Modern Society

311 practice questions on Modern Society, one of the five chapters of the official handbook, each with the correct answer.

What is the longest distance on the UK mainland?John O'Groats to Land's End
What is the capital city of Wales?Cardiff
Which of these is a denomination of UK currency?£2 coin
In which part of the UK is Gaelic spoken by some people in the Highlands and Islands?Scotland
Approximately what percentage of the UK population lives in England?84%
Which figure is regarded as the spiritual leader of the Church of England?The Archbishop of Canterbury
Which of these countries has no established Church?Wales
When is St David's Day celebrated?1 March
Which of these patron saints' days is a public holiday in Northern Ireland?St Patrick's Day
What is the name of the period of 40 days before Easter?Lent
Which festival is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs and is known as the 'Festival of Lights'?Diwali
On which date is Vaisakhi celebrated each year by Sikhs?14 April
What is the traditional name for New Year's Eve in Scotland?Hogmanay
Until what time on April Fool's Day are jokes traditionally played?Midday
Which historical event is remembered on Bonfire Night (5 November)?A failed plot to kill the King in 1605
Where are wreaths laid by the Royal Family and politicians on Remembrance Day?The Cenotaph
Who was the first man to run a mile in under four minutes?Sir Roger Bannister
Which doctor is credited with founding the Paralympic Games?Sir Ludwig Guttman
In which city were the 2012 Olympic Games held?London
What is the name of the famous cricket series played between England and Australia?The Ashes
Where is the Grand National horse race held?Aintree
Which Scottish town is known as the 'home of golf'?St Andrews
Where does a famous yearly rowing race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities take place?The River Thames
The 'Proms' is an eight-week summer season of what type of music?Orchestral classical music
Who composed the 'Water Music' for King George I?George Frederick Handel
Which composer is famous for 'The Planets' suite?Gustav Holst
Which Agatha Christie play has been running in London since 1952?The Mousetrap
Who wrote the music for shows such as 'Cats' and 'The Phantom of the Opera'?Andrew Lloyd Webber
What is the name of the prestigious visual art award established in 1984?The Turner Prize
Which 18th-century Scottish architect influenced architecture in the UK, Europe, and America?Robert Adam
Who designed the Cenotaph in Whitehall?Sir Edwin Lutyens
Who was the 18th-century landscape designer known as 'Capability'?Lancelot Brown
Which author wrote the 'Harry Potter' series?J K Rowling
Which poet wrote "The Tyger"?William Blake
Which of these is the national flower of Scotland?The thistle
Who was a famous British actor in silent movies known for his 'tramp' character?Charlie Chaplin
What does a television licence fund?The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
At what age can a person be bought wine or beer to drink with a meal in a restaurant if they are with someone over 18?16
Which organization was founded in 1895 to preserve important buildings and coastline?The National Trust
What was 'Big Ben' renamed in 2012 to honour the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?Elizabeth Tower
Where is the Eden Project located?Cornwall
Which land formation of 50-million-year-old volcanic lava columns is in Northern Ireland?The Giant's Causeway
Which of these is England's largest national park?The Lake District
What is the date of Boxing Day?26 December
Which day of the Christian year remembers the death of Jesus?Good Friday
What are people traditionally given at Easter?Chocolate eggs
What food is traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday?Pancakes
On what date is Valentine's Day?14 February
What do many children do on Halloween, 31 October?Dress up and go trick or treating
Which Scottish poet is celebrated on 25 January at Burns Night?Robert Burns
Which traditional Scottish dish is served at Burns Night?Haggis
What is the Eisteddfod?A Welsh festival of music and poetry
Which city holds a major arts festival each August?Edinburgh
Which sport is played at Wimbledon?Tennis
Which annual horse-racing event is a major fixture of the social calendar, held in June in Berkshire?Royal Ascot
In which year did England win the football World Cup?1966
Who in 2013 became the first British man since 1936 to win the Wimbledon singles title?Andy Murray
Who in 2012 became the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France?Bradley Wiggins
Which British runner won gold in both the 800 metres and 1500 metres at the 2004 Olympics?Dame Kelly Holmes
Which two ice dancers won gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics with their 'Bolero' routine?Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean
