A long and illustrious history (Part 6)

1. Which of these words is based on Norman words?

• Park
• Cow
• Summer
• Apple

Some words in modern English - for example, 'park' and 'beauty' - are based on Norman French words. Others - for example, 'apple', 'cow' and 'summer' - are based on Anglo-Saxon words.

2. Names of places, such as Grimsby and Scunthorpe come from which language?

• Celtic
• Norman
• Saxon
• Viking

Many places names, such as Grimsby and Scunthorpe, come from the Viking languages

3. Which of these names was Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn's child's name?

• Mary
• Elizabeth
• Edward
• Catherine

Anne Boleyn was English. She and Henry had one daughter, Elizabeth. Anne was unpopular in the country and was accused of taking lovers. She was executed at the Tower of London.

4. When was the Emancipation Act signed? It abolished slavery throughout the British Empire

• 1807
• 1817
• 1833
• 1837

Along with other abolitionists (people who supported the abolition of slavery), William Wilberforce succeeded in turning public opinion against the slave trade. In 1807, it became illegal to trade slaves in British ships or from British ports, and in 1833 the Emancipation Act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire.

5. When did the 'Battle of the Boyne' happen?

• 1690
• 1695
• 1693
• 1697

James II wanted to regain the throne and invaded Ireland with the help of a French army. William defeated James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690, an event which is still celebrated by some in Northern Ireland today. William re-conquered Ireland and James fled back to France.

6. Which country's flag is not part of the Union Flag?

• Wales
• England
• Scotland
• Ireland

The Welsh dragon is not part of the Union Flag.

7. Which TWO are correct about King Henry's wives?

• Two of the wives were sisters
• Three wives were called Catherine
• Two wives were called Anne
• All were British

3 of the wives were called Catherine and 2 were called Anne.

8. When was the Emancipation Act signed?

• 1833
• 1807
• 1813
• 1821

In 1807, it became illegal to trade slaves in British ships or from British ports, and in 1833 the Emancipation Act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. The Royal Navy stopped slave ships from other countries, freed the slaves and punished the slave traders.

9. Where did the Vikings come from?

• Norway and Denmark
• Spain and France
• Austria and Germany
• Norway and Sweden

The Vikings came from Denmark and Norway. They first visited Britain in AD 789 to raid coastal towns and take away goods and slaves.

10. Who led the Labour Government from 2007 to 2010?

• Gordon Brown
• Tony Blair
• Margaret Thatcher
• David Cameron

Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister in 2007 and led the Labour Party.

11. Which was the last successful invasion of Britain?

• The Norman Conquest
• The Roman invasion
• The Viking invasion
• The Anglo Saxon invasion

The Norman Conquest was the last successful foreign invasion of England and led to many changes in government and social structures in England.

12. What county is 'Maiden Castle' in?

• Dorset
• Wiltshire
• Lothians
• Berkshire

A very impressive hill fort can still be seen today at Maiden Castle, in the English county of Dorset.

13. What were James II's supporters known as?

• Jacobites
• Cavaliers
• Roundheads
• Quakers

Some continued to believe that James was the rightful king, particularly in Scotland. Some joined him in exile in France; others were secret supporters. James' supporters became known as Jacobites.

14. Who was the first man to be called the 'Prime Minister'?

• Sir Robert Walpole
• Winston Churchill
• Margaret Thatcher
• Clement Attlee

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

15. What lead the American colonies to declare their independence?

• The UK wanting to tax the colonies
• The UK wanting to stop the slave trade
• The UK not sending enough money
• The UK not providing enough health care

By the 1760s, there were substantial British colonies in North America. The colonies were wealthy and largely in control of their own affairs. Many of the colonist families had originally gone to North America in order to have religious freedom. They were well educated and interested in ideas of liberty. The British government wanted to tax the colonies.

16. Which TWO buildings were built during the Middle Ages?

• Edinburgh Castle
• Lincoln Cathedral
• New St Paul's Cathedral
• The building of Parliament

The Middle Ages also saw a change in the type of buildings in Britain. 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. Great cathedrals - for example, Lincoln Cathedral - were also built, and many of these are still used for worship.

17. When did the BBC start the first radio broadcast?

• 1922
• 1903
• 1936
• 1928

The BBC started radio broadcasts in 1922 and began the world's first regular television service in 1936.

18. Who won the Wars of the Roses?

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

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. 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.

19. Where were the first farmers that came to Britain from?

• South west Europe
• North Europe
• South east Europe
• North west Europe

The first farmers arrived in Britain about 6,000 years ago. The ancestors of these first farmers probably came from south-east Europe.

