Practice and questions
Chapter 2 questions: what is the UK?
Names, places and symbols. Most of this chapter can be learned as a handful of small tables, which is exactly how we suggest you revise it.
1.What is the capital city of Wales?
- · Swansea
- · Newport
- ✓ Cardiff
- · Bangor
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales. It is the largest Welsh city and the home of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), which makes laws for Wales on many devolved matters such as health and education.
Where to check: What is the UK?
2.What is the name of the national flag of the United Kingdom?
- · The Saltire
- ✓ The Union Flag
- · The Cross of St George
- · The Red Dragon
The national flag of the UK is the Union Flag, often called the Union Jack. It combines the cross of St George for England, the cross of St Andrew for Scotland and the cross of St Patrick for Ireland.
Where to check: What is the UK?
3.Which four countries make up the United Kingdom?
- · England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland
- ✓ England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- · England, Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man
- · England, Scotland, Jersey and Northern Ireland
The United Kingdom is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The rest of the island of Ireland is the Republic of Ireland, an independent country that is not part of the UK.
Where to check: What is the UK?
4.Which country is part of the UK but NOT part of Great Britain?
- · Scotland
- · Wales
- ✓ Northern Ireland
- · England
Great Britain is the name for England, Scotland and Wales together, which share the largest island. The United Kingdom adds Northern Ireland, which lies on the island of Ireland, to form the full country.
Where to check: What is the UK?
5.What is the full official name of the country?
- · The Commonwealth of Britain
- · The British Union of Nations
- · The Kingdom of England and Ireland
- ✓ The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is usually shortened to the United Kingdom or the UK, and the word Britain is often used in everyday speech to mean the whole country.
Where to check: What is the UK?
6.What is the status of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man?
- ✓ Crown dependencies, closely linked to the UK but not part of it
- · Counties of England
- · Part of Scotland
- · Independent republics
The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies. They have their own governments and laws, but the UK is responsible for their defence and international relations. They are not part of the United Kingdom.
Where to check: What is the UK?
7.Which of these is a British overseas territory?
- · The Isle of Man
- ✓ The Falkland Islands
- · Jersey
- · The Republic of Ireland
The UK has several overseas territories around the world, including the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Bermuda. They are linked to the UK but are not part of it, and they differ from the Crown dependencies near Britain.
Where to check: What is the UK?
8.What is the capital city of Scotland?
- · Glasgow
- · Aberdeen
- ✓ Edinburgh
- · Dundee
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and the seat of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, but it has never been the capital, which is a common source of confusion.
Where to check: What is the UK?
9.What is the capital city of Northern Ireland?
- · Derry/Londonderry
- · Armagh
- · Dublin
- ✓ Belfast
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont. Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland, a separate country that is not part of the UK.
Where to check: What is the UK?
10.Why does the Union Flag not include a symbol for Wales?
- ✓ Wales was already united with England when the first Union Flag was created
- · Wales asked to be left out
- · Wales has never been part of the UK
- · The Welsh dragon was removed in 1997
The first Union Flag of 1606 combined the crosses of England and Scotland. Wales had already been united with England for many years, so it was not separately represented, and the Welsh dragon appears instead on the flag of Wales.
Where to check: What is the UK?
11.How is the cross of St George, patron saint of England, shown?
- · A white diagonal cross on a blue background
- ✓ A red cross on a white background
- · A red diagonal cross on a white background
- · A yellow cross on a green background
The flag of St George is a red upright cross on a white field. It is used as the flag of England and forms the central red cross of the Union Flag, which combines it with the crosses of St Andrew and St Patrick.
Where to check: What is the UK?
12.How is the cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, shown?
- · A red cross on a white background
- · A red diagonal cross on a white background
- ✓ A white diagonal cross on a blue background
- · A green cross on a white background
The cross of St Andrew, also called the Saltire, is a white diagonal cross on a blue background. It is the national flag of Scotland and provides the blue field and white diagonals of the Union Flag.
Where to check: What is the UK?
13.How is the cross of St Patrick shown on the Union Flag?
- · A white diagonal cross on a blue background
- · A green upright cross
- · A gold harp on blue
- ✓ A red diagonal cross on a white background
The cross of St Patrick is a red diagonal cross on a white background. It was added to the Union Flag in 1801, when Great Britain and Ireland were united, and represents Ireland in the flag.
Where to check: What is the UK?
14.What appears on the national flag of Wales?