Which British swimmer won two Paralympic gold medals at the age of 13?Ellie Simmonds
Which sport is played at Lord's ground in London?Cricket
Which stadium in London is known as the home of English football?Wembley
Which British driver won his first Formula One world championship in 2008?Lewis Hamilton
Which painter is famous for 'The Hay Wain'?John Constable
Which sculptor is best known for large, abstract reclining figures?Henry Moore
Which composer wrote the 'Pomp and Circumstance' marches?Edward Elgar
Which composer wrote the opera 'Dido and Aeneas'?Henry Purcell
Which pop group from Liverpool was hugely successful in the 1960s?The Beatles
Who wrote the comic operas 'The Mikado' and 'HMS Pinafore'?Gilbert and Sullivan
Which London theatre is a reconstruction of Shakespeare's original playhouse?The Globe
Which novelist wrote 'Pride and Prejudice'?Jane Austen
Which Victorian author wrote 'Oliver Twist' and 'Great Expectations'?Charles Dickens
Which author created the detective Sherlock Holmes?Arthur Conan Doyle
Which author created the spy James Bond?Ian Fleming
Which author wrote 'The Lord of the Rings'?J. R. R. Tolkien
Which Welsh poet wrote 'Under Milk Wood'?Dylan Thomas
Which English poet is famous for writing about daffodils in the Lake District?William Wordsworth
Which Scottish author wrote 'Treasure Island'?Robert Louis Stevenson
Which literary prize, first awarded in 1969, is given each year to a novel written in English?The Booker Prize
Which film director made 'Psycho' and 'The 39 Steps'?Alfred Hitchcock
Which British animator created Wallace and Gromit?Nick Park
Who developed the process that made steel much cheaper to produce in the 19th century?Henry Bessemer
Who invented the jet engine?Sir Frank Whittle
Who developed radar in the 1930s?Robert Watson-Watt
What was special about Dolly the sheep, born in Scotland in 1996?She was the first mammal cloned from an adult cell
Which mathematician helped break German codes and is regarded as a founder of computer science?Alan Turing
What is stored in the Tower of London?The Crown Jewels
In which national park are Scafell Pike and Windermere?The Lake District
Which charity looks after historic houses, gardens and coastline?The National Trust
What does National Insurance help to pay for?The state pension and certain benefits
Which festival marks the end of the Muslim fast of Ramadan?Eid al-Fitr
Which Christian festival celebrates the birth of Jesus?Christmas
What is the Church of Scotland?The national Presbyterian church of Scotland
Which of the following is a traditional Sunday meal in England?Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding
At what age can someone buy alcohol in a UK shop?18
Which type of event is the Chelsea Flower Show?A gardening show
Which sport is the 'Six Nations' championship?Rugby union
About what proportion of the UK population has a parent or grandparent born outside the UK?Nearly 10%
Where in Europe is the UK located?In the north west
About how long is the longest distance on the UK mainland?About 870 miles
How many pence are there in a pound?100
Which of these is a UK banknote denomination?£20
What is true of banknotes issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland?They are valid everywhere in the UK, but shops do not have to accept them
In which UK country do many people speak Welsh?Wales
Which language do some people in Northern Ireland speak?Irish Gaelic
About how large was the UK population in 1801?8 million
About how large was the UK population in 1998?57 million
What is the approximate share of the UK population living in Scotland?Just over 8%
Why are people in the UK living longer than ever before?Improved living standards and better health care
What is the most common ethnic description chosen in surveys in the UK?White
About what proportion of the UK workforce is made up of women?Half
Which is true of girls' and boys' school results?On average, girls leave school with better qualifications than boys
What percentage of people identified themselves as Christian in the 2009 Citizenship Survey?70%
What percentage of people in the 2009 Citizenship Survey said they had no religion?21%
Which of these is a Hindu place of worship?A temple
Since when has the Church of England existed?Since the Reformation in the 1530s
What is the Church of England called in Scotland and the United States?The Episcopal Church
Who is the head of the Church of England?The monarch
Who usually chooses the Archbishop of Canterbury?The Prime Minister and a committee appointed by the Church
Which Church of England members sit in the House of Lords?Several bishops
How is the Church of Scotland governed?By ministers and elders
For how long is the Moderator of the Church of Scotland appointed?One year
Which of these is another Protestant Christian group in the UK?The Quakers
