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Life in the UK Practice Test 22 (2026) — free, with answers

24 original practice questions in the official Life in the UK Test formats — multiple choice, select TWO, TRUE or FALSE and “which statement is correct”. The real test has 24 questions in 45 minutes with a 75% pass mark (18 of 24). Every answer below includes an explanation. Written from the official study material; no log-in, completely free.

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1. 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
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Answer: A and B — Durham; Salisbury

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

2. 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
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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.

3. 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
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Answer: A — A grand country house

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

4. 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
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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.

5. 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
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Answer: A — Robert Adam

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

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

  1. Bath
  2. Edinburgh
  3. Manchester
  4. Cardiff
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Answer: A — Bath

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

7. 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
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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.

8. 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
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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.

9. 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
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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.

10. 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
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Answer: A — Entirely natural

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

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

  1. Gertrude Jekyll
  2. Lancelot 'Capability' Brown
  3. Clarice Cliff
  4. Sir Terence Conran
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Answer: A — Gertrude Jekyll

Gertrude Jekyll designed colourful gardens around the houses Lutyens built.

12. 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
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Answer: A — The Chelsea Flower Show

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

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

  1. Furniture
  2. Ceramics
  3. Gardens
  4. Cathedrals
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Answer: A — Furniture

Thomas Chippendale designed furniture in the 18th century.

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

  1. Art Deco ceramics
  2. Furniture
  3. Fashion
  4. Stained glass
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Answer: A — Art Deco ceramics

Clarice Cliff designed Art Deco ceramics.

15. 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
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Answer: A — Interior design

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

16. 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
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Answer: A and B — Mary Quant; Vivienne Westwood

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

17. 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
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Answer: A and B — Sir William Golding; Seamus Heaney

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

18. 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
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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.

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

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

20. Which TWO novels were written by Jane Austen?

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

21. Which TWO novels were written by Charles Dickens?

  1. Oliver Twist
  2. Great Expectations
  3. Kidnapped
  4. Lucky Jim
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Answer: A and B — Oliver Twist; Great Expectations

Dickens wrote Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

22. 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
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Answer: A — Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote all three.

23. 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
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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.

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

  1. Sherlock Holmes
  2. Hercule Poirot
  3. Miss Marple
  4. Inspector Morse
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Answer: A — Sherlock Holmes

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes.

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