- ✓ A red dragon on a green and white background
- · A golden lion on red
- · A white cross on blue
- · A harp on green
The flag of Wales shows a red dragon on a background of white and green. Because Wales is not represented in the Union Flag, the Welsh dragon is a strong and widely used symbol of Welsh identity.
Where to check: What is the UK?
15.In which year did the Union Flag take the form used today, with the cross of St Patrick added?
- · 1066
- · 1603
- ✓ 1801
- · 1945
The present Union Flag dates from 1801, when the Act of Union with Ireland came into force and the cross of St Patrick was added to the crosses of St George and St Andrew already used since the early 1600s.
Where to check: What is the UK?
16.Apart from English, which language is widely spoken and taught in schools in Wales?
- · Cornish
- ✓ Welsh
- · Scots
- · Manx
Welsh is an official language in Wales and is spoken by a large part of the population. It is taught in schools, and public signs and many official documents in Wales appear in both Welsh and English.
Where to check: What is the UK?
17.In which part of the UK is Scottish Gaelic mainly spoken?
- · The south-west of England
- · Cornwall
- ✓ The Highlands and Islands of Scotland
- · The Isle of Wight
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language spoken mainly in parts of the Highlands and the Western Isles of Scotland. It is recognised as an official language of Scotland and there are Gaelic-medium schools and broadcasting.
Where to check: What is the UK?
18.Which is the longest river in the United Kingdom?
- · The River Thames
- · The River Trent
- · The River Tay
- ✓ The River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in the UK. It rises in the Welsh mountains and flows through Wales and England into the Bristol Channel. The River Thames, which runs through London, is the second longest.
Where to check: What is the UK?
19.Which is the highest mountain in the United Kingdom?
- ✓ Ben Nevis
- · Scafell Pike
- · Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
- · Slieve Donard
Ben Nevis, near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, is the highest mountain in the UK at about 1,345 metres. It attracts large numbers of walkers and climbers every year.
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20.What is the highest mountain in Wales?
- · Ben Nevis
- ✓ Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
- · Pen y Fan
- · Cadair Idris
Yr Wyddfa, also known in English as Snowdon, is the highest mountain in Wales. It stands in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in north-west Wales and can be reached on foot or by a mountain railway.
Where to check: What is the UK?
21.Which is the highest mountain in England?
- · Ben Nevis
- · Helvellyn
- ✓ Scafell Pike
- · Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
Scafell Pike, in the Lake District in Cumbria, is the highest mountain in England at about 978 metres. Ben Nevis in Scotland and Yr Wyddfa in Wales are the highest peaks in their own countries.
Where to check: What is the UK?
22.Which is the largest lake in the United Kingdom by surface area?
- · Loch Ness
- · Windermere
- · Loch Lomond
- ✓ Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland is the largest lake in the UK by surface area. Loch Ness in Scotland is famous for its depth and legends, and Windermere is the largest natural lake in England.
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23.In which part of England is the Lake District national park?
- ✓ The north-west (Cumbria)
- · The south-east (Kent)
- · The south-west (Cornwall)
- · The east (Norfolk)
The Lake District is in Cumbria, in the north-west of England. Known for its lakes, mountains and literary history, it is a World Heritage Site and one of the most visited national parks in the UK.
Where to check: What is the UK?
24.Where is the Giant's Causeway, a coastline of thousands of basalt columns?
- · Wales
- ✓ Northern Ireland
- · Cornwall
- · The Isle of Man
The Giant's Causeway lies on the north coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its thousands of interlocking basalt columns were formed by ancient volcanic activity, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where to check: What is the UK?
25.In which English county is Stonehenge, the prehistoric stone circle?
- · Yorkshire
- · Kent
- ✓ Wiltshire
- · Cumbria
Stonehenge stands on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, in the south of England. It was built in stages during the Stone Age and Bronze Age and is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world.
Where to check: What is the UK?
26.The Eden Project, with its giant greenhouses holding plants from around the world, is in which county?
- · Devon
- · Essex
- · Lancashire
- ✓ Cornwall
The Eden Project is near St Austell in Cornwall, in the far south-west of England. Its large domes, called biomes, house plants from rainforest and Mediterranean climates and it is a popular educational attraction.
Where to check: What is the UK?
27.What is 'Big Ben'?
- ✓ The great bell of the clock at the Palace of Westminster
- · The tallest building in London
- · A bridge over the Thames
- · The Prime Minister's office
Big Ben is the nickname of the great bell in the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, where Parliament sits. The tower itself was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012, but many people still call the whole structure Big Ben.
Where to check: What is the UK?