What is the biggest Christian denomination in the UK apart from the Protestant Churches?Roman Catholic
In which parts of the UK are patron saints' days official holidays?Scotland and Northern Ireland
Which church has been the coronation church since 1066?Westminster Abbey
How many monarchs are buried in Westminster Abbey?17
What does Christmas Day celebrate?The birth of Jesus Christ
Which foods often feature in a traditional Christmas meal?Roast turkey, Christmas pudding and mince pies
Who do very young children believe brings them presents at Christmas?Father Christmas
Which two days of Easter are public holidays?Good Friday and Easter Monday
How is the day before Lent starts known?Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day
What is marked on the forehead on Ash Wednesday?An ash cross
What do Easter eggs symbolise?New life
How long does Diwali last?Five days
Which city has a famous celebration of Diwali?Leicester
How many days does Hannukah last?Eight days
What is a menorah?A stand of eight candles lit during Hannukah
What does Eid al-Fitr celebrate?The end of Ramadan
What does Eid ul Adha remember?The prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son
Where must animals be sacrificed in Britain during Eid ul Adha?In a slaughterhouse
What does Vaisakhi celebrate?The founding of the Khalsa
Which day is also a public holiday in Scotland after New Year?2 January
What do some people send on Valentine's Day?Anonymous cards to someone they secretly admire
When is Mothering Sunday?Three weeks before Easter
When is Father's Day?The third Sunday in June
What are Halloween's roots?A pagan festival marking the beginning of winter
What do many people carve for Halloween?Lanterns from pumpkins
Who led the group of Catholics behind the 1605 plot commemorated on Bonfire Night?Guy Fawkes
What happens at 11.00 am on Remembrance Day?A two-minute silence
What do people wear for Remembrance Day?Poppies
When was the Cenotaph unveiled?1920
What are bank holidays?Public holidays when banks and many businesses are closed and which have no religious significance
Which anniversary is also a public holiday in Northern Ireland in July?The Battle of the Boyne
Which of these sports began in Britain?Cricket, football, lawn tennis, golf and rugby
In which years has the UK hosted the Olympic Games?1908, 1948 and 2012
In which part of London was the main Olympic site for the 2012 Games?Stratford, East London
Where did the Paralympics originate?At Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire
What was Ludwig Guttman's origin?He was a German refugee
In which year did Roger Bannister run the first mile in under four minutes?1954
How many times did Sir Jackie Stewart win the Formula 1 world championship?Three times
Who captained the English football team that won the 1966 World Cup?Bobby Moore
For which sport is Sir Steve Redgrave famous?Rowing
How many Paralympic medals did Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson win?16, including 11 gold
For what achievement is Dame Ellen MacArthur known?Fastest person to sail around the world single-handed in 2004
How many Olympic gold medals had Sir Chris Hoy won according to the handbook?Six
Who won gold medals at the 2012 Olympics in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres?Mo Farah
How many different events are in the heptathlon?Seven
In 2012, which Scottish tennis player won the US Open?Andy Murray
How long can a game of cricket last?Up to five days
Which of these is an expression that has passed into everyday usage from cricket?'It's just not cricket'
Which is the UK's most popular sport?Football
What is England's only international football tournament victory?The 1966 World Cup
When did rugby originate in England?In the early 19th century
Which countries compete in the Six Nations rugby union championship?England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy
How long is the Royal Ascot race meeting?Five days
Where is the Scottish Grand National held?Ayr
Where is the National Horseracing Museum?Newmarket, Suffolk
Where can the modern game of golf be traced back to?15th-century Scotland
Which golf tournament is the only 'Major' held outside the United States?The Open Championship
Where was the first tennis club founded, in 1872?Leamington Spa
What is special about the Wimbledon Championships among Grand Slam events?It is the only one played on grass
Which British yachtsman first circled the globe alone in 1966 and 1967?Sir Francis Chichester
Where is the most famous sailing event held in the UK?Cowes on the Isle of Wight
When did motor-car racing in the UK start?1902
Which of these has won the Formula 1 World Championship?Damon Hill
Where is Europe's longest dry ski slope?Near Edinburgh
Since when has the BBC organised the Proms?1927
Which composer was the organist at Westminster Abbey and developed a British musical style?Henry Purcell
