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Chapter 3 · A long and illustrious history

Life in the UK test questions on early Britain

Britain was joined to the continent by land until about 10,000 years ago, and the first farmers arrived roughly 6,000 years ago. They built Stonehenge in Wiltshire and the village of Skara Brae in Orkney. The Bronze Age brought metal tools and roundhouses, and the Iron Age brought hill forts, the first coins made in Britain, and the language we now call Celtic.

Below are 6 free questions on early Britain, taken from handbook section 3.1. Every one is written out in full with its answer and a plain-English explanation — no account, no sign-up and nothing hidden.

Practise early Britain

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Questions and answers on early Britain

The same 6 questions again, this time with the answers shown. Read the explanation even where you were right — the test asks the same facts several ways.

  1. 1. How did the first people reach Britain in the Stone Age?

    • They were brought by Roman ships
    • They crossed the Channel in iron boats
    • They arrived from Ireland by bridge
    • They walked across a land bridge that joined Britain to the continent — correct answer

    For most of the Stone Age, Britain was joined to the continent by a land bridge. The first people simply walked across it. Handbook section 3.1.

  2. 2. How did the first people in Britain get their food?

    • They ran large farms
    • They hunted animals and gathered wild plants — correct answer
    • They bought it in markets
    • They imported it from Europe

    The first people in Britain were hunter-gatherers. They hunted animals and collected wild plants, and they moved around to follow the food. Handbook section 3.1.

  3. 3. 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.

  4. 4. In which English county is Stonehenge?

    • Yorkshire
    • Kent
    • Wiltshire — correct answer
    • Norfolk

    Stonehenge stands in Wiltshire, in the south west of England. It was built by Stone Age people and is still visited by thousands every year. Handbook section 3.1.

  5. 5. Where is Skara Brae, the best preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe?

    • In County Down
    • On Orkney, off the north coast of Scotland — correct answer
    • On the Isle of Wight
    • In north Wales

    Skara Brae is on Orkney, off the north coast of Scotland. Its stone houses survive so well that we can see how Stone Age people lived. Handbook section 3.1.

  6. 6. Which TWO of these places were built by people in Britain before the Romans arrived?

    • Skara Brae — correct answer
    • Hadrian's Wall
    • Westminster Abbey
    • Stonehenge — correct answer

    Stonehenge in Wiltshire and Skara Brae on Orkney were both built long before the Romans came. Hadrian's Wall is Roman and Westminster Abbey is far later. Handbook section 3.1.

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