CO NTENTS

Test 1. The la n d ............................................................. 4

Test 2. History............................................................... 6

Test 3. People and Lifestyles......................................... 9

Test 4. London............................................................... 11

Test 5. England............................................................. 13

Test 6. W ales................................................................. 16

Test 7. Scotland............................................................. 18

Test 8. Northern Irela n d ............................................... 21

Test 9. Religion.............................................................. 24

Test 10. Sports and Recreation..................................... 26

Test 11. A rts .................................................................. 28

Test 12. M edia................. ............................................. 31

Test 13. Holidays......................................................... 34

Test 14. Economy........................................................... 36

Test 15. Political system................................................ 39

Test 16. Education......................................................... 41

Test 17. Food and drink................................................. 43

Test 18. The Royal fam ily.............................................. 46

Test 19. Britain in the w orld ......................................... 49

Do you know Great Britain? Test yourself.................... 51

K e y s ............................................................................... 55
References..................................................................... 62
 Interesting fact. Albion is the archaic name for Great Britain.
It is often used poetically. Occasionally it instead refers to only
Scotland, whose name in Gaelic is Alba.
The place name Albion is old and there is controversy regard­
ing its etymology. The name is perhaps of Celtic origin, from the
Proto-Indo-European root that denotes both “white” and “moun­
tain”, but the Romans took it as connected with albus (white), in
reference to the chalk ‘White Cliffs of Dover”.
As a literary figure, Albion is the name of a character in the
poetry of William Blake.

TEST 1
THE LA N D

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. Britain has several active volcanoes (True/False)

2. London gets much more rain in a year than other /т? i \

European cities ^ '

3 . Britain and Ireland have more grassland than any /Т /т? i \

other European country rUe a

4 . The word “smog” is made of “smoke” and “fog” (True/False)

5. Much of the land in Britain is used for human ^ it? \ \

habitation ' '

II. Find the right answer

1. The climate of Britain is___________.
a) mild and damp
b) cold and wet
c) dry and hot

2. The U K is separated from Ireland by

a) the Irish sea
b) the English Channel
c) the North sea
 Test 1. The land 5

3. Pas de Calais is the French name fo r ___________.

a) the English Channel
b) the Strait of Dover
c) the Irish sea

4. Mountainous areas are found o n ly___________of Britain.

a) in the south
b) in the north and west
c) in the south and southeast

5. On the British Isles there a r e ___________states.

a) two
b) three
c) four

6. Britain’s most important port after London i s __________

a) Bristol
b) Dover
c) Glasgow

7. In the northwest the British Isles are washed b y _______

a) the Atlantic Ocean
b) the English Channel
c) the North sea

8. The British landscape i s ___________.

a) mostly low-lying
b) immensely varied
c) mostly rocky and mountainous

9. Britain’s second largest city i s ___________.

a) Cardiff
b) Birmingham
c) Manchester

10. Scafell Pike (3.210 feet) is the highest point i n _________

a) England
b) Scotland
c) Wales
 Interesting facts. For about a thousand years after the Romans
left the British Isles nearly all books in Britain were written in
Latin.
The Saxons divided the land into new administrative areas,
based on shires, or counties. These shires, established by the
end of the tenth century, remained almost exactly the same for a
thousand years. “Shire” is the Saxon word, “county” the Norman
one, but both are still used. Over each shire was appointed a shire
reeve, the king's local administrator. In time his name became
shortened to "sheriff”
The words “lord” and 'lady ” are also of Anglo-Saxon origin.
Each Anglo-Saxon village had its lord. The word 'lord ” means
'lo a f w a rd ” or 'bread keeper”, while 'la d y ” means 'lo a f
kneader”or 'bread m aker”, a reminder that the basis of Saxon
society was farming. The duty of the village head, or lord, was to
protect the farm and its produce.