When did Handel become a British citizen?1727
For whom did Handel write the 'Water Music'?King George I
Which oratorio by Handel is sung regularly by choirs, often at Easter?Messiah
Which hymn tune did Holst adapt from Jupiter in The Planets?I owe to thee my country
Where was Sir Edward Elgar born?Worcester
Which piece by Elgar is usually played at the Last Night of the Proms?Land of Hope and Glory
By what was Ralph Vaughan Williams strongly influenced?Traditional English folk music
For which two coronations did Sir William Walton write marches?King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II
Which composer is best known for operas such as Peter Grimes and Billy Budd?Benjamin Britten
Which piece by Britten introduces the sections of the orchestra?A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
Which British music movement emerged in the late 1970s?Punk
Where is the O2 arena?Greenwich, south-east London
Which of these is a famous UK music festival?Glastonbury
When is the Mercury Music Prize awarded?Each September
What is London's West End also known as?Theatreland
Which of these did Gilbert and Sullivan write?The Pirates of Penzance
Who wrote the music for Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita in collaboration with Tim Rice?Andrew Lloyd Webber
What is a pantomime?A light-hearted Christmas play with music and comedy based on fairy stories
Which traditional pantomime character is a woman played by a man?The Dame
What is the biggest and best-known part of the Edinburgh Festival?The Fringe
After whom are the Laurence Olivier Awards named?A British actor best known for Shakespeare roles
Which two painters from abroad worked in Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries?Hans Holbein and Sir Anthony Van Dyck
Which painter is most famous for Dedham Vale on the Suffolk-Essex border?John Constable
Which artist is considered to have raised the profile of landscape painting?Joseph Turner
What did the Pre-Raphaelites paint?Detailed pictures on religious or literary themes in bright colours
Which sculptor is best known for large bronze abstract sculptures?Henry Moore
Which British painter helped shape 1960s pop art?David Hockney
Where is the Tate Modern based?In the former Bankside Power Station in London
How many works are shortlisted each year for the Turner Prize?Four
Which building in the Tower of London is a Norman keep ordered by William I?The White Tower in the Tower of London
Which of these cathedrals is a great medieval example named in the handbook?Durham
Which great country house in Derbyshire is mentioned in the handbook?Hardwick Hall
Which architect took inspiration from classical architecture to design the Queen's House at Greenwich?Inigo Jones
Which architect helped develop a British version of the ornate European styles, in the new St Paul's Cathedral?Sir Christopher Wren
In which English city was the Royal Crescent built, influenced by Robert Adam's ideas?Bath
Which architectural style became popular again in the 19th century?Gothic
Which city did Sir Edwin Lutyens design to be the seat of government in India?New Delhi
Which of these architects is named among modern British architects working on major projects worldwide?Dame Zaha Hadid
Who designed landscapes so that they appeared natural, and was known as 'Capability'?Lancelot Brown
Which garden designer often worked with Edwin Lutyens on colourful gardens?Gertrude Jekyll
What does the annual Chelsea Flower Show showcase?Garden design from Britain and around the world
Who designed furniture in the 18th century?Thomas Chippendale
Which designer is known for Art Deco ceramics?Clarice Cliff
Which British fashion designer is named among leading designers of recent years?Vivienne Westwood
Which British writer won the Nobel Prize in Literature?Seamus Heaney
Which book was voted the country's best-loved novel in 2003?The Lord of the Rings
Since when has the Man Booker Prize for Fiction been awarded?1968
Which novelist wrote 'Sense and Sensibility'?Jane Austen
Which of Dickens's characters is used to describe a mean person?Scrooge
Which of these did Robert Louis Stevenson write?Treasure Island
Which novelist focused on rural society in books such as 'Far from the Madding Crowd'?Thomas Hardy
Where was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from?He was a Scottish doctor and writer
Which novel is Evelyn Waugh perhaps best known for?Brideshead Revisited
Which novel by Sir Kingsley Amis is his most well known?Lucky Jim
Which author wrote 'Brighton Rock' and 'Our Man in Havana'?Graham Greene
What does the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf tell of?A hero's battles against monsters
How many lines must a sonnet have?14
Which poet wrote 'Paradise Lost'?John Milton
Which poet was inspired by nature and wrote about daffodils?William Wordsworth
