A long and illustrious history (Part 4)

1. The Victoria Cross medal was introduced during which war?

• The First World War
• The Second World War
• The Crimean War
• The Hundred Years War

Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross medal during the Crimean war. It honours acts of valour by soldiers.

2. When were the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established in England?

• By AD 410
• By AD 500
• By AD 550
• By AD 600

By about AD 600, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were established in Britain. These kingdoms were mainly in what is now England.

3. When was The First British Prime minister (Sir Robert Walpole) in power?

• 1707-1714
• 1714-1721
• 1721-1742
• 1742-1746

The first man to be called 'Prime Minister' was Sir Robert Walpole, who was Prime Minister from 1721 to 1742.

4. Clans lost a lot of their power and influence after which event?

• The Battle of Culloden
• The Battle of Trafalgar
• The Battle of Agincourt
• The Crimean War

The clans lost a lot of their power and influence after the Battle of Culloden (1746). Chieftains became landlords if they had the favour of the English king, and clansmen became tenants who had to pay for the land they used.

5. Where can you find the ship HMS Victory now?

• Portsmouth
• Edinburgh
• London
• Dorset

HMS Victory, can be visited in Portsmouth. It was Admiral Nelson's ship.

6. Where did the engineers come from in the middle ages?

• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Holland

People came to England from abroad to trade and also to work. Engineers came from Germany.

7. Which TWO materials did the UK produce more than half of the world in the 19th century?

• Cotton Cloth
• Iron
• Bronze
• Potatoes

British industry led the world in the 19th century. The UK produced more than half of the world's iron, coal and cotton cloth.

8. During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, where did the English government encourage Scottish and English Protestants to settle?

• Edinburgh
• Cardiff
• Ulster
• East London

During the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, many people in Ireland opposed rule by the Protestant government in England. There were a number of rebellions. The English government encouraged Scottish and English Protestants to settle in Ulster, the northern province of Ireland, taking over the land from Catholic landholders. These settlements were known as plantations.

9. During Slave trade, where did slaves primarily come from?

• West Africa
• South Africa
• North Africa
• East Africa

Slaves came primarily from West Africa. Travelling on British ships in horrible conditions, they were taken to America and the Caribbean, where they were made to work on tobacco and sugar plantations.

10. Which country(s) did Britain fight against during the Battle of Trafalgar?

• Spain and France
• Only France
• Only the Netherlands
• France and the Netherlands

Britain's navy fought against combined French and Spanish fleets, winning the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

11. What is the Church of England also known as in Scotland and the US?

• Anglican Church
• Episcopal Church
• Protestant Church
• Catholic Church

In England, there is a constitutional link between Church and state. The official Church of the state is the Church of England (called the Anglican Church in other countries and the Episcopal Church in Scotland and the United States). It is a Protestant Church and has existed since the Reformation in the 1530s

12. What were the Irish people who favoured complete independence from the UK known as?

• Fenians
• Cavaliers
• Roundheads
• People of Ireland

The Irish Nationalist movement had grown strongly through the 19th century. Some, such as the Fenians, favoured complete independence.

13. When were women given the right to vote at the same age as men?

• 1832
• 1918
• 1928
• 1969

In 1918, women over the age of 30 were given voting rights and the right to stand for Parliament, partly in recognition of the contribution women made to the war effort during the First World War. Shortly before Emmeline's death in 1928, women were given the right to vote at the age of 21, the same as men.

14. Which house won the War of the Roses?

• The House of Lancaster
• The House of York
• The House of Commons
• The House of Lords

The war ended with the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. King Richard III of the House of York was killed in the battle and Henry Tudor, the leader of the House of Lancaster, became King Henry VII.

15. In which UK country can you find the best preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe?

• Scotland
• England
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

Skara Brae on Orkney, off the north coast of Scotland, is the best preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe, and has helped archaeologists to understand more about how people lived near the end of the Stone Age.

16. Which tribes invaded Britain after the Romans had left?

• The Jutes and the Anglo-Saxons
• The Vikings
• The Normans
• The Celtics

The Roman army left Britain in AD 410 to defend other parts of the Roman Empire and never returned. Britain was again invaded by tribes from northern Europe: the Jutes, the Angles and the Saxons.