TEST 2
HISTORY
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. The Romans brought the skills of reading and

(True/False)
writing to Britain
2 . The Anglo-Saxon migrations gave the larger part
(True/False)
of Britain its name, England
3. Richard the Lionheart, one of England’s most
popular kings, had spent no more than four or five (True/False)
years in the country of which he was king
4. By the end of the 19th century Britain controlled
the oceans and much of the land areas of the (True/False)
world
5. Britain got the 1st prize in the first Eurovision Song
(True/False)
Contest held in Switzerland in 1956

II. Find the right answer

1. The most famous prehistoric monument in Britain situated
on Salisbury Plain i s ___________.
a) Mayburgh Henge
b) Stonehenge
c) Knowlton Henge
 Test 2. History 7

2. The Romans first came to Britain i n ___________.

a) 55 BC
b) 43 AD
c) 66 AD

3. The Romans ruled Britain fo r ___________.

a) 367 years
b) 467 years
c) 567 years

4. After the Norman Conquest in 1066___________became the

official language in England.
a) Latin
b) Norman
c) French

5. The document signed in 1215 by King John of England at

Runnymede was known a s ___________.
a) The Great Charter
b) The Great Convention
c) The Great Agreement

6. The first real parliament was brought together b y ______

____ in 1275.
a) King John
b) Henry III
c) Edward I

7. The only British republic, established by Oliver Cromwell

in 1649, lasted u n til___________.
a) 1659
b) 1660
c) 1666

8. The struggle between the noble family of Lancaster and

the noble family of York was named by the novelist Walter
Scott___________.
a) the Wars of the Roses
b) the Hundred Years War
c) the Napoleonic wars
9. The British and the Prussian army under the command
o f ___________finally defeated Napoleon and the French at
Waterloo in 1815.
a) Admiral Horatio Nelson
b) Duke of Wellington
c) King George III

10. The English military commander who led the British army
to victory at El Alamein in 1942 w a s ___________.
a) F. M. Montgomery
b) D. D. Eisenhower
c) W. Churchill
 “THE WEATHER... this is the most important topic in the land.
Do not be misled by memories of your youth when, on the Con­
tinent, wanting to describe someone as exceptionally dull, you
remarked: (He is the type who would discuss the weather with
you. ’ In England this is an ever-interesting, even thrilling topic,
and you must be good at discussing the weather. ”
George Mikes “How to be an Alien"

When I think of the English,

think of ‘...long shadows on county cricket grounds, warm
beer, invincible green suburbs, dog lovers and old maids bicycling
through the morning mist\
John Major (Ex Prime Minister)

TEST 3
PEOPLE A N D LIFESTYLES
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer
1. Many English people see themselves as either (r? /т? i \
“northerners” or “southerners” rue a S6'
2. Geordies come from Manchester (True/False)
3. A true Cockney is anybody born in the East End „р /тг i \
of London
4. Non-white British population comes mostly from /т? i \
the Caribbean and South Asia *1me/r alS6'
5. Conventional church services in Britain are typi- ^ /т? i ^
cally quiet

II. Find the right answer

1. Most British people (about 75 %) liv e ___________.
a) in towns and cities
b) in the countryside
c) by the sea

2. Everyday habits, attitudes and values among the people

of the four nations (English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh) are

a) very similar
b) absolutely different
c) too changeable and individualistic
10 Test 3. People and Lifestyles

3. In its cities, Britain is a society.

a) homogeneous
b) multicultural
c) pro-Christian
4. In non-metric system of weights and measures 0,58 litres
are equal t o ___________.
a) one inch
b) one ounce
c) one pint
5. One of the most popular hobbies in Britain i s ___________.
a) playing soccer
b) gardening
c) collecting stamps
6. The B ritish___________show hostility to people from other
countries.
a) will hardly
b) always
c) would like to
7. Everyday personal contacts are usually made i n ________ .
a) cinemas
b) theatres
c) pubs
8. culture traditionally dominates the cultures of
the other three nations of the British Isles.
a) Welsh
b) English
c) Scottish
9. The British are about anything which is a sign
of Britishness.
a) very innovative
b) stubbornly conservative
c) indifferent
10. N e a r ly ___________ of the households in Britain keep at
least one domestic pet.
a) 10%
b) 25%
c) 50%
 Interesting facts. The Great Fire of London began at approxi­
mately 1:00 a. m. on a Sunday morning on Pudding Lane in the
home of Thomas Farynor, the Kings Baker. It burned out of con­
trol for five days and destroyed an area of one and a half miles
by a half mile. Flames swept through more than 400 streets and
lanes. In all, 13,200 houses, 87 churches, and 52 Company halls
were destroyed. Remarkably, only 8 people died in the Great fire
of London.
Madame Tussaud, the founder of the famous wax museum
in London, began her career making wax figures at the court of
Louis X V I in France and after the outbreak of the French Revolu­
tion made death masks of victims of the guillotine, some of which
are still on display, with the guillotine blade used in the actual
execution.

