Life in the UK practice test 17: Back to Back
Paper 17 is best sat immediately after another one. Concentration fades before knowledge does, and the mistakes you make when tired are different from the ones you make cold.
How to sit this one. Sit paper 16 or 18 first, then start this one straight away with no break in between. Notice which mistakes only appear in the second paper.
24 questions in 45 minutes, with 18 correct to pass — the same 75% the official test asks for. Nothing is saved to an account: your progress stays in this browser, so you can close the tab and pick the paper up where you left it.
- Questions
- 24
- Time limit
- 45 minutes
- Pass mark
- 18 of 24 (75%)
Answers and explanations
Every question in paper 17, with the right answer and the handbook section it comes from. Open it after you have had a go.
Show all 24 answers and explanations
1. On which date did Britain declare war on Germany?
- 1 September 1939
- 11 November 1939
- 8 May 1940
- 3 September 1939 — correct answer
Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, after German forces invaded Poland. Handbook section 3.18.
2. What is the relationship between the BBC and the government?
- The BBC is independent of the government — correct answer
- The BBC is a government department
- Ministers approve BBC programmes
- The BBC is owned by a political party
The BBC is independent of the government, even though the public pays for it through the licence fee. Handbook section 4.11.
3. Who is the head of the Church of England?
- The monarch — correct answer
- The Prime Minister
- The Archbishop of York
- The Speaker of the House of Commons
The monarch is the head of the Church of England and holds the title Supreme Governor of that church. Handbook section 4.2.
4. Who normally chooses which candidate will stand for a party in a constituency?
- The local members of that party — correct answer
- The monarch
- The Electoral Commission
- The sitting MP for the neighbouring seat
Local party members select their candidate. It is one of the main reasons people join a party. Handbook section 5.7.
5. What should you do if you witness a crime?
- Report it to the police — correct answer
- Deal with it yourself
- Report it to your MP
- Wait for the council to notice
Crimes should be reported to the police, who investigate them. In an emergency you dial 999; for other matters there is a non-emergency number. Handbook section 5.14.
6. Where must you take the official Life in the UK test?
- At a registered test centre you book in advance — correct answer
- At home on your own computer
- At any public library
- At your local council office
The test is booked online and taken at a registered test centre. You must bring the same identity document you used to book it. Handbook section 1.3.
7. Which two royal houses fought the Wars of the Roses?
- Lancaster and York — correct answer
- Tudor and Stuart
- Normandy and Anjou
- Hanover and Windsor
The Wars of the Roses were fought between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. Both families claimed the throne of England. Handbook section 3.7.
8. Where were enslaved people taken from in the transatlantic slave trade?
- China
- Eastern Europe
- West Africa — correct answer
- India
Enslaved people were taken from West Africa and shipped across the Atlantic. The voyage was brutal and many died on the way. Handbook section 3.14.
9. Where should you take an animal that is ill or injured?
- To a vet — correct answer
- To a hospital accident and emergency department
- To the local council offices
- To a pharmacy
A vet is the professional who treats sick and injured animals, and every town has a veterinary practice. Handbook section 4.14.
10. What does the law say about being cruel to an animal or neglecting it?
- It is a criminal offence — correct answer
- It is allowed if the animal is your own
- It is only an offence for farm animals
- It is dealt with by the animal's insurer
Being cruel to an animal or failing to look after it properly is a criminal offence in the UK. Handbook section 4.14.
11. Which right does a person accused of a crime in the UK have?
- The right to a fair trial — correct answer
- The right to choose their own judge
- The right to leave the country before the trial
- The right to be tried without a jury
A right to a fair trial is one of the things the UK offers everyone here. An interpreter can be provided, but a defendant cannot pick the judge. Handbook section 1.2.
12. In many parts of England, local government is arranged in two tiers. What are they?
- County councils and district councils — correct answer
- Parliament and the Senedd
- Magistrates and juries
- Police forces and fire services
Outside the big cities, services are often split between a county council covering a wide area and district councils covering smaller areas within it. Handbook section 5.10.
