many war memorials including the Cenotaph.

176. Which TWO of the following are named modern British architects?

  1. Dame Zaha Hadid
  2. Lord (Richard) Rogers
  3. Sir John Lavery
  4. Sir Terence Conran
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Dame Zaha Hadid; Lord (Richard) Rogers

Modern British architects named include Sir Norman Foster, Lord (Richard) Rogers and Dame Zaha Hadid.

177. Lancelot 'Capability' Brown designed the grounds of country houses so that they appeared how?

  1. Entirely natural
  2. Strictly geometric
  3. Walled and private
  4. Covered in glasshouses
Show answer

Answer: A — Entirely natural

Capability Brown designed grounds of grass, trees and lakes so that the landscape appeared entirely natural.

178. Which garden designer often worked with the architect Edwin Lutyens?

  1. Gertrude Jekyll
  2. Lancelot 'Capability' Brown
  3. Clarice Cliff
  4. Sir Terence Conran
Show answer

Answer: A — Gertrude Jekyll

Gertrude Jekyll designed colourful gardens around the houses Lutyens built.

179. Which annual show celebrates garden design from Britain and around the world?

  1. The Chelsea Flower Show
  2. The National Eisteddfod
  3. The Edinburgh Festival
  4. The Turner Prize
Show answer

Answer: A — The Chelsea Flower Show

The tradition of British garden design is celebrated every year at the Chelsea Flower Show.

180. Thomas Chippendale was famous in the 18th century for designing what?

  1. Furniture
  2. Ceramics
  3. Gardens
  4. Cathedrals
Show answer

Answer: A — Furniture

Thomas Chippendale designed furniture in the 18th century.

181. Clarice Cliff was a British designer known for what?

  1. Art Deco ceramics
  2. Furniture
  3. Fashion
  4. Stained glass
Show answer

Answer: A — Art Deco ceramics

Clarice Cliff designed Art Deco ceramics.

182. Sir Terence Conran was a 20th-century British designer working in which field?

  1. Interior design
  2. Fashion design
  3. Landscape design
  4. Industrial architecture
Show answer

Answer: A — Interior design

Sir Terence Conran was a 20th-century interior designer.

183. Which TWO of the following are named leading British fashion designers of recent years?

  1. Mary Quant
  2. Vivienne Westwood
  3. Clarice Cliff
  4. Thomas Chippendale
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Mary Quant; Vivienne Westwood

Leading British fashion designers of recent years include Mary Quant, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood.

184. Which TWO of the following British writers have won the Nobel Prize in Literature?

  1. Sir William Golding
  2. Seamus Heaney
  3. Agatha Christie
  4. JK Rowling
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Sir William Golding; Seamus Heaney

British Nobel laureates in Literature include Sir William Golding, Seamus Heaney and Harold Pinter.

185. In 2003, which book was voted the country's best-loved novel?

  1. The Lord of the Rings
  2. Pride and Prejudice
  3. Great Expectations
  4. Brighton Rock
Show answer

Answer: A — The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien was voted the country's best-loved novel in 2003.

186. Since which year has the Man Booker Prize for Fiction been awarded annually?

  1. 1968
  2. 1984
  3. 1927
  4. 2003
Show answer

Answer: A — 1968

The Man Booker Prize has been awarded annually for the best fiction novel since 1968; winners include Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel and Julian Barnes.

187. Which TWO novels were written by Jane Austen?

  1. Pride and Prejudice
  2. Sense and Sensibility
  3. Oliver Twist
  4. Treasure Island
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Austen's novels, concerned with marriage, family and society, include Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

188. Which TWO novels were written by Charles Dickens?

  1. Oliver Twist
  2. Great Expectations
  3. Kidnapped
  4. Lucky Jim
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Oliver Twist; Great Expectations

Dickens wrote Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

189. Who wrote Treasure Island, Kidnapped and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?

  1. Robert Louis Stevenson
  2. Thomas Hardy
  3. Graham Greene
  4. Sir Kingsley Amis
Show answer

Answer: A — Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote all three.

190. Which TWO novels were written by Thomas Hardy?

  1. Far from the Madding Crowd
  2. Jude the Obscure
  3. Brighton Rock
  4. Decline and Fall
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Far from the Madding Crowd; Jude the Obscure

Hardy set Far from the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure in the rural England he knew.

