Life in the UK Test 1

The first people to live in Britain were hunter-gatherers, in what we call the Stone Age.

Britain only became permanently separated from the continent by the Channel about 10,000 years ago.

The Commonwealth has no power over its members, although it can suspend membership.

In 1348, a disease, probably a form of plague, came to Britain. This was known as the Black Death. One third of the population of England died and a similar proportion in Scotland and Wales. This was one of the worst disasters ever to strike Britain. Following the Black Death, the smaller population meant there was less need to grow cereal crops. There were labour shortages and peasants began to demand higher wages.

During the reign of Henry VIII, Wales became formally united with England by the Act for the Government of Wales.

The Elizabethan period is remembered for the richness of its poetry and drama, especially the plays and poems of William Shakespeare.

The fundamental principles of British life include: tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, the rule of law, democracy, individual liberty and participation in community life.

The National Trust and Friends of the Earth are environmental charities.

The cross of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal red cross on a white ground.

Swansea is located in Wales.

Christmas Eve is celebrated on the 24th of December.

Sir Steve Redgrave won gold medals in rowing in five consecutive Olympic Games and is one of Britain’s greatest Olympians.

The Cenotaph in Whitehall is the site of the annual Remembrance Day service attended by the Queen, politicians and foreign ambassadors.

The inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee (1955-), is British. Information was successfully transferred via the web for the first time on 25 December 1990.

The UK offers to its residents or citizens: freedom of belief and religion, freedom of speech, freedom from unfair discrimination, a right to a fair trial and a right to join in the election of a government.

In 1455, a civil war was begun to decide who should be king of England. It was fought between the supporters of two families: the House of Lancaster and the House of York. This war was called the Wars of the Roses, because the symbol of Lancaster was a red rose and the symbol of York was a white rose.

There are 129 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), elected by a form of proportional representation.

The government is usually formed by the party that wins the majority of constituencies. If no party wins a majority, two parties may join together to form a coalition.

This statement is true.

True.

At first the UK did not wish to join the EEC but it eventually did so in 1973.

When they are 16, people can drink wine or beer with a meal in a hotel or restaurant (including eating areas in pubs) as long as they are with someone over 18.

The spiritual leader of  the Church of England is the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Most citizens of the UK, the Irish republic or the Commonwealth aged 18 or over can stand for public office. There are some exceptions, including: members of the armed forces, civil servants, people found guilty of certain criminal offences.