Which writer wrote poems and novels inspired by Scotland and the borders?Sir Walter Scott
Which two poets wrote about their experiences of the First World War?Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon
Where in Westminster Abbey are many famous poets buried or commemorated?Poet's Corner
Which poem begins 'Oh, to be in England now that April's there'?Home Thoughts from Abroad
What is an allotment?Rented land where people grow fruit and vegetables
Which of these is a famous garden mentioned in the handbook?Kew Gardens
Which flower is associated with Wales?The daffodil
How are shops in the UK generally open on Sundays?With reduced trading hours
What is a 'town centre'?The central shopping area of a town
Which dish is traditionally associated with England?Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding
What are Welsh cakes?A traditional Welsh snack made from flour and dried fruits
What is an Ulster fry?A fried breakfast with bacon, eggs, sausage and soda bread
When were films first shown publicly in the UK?1896
For what did British film makers become famous from the beginning?Clever special effects
Which two directors were prominent in British studios in the 1930s?Sir Alexander Korda and Sir Alfred Hitchcock
Which British directors found success in the UK and internationally after the Second World War?Sir David Lean and Ridley Scott
Which British comedies were a high point of the 1950s and 1960s?Passport to Pimlico and The Ladykillers
Which are the two highest-grossing film franchises produced in the UK?Harry Potter and James Bond
Which studio may be the world's oldest continuously working film studio?Ealing Studios
How many Oscars has Nick Park won?Four
Which British actor won an Oscar according to the handbook?Dame Judi Dench
What does BAFTA stand for?British Academy of Film and Television Arts
Which Hitchcock film of 1935 is listed as a famous British film?The 39 Steps
Who directed 'Brief Encounter' and 'Lawrence of Arabia'?David Lean
What did medieval kings and rich nobles have to tell jokes and make fun of people at court?Jesters
Which satirical magazine was first published in the 1840s?Punch
Which pair performed in music halls and later became television stars?Morecambe and Wise
What type of comedy did Monty Python's Flying Circus introduce in 1969?A new type of progressive comedy
Which of these is a British soap opera?Coronation Street
Who must have a television licence in the UK?Everyone with a TV, computer or other device used to watch TV
Who can apply for a free TV licence?People over 75
What is the maximum fine for watching TV without a licence?Up to £1,000
What is special about the BBC?It is the only wholly state-funded media organisation independent of government
How are other UK TV channels mainly funded?Through advertisements and subscriptions
How are BBC radio stations funded?By TV licences and other funds
What is a 'local' in the UK?The nearest pub in a community
Which of these is a traditional pub game?Darts
What is the legal age to buy alcohol in a pub or night club?18
At what time do pubs usually open during the day on Sundays?12 noon
Who decides the opening hours of a pub or night club?The licensee
What is the minimum age to go into a betting shop or gambling club?18
How often are National Lottery draws made?Every week
What must all dogs in public places wear?A collar showing the owner's name and address
Is it against the law to treat a pet cruelly or neglect it?Yes, it is against the law
Who provides vaccinations and medical treatment for animals?Veterinary surgeons (vets)
Roughly how many national parks cover England, Wales and Scotland?15
Who lives and works in the national parks?People who live and work there and look after the landscape
When was the National Trust founded?1895
Approximately how many volunteers help to keep the National Trust running?More than 61,000
What is 'Big Ben' the nickname for?The great bell of the clock at the Houses of Parliament
What does the Eden Project house in its biomes?Plants from all over the world
Which agency looks after Edinburgh Castle?Historic Scotland
About how long ago was the Giant's Causeway formed?50 million years ago
Which is the largest expanse of fresh water in mainland Britain?Loch Lomond
Where is the London Eye?On the southern bank of the River Thames
For what was the London Eye originally built?The UK's celebration of the new millennium
Which mountain is the most well-known landmark of Snowdonia?Snowdon
Who first built the Tower of London?William the Conqueror
By what other name are the Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London known?Beefeaters
What can people see at the Tower of London?The Crown Jewels
What is the biggest stretch of water in the Lake District?Windermere
Which lake was voted Britain's favourite view by television viewers in 2007?Wastwater