17. Which TWO are associated with the 'Dunkirk Spirit'?

• The rescue of 300,000 men
• Landings on D-Day
• Small boats coming to the rescue
• Invasion of Berlin on May 9

Many civilian volunteers in small pleasure and fishing boats from Britain helped the Navy to rescue more than 300,000 men from the beaches around Dunkirk. Although many lives and a lot of equipment were lost, the evacuation was a success and meant that Britain was better able to continue the fight against the Germans. The evacuation gave rise to the phrase 'the Dunkirk spirit'.

18. Who is known as William the Conqueror?

• William, the Duke of Normandy
• William, the Duke of Edinburgh
• William, the Duke of France
• William, the Duke of Lion

In 1066, an invasion led by William, the Duke of Normandy (in what is now northern France), defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, at the Battle of Hastings. Harold was killed in the battle. William became king of England and is known as William the Conqueror.

19. Who lost a lot of their power after the Battle of Culloden in 1746?

• The Clans
• The King
• The Parliament
• The Farmers

The clans lost a lot of their power and influence after Culloden. Chieftains became landlords if they had the favour of the English king, and clansmen became tenants who had to pay for the land they used.

20. During the Victorian period, transport link improved, enabling goods and people to move easily around the country

• True
• False

The statement is true

21. When did the Enlightenment happen?

• 18th century
• 18th and 19th century
• 19th century
• 19th and 20th century

During the 18th century, new ideas about politics, philosophy and science were developed. This is often called 'the Enlightenment'.

22. In 1348, a disease, probably a form of plague, came to Britain. What was it called?

• Black Death
• White Death
• Giant Evil
• Malaria

In 1348, a disease, probably a form of plague, came to Britain. This was known as the Black Death. One third of the population of England died and a similar proportion in Scotland and Wales.

23. How many colonies were granted independence in 1947?

• 9
• 13
• 7
• 11

Another aspect of change was self-government for former colonies. In 1947, independence was granted to nine countries, including India, Pakistan and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Other colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific achieved independence over the next 20 years.

24. In which year was Britain's first woman Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, elected to join the parliament of United Kingdom?

• 1959
• 1949
• 1979
• 1986

Margaret Thatcher was the daughter of a grocer from Grantham in Lincolnshire. She trained as a chemist and lawyer. She was elected as a Conservative MP in 1959 and became a cabinet minister in 1970 as the Secretary of State for Education and Science. In 1975 she was elected as Leader of the Conservative Party and so became Leader of the Opposition.

25. Which clan was killed because of not taking an oath?

• The MacDonalds of Glencoe
• The MacDonalds of Clanranald
• The MacDonalds of Keppoch
• The MacDonalds of Sleat

All Scottish clans were required formally to accept William as king by taking an oath. The MacDonalds of Glencoe were late in taking the oath and were all killed.

26. Who ordered to write the Book of Common Prayer?

• Edward VI
• Henry VII
• Henry VIII
• Queen Mary

Henry VIII was succeeded by his son Edward VI, who was strongly Protestant. During his reign, the Book of Common Prayer was written to be used in the Church of England.

27. Who was one of the founders of England's naval tradition?

• Sir Francis Drake
• Oliver Cromwell
• William Shakespeare
• King James

Sir Francis Drake, one of the commanders in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, was one of the founders of England's naval tradition. His ship (The Golden Hind) was one of the first to sail around the world.

28. James VI of Scotland was not related to Queen Elizabeth I of England

• True
• False

Mary was suspected of murdering her husband and fled to England. She gave her throne to her Protestant son, James VI of Scotland. Mary was Elizabeth I's cousin.

