Free Life in the UK test chapters practice, chapter 2: 13 questions; the real Life in the UK test has 24 questions and you need 18 right, per GOV.UK. How many can you get wrong?

Question 1 of 13

Chapter 2: What is the UK?

Where does the parliament that governs the UK meet?

Chapter 2: What is the UK?: questions and answers from Handbook

Answers and explanations (text version)

All 13 questions in this practice set, each with the right answer, the reason, and where it is in Handbook. Try the questions first.

  1. Question 1. Where does the parliament that governs the UK meet?

    • A. Westminster
    • B. Edinburgh
    • C. Cardiff
    • D. Belfast

    Answer: A. Westminster

    The UK Parliament sits at Westminster in London. Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are home to the devolved bodies.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  2. Question 2. What name is given to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands?

    • A. British overseas territories
    • B. Devolved nations
    • C. Crown dependencies
    • D. Commonwealth realms

    Answer: C. Crown dependencies

    The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies. They are linked to the UK but have their own governments.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  3. Question 3. Apart from the UK Parliament, what do Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have?

    • A. Their own monarchs and their own armies
    • B. Their own elected bodies with devolved powers
    • C. Full independence from the rest of the UK
    • D. Seats only in the House of Lords

    Answer: B. Their own elected bodies with devolved powers

    Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own parliament or assembly with devolved powers in set areas. The UK Parliament still governs the UK as a whole.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  4. Question 4. Which countries does the name 'Great Britain' refer to?

    • A. All four countries of the UK
    • B. England, Scotland and Wales
    • C. England and Scotland only
    • D. Wales and England

    Answer: B. England, Scotland and Wales

    'Great Britain' means England, Scotland and Wales only. It does not include Northern Ireland.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  5. Question 5. Which statement about the British overseas territories is correct?

    • A. British overseas territories, such as St Helena, are part of the UK and elect MPs to Westminster.
    • B. British overseas territories, such as St Helena, have ties to the UK but do not belong to it.

    Answer: B. British overseas territories, such as St Helena, have ties to the UK but do not belong to it.

    St Helena and the other overseas territories are outside the UK, even though they have close ties with it. They do not elect MPs.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  6. Question 6. True or false. The part of Ireland outside Northern Ireland is an independent country.

    • A. True
    • B. False

    Answer: A. True

    True. Only Northern Ireland is part of the UK; the rest of Ireland is independent.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  7. Question 7. Which countries make up the United Kingdom?

    • A. England, Scotland and Wales only
    • B. Great Britain and all of Ireland
    • C. England, Wales and Northern Ireland
    • D. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

    Answer: D. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

    The four countries of the UK are England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The remainder of Ireland is a separate, independent state.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  8. Question 8. The country's full official name is 'the United Kingdom of Great Britain and …' what?

    • A. Northern Ireland
    • B. the Isle of Man
    • C. the Channel Islands
    • D. the Commonwealth

    Answer: A. Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland completes the full name, which is usually shortened to 'the UK'. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are not part of it.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  9. Question 9. Choose two. Which TWO of these are British overseas territories?

    • A. The Isle of Man
    • B. St Helena
    • C. The Falkland Islands
    • D. The Channel Islands

    Answer: B and C. St Helena; The Falkland Islands

    Both St Helena and the Falklands count as British overseas territories. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are Crown dependencies instead.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  10. Question 10. True or false. Crown dependencies such as the Channel Islands have their own governments.

    • A. True
    • B. False

    Answer: A. True

    True. The Crown dependencies run their own affairs through their own governments and are not part of the UK.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  11. Question 11. How does the handbook use the words 'Britain' and 'British'?

    • A. To mean only people in England
    • B. To mean only people born in Great Britain
    • C. To mean everyone in the UK
    • D. To mean the Crown dependencies

    Answer: C. To mean everyone in the UK

    In the handbook, 'Britain' and 'British' cover everyone in the UK. They are not limited to England or Great Britain.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  12. Question 12. Which of these is part of the United Kingdom?

    • A. The Isle of Man
    • B. The Channel Islands
    • C. The Falkland Islands
    • D. Northern Ireland

    Answer: D. Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the UK. The other three places have links with the UK but lie outside it.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

  13. Question 13. True or false. Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain.

    • A. True
    • B. False

    Answer: B. False

    False. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, but Great Britain means only England, Scotland and Wales.

    In the handbook, chapter 2: What is the UK? (What is the UK?)

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