13. What did the Act of Union of 1707 create?
- A separate parliament for Wales
- A union between England and Ireland
- The Kingdom of Great Britain, with one Parliament at Westminster — correct answer
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Act of Union of 1707 joined Scotland to England and Wales as the Kingdom of Great Britain, with a single Parliament at Westminster. Handbook section 3.11.
14. What was Sir Alfred Hitchcock famous for?
- Directing films — correct answer
- Acting in silent comedies
- Writing spy novels
- Composing film music
Sir Alfred Hitchcock was a film director who made his name in Britain before going on to work in Hollywood. Handbook section 4.11.
15. Roughly how many people lived in the UK in 1901?
- 40 million — correct answer
- 20 million
- 62 million
- 8 million
The population of the UK was about 40 million in 1901, after a century of very fast growth during the industrial age. Handbook section 4.1.
16. What is Sir Roger Bannister remembered for?
- Being the first person to run a mile in under four minutes — correct answer
- Winning five Olympic rowing golds
- Captaining England to the football World Cup
- Sailing around the world alone
Sir Roger Bannister was the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, which he did in 1954. Handbook section 4.5.
17. Select the TWO institutions that form part of the British constitution.
- The monarchy — correct answer
- The judiciary — correct answer
- The National Trust
- The Football Association
The monarchy, Parliament, the Prime Minister and cabinet, the civil service, the judiciary, the police and local government all form part of the constitution. Charities and sports bodies do not. Handbook section 5.2.
18. In which year did the First World War begin?
- 1912
- 1914 — correct answer
- 1916
- 1918
The First World War began in 1914. It was fought on a scale nobody had seen before. Handbook section 3.16.
19. Which statement best describes the monarch's power over day-to-day government?
- The monarch reigns but does not decide government policy — correct answer
- The monarch personally runs each government department
- The monarch can dismiss any MP at will
- The monarch writes the annual budget
The monarch's role is symbolic and constitutional rather than political. Policy is made by the elected government and scrutinised by Parliament. Handbook section 5.3.
20. Who formally appoints members of the House of Lords?
- The monarch, on the advice of the Prime Minister or the Appointments Commission — correct answer
- The Speaker of the House of Commons
- The Supreme Court
- The electorate, in a national ballot
Peers are appointed by the monarch. Most are nominated by the Prime Minister, while the independent Appointments Commission recommends peers who take no party side. Handbook section 5.5.
21. Why are political parties important in a democracy?
- They give voters organised choices between different programmes for government — correct answer
- They decide court cases between citizens
- They collect council tax
- They appoint the monarch
Parties gather people with similar ideas, put forward candidates and set out programmes, so that voters have a real and understandable choice. Handbook section 5.7.
22. What is a national park?
- An area of protected countryside that everyone can visit — correct answer
- A park owned by the royal family
- A city park paid for by the government
- A nature reserve closed to the public
A national park is an area of protected countryside that everyone can visit, with places to walk, camp and enjoy nature. Handbook section 4.12.
23. Where is the Isle of Man?
- In the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland — correct answer
- In the English Channel
- In the North Sea, off Norway
- In the South Atlantic Ocean
The Isle of Man lies in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. It is a Crown dependency, not part of the UK. Handbook section 2.2.
24. About how long ago did Britain become permanently separated from the continent by the Channel?
- About 1,000 years ago
- About 3,000 years ago
- About 10,000 years ago — correct answer
- About 100,000 years ago
About 10,000 years ago the sea rose and the land bridge disappeared. Britain has been an island separated by the Channel ever since. Handbook section 3.1.
What paper 17 asks about
These 24 questions come from 5 chapters of the official handbook. By the difficulty the questions were written at, that is 13 easy, 8 medium and 3 harder.
Chapters in this paper
- The values and principles of the UK — 2 questions
- What is the UK? — 1 question
- A long and illustrious history — 6 questions
- A modern, thriving society — 8 questions
- The UK government, the law and your role — 7 questions
The topics it leans on most
- Film and television — 2 questions
- Pets and animals — 2 questions
- Political parties — 2 questions
- Your responsibilities and freedoms — 1 question
- Becoming a permanent resident — 1 question
- The Crown dependencies — 1 question
- Early Britain — 1 question
- The Wars of the Roses — 1 question
Revise before the next paper
A mock test tells you where you stand. These pages are where you close the gaps.