29. Which TWO are correct about Mary Stuart?

• She was only a week old when she became queen
• She spent much of her childhood in France
• She was Elizabeth I's sister
• She died of the Black Death

The queen of Scotland, Mary Stuart (often now called 'Mary, Queen of Scots') was a Catholic. She was only a week old when her father died and she became queen. Much of her childhood was spent in France. When she returned to Scotland, she was the centre of a power struggle between different groups. When her husband was murdered, Mary was suspected of involvement and fled to England. She gave her throne to her Protestant son, James VI of Scotland. Mary was Elizabeth I's cousin and hoped that Elizabeth might help her, but Elizabeth suspected Mary of wanting to take over the English throne, and kept her a prisoner for 20 years. Mary was eventually executed, accused of plotting against Elizabeth I.

30. When William of Orange re-conquered Ireland (in 1690) he took the title 'William the Conqueror'

• True
• False

In 1066, an invasion led by William, the Duke of Normandy (in what is now northern France), defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, at the Battle of Hastings. Harold was killed in the battle. William became king of England and is known as William the Conqueror.

31. When did the Romans successfully invade Britain?

• 43 AD
• 55 BC
• 63 BC
• 63 AD

Julius Caesar led a Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC. This was unsuccessful and for nearly 100 years Britain remained separate from the Roman Empire. In AD 43 the Emperor Claudius led the Roman army in a new invasion. This time, there was resistance from some of the British tribes but the Romans were successful in occupying almost all of Britain.

32. At what age did Queen Victoria become Queen of the UK?

• 18 years old
• One week old
• 3 years old
• 7 years old

In 1837, Queen Victoria became queen of the UK at the age of 18. She reigned until 1901, almost 64 years. At the date of writing (2013) this is the longest reign of any British monarch. Her reign is known as the Victorian Age.

33. Britain became fully democratic in the 19th century

• True
• False

The UK has had a fully democratic voting system since 1928 (20th century). The present voting age of 18 was set in 1969 and (with a few exceptions) all UK-born and naturalised adult citizens have the right to vote.

34. What were the first Women's Social and Political Union group members called?

• House of Lords
• Rotten boroughs
• Slaves
• Suffragettes

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928) was born in Manchester in 1858. She set up the Women's Franchise League in 1889, which fought to get the vote in local elections for married women. In 1903 she helped found the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). This was the first group whose members were called 'suffragettes'.

35. What tools did the Bronze age people introduce?

• Ornaments and weapons
• Basic farming machinery
• Gold Currency
• Roads

The people of the Bronze Age were accomplished metalworkers who made many beautiful objects in bronze and gold, including tools, ornaments and weapons.

36. When did the American Colonies declare their independence?

• 1776
• 1783
• 1733
• 1749

In 1776, 13 American colonies declared their independence, stating that people had a right to establish their own governments. The colonists eventually defeated the British army and Britain recognised the colonies' independence in 1783.

37. What is meant by 'common law'?

• Following previous decisions
• Codified
• Written down
• Sentence is decided by the jury

In England, judges developed 'common law' by a process of precedence (that is, following previous decisions) and tradition. In Scotland, the legal system developed slightly differently and laws were 'codified' (that is, written down).

38. Under which king did the people unite to defeat the Vikings?

• King Alfred the Great
• Henry I
• King William
• Harold

The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England united under King Alfred the Great, who defeated the Vikings.

39. Where did the people of the Bronze Age bury their dead?

• Round barrows
• Graveyards
• Coffin Houses
• Gardens

People lived in roundhouses and buried their dead in tombs called round barrows.

40. What language did the peasants speak after the Norman conquest?

• Anglo Saxon
• Norman French
• English
• Gaelic

The Middle Ages saw the development of a national culture and identity. After the Norman Conquest, the king and his noblemen had spoken Norman French and the peasants had continued to speak Anglo-Saxon. Gradually these two languages combined to become one English language.

41. When did the First World War end?

• 11th of November
• 9th of May
• 18th of August
• 9th of july

The First World War ended at 11.00 am on 11th November 1918 with victory for Britain and its allies.

42. There is a dragon on the official flag of Wales

• True
• False

here is also an official Welsh flag, which shows a Welsh dragon. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag because, when the first Union Flag was created in 1606 from the flags of Scotland and England, the Principality of Wales was already united with England.