191. Which detective was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

  1. Sherlock Holmes
  2. Hercule Poirot
  3. Miss Marple
  4. Inspector Morse
Show answer

Answer: A — Sherlock Holmes

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes.

192. Evelyn Waugh, a writer of satirical novels, is best known for which book?

  1. Brideshead Revisited
  2. Lucky Jim
  3. Our Man in Havana
  4. Kidnapped
Show answer

Answer: A — Brideshead Revisited

Waugh wrote satirical novels such as Decline and Fall and Scoop, and is best known for Brideshead Revisited.

193. Sir Kingsley Amis wrote more than 20 novels. Which is the most famous?

  1. Lucky Jim
  2. Brighton Rock
  3. Scoop
  4. Jude the Obscure
Show answer

Answer: A — Lucky Jim

Lucky Jim is Sir Kingsley Amis's most famous novel.

194. Which TWO novels were written by Graham Greene?

  1. Brighton Rock
  2. Our Man in Havana
  3. Decline and Fall
  4. Sense and Sensibility
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Brighton Rock; Our Man in Havana

Greene's novels — The Heart of the Matter, Brighton Rock and Our Man in Havana — were often shaped by his religious beliefs.

195. Which medieval poem, alongside Beowulf, is named among the earliest poetry recorded in Britain?

  1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
  2. Paradise Lost
  3. The Canterbury Tales
  4. The Waste Land
Show answer

Answer: A — Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The earliest poetry recorded in Britain includes the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf and the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

196. John Milton's Paradise Lost, written in the 17th century, was based on what?

  1. The Bible
  2. Norse legend
  3. Roman history
  4. Arthurian romance
Show answer

Answer: A — The Bible

Milton wrote Paradise Lost, based on the Bible, in the 17th century.

197. Which TWO of the following are 19th-century poets inspired by nature and emotion?

  1. John Keats
  2. Lord Byron
  3. Wilfred Owen
  4. John Milton
Show answer

Answer: A and B — John Keats; Lord Byron

The 19th century brought William Blake, John Keats, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning and William Wordsworth. Owen was a First World War poet and Milton wrote in the 17th century.

198. Which TWO poets wrote about their experiences in the First World War?

  1. Wilfred Owen
  2. Siegfried Sassoon
  3. William Blake
  4. Alfred Lord Tennyson
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Wilfred Owen; Siegfried Sassoon

Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon wrote about the First World War in the 20th century.

199. Where are many of the best-known British poets buried or commemorated?

  1. Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey
  2. St Paul's Cathedral
  3. Tate Britain
  4. Canterbury Cathedral
Show answer

Answer: A — Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey

Many of the best-known poets are buried or commemorated in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.

200. The famous line 'Into my heart an air that kills' comes from which collection of poems?

  1. A Shropshire Lad by A. E. Housman
  2. Paradise Lost by John Milton
  3. Beowulf
  4. The Canterbury Tales
Show answer

Answer: A — A Shropshire Lad by A. E. Housman

A. E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad is the source of the much-anthologised line 'Into my heart an air that kills'.

201. Which TWO of the following are popular poets of more recent times?

  1. Sir John Betjeman
  2. Ted Hughes
  3. Geoffrey Chaucer
  4. John Milton
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Sir John Betjeman; Ted Hughes

More recent popular poets include Sir Walter de la Mare, John Masefield, Sir John Betjeman and Ted Hughes. Chaucer wrote in the Middle Ages and Milton in the 17th century.

Leisure and Places of Interest

202. Which of the following UK landmarks is in Northern Ireland?

  1. The Giant's Causeway
  2. Big Ben
  3. Snowdonia
  4. The Eden Project
Show answer

Answer: A — The Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway, on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland, is a formation of volcanic lava columns about 50 million years old.

203. How old do you have to be to go into a betting shop in the UK?

  1. 16
  2. 17
  3. 18
  4. 21
Show answer

Answer: C — 18

You must be 18 to go into a betting shop or a gambling club, and people under 18 are also barred from taking part in the National Lottery.

204. Which flower is associated with Wales?

  1. The rose
  2. The thistle
  3. The daffodil
  4. The shamrock
Show answer

Answer: C — The daffodil

The daffodil is the flower of Wales, sometimes worn on the patron saint's day.

