Life in the United Kingdom: a guide for new residents

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You can take a practice test so that you can practise answering questions with the mouse and moving from one question to another. This practice test does not affect your final result in the real test. Another rebellion began in Ireland because the Roman Catholics in Ireland were afraid of the growing power of the Puritans. Parliament took this opportunity to demand control of the English army – a change that would have transferred substantial power from the king to Parliament. In response, Charles I entered the House of Commons and tried to arrest five parliamentary leaders, but they had been warned and were not there. (No monarch has set foot in the Commons since.) Civil war between the king and Parliament could not now be avoided and began in 1642. The country split into those who supported the king (the Cavaliers) and those who supported Parliament (the Roundheads).

In Ireland, however, attempts by the English to impose Protestantism (alongside efforts to introduce the English system of laws about the inheritance of land) led to rebellion from the Irish chieftains, and much brutal fighting followed. The war against Japan ended in August 1945 when the United States dropped atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The war was finally over. 66 Find out…Cromwell became Lord Protector and ruled until his death in 1658. His son, Richard, became Lord Protector on his death but could not control the army or the government. People began to talk about the need for a king. Find out… British and French soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk in France. Many lives and a lot of equipment were lost, but the evacuation was a success and Britain was able to continue fighting the Germans. The evacuation gave rise to the phrase ‘the Dunkirk spirit’. It offers a summary of the content and helps you to learn the material that you need to understand for the Life in the UK test. At the beginning of each chapter you will find a chart or diagram which shows an outline of the key information you will need to learn. During this war, Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross, which honours acts of valour by soldiers. Find out…

Slaves from West Africa were taken to America in horrible conditions on British ships. They worked on tobacco and sugar plantations and were very badly treated. The Industrial Revolution was the rapid development of industry that took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. 77

Make the date memorable by linking it to personal information – the year you, or a family member or friend, were born or the number of a house where you lived. a requirement that doesn’t fall into one of the above categories; you should mention specifics in the space provided Plan in advance when you are going to study – make yourself a timetable and give yourself enough time before your test date to learn the information you need to know. Make sure you have a quiet place where you can study.

Adam Smith developed ideas about economics. David Hume’s ideas about human nature continue to influence philosophers. James Watt’s work on steam power helped the progress of the Industrial Revolution. The earliest you can take a test is seven days from the date of booking. Where can I take the test? Many people regard Shakespeare as the greatest playwright of all time. His plays and poems are still performed and studied in Britain and other countries today. The Globe Theatre in London is a modern copy of the theatres in which his plays were first performed. James VI and IThe Elizabethan period is also remembered for the richness of its poetry and drama, especially the plays and poems of William Shakespeare.

As the economy developed during the 19th century, canals and railways were built cross the country. Henry VIII’s son succeeded him. Edward VI was strongly Protestant and, during his reign, the Book of Common Prayer was written for use in the Church of England. Edward was only 15 when he died, after ruling for just over six years. Improvements in transport links allowed goods and people to move more easily around the country. George and Robert Stephenson and Isambard Kingdom Brunel contributed to these developments. The Reform Act of 1832 increased the number of people with the right to vote, but members of the working class were still excluded. We advise you not to move on until you can comfortably get 75%, but feel free to skim through the content! Mnemonics ​

The UK government, the law and your role

The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag because the Principality of Wales was already united with England. Find out… the House of Commons for knights, who were usually smaller landowners, and wealthy people from towns and cities. The electorate was very small. Catherine of Aragon – Catherine was a Spanish princess. She and Henry had a number of children but only one, Mary, survived. When Catherine was too old to give him another child, Henry decided to divorce her, hoping that another wife would give him a son to be his heir.