20. What did the Chartists campaign for?

• The right to vote for the working class
• The right to vote for the women
• The right to vote for the 18 year olds
• The right to vote for the 21 year olds

The Chartists demanded the vote for the working classes and other people without property.

21. During the WWII, the evacuation of more than 300,000 British and French soldiers from France gave rise to which phrase?

• The Blitz
• The Dunkirk spirit
• The British rescue
• The Great escape

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'.

22. What kind of battle was the Battle of Britain (1940)?

• Air Battle
• Sea Battle
• Border Battle
• All of these

The Germans waged an air campaign against Britain, but the British resisted with their fighter planes and eventually won the crucial aerial battle against the Germans, called 'the Battle of Britain', in the summer of 1940. The most important planes used by the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain were the Spitfire and the Hurricane - which were designed and built in Britain.

23. Where were the MacDonalds of Glencoe originally from?

• Ireland
• Scotland
• England
• Wales

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. The memory of this massacre meant some Scots distrusted the new government.

24. One of the tribal leaders who fought against the Romans was Boudicca, the queen of the Iceni. What is it known as now?

• Northern England
• Eastern England
• Western England
• Southern England

One of the tribal leaders who fought against the Romans was Boudicca, the queen of the Iceni in what is now eastern England. She is still remembered today and there is a statue of her on Westminster Bridge in London, near the Houses of Parliament.

25. For how many years did Charles I raise money without Parliament's approval?

• 10
• 11
• 12
• 15

For 11 years, Charles I found ways in which to raise money without Parliament's approval but eventually trouble in Scotland meant that he had to recall Parliament.

26. Who directed the British movie the Belles of St Trinian's in 1954?

• Frank Launder
• David Lean
• Alfred Hitchcock
• Mary Peters

The Belles of St Trinian's (1954) was directed by Frank Launder

27. What was the most important principle of the Enlightenment?

• Freedom of religion and political views
• New technological advances
• Complete democracy
• Constitutional democracy

One of the most important principles of the Enlightenment was that everyone should have the right to their own political and religious beliefs and that the state should not try to dictate to them.

28. Nick Park created the 'Wallace and Gromit' film. What kind of film was it?

• Romance film
• Adventure film
• Animated film
• Detective film

Britain continues to be particularly strong in special effects and animation. One example is the work of Nick Park, who has won four Oscars for his animated films, including three for films featuring Wallace and Gromit.

29. Which was a crucial aerial battle against the Germans?

• The Battle of Britain
• The Dunkirk spirit
• The Blitz spirit
• D-Day

The Germans waged an air campaign against Britain, but the British resisted with their fighter planes and eventually won the crucial aerial battle against the Germans, called 'the Battle of Britain'.

30. Who wrote the Canterbury Tales?

• Geoffrey Chaucer
• William Caxton
• Charles Dickens
• J K Rowling

In the years leading up to 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a series of poems in English about a group of people going to Canterbury on a pilgrimage. The people decided to tell each other stories on the journey, and the poems describe the travellers and some of the stories they told called The Canterbury Tales.

31. What did the Magna Carta do?

• Restricted King's power
• Introduced Democracy
• Introduced Christianity
• Allowed to collect taxes

The Magna Carta established the idea that even the king was subject to the law. It protected the rights of the nobility and restricted the king's power to collect taxes or to make or change laws.

32. After the Black Death, a new social class appeared, - owners of large areas of land. What were they called?

• The Clans
• The Gentry
• The Serfs
• The Tudors

New social classes appeared, including owners of large areas of land called 'the gentry', and people left the countryside to live in the towns. In the towns, growing wealth led to the development of a strong middle class.

33. Which TWO kings believed in the 'Divine Right of Kings'?

• James I
• Henry VIII
• Charles I
• William of Orange

James I and his son Charles I were less skilled politically. Both believed in the 'Divine Right of Kings': the idea that the king was directly appointed by God to rule. They thought that the king should be able to act without having to seek approval from Parliament.

34. Who took the title 'King of Ireland'?

• Charles II
• James VI
• Henry VII
• Henry VIII

Henry VII and Henry VIII had extended English control outside the Pale. Henry VIII took the title 'King of Ireland' and English laws were introduced.

35. When did the first Christian communities appear in Britain?

• 2nd and 3rd centuries
• 3rd and 4th centuries
• 4th and 5th centuries
• 1st and 2nd centuries

It was during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD that the first Christian communities began to appear in Britain.