43. Where can you visit Admiral Nelson's ship , HMS Victory?

• Lincolnshire
• Cheshire
• Portsmouth
• London

Admiral Nelson's ship, HMS Victory, can be visited in Portsmouth

44. Who was the 'Iron Duke' that defeated the Emperor Napoleon?

• Wellington
• Admiral Nelson
• Churchill
• Sir Christopher Wren

In 1815, the French Wars ended with the defeat of the Emperor Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Wellington was known as the Iron Duke and later became Prime Minister.

45. When did the Irish Free State become a republic?

• 1949
• 1922
• 1931
• 1937

In 1922 Ireland became two countries. The six counties in the north which were mainly Protestant remained part of the UK under the name Northern Ireland. The rest of Ireland became the Irish Free State. It had its own government and became a republic in 1949.

46. In which year did John Logie Baird make the first TV broadcast between Glasgow and London?

• 1932
• 1945
• 1920
• 1955

The television was developed by Scotsman John Logie Baird (1888-1946) in the 1920s. In 1932 he made the first television broadcast between London and Glasgow.

47. Puritans are a group of Catholics who advocate complex religious doctrine and worship

• True
• False

Puritans, a group of Protestants who advocated strict and simple religious doctrine and worship.

48. What became the symbol of the House of Tudor?

• A red and white rose
• A red rose
• A white rose
• A pink rose

This war was called the Wars of the Roses, because the symbol of Lancaster was a red rose and the symbol of York was a white rose. The war ended with the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 the House of Lancaster won. The symbol of the House of Tudor was a red rose with a white rose inside it as a sign that the Houses of York and Lancaster were now allies.

49. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the Church of England

• True
• False

The spiritual leader of the Church of England is the Archbishop of Canterbury. The monarch has the right to select the Archbishop and other senior church officials, but usually the choice is made by the Prime Minister and a committee appointed by the Church. Several Church of England bishops sit in the House of Lords. The monarch is the head of state of the church.

50. Oliver Cromwell took the title 'King of Ireland'

• True
• False

Cromwell was given the title of Lord Protector and ruled until his death in 1658. Henry VIII took the title 'King of Ireland'

51. Scotland and Wales remained free of Anglo-Saxon rule

• True
• False

Parts of the west of Britain, including much of what is now Wales, and Scotland, remained free of Anglo-Saxon rule.

52. Who was Robert Burns?

• English social reformer
• Scottish poet
• Welsh portrait painter
• English barber

Known in Scotland as 'The Bard', Robert Burns was a Scottish poet. Burns' best-known work is probably the song Auld Lang Syne, which is sung by people in the UK and other countries when they are celebrating the New Year (or Hogmanay as it is called in Scotland).

53. What created The Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707?

• The act of Government of Wales
• The Act of Union
• The Bill of Rights
• The Kingdom Act

The Act of Union, known as the Treaty of Union in Scotland, was agreed in 1707, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain.

54. The Corn Laws were repealed in 1846. These had prevented the import of cheap grain

• True
• False

The statement is true.

55. What treaty was signed in 1707?

• The Act of Union
• The Act for Government of Wales
• The Act of Great Britain
• The Great Union

The Act of Union, known as the Treaty of Union in Scotland, was therefore agreed in 1707, creating the Kingdom of Great Britain.

56. In what year was Germany comprehensively defeated by the Allies during the WWII?

• May-39
• May-45
• Apr-44
• Jun-46

Following victory on the beaches of Normandy, the allied forces pressed on through France and eventually into Germany. The Allies comprehensively defeated Germany in May 1945.

57. Many Scottish landlords destroyed individual small farms (known as 'crofts') to make space for large flocks of sheep and cattle. What was this known as?

• Highland Clearances
• Feudalism
• The rebellion of the landlords
• Pocket Boroughs

A process began which became known as the 'Highland Clearances'. Many Scottish landlords destroyed individual small farms (known as 'crofts') to make space for large flocks of sheep and cattle. Evictions became very common in the early 19th century. Many Scottish people left for North America at this time.

