Free Life in the UK mock test 9: 24 questions, 18 right to pass (75%), 45 minutes, as in the real Life in the UK test (GOV.UK). How many can you get wrong?
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Chapter 3: A long and illustrious history
Who became Prime Minister in July 2019?
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Life in the UK test questions and answers: mock test 9
Life in the UK mock test, free and with no account: 10 full mock tests are open to everyone. Next: Life in the UK test: free mock test 10.
Answers and explanations (text version)
All 24 questions in this mock test, each with the right answer, the reason, and where it is in Handbook. Try the test first.
Question 1. Who became Prime Minister in July 2019?
- A. David Cameron
- B. Boris Johnson
- C. John Major
- D. Tony Blair
Answer: B. Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson followed Theresa May on 24 July 2019.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (Britain since 1945)
Question 2. Which two families fought each other in the Wars of the Roses?
- A. The Houses of Tudor and Stuart
- B. The Houses of Normandy and Wessex
- C. The Houses of Lancaster and York
- D. The Houses of Bruce and MacAlpin
Answer: C. The Houses of Lancaster and York
The Wars of the Roses were fought between supporters of the House of Lancaster and the House of York.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (The Middle Ages)
Question 3. What is meant by 'constitutional monarchy'?
- A. The monarch rules alone without Parliament
- B. The monarch cannot force policies Parliament rejects
- C. The monarch is chosen by an election
- D. The monarch also leads the army and navy in every war
Answer: B. The monarch cannot force policies Parliament rejects
Under constitutional monarchy the monarch stayed important but could not insist on policies that Parliament opposed.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (A global power)
Question 4. What was the Domesday Book?
- A. A collection of stories about a pilgrimage
- B. A charter that limited the power of the king
- C. A book of prayers for the Church of England
- D. A record of the towns, villages, people and land in England
Answer: D. A record of the towns, villages, people and land in England
William's officials recorded every town and village, with its people, landowners and animals; this record is the Domesday Book.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (Early Britain)
Question 5. What does the police complaints system try to do?
- A. Punish people who make complaints
- B. Hire new police officers
- C. Put right things that have gone wrong
- D. Set the police budget for the coming year
Answer: C. Put right things that have gone wrong
The system exists to put things right when they go wrong.
In the handbook, chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role (Respecting the law)
Question 6. What are the fundamental values of British society based on?
- A. The rules of the European Union
- B. The laws of the Roman Empire
- C. Laws written in 1945
- D. History and traditions
Answer: D. History and traditions
British values grew out of the country's history and traditions. Law, customs and expectations help to protect them.
In the handbook, chapter 1: The values and principles of the UK (The values and principles of the UK)
Question 7. Which Scottish doctor wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories?
- A. Robert Louis Stevenson
- B. Sir Walter Scott
- C. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- D. Graham Greene
Answer: C. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, one of the first detectives in fiction.
In the handbook, chapter 4: A modern, thriving society (Arts and culture)
Question 8. True or false. In the 20 years after 1947, other colonies, in places such as Africa and the Caribbean, also gained independence.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: A. True
True. Independence for India, Pakistan and Ceylon was followed by many other colonies.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (Britain since 1945)
Question 9. True or false. Being Speaker does not stop someone from serving their own constituents.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: A. True
True. Although neutral in debates, the Speaker represents a constituency like any other MP.
In the handbook, chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role (The British constitution)
Question 10. How long can a game of cricket last?
- A. Up to five days
- B. Up to one hour
- C. Up to two weeks
- D. Up to one month
Answer: A. Up to five days
A game can go on for as long as five days and may still end in a draw.
In the handbook, chapter 4: A modern, thriving society (Sport)
Question 11. Choose two. Which TWO of these are among the UK's constitutional institutions?
- A. The BBC
- B. The civil service
- C. The National Trust
- D. The police
Answer: B and D. The civil service; The police
Parliament, the monarchy, the cabinet, the Prime Minister, the courts, the police, the civil service and local government make up the main ones.
In the handbook, chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role (The British constitution)
Question 12. How tall is the London Eye?