36. Protestant ideas gradually gained strength in England, Wales and Scotland during what century?

• 14th
• 15th
• 16th
• 17th

Protestant ideas gradually gained strength in England, Wales and Scotland during the 16th century.

37. During the civil war of 1455, what colour rose was the symbol of the House of Lancaster?

• Red
• White
• Red and White
• Orange

In 1455, a civil war was begun to decide who should be king of England. It was fought between the supporters of two families: the House of Lancaster and the House of York. 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.

38. Where was Florence Nightingale born?

• Italy
• England
• France
• Scotland

Florence Nightingale was born in Italy to English parents in 1820.

39. Who invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982?

• Argentina
• Spain
• Portugal
• Columbia

In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic.

40. Who had the title 'Lord Protector'?

• Sir Francis Drake
• Admiral Nelson
• Charles II
• Oliver Cromwell

After his campaign in Ireland and victory over Charles II at Worcester, Cromwell was recognised as the leader of the new republic. He was given the title of Lord Protector and ruled until his death in 1658.

41. Who was the Prime minister and inspiration leader during the World War Two?

• Winston Churchill
• Alexander Fleming
• Clement Attlee
• R A Butler

Churchill was the son of a politician and, before becoming a Conservative MP in 1900, was a soldier and journalist. In May 1940 he became Prime Minister. He refused to surrender to the Nazis and was an inspirational leader to the British people in a time of great hardship. He lost the General Election in 1945 but returned as Prime Minister in 1951.

42. Where was Rudyard Kipling born?

• India
• France
• England
• Spain

Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865 and later lived in India, the UK and the USA. He wrote books and poems set in both India and the UK. His poems and novels reflected the idea that the British Empire was a force for good. Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.

43. Who established the Church of England?

• Henry VIII
• Henry VII
• The Pope
• St George

To divorce his first wife, Henry VIII needed the approval of the Pope. When the Pope refused, Henry established the Church of England. In this new Church, the king, not the Pope, would have the power to appoint bishops and order how people should worship.

44. When did the Wars of the Roses end with the Battle of Bosworth?

• 1485
• 1455
• 1314
• 1324

The Wars of the Roses ended with the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

45. Conditions in Ireland in the 19th century were much better than in the rest of the UK

• True
• False

Conditions in Ireland were not as good as in the rest of the UK. Two-thirds of the population still depended on farming to make their living, often on very small plots of land. Many depended on potatoes as a large part of their diet. In the middle of the century the potato crop failed, and Ireland suffered a famine. A million people died from disease and starvation.

46. Rudyard Kipling reflected the idea that the British Empire was a force for good

• True
• False

Kipling wrote books and poems set in both India and the UK. His poems and novels reflected the idea that the British Empire was a force for good. Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.

47. Which ship was one of the first to circumnavigate the world?

• HMS Victory
• Royal Yacht Britannia
• Golden Hind
• The Ship of Royals

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 right around ('circumnavigate') the world.

48. After the Emancipation Act, how many Indian and Chinese workers were employed to replace the slaves?

• 1 million
• 1.4 million
• 2 million
• 2.6 million

The Emancipation Act of 1833 abolished slavery throughout British Empire. William Wilberforce was leading abolitionist and Quakers set up first anti-slavery groups. More than 2 million migrants came from India and China to replace labour force.

49. William defeated James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690. This event is celebrated in which country?

• Northern Ireland
• England
• Scotland
• Wales

William defeated James II at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690, an event which is still celebrated by some in Northern Ireland today. William re-conquered Ireland and James fled back to France.

50. Which TWO major welfare changes were introduced between 1945 and 1950?

• The NHS
• A social security system for everyone
• Employment benefits
• State pension

In 1948, Aneurin (Nye) Bevan, the Minister for Health, led the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS). A national system of benefits was also introduced to provide 'social security', so that the population would be protected from the 'cradle to the grave'.

51. Who led the team of scientists to 'split the atom' for the first time?

• Ernest Rutherford
• Alexander Fleming
• Dylan Thomas
• Sir Ian Wilmot

Scientists led by Ernest Rutherford, working at Manchester and then Cambridge University, were the first to 'split the atom' and took part in the Manhattan Project in the United States, which developed the atomic bomb.

52. How is the Church of England often called?

• The Catholic Church
• The Anglican Church
• The Christian Church
• The New Age 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.

53. When did Ireland split into two countries?

• 1916
• 1921
• 1959
• 1922

In 1921 a peace treaty was signed and 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.

