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British History

Practice Test 2 — A Long and Illustrious History

Open practice — answers shown

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25 questions
British History chapter focus
Question 1 of 25

Which of these TWO lines from Shakespeare's plays and poems are often still quoted?

  1. The world is your oyster
  2. To be or not to be  ✓
  3. The darling buds of May  ✓
  4. A rose is beautiful
Answer: B, C — Lines from Shakespeare's plays and poems which are often still quoted include: Once more unto the breach (Henry V); To be or not to be (Hamlet); A rose by any other name (Romeo and Juliet); All the world's a stage (As You Like It); The darling buds of May (Sonnet 18 'Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer's Day).
Question 2 of 25

What destroyed the city of London in 1666?

  1. War
  2. Fire  ✓
  3. Plague
  4. Nuclear Plants
Answer: B — During Charles II's reign, in 1665, there was a major outbreak of plague in London. Thousands of people died, especially in poorer areas. The following year, a great fire destroyed much of the city, including many churches and St Paul's Cathedral.
Question 3 of 25

Mary, Queen of Scots was ______ Queen Elizabeth I

  1. a sister of
  2. a daughter of
  3. a cousin of  ✓
  4. unrelated to
Answer: C
Question 4 of 25

During the 19th century, new ideas about politics, philosophy and science were developed. This is often called ‘the Enlightenment’

  1. True  ✓
  2. False
Answer: A — During the 18th century, new ideas about politics, philosophy and science were developed. This is often called ‘the Enlightenment’
Question 5 of 25

Why is it called 'The Glorious Revolution'?

  1. Because there was no fighting  ✓
  2. Because of new technological advances
  3. Because of new achievements
  4. Women were given the right to vote
Answer: A — This event was later called the 'Glorious Revolution' because there was no fighting in England and because it guaranteed the power of Parliament, ending the threat of a monarch ruling on his or her own as he or she wished.
Question 6 of 25

Where is the Hadrian Wall?

  1. In the north of Wales
  2. In the north of England  ✓
  3. in the north of Scotland
  4. In the north of Ireland
Answer: B — Areas of what is now Scotland were never conquered by the Romans, and the Emperor Hadrian built a wall in the north of England to keep out the Picts (ancestors of the Scottish people).
Question 7 of 25

In 1776, ______ colonies of the British Empire decided to declare their independence

  1. American  ✓
  2. Australian
  3. Canadian
  4. South African
Answer: A
Question 8 of 25

Which style of architecture became popular in the 19th century?

  1. Gothic  ✓
  2. Classical
  3. Simple
  4. Neoclassical
Answer: A — In the 19th century, the medieval ‘gothic’ style became popular once again.
Question 9 of 25

When did the Wars of the Roses end with the Battle of Bosworth?

  1. 1314
  2. 1324
  3. 1485  ✓
  4. 1455
Answer: C — The Wars of the Roses ended with the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.
Question 10 of 25

Which of the following wars took place between 1899 and 1902 in South Africa?

  1. The Hundred Years War
  2. The Boer War  ✓
  3. The First World War
  4. The Crimean War
Answer: B
Question 11 of 25

Areas of what is now Scotland were never conquered by the Romans

  1. True  ✓
  2. False
Answer: A — Areas of what is now Scotland were never conquered by the Romans, and the Emperor Hadrian built a wall in the north of England to keep out the Picts (ancestors of the Scottish people).
Question 12 of 25

Which is not a Protestant Christian group?

  1. Catholics  ✓
  2. Methodists
  3. Presbyterians
  4. Baptists
Answer: A — There is no established Church in Wales or Northern Ireland. Other Protestant Christian groups in the UK are Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Quakers. There are also other denominations of Christianity, the biggest of which is Roman Catholic.
Question 13 of 25

Which one of the following is the most famous play written by Shakespeare?

  1. Under Milk Wood
  2. The Jungle Book
  3. The Canterbury Tales
  4. A Midsummer Night’s Dream  ✓
Answer: D — Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He was a playwright and actor and wrote many poems and plays. His most famous plays include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet.
Question 14 of 25

Which of these countries was NOT UK's ally in the WWII?

  1. Japan  ✓
  2. Soviet Union
  3. Poland
  4. France
Answer: A — The war was initially fought between the Axis powers (fascist Germany and Italy and the Empire of Japan) and the Allies
Question 15 of 25

Queen Victoria reigned almost 68 years.

  1. True
  2. False  ✓
Answer: B — In 1837, Queen Victoria became queen of the UK at the age of 18. She reigned until 1901, almost 64 years.
Question 16 of 25

The invasion of which country by Germany provoked UK to declare war on Germany in 1939?

  1. Austria
  2. Belgium
  3. Poland  ✓
  4. The Soviet Union
Answer: C — When Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, Britain and France declared war in order to stop his aggression.
Question 17 of 25

In the 20th century, what did Sir Edwin Lutyens design to be the seat of government in India?

  1. Bangalore
  2. Mumbai
  3. New Delhi  ✓
  4. Kolkata
Answer: C — In the 20th century, Sir Edwin Lutyens had an influence throughout the British Empire. He designed New Delhi to be the seat of government in India. After the First World War, he was responsible for many war memorials throughout the world, including the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
Question 18 of 25

The Man Booker Prize is awarded in which of the following categories?

  1. Films
  2. Sport
  3. Literature  ✓
  4. Music
Answer: C
Question 19 of 25

What did the Magna Carta do?

  1. Restricted King's power  ✓
  2. Introduced Christianity
  3. Introduced Democracy
  4. Allowed to collect taxes
Answer: A — The Magna Carta established the idea that even the king was subject to the law. It protected the rights of the nobility and restricted the king’s power to collect taxes or to make or change laws.
Question 20 of 25

In 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson defeated the German fleet

  1. True
  2. False  ✓
Answer: B — Admiral Nelson defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet
Question 21 of 25

When Queen Anne died, a German, George of Hanover, became the next King of England

  1. True  ✓
  2. False
Answer: A — When Queen Anne died in 1714, Parliament chose a German, George I, to be the next King, because he was Anne’s nearest Protestant relative. An attempt by Scottish Jacobites to put James II’s son on the throne instead was quickly defeated.
Question 22 of 25

Who was King/Queen when English settlers first began colonising the eastern coast of America

  1. Edward II
  2. Henry VIII
  3. Elizabeth I  ✓
  4. Henry VII
Answer: C — In Elizabeth I's time, English settlers first began to colonise the eastern coast of America.
Question 23 of 25

In Elizabeth I's time, English settlers first began to colonise the eastern coast of

  1. America  ✓
  2. Africa
  3. China
  4. Europe
Answer: A
Question 24 of 25

A famous Stone Age site in the United Kingdom is

  1. Windsor Castle
  2. Chequers
  3. Stonehenge  ✓
  4. Nelson's Column
Answer: C
Question 25 of 25

Who fought in the English Civil war of 1642?

  1. The House of York and the House of Lancaster
  2. The Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings
  3. The Cavaliers and the Roundheads  ✓
  4. The House of Fraser and the House of Stuart
Answer: C

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