- A. 143 feet (44 metres)
- B. 843 feet (257 metres)
- C. 443 feet (135 metres)
- D. 1,443 feet (440 metres)
Answer: C. 443 feet (135 metres)
The London Eye, a Ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames, rises 443 feet (135 metres).
In the handbook, chapter 4: A modern, thriving society (Places of interest)
Question 13. What is a 'sitcom'?
- A. A news programme
- B. A sports report
- C. A situation comedy
- D. A cookery show
Answer: C. A situation comedy
A sitcom, or situation comedy, often looks at family life or the workplace.
In the handbook, chapter 4: A modern, thriving society (Leisure)
Question 14. Which statement about the words 'demand' and 'ask' is correct?
- A. 'Demand' is from Anglo-Saxon; 'ask' is from French.
- B. 'Demand' is from French; 'ask' is from Anglo-Saxon.
Answer: B. 'Demand' is from French; 'ask' is from Anglo-Saxon.
'Demand' (French) and 'ask' (Anglo-Saxon) are an example of English pairs with similar meanings from the two languages.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (The Middle Ages)
Question 15. Choose two. Which TWO are examples of volunteer activities?
- A. Selling goods at a profit
- B. Caring for animals at a rescue shelter
- C. Driving a taxi for fares
- D. Joining a litter pick-up
Answer: B and D. Caring for animals at a rescue shelter; Joining a litter pick-up
Volunteers work with animals, young people, the homeless and older people, and help the environment.
In the handbook, chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role (Your role in the community)
Question 16. How can parents help in classrooms?
- A. By setting exam papers
- B. By marking homework for pay
- C. By teaching lessons alone
- D. By listening to children read
Answer: D. By listening to children read
Many parents help out, for example by hearing children read.
In the handbook, chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role (Your role in the community)
Question 17. From which year were some powers devolved to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
- A. 1997
- B. 1969
- C. 1979
- D. 2010
Answer: A. 1997
Devolution began in 1997, giving people in those nations more say over their own affairs.
In the handbook, chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role (The government)
Question 18. True or false. In the 1960s, many people became better off and bought cars and other goods.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: A. True
True. Rising incomes meant more people could buy cars and consumer goods.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (Britain since 1945)
Question 19. After the Norman Conquest, which language did the peasants in England go on speaking?
- A. Norman French
- B. Latin
- C. Gaelic
- D. Anglo-Saxon
Answer: D. Anglo-Saxon
The king and nobles spoke Norman French while the peasants kept speaking Anglo-Saxon. The two later combined into English.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (The Middle Ages)
Question 20. What are Yorkshire puddings?
- A. A batter baked in the oven
- B. A fried breakfast
- C. A sweet fruit cake
- D. A kind of meat pie
Answer: A. A batter baked in the oven
Yorkshire puddings are baked batter, served with roast beef.
In the handbook, chapter 4: A modern, thriving society (Leisure)
Question 21. The language of Iron Age people in Britain belonged to which family of languages?
- A. Latin
- B. Norse
- C. Anglo-Saxon
- D. Celtic
Answer: D. Celtic
Iron Age people spoke a language from the Celtic family, related to tongues used across much of Iron Age Europe.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (Early Britain)
Question 22. Which artist was an important figure in the 1960s pop art movement?
- A. Joseph Turner
- B. David Hockney
- C. Henry Moore
- D. Thomas Gainsborough
Answer: B. David Hockney
David Hockney contributed to pop art in the 1960s and is still influential.
In the handbook, chapter 4: A modern, thriving society (Arts and culture)
Question 23. True or false. In the 1970s, some people argued that the trade unions had become too powerful.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: A. True
True. Strikes caused trouble between the unions and the government, and some said the unions were harming the UK.
In the handbook, chapter 3: A long and illustrious history (Britain since 1945)
Question 24. It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under what age?
- A. 14
- B. 18
- C. 16
- D. 21
Answer: B. 18
Selling cigarettes or other tobacco to anyone under 18 is illegal.
In the handbook, chapter 5: The UK government, the law and your role (Respecting the law)
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