What is the UK? Practice questions

Free practice questions on the What is the UK? chapter of the Life in the UK handbook, with an explanation for each answer.

What this chapter covers: The countries of the UK, Capital cities, Crown dependencies, British overseas territories, The Union Flag, Devolved government.

12 free practice questions

Click an answer: you see at once whether it is right, with the explanation.

  1. Question 1Which countries together form Great Britain?

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    Answer: B — England, Scotland and Wales.

    Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom adds Northern Ireland.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (The countries of the UK) (source)

  2. Question 2What is the full official name of the country?

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    Answer: D — The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

    The official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) plus Northern Ireland.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (The countries of the UK) (source)

  3. Question 3Which of these is NOT part of the United Kingdom?

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    Answer: D — The Republic of Ireland.

    The south of Ireland left the UK in 1922; only Northern Ireland, in the north of the island of Ireland, is part of the UK.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (The countries of the UK) (source)

  4. Question 4What is the capital city of Wales?

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    Answer: A — Cardiff.

    Cardiff is the capital city of Wales.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (Capital cities) (source)

  5. Question 5What is the capital city of Scotland?

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    Answer: D — Edinburgh.

    Edinburgh, in the south-east of Scotland near the Firth of Forth, is the capital of Scotland. Glasgow is larger but is not the capital.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (Capital cities) (source)

  6. Question 6What is the capital city of Northern Ireland?

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    Answer: B — Belfast.

    Belfast, on the River Lagan, is the capital of Northern Ireland.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (Capital cities) (source)

  7. Question 7Is the following statement true or false? The Isle of Man is part of the United Kingdom.

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    Answer: B — False.

    False. The Isle of Man is a Crown dependency: a self-governing dependency of the Crown, not part of the UK.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (Crown dependencies) (source)

  8. Question 8What are the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man called?

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    Answer: B — Crown dependencies.

    Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies. They have their own governments and are not part of the UK.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (Crown dependencies) (source)

  9. Question 9Which three crosses are combined in the Union Flag?

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    Answer: C — St George, St Andrew and St Patrick.

    The Union Flag combines the crosses of St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland) and St Patrick (Ireland).

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (The Union Flag) (source)

  10. Question 10Why does the Welsh dragon not appear on the Union Flag?

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    Answer: C — Wales was already united with England when the first Union Flag was created in 1606.

    When the first Union Flag was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England and was no longer a separate principality.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (The Union Flag) (source)

  11. Question 11What does the cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, look like?

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    Answer: B — A diagonal white cross on a blue background.

    St Andrew's cross is a white diagonal cross (saltire) on a blue ground. The red cross on white is St George's; the red diagonal cross on white is St Patrick's.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (The Union Flag) (source)

  12. Question 12Is the following statement true or false? Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own parliament or assembly with powers over some areas.

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    Answer: A — True.

    True. The UK Parliament passed the Scotland Act 1998, the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which devolved powers in defined areas.

    Checked against: Handbook ch. 2 'What is the UK?' (Devolved government) (source)

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