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Chapter 3 · A long and illustrious history

Life in the UK test questions on the Industrial Revolution

Britain was the first country to industrialise, built on steam power, coal and iron. Richard Arkwright’s mills, James Watt’s improved steam engine and a new network of canals moved the country from farms to factories and cities. Working conditions were often dangerous and children worked long hours, until a series of reforms began to change that.

Below are 5 free questions on the Industrial Revolution, taken from handbook section 3.13. Every one is written out in full with its answer and a plain-English explanation — no account, no sign-up and nothing hidden.

Practise the Industrial Revolution

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Questions and answers on the Industrial Revolution

The same 5 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. Which country was the first to industrialise on a large scale?

    • France
    • Germany
    • The United States
    • Britain — correct answer

    Britain was the first country to industrialise on a large scale. Machines, coal and steam power changed how goods were made. Handbook section 3.13.

  2. 2. During which centuries did the Industrial Revolution take place in Britain?

    • The 19th and 20th centuries
    • The 16th and 17th centuries
    • The 18th and 19th centuries — correct answer
    • The 15th and 16th centuries

    The Industrial Revolution took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was the rapid growth of industry and factory work. Handbook section 3.13.

  3. 3. Before the Industrial Revolution, how did most people in Britain earn a living?

    • By working at sea
    • By working on the land — correct answer
    • By working in factories
    • By working in offices

    Before the Industrial Revolution most people worked on the land. Farming was the main way of earning a living. Handbook section 3.13.

  4. 4. How did the Industrial Revolution change where people lived?

    • Towns emptied and villages grew
    • Many moved from the countryside into growing towns and cities — correct answer
    • Most people moved back to the land
    • People spread evenly across the country

    Work moved into factories, so people moved from the countryside into towns and cities. Britain's cities grew very quickly. Handbook section 3.13.

  5. 5. Which engineer built the Great Western Railway?

    • James Watt
    • Richard Arkwright
    • Isambard Kingdom Brunel — correct answer
    • George Stephenson

    Isambard Kingdom Brunel built the Great Western Railway, the first railway to link London with the west of England and Wales. Handbook section 3.13.

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