205. Which TWO of the following are traditional pub games?

  1. Darts
  2. Ten-pin bowling
  3. Pool
  4. Table football
Show answer

Answer: A and C — Darts; Pool

Pool and darts are the games traditionally played in British pubs, alongside popular pub quizzes.

206. What is the minimum age for buying alcohol in a pub or night club?

  1. 16
  2. 17
  3. 18
  4. 21
Show answer

Answer: C — 18

You must be 18 or over to buy alcohol in a pub or night club.

207. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? At 14, a person may drink wine or beer with a meal in a restaurant if accompanied by someone over 18.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: B — FALSE

FALSE — this is allowed from the age of SIXTEEN, not 14. From 16, wine or beer may be drunk with a meal in a hotel or restaurant when accompanied by someone over 18.

208. Which traditional dish is made from a sheep's stomach stuffed with offal, suet, onions and oatmeal?

  1. The Ulster fry
  2. Haggis
  3. Welsh cakes
  4. Yorkshire pudding
Show answer

Answer: B — Haggis

Haggis is Scotland's traditional dish, made from a sheep's stomach with offal, suet, onions and oatmeal.

209. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three volunteers.
  2. The National Trust was founded in 1945 by an Act of Parliament.
Show answer

Answer: A — The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three volunteers.

The National Trust began in 1895 with three volunteers and is now supported by more than 50,000 of them.

210. How many national parks are there across England, Wales and Scotland?

  1. 10
  2. 12
  3. 15
  4. 20
Show answer

Answer: C — 15

There are 15 national parks, areas of protected countryside where people also live and work.

211. What is Big Ben the nickname for?

  1. The great bell of the clock at the Houses of Parliament
  2. The Houses of Parliament as a whole
  3. A Ferris wheel on the River Thames
  4. The keep of the Tower of London
Show answer

Answer: A — The great bell of the clock at the Houses of Parliament

Big Ben is properly the nickname of the great bell, though many people apply it to the clock as well.

212. How tall is the London Eye?

  1. 235 feet (72 metres)
  2. 443 feet (135 metres)
  3. 620 feet (189 metres)
  4. 823 feet (251 metres)
Show answer

Answer: B — 443 feet (135 metres)

The London Eye is a Ferris wheel 443 feet, or 135 metres, tall, built for the millennium celebrations.

213. What is the largest expanse of fresh water in mainland Britain?

  1. Loch Ness
  2. Lake Windermere
  3. Loch Lomond
  4. Lough Neagh
Show answer

Answer: C — Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond, in the west of Scotland, is mainland Britain's largest expanse of fresh water.

214. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The Eden Project, whose biomes house plants from all over the world, is in Snowdonia.
  2. The Eden Project, whose biomes house plants from all over the world, is in Cornwall.
Show answer

Answer: B — The Eden Project, whose biomes house plants from all over the world, is in Cornwall.

The Eden Project is in Cornwall, in the south west of England, and is also a charity running environmental projects.

215. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? The first James Bond film, Dr No, appeared in 1962.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Dr No, released in 1962, was the first film about Ian Fleming's character James Bond.

216. What is an allotment?

  1. A piece of land rented to grow fruit and vegetables
  2. A public footpath across farmland
  3. A protected area of countryside
  4. A community museum
Show answer

Answer: A — A piece of land rented to grow fruit and vegetables

Many people rent an allotment, where they grow fruit and vegetables.

217. Which TWO of the following are famous gardens to visit in England?

  1. Kew Gardens
  2. Sissinghurst
  3. Bodnant Garden
  4. Mount Stewart
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Kew Gardens; Sissinghurst

Kew Gardens, Sissinghurst and Hidcote are in England; Bodnant Garden is in Wales and Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland.

218. Bodnant Garden is in which country of the UK?

  1. Wales
  2. Scotland
  3. Northern Ireland
  4. England
Show answer

Answer: A — Wales

Bodnant Garden is in Wales; Crathes Castle and Inveraray Castle are in Scotland and Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland.

219. Which flower is associated with Scotland?

  1. The thistle
  2. The rose
  3. The daffodil
  4. The shamrock
Show answer

Answer: A — The thistle

The rose is England's, the thistle Scotland's, the daffodil Wales's and the shamrock Northern Ireland's — sometimes worn on the patron saint's day.

220. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? Most shops in the UK open seven days a week, though Sunday opening hours are usually shorter.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Most shops open seven days a week, with shorter hours on Sundays.

221. Which traditional dish is served with Yorkshire pudding?

  1. Roast beef
  2. Haggis
  3. Welsh cakes
  4. The Ulster fry
Show answer

Answer: A — Roast beef

England's traditional dish is roast beef, served with Yorkshire pudding.

222. Welsh cakes are a snack made from which ingredients?

  1. Flour, dried fruits and spices
  2. Oatmeal, offal and suet
  3. Bacon, eggs and soda bread
  4. Potatoes and cabbage
Show answer

Answer: A — Flour, dried fruits and spices

Welsh cakes are made from flour, dried fruits and spices, and are eaten hot or cold.

223. Which TWO of the following are part of the traditional Ulster fry?

  1. Soda bread
  2. Potato bread
  3. Yorkshire pudding
  4. Haggis
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Soda bread; Potato bread

The Ulster fry is bacon, eggs, sausage, black and white pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, soda bread and potato bread.

224. In which year were the first film shows staged in the UK?

  1. 1896
  2. 1935
  3. 1945
  4. 1962
Show answer

Answer: A — 1896

The UK's film history reaches back to 1896, when the first film shows were staged.

225. Which British performer became world-famous in silent films?

  1. Charlie Chaplin
  2. Sir Alfred Hitchcock
  3. Sir David Lean
  4. Colin Firth
Show answer

Answer: A — Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin became world-famous in silent films.

226. Who directed The 39 Steps in 1935 before moving to Hollywood?

  1. Sir Alfred Hitchcock
  2. Sir David Lean
  3. Nick Park
  4. Ian Fleming
Show answer

Answer: A — Sir Alfred Hitchcock

Sir Alfred Hitchcock directed The 39 Steps in 1935 and became one of the most celebrated directors of all time.

227. Which TWO films were directed by Sir David Lean?

  1. Brief Encounter
  2. Lawrence of Arabia
  3. The 39 Steps
  4. Chariots of Fire
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Brief Encounter; Lawrence of Arabia

Sir David Lean directed Brief Encounter and Lawrence of Arabia.

228. Which studios were known for the comedies made after the Second World War?

  1. Ealing Studios
  2. Pinewood Studios
  3. Shepperton Studios
  4. Bankside Studios
Show answer

Answer: A — Ealing Studios

After the Second World War the comedies made at Ealing Studios won a devoted audience.

229. How many Oscars has Nick Park won for his animated films?

  1. Four
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. Seven
Show answer

Answer: A — Four

Nick Park has won four Oscars for his animated films, including those featuring Wallace and Gromit.

230. Which TWO of the following are named among the most famous British films?

  1. The Third Man (1949)
  2. Chariots of Fire (1981)
  3. Casablanca (1942)
  4. Ben-Hur (1959)
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The Third Man (1949); Chariots of Fire (1981)

The list includes The 39 Steps, Brief Encounter, The Third Man, Lawrence of Arabia, Chariots of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Touching the Void.

231. Which TWO of the following are long-running UK soap operas?

  1. Coronation Street
  2. EastEnders
  3. Brief Encounter
  4. Touching the Void
Show answer

Answer: A and B — Coronation Street; EastEnders

The most popular UK television programmes include the long-running soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders.

232. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. One TV licence covers all the equipment at a single address.
  2. A separate TV licence is needed for every television set in a home.
Show answer

Answer: A — One TV licence covers all the equipment at a single address.

Everyone who watches or records programmes as they are shown must have a TV licence, and one licence covers all the equipment at one address.

233. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The BBC is funded by TV licence money and is independent of the government.
  2. The BBC is funded directly by the government and reports to ministers.
Show answer

Answer: A — The BBC is funded by TV licence money and is independent of the government.

The licence money funds the BBC, the British public service broadcaster, which is independent of the government.

234. Pubs are usually open during the day from what time on Sundays?

  1. 12 noon
  2. 11.00 am
  3. 10.00 am
  4. 1.00 pm
Show answer

Answer: A — 12 noon

Pubs usually open from 11.00 am, or 12 noon on Sundays; night clubs open and close later.

235. Who decides the hours a pub or night club is open?

  1. The licensee
  2. The local council
  3. Parliament
  4. The police
Show answer

Answer: A — The licensee

The licensee decides the opening hours of a pub or night club.