TEST 4
LONDON
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer
1. London is situated on the banks of the river
(True/False)
Avon
2. London was the first city in the world to have an /т» /-p i \
underground railway, known as the ‘Tube’
3. London is the seat of central government in n > ue/paise\
Britain
4. Big Ben is the clock tower of the Houses of Parlia- (TrUe/False)
ment in Westminster
5. The Tower of London was once the residence of the
(True/False)
king and queen of England

II. Find the right answer

1. London is in th e ___________of England.
a) southeast
b) southwest
c) northeast

2. The name London most probably derives from .

a) the Celtic Llyn and Dun
b) the Latin Londinium
c) the Anglo-Saxon Loandan
12 Test 4. London

3. During the Roman occupation London w a s___________.

a) an important political centre
b) the major port of the island province
c) Europe’s major religious centre
4. The Great Fire of London started___________.
a) September 2, 1466
b) September 2, 1566
c) September 2, 1666

5. Trafalgar Square was laid out in 1829-41 by Sir Charles

Barry and commemorates___________.
a) the naval battle of 1805 near Spain
b) the battle of Waterloo of 1815
c) the battle of Hastings of 1066
6. St. Paul’s Cathedral was constructed to designs o f ______ .
a) Sir Christopher Wren
b) Sir Charles Barry
c) John Nash

7. The Tower of London is guarded by the Yeomen Warders,

popularly called___________.
a) Beefeaters
b) Porkeaters
c) Hameaters

8. No. 11 Downing Street is the official home o f ___________.

a) the British Chancellor of Exchequer
b) the British Prime Minister
c) the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
9. In the centre of Piccadilly Circus is Shaftsbury Memorial

a) with the statue of Eros

b) with the statue of Peter Pen
c) with the winged figure of Victory
10. Harrods in Knightsbridge i s ___________in London.
a) the most expensive department store
b) the most expensive hotel
c) the most expensive restaurant
 Interesting facts. The Anglo-Saxon invasion gave the larger part
of Britain its name, England, (<the land of the Angles”. The Angles
were one of the three Germanic tribes that arrived to the British
Isles in the 5th century AD. They got their name from their land
of origin, Engle, and their language was called Englisc — which
is the word from which English has been derived.
English is a Germanic language which belongs to the Indo-Euro­
pean family and is the second most spoken language in the world.
The estimates reveal that there are about 300 million people
who are native speakers, and another 300 million who use it as
a second language, plus, another 100 million who use English as
a foreign language.
English is the language in which half of all business deals in
the world are conducted. It is the English language which is used
to write two-thirds of all scientific papers. More than 70 percent
of all postal mail is addressed and written in English. And, of
course, English is by far the most widely used language in the
epochal global communication system that has evolved in the 20th
century — the Internet.

TEST 5
ENGLAND
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer
1. In England, the Department of Education and Sci­
(True/False)
ence is responsible for all levels of education
2. Received Pronounciation (RP) denotes the speech
of educated people living in London and the south­ (True/False)
east of England
3. There are 5 standard geographic regions of Eng­
(True/False)
land
4. Until the 18thcentury the economy of England was
(True/False)
mainly agricultural
5. In its literature England has attained its most
(True/False)
influential cultural expression

II. Find the right answer

1. The patron saint of England is .
a) St. Patrick
b) St. George
c) St. David
14 Test 5. England

2. In the fifth century the territory of England was settled by

a) the Angles
b) the Normans
c) the Celts

3. The West Midlands is the surrounding area o f _________

a) London
b) Birmingham
c) Leeds

4. Woods cover_______ , of England.

a) only 7 %
b) over 40 %
c) almost all the territory

5. The flower symbolizing England i s ___________.

a) thistle
b) daffodil
c) rose

6. A flat area to the northeast of London is called________

a) The Midlands
b) East Anglia
c) The Highlands

7. Land’s End is the extrem e___________point of England.

a) southwest
b) northeast
c) northwest

8. The Pennine mountains (The Pennines) s p lit________

England into two parts.
a) northern
b) southern
c) eastern
 Test 5. England 15

9. The region o f__________ comprises the counties of Cheshire

and Lancashire, as well as Merseyside (including Liverpool).
a) North East
b) N orthW est
c) South West