28.Where in London are the Crown Jewels kept?
- · Buckingham Palace
- ✓ The Tower of London
- · St Paul's Cathedral
- · The British Museum
The Crown Jewels are displayed at the Tower of London, a fortress beside the Thames begun by William the Conqueror. Over the centuries the Tower has been a royal palace, a prison and a place of execution.
Where to check: What is the UK?
29.Which is the largest national park in the United Kingdom?
- · The Peak District
- · Dartmoor
- ✓ The Cairngorms
- · The New Forest
The Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands is the largest national park in the UK. It includes mountains, forests and rivers and is home to rare wildlife such as the capercaillie and the red squirrel.
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30.What is the currency of the United Kingdom?
- · The euro
- · The crown
- · The shilling
- ✓ The pound sterling
The currency of the UK is the pound sterling, divided into 100 pence. Shillings were used before decimal currency was introduced in 1971, and the euro is used in many European Union countries but not in the UK.
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31.Banks in which parts of the UK issue their own banknotes?
- ✓ Scotland and Northern Ireland
- · Wales and Cornwall
- · England only
- · The Isle of Wight and Kent
Several banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland issue their own banknotes in pounds. These notes can be used throughout the UK, although shops elsewhere are not obliged to accept them. In England and Wales, notes come from the Bank of England.
Where to check: What is the UK?
32.Which of these is NOT a coin in everyday use in the UK?
- · 20p
- ✓ 25p
- · 50p
- · £2
UK coins in everyday use are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2. There is no 25p coin in general circulation, although special 25p crowns have occasionally been minted to mark royal events.
Where to check: What is the UK?
33.Which flower is the national emblem of Scotland?
- · The rose
- · The daffodil
- ✓ The thistle
- · The shamrock
The thistle is the national flower of Scotland. Legend says that a barefoot invader stepped on a thistle and cried out, warning the Scots of an attack. It appears on many Scottish badges and coats of arms.
Where to check: What is the UK?
34.Which flower is the national emblem of Wales?
- · The thistle
- · The rose
- · The shamrock
- ✓ The daffodil
The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, and the leek is also a traditional Welsh emblem. Many people in Wales wear a daffodil or a leek on 1 March to celebrate St David's Day.
Where to check: What is the UK?
35.Which plant is the traditional emblem of Northern Ireland and of Ireland as a whole?
- ✓ The shamrock
- · The thistle
- · The daffodil
- · The tulip
The shamrock, a small three-leaved clover, is the traditional emblem of Ireland. According to tradition, St Patrick used it to explain the Christian Trinity, and it is widely worn on St Patrick's Day.
Where to check: What is the UK?
36.Which flower is the national emblem of England?
- · The thistle
- ✓ The rose
- · The shamrock
- · The daffodil
The rose is the national flower of England. It dates back to the Wars of the Roses, after which the Tudor rose combined the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York into a single royal badge.
Where to check: What is the UK?
37.Which country is linked to England by the Channel Tunnel?
- · Belgium
- · The Netherlands
- ✓ France
- · The Republic of Ireland
The Channel Tunnel runs under the English Channel between Kent in England and the Pas-de-Calais in France. It opened in 1994 and carries passenger trains and vehicle shuttles between the two countries.
Where to check: What is the UK?
38.Which sea lies between Great Britain and the island of Ireland?
- · The North Sea
- · The Baltic Sea
- · The Celtic Lake
- ✓ The Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates Great Britain from the island of Ireland. Ferry routes cross it between ports such as Holyhead, Liverpool and Cairnryan on one side and Dublin and Belfast on the other.
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39.With which country does the UK share a land border?
- ✓ The Republic of Ireland
- · France
- · Norway
- · Iceland
The only land border of the United Kingdom is between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, on the island of Ireland. The UK is otherwise surrounded by sea, with France reached by tunnel or ferry.
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40.The Orkney and Shetland islands are part of which country of the UK?
- · England
- ✓ Scotland
- · Northern Ireland
- · Wales
Orkney and Shetland are groups of islands off the far north coast of mainland Scotland and are part of Scotland. They have a strong Norse heritage, having been ruled by Norway until the fifteenth century.
Where to check: What is the UK?
41.What is the capital city of the United Kingdom?
- ✓ London
- · Edinburgh
- · Cardiff
- · Belfast
London is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England. Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are the capital cities of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Where to check: What is the UK?
42.Which of these is a Crown dependency rather than part of the United Kingdom?