236. What is the minimum age to enter a betting shop or gambling club?

  1. 18
  2. 16
  3. 21
  4. No minimum
Show answer

Answer: A — 18

You have to be 18 to go into a betting shop or gambling club, and under-18s cannot take part in the National Lottery.

237. How often are National Lottery draws held?

  1. Every week
  2. Once a month
  3. Twice a year
  4. Every day
Show answer

Answer: A — Every week

There is a National Lottery with draws every week; you enter by buying a ticket or a scratch card.

238. Which TWO are legal responsibilities of a dog owner in a public place?

  1. The dog must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address
  2. The owner must clean up after the dog
  3. The dog must be muzzled at all times
  4. The dog must be insured
Show answer

Answer: A and B — The dog must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address; The owner must clean up after the dog

All dogs in public must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address, and the owner must keep the dog under control and clean up after it.

239. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE? It is against the law to treat a pet cruelly or to neglect it.

  1. TRUE
  2. FALSE
Show answer

Answer: A — TRUE

Cruelty and neglect are against the law; vaccinations and treatment come from veterinary surgeons, and charities may help those who cannot pay.

240. In which year was the National Trust founded, and by how many volunteers?

  1. 1895, by three volunteers
  2. 1945, by ten volunteers
  3. 1801, by one volunteer
  4. 1927, by the BBC
Show answer

Answer: A — 1895, by three volunteers

The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three volunteers; today more than 50,000 volunteers help run it.

241. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. The National Trust for Scotland is a separate charity from the National Trust.
  2. The National Trust covers all four countries of the UK on its own.
Show answer

Answer: A — The National Trust for Scotland is a separate charity from the National Trust.

The National Trust operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; the National Trust for Scotland is a separate charity.

242. The clock tower at the Houses of Parliament was renamed in 2012 in honour of what?

  1. Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee
  2. The London Olympics
  3. The new millennium
  4. The Queen's coronation
Show answer

Answer: A — Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

It was named 'Elizabeth Tower' in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

243. The London Eye was originally built as part of which celebration?

  1. The UK's celebration of the new millennium
  2. The 2012 Olympic Games
  3. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
  4. The Festival of Britain
Show answer

Answer: A — The UK's celebration of the new millennium

The London Eye was built for the millennium celebrations and remains an important part of New Year celebrations.

244. What are the guides at the Tower of London called?

  1. Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters
  2. Bobbies
  3. Wardens of the Crown
  4. Life Guards
Show answer

Answer: A — Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters

Tours are given by the Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters. The Tower was first built by William the Conqueror after 1066.

245. The Eden Project, which houses plants from around the world in biomes, is in which county?

  1. Cornwall
  2. Devon
  3. Kent
  4. Cumbria
Show answer

Answer: A — Cornwall

The Eden Project is in Cornwall, in the south west of England, and is also a charity running environmental and social projects internationally.

246. Which body looks after Edinburgh Castle?

  1. Historic Environment Scotland
  2. The National Trust
  3. English Heritage
  4. The Crown Estate
Show answer

Answer: A — Historic Environment Scotland

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city's skyline, has a history dating back to the early Middle Ages, and is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland.

247. The Giant's Causeway was formed about how long ago, and from what?

  1. About 50 million years ago, from volcanic lava
  2. About 10,000 years ago, from glacial ice
  3. About 5,000 years ago, by Stone Age builders
  4. About 500 years ago, by quarrying
Show answer

Answer: A — About 50 million years ago, from volcanic lava

The Giant's Causeway on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland is a land formation of columns made from volcanic lava, formed about 50 million years ago.

248. Snowdonia's most famous landmark is which mountain?

  1. Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales
  2. Ben Nevis
  3. Scafell Pike
  4. Slieve Donard
Show answer

Answer: A — Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales

The national park of Snowdonia is in North Wales; its most famous landmark is Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.

249. Which dish is described as a favourite everywhere in the UK, rather than belonging to one nation?

  1. Fish and chips
  2. Roast beef
  3. Haggis
  4. The Ulster fry
Show answer

Answer: A — Fish and chips

Each of the four nations has its traditional dish — roast beef in England, Welsh cakes in Wales, haggis in Scotland, the Ulster fry in Northern Ireland — and fish and chips is a favourite everywhere.

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