54. People living and working in towns after Black Death led to the development of what?

• Young Workforce
• Powerful Clans
• Strong Middle Class
• Slavery

Following the Black Death, the smaller population meant there was less need to grow cereal crops. There were labour shortages and peasants began to demand higher wages. New social classes appeared, including owners of large areas of land (later called the gentry), and people left the countryside to live in the towns. In the towns, growing wealth led to the development of a strong middle class.

55. Which of the following traditional heavy industries were badly affected during the great depression?

• Shipbuilding
• Aviation
• Automobile
• Railway

The effects of the depression of the 1930s were felt differently in different parts of the UK. The traditional heavy industries such as shipbuilding were badly affected but new industries - including the automobile and aviation industries - developed.

56. Mary Stuart, often now called Mary Queen of Scots was a Protestant

• True
• False

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

57. Which of these TWO lines from Shakespeare's plays and poems are often still quoted?

• The world is your oyster
• To be or not to be
• The darling buds of May
• A rose is beautiful

Lines from Shakespeare's plays and poems which are often still quoted include: Once more unto the breach (Henry V); To be or not to be (Hamlet); A rose by any other name (Romeo and Juliet); All the world's a stage (As You Like It); The darling buds of May (Sonnet 18 'Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer's Day).

58. Who was the first Danish king in England?

• Harold
• Cnut
• William
• Edward

Anglo-Saxon kings continued to rule what is now England, except for a short period when there were Danish kings. The first of these was Cnut, also called Canute.

59. Rudyard Kipling was born in South Africa

• True
• False

Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865 and later lived in India, the UK and the USA. He wrote books and poems set in both India and the UK. His poems and novels reflected the idea that the British Empire was a force for good. Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907.

60. Why is 1928 an important date for women's rights?

• Women could vote at 18, the same age as men
• Women could vote at 21, the same age as men
• Women could vote if they were over 30 years old
• None of these

Emmeline Pankhurst 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 1918, women over the age of 30 were given voting rights. Shortly before Emmeline's death in 1928, women were given the right to vote at the age of 21, the same as men.

61. Which languages were the basis of modern English?

• Norman French and Anglo Saxon
• Celtic and Anglo Saxon
• Norman French and Celtic
• Gaelic and Celtic

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.

62. Which of these countries was NOT UK's ally in the WWII?

• Japan
• Soviet Union
• Poland
• France

The war was initially fought between the Axis powers (fascist Germany and Italy and the Empire of Japan) and the Allies

63. How is the New Year often called in Scotland?

• Hogmanay
• New Year
• New Year's eve
• Second Christmas

Known in Scotland as 'The Bard', Robert Burns was a Scottish poet. His 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).

64. When did the First World War end?

• 1916
• 1917
• 1918
• 1919

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

65. Which Patron Saint day is on the 17th of March?

• St David
• St Andrew
• St George
• St Patrick

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have a national saint, called a patron saint. Each saint has a special day: 1 March: St David's Day, Wales;17 March: St Patrick's Day, Northern Ireland; 23 April: St George's Day, England; 30 November: St Andrew's Day, Scotland.

66. Robert Browning, William Blake and Lord Byron were all famous poets

• True
• False

The statement is true

67. Which religion did the Huguenots follow?

• Protestantism
• Russian Orthodox
• Buddhism
• Catholicism

Between 1680 and 1720 many refugees called Huguenots came from France. They were Protestants and had been persecuted for their religion. Many were educated and skilled and worked as scientists, in banking, or in weaving or other crafts.

68. William Orange was asked by Protestants to invade England. This event was later known as what?

• Glorious Revolution
• Magna Carta
• Industrial Revolution
• Orange Revolution

James II's elder daughter, Mary, was married to her cousin William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands. In 1688, important Protestants in England asked William to invade England and proclaim himself king. This event was later called the 'Glorious Revolution' because there was no fighting in England and because it guaranteed the power of Parliament.

69. When did the first Christian communities begin to appear in Britain?

• 2nd and 3rd centuries
• 3rd and 4th centuries
• 4th and 5th centuries
• 5th and 6th centuries

It was during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD that the first Christian communities began to appear in Britain.

70. The Union Flag is made up of Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English crosses

• True
• False

The Union Flag consists of three crosses: The cross of St George, patron saint of England, is a red cross on a white ground; The cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground; The cross of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal red cross on a white ground.

71. Who was the Queen of the Iceni? She is still remembered today and there is a statue of her on Westminster Bridge in London

• Boudicca
• Elefieta
• Elizabeth
• Mary

One of the tribal leaders who fought against the Romans was Boudicca, the Queen of the Iceni in what is now eastern England.

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

• True
• False

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