- · Anglesey
- ✓ The Isle of Man
- · The Isle of Wight
- · The Isle of Skye
The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are Crown dependencies: they have their own governments and are not part of the UK, although the UK is responsible for their defence and international relations.
Where to check: What is the UK?
43.Is this statement TRUE or FALSE? Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales.
- ✓ True
- · False
True. Great Britain is the name for England, Scotland and Wales together. The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland, which is why its full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Where to check: What is the UK?
44.Which Parliament makes laws for the whole of the United Kingdom?
- · The Scottish Parliament
- · The Northern Ireland Assembly
- ✓ The Parliament at Westminster
- · The Welsh Parliament
The UK Parliament, which meets at Westminster in London, makes laws for the whole UK. Some powers have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Where to check: What is the UK?
45.What is the status of Gibraltar?
- · A Crown dependency
- · Part of England
- · A county of Wales
- ✓ A British overseas territory
Gibraltar, at the southern tip of Spain, is one of the British overseas territories. Its status differs from that of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, which are Crown dependencies.
Where to check: What is the UK?
46.What stretch of water separates Great Britain from France?
- ✓ The English Channel
- · The Irish Sea
- · The North Sea
- · The Bristol Channel
The English Channel lies between the south coast of England and the north of France. At its narrowest, the Strait of Dover, the two coasts are close enough to see each other on a clear day.
Where to check: What is the UK?
47.Who is the head of state of the United Kingdom?
- · The Prime Minister
- ✓ The monarch
- · The Speaker of the House of Commons
- · The Lord Chancellor
The UK is a constitutional monarchy: the monarch is head of state, while the government is led by the Prime Minister, who answers to Parliament.
Where to check: What is the UK?
48.Which of these places is part of the United Kingdom?
- · The Republic of Ireland
- · Jersey
- ✓ Northern Ireland
- · The Isle of Man
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the UK. The Republic of Ireland is an independent state, and Jersey and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies outside the UK.
Where to check: What is the UK?
49.Which country of the UK has the largest population?
- · Scotland
- · Wales
- · Northern Ireland
- ✓ England
England is by far the most populous of the four nations, with most of the UK's people. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have much smaller populations.
Where to check: What is the UK?
50.Who is the patron saint of Ireland, whose cross appears on the Union Flag?
- ✓ St Patrick
- · St David
- · St Andrew
- · St George
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. His cross, a red diagonal cross on a white background, was added to the Union Flag in 1801.
Where to check: What is the UK?
51.On which island is Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland?
- · Great Britain
- ✓ The island of Ireland
- · Anglesey
- · The Isle of Man
Northern Ireland is on the island of Ireland, which it shares with the Republic of Ireland. Belfast is its capital and largest city.
Where to check: What is the UK?
52.Which of these cities is in Scotland?
- · Swansea
- · Newcastle
- ✓ Glasgow
- · Derry
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. Swansea is in Wales, Newcastle upon Tyne in the north-east of England, and Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland.
Where to check: What is the UK?
53.Which of these cities is in Wales?
- · Aberdeen
- · Leeds
- · Armagh
- ✓ Swansea
Swansea, on the south coast, is one of the main cities of Wales along with Cardiff, the capital, and Newport. Aberdeen is in Scotland, Leeds in England and Armagh in Northern Ireland.
Where to check: What is the UK?
54.Which of these is a city in Northern Ireland?
- ✓ Armagh
- · Inverness
- · Bangor in Wales
- · Plymouth
Armagh is a city in Northern Ireland, along with Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Lisburn and Newry. Inverness is in the Highlands of Scotland and Plymouth in the south-west of England.
Where to check: What is the UK?
55.Which of the four countries of the UK is the largest by area?
- · Scotland
- ✓ England
- · Wales
- · Northern Ireland
England is the largest of the four countries by area as well as by population. Scotland comes second in area, with large mountainous and island regions in the north and west.
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56.What are the people of the UK who are citizens usually called?
- · Unionists
- · Anglo-Saxons
- ✓ British
- · Commonwealth citizens
Citizens of the United Kingdom are British citizens, whichever of the four nations they live in. People may also describe themselves as English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish.
Where to check: What is the UK?
57.Which of these islands is part of Scotland?
- · The Isle of Wight
- · Anglesey
- · Lundy
- ✓ The Isle of Skye
Skye is one of the islands of the Scottish Hebrides. The Isle of Wight and Lundy belong to England, and Anglesey is an island county of north Wales.
Where to check: What is the UK?
58.Which ocean lies to the west of the United Kingdom?