58. Which Admiral's Column is in Trafalgar Square, London?

• Nelson
• Francis Drake
• Christopher Wren
• Charles I

Britain's navy fought against combined French and Spanish fleets, winning the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Admiral Nelson was in charge of the British fleet at Trafalgar and was killed in the battle. Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, London, is a monument to him. His ship, HMS Victory, can be visited in Portsmouth.

59. Which king defeated the Vikings?

• King William the Conqueror
• King Harold
• King Alfred the Great
• King Robert the Bruce

The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England united under King Alfred the Great, who defeated the Vikings. Many of the Viking invaders stayed in Britain - especially in the east and north of England, in an area known as the Danelaw

60. The Welsh language, spoken in Wales and is taught in schools and universities, is a completely different language from English

• True
• False

The English language has many accents and dialects. In Wales, many people speak Welsh - a completely different language from English - and it is taught in schools and universities. In Scotland, Gaelic (again, a different language) is spoken in some parts of the Highlands and Islands, and in Northern Ireland some people speak Irish Gaelic.

61. Who is known as William the Conqueror?

• William, the Duke of Normandy
• William, the Duke of Edinburgh
• William, the Duke of France
• William, the Duke of Lion

In 1066, an invasion led by William, the Duke of Normandy (in what is now northern France), defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, at the Battle of Hastings. Harold was killed in the battle. William became king of England and is known as William the Conqueror.

62. Who sat in the House of Lords in the middle ages?

• The nobility and great landowners
• Knights
• Wealthy People
• Every Landowner

The nobility, great landowners and bishops sat in the House of Lords.

63. When did the Industrial Revolution take place?

• 18th century only
• 18th and 19th centuries
• 19th century only
• 19th and 20th centuries

The Industrial Revolution was the rapid development of industry in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries.

64. Who designed the Clifton Suspension Bridge?

• Isambard Kingdom Brunel
• Florence Nightingale
• Richard Arkwright
• Sir Christopher Wren

Brunel was originally from Portsmouth, England. He was an engineer who built tunnels, bridges, railway lines and ships. He was responsible for constructing the Great Western Railway and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

65. How many people lost their lives in Northern Ireland in the decades after 1969?

• 1000
• 2000
• 3000
• 4000

The 1970s were also a time of serious unrest in Northern Ireland. In 1972, the Northern Ireland Parliament was suspended and Northern Ireland was directly ruled by the UK government. Some 3,000 people lost their lives in the decades after 1969 in the violence in Northern Ireland.

66. What is the 'Divine Right of Kings'?

• The King was Appointed by God
• Reduced the power of the nobles
• Reduced the power of the King
• Increased power of the parliament

Divine Right of Kings' is the idea that the king was directly appointed by God to rule. The king should be able to act without having to seek approval from Parliament.

67. Who was Isambard Kingdom Brunel?

• An engineer
• A gardener
• An artist
• A novelist

Brunel was originally from Portsmouth, England. He was an engineer who built tunnels, bridges, railway lines and ships.

68. What followed the Bronze Age?

• The Iron Age
• The Stone Age
• The Silver Age
• The medieval period

The Bronze Age was followed by the Iron Age, when people learned how to make weapons and tools out of iron.

69. David Hockney was an important contributor to the 'pop art' movement of the 1960s

• True
• False

David Hockney (1937-) was an important contributor to the 'pop art' movement of the 1960s and continues to be influential today.

70. What were the refugees that came from France called?

• Huguenots
• Cavaliers
• Roundheads
• Jacobites

Between 1680 and 1720 many refugees called Huguenots came from France. They were Protestants and had been persecuted for their religion.

71. Which Castles are in use to this day?

• Edinburgh and Windsor
• Edinburgh and London
• Edinburgh and Dublin
• Edinburgh and Aberdeen

Castles were built in many places in Britain and Ireland, partly for defence. Today many are in ruins, although some, such as Windsor and Edinburgh, are still in use.

72. Who was the first woman Prime Minister?

• Margaret Thatcher
• Florence Nightingale
• Mary Peters
• Elizabeth Brown

In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minister of the UK. She was the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century, remaining in Office until 1990.