- ✓ The Atlantic Ocean
- · The Indian Ocean
- · The Pacific Ocean
- · The Arctic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west of the British Isles. The North Sea lies to the east, between Great Britain and mainland Europe.
Where to check: What is the UK?
59.Which of these is a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic?
- · Jersey
- ✓ The Falkland Islands
- · Orkney
- · The Scilly Isles
The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic. Orkney is part of Scotland and the Scilly Isles part of England, while Jersey is a Crown dependency.
Where to check: What is the UK?
60.Which is the largest city in Wales and its capital?
- · Swansea
- · Newport
- ✓ Cardiff
- · Wrexham
Cardiff is both the capital and the largest city of Wales. It is home to the Welsh Parliament, which meets in the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay.
Where to check: What is the UK?
What is the UK?
60
questions in this chapter, 300 in the whole bank
Open a question to see the four options, the right answer and the fact behind it.
Chapter 2 of the handbook, What is the UK?, describes the country as a unit: the four nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies and the British overseas territories, the capitals, the Union Flag and the crosses it combines, the national emblems, and a selection of places and landmarks. Our bank has 60 questions on it, 20% of our 300, so a 24-question mock in our engine draws about 5 from it. The chapter rewards neat organisation more than memory: almost every question asks you to place a name in the right box (which nation, which status, which emblem). The usual losses come from three confusions that we treat one by one below: Great Britain against the UK, a Crown dependency against an overseas territory, and the crosses of the patron saints on the flag.
How much of a mock comes from one chapter?
Questions in this chapter
60
| Share of our bank | 20% |
| Expected in a 24-question mock | about 5 |
| Whole bank | 300 |
Our mocks draw from each chapter in proportion to our bank. The official spread by chapter is not published.
Questions, dates and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
Four small tables that cover most of the chapter
Rather than reading chapter 2 as prose, sort its facts into short grids. Every row below comes from a question in our bank.
| Nation | Capital | Patron saint and day | Emblem |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | London | St George, 23 April | rose |
| Scotland | Edinburgh | St Andrew, 30 November | thistle |
| Wales | Cardiff | St David, 1 March | daffodil (and leek) |
| Northern Ireland | Belfast | St Patrick, 17 March | shamrock |
| Status | Examples in our bank | Part of the UK? |
|---|---|---|
| Country of the UK | England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland | yes |
| Crown dependency | Isle of Man, Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey) | no |
| British overseas territory | Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Bermuda | no |
| Independent state | Republic of Ireland | no |
| Cross | Saint | Looks like |
|---|---|---|
| St George | England | red upright cross on white |
| St Andrew (the Saltire) | Scotland | white diagonal cross on blue |
| St Patrick | Ireland | red diagonal cross on white, added in 1801 |
The fourth grid is yours to fill in: highest points and waters. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the UK, Scafell Pike in England, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Wales; the Severn is the longest river and Lough Neagh the largest lake by area. Write it out once by hand and the questions on it become free points.
How chapter 2 questions are built
Most give a name and ask for its box: "The Orkney and Shetland islands are part of which country of the UK?" (Scotland), or "Banks in which parts of the UK issue their own banknotes?" (Scotland and Northern Ireland). Others reverse it and give a box, asking for the name that fits. A few are true or false, such as whether Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales. The wrong options nearly always belong to the same category, so an Irish city is offered against a Scottish one, never against a river.
Three confusions that cost points
Great Britain or the UK. Whenever a question names Great Britain, check whether Northern Ireland is meant to be in or out. It is out.
Dependency or territory. Crown dependencies are the islands close to Britain (Channel Islands, Isle of Man). Overseas territories are far away (Falklands in the South Atlantic, Gibraltar at the tip of Spain). Neither is part of the UK. Our bank deliberately offers Orkney and the Scilly Isles as distractors because they are part of Scotland and England respectively.
Largest or capital. Glasgow is Scotland's largest city but Edinburgh is the capital. Cardiff is both the capital and the largest city of Wales. Expect options that play on the difference.
Revising it in two short sessions
Session one: copy the four tables above from memory, check them against the bank with answers open, correct, and repeat until clean. Session two, a day later: two practice sets filtered on chapter 2, then the bank with answers hidden. With 60 questions it is the chapter where a full score in practice is most within reach, and points secured here give you room for the history chapter, where most candidates lose them.
Where these facts come from
Every question checks a fact stated in the handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, rewritten by Radif Partners; the handbook's own text is not reproduced. gov.uk states that the test covers only the handbook's information: see the Life in the UK Test page on gov.uk.