10. The North of England extends to the Scottish border and

takes in the counties of Northumberland, Cumbria, North
Yorkshire, Cleveland a n d ___________.
a) West Yorkshire
b) Rochdale
c) Durham
 Interesting facts» Modern Welsh is a descendant of Celtic, one
branch of the Indo-European family of languages. The Welsh had
emerged as a distinct tongue by the second half of the sixth century.
It is therefore by far the oldest language spoken in Britain today
and is among the oldest in Europe with its origins dating from
at least 2,500 (maybe 4,000) years ago.
In Wales, there are more sheep than people. The population of
Wales is 2,921,000 with approximately 5,000,000 sheep.
The longest place name in Britain is 58 letters long and be­
longs to the Welsh village known as Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgo-
gerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which translates
as (The church of St Mary in a hollow of white hazel near a rapid
whirlpool and near St Tysilios church by the red cave\

TEST 6
W A LE S
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. Most people of Wales live in the south-east of the

(True/False)
country

2 . Snowdonia is the largest National Park in Brit­

(True/False)
ain

3. A part of Wales is mountainous (True/False)

4. Most people in Wales speak Welsh, not English (True/False)

5. The Welsh language receives a lot of public sup­

(True/False)
port

II. Find the right answer

1. I n ___________the Statute of Wales puts the whole country
under the control of the English monarch.
a) 1284
b) 1536
c) 1900

2. Snowdon i s ___________in England and Wales.

a) the highest mountain
b) the deepest lake
c) the largest city
 Test 6. Wales 17

3. Cardiff, the capital of W ales,___________.

a) is a large city
b) has a population of about a quarter of a million
c) is the second largest city in Wales after Swansea

4. National festivals of Welsh song and poetry in the form of

competitions date back t o ___________.
a) the 19th century
b) the medieval period
c) the end of the 20th century

5. The Church of W a les___________.

a) is the equivalent of the Church of Scotland
b) is a part of the Anglican Church
c) does not exist

6. Identifying symbols of Wales a re:___________.

a) rose, St. George’s Cross and the white colour
b) thistle, St. Andrew’s Cross and the blue colour
c) daffodil, the Dragon of Cadwallader and the red colour

7. In 1292 Wales was invaded b y ___________.

a) Edward I
b) William the Conqueror
c) Richard the Lionheart

8. In W ales___________is more popular than football.

a) tennis
b) rugby
c) basketball

9. Road signs and official documents in Wales are a ll _____ .

a) in English
b) in Welsh
c) bilingual

10. The Welsh are famous for exporting___________to other

parts of Britain and beyond.
a) teachers
b) football players
c) engineers
 Interesting facts. Scotland has some 790 islands — 130 in­
habited.
Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, like Rome, was built
on seven hills.
Edinburgh was the first city in the world which had its own
fire-brigade.
Loch Ness in Scotland is probably the most famous lake in
the world. It is the most voluminous freshwater lake in the UK.
The volume of water contained in the Loch which is estimated to
be 263,000 million cubic feet. It means it contains more fresh water
than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.
Loch Ness is famed throughout the world for its Loch Ness
monster, more often called Nessie. There have been numerous
monster sightings over many years and the usual description is
of a small head at the end of a long neck, with a broad body with
humps.
The oldest sighting on record dates back to AD 565 when the
Irish saint, St Columba was said to have seen a large monster in
the river Ness which links the loch to the sea.

TEST 7
SCOTLAND
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. The Scots have a reputation for being careful /p i \

with money ' '
2 . Scottish banknotes are illegal in England (True/False)
3. The prefix O’ in surnames is distinctly Scottish (True/False)

4. A very well-known symbol of Scottishness is the (True/False)

5. Scotland has its own legal system, separate from п? л \

the rest of the U K ( 1rue/* alse)

II. Find the right answer

1. The northern part of Scotland used to belong t o ___________.
but sailed away and collided with Britain.
a) Canada
b) Alaska
c) Iceland
 Test 7. Scotland 19

2. The flower symbolizing Scotland i s ___________.

a) daffodil
b) thistle
c) rose

3. Many of the members of the SNP (Scottish National Party)

fight fo r ___________.
a) the independence from the U K
b) the abolition of taxes
c) the return of former British colonies

4. Scotland’s two major cities a r e ___________.

a) Edinburgh and Belfast
b) Glasgow and Manchester
c) Glasgow and Edinburgh

5. People consider___________to be a distinctly Scottish musi­

cal instrument.
a) the harp
b) the violin
c) the bagpipes

6. The Patron Saint of Scotland i s ___________.

a) St. Andrew
b) St. George
c) St. Patrick

7. The colour of Scotland i s ___________.

a) blue
b) red
c) white

8. A t the exams set by the Scottish Examinations Board grades

are awarded in ___________.
a) numbers (1 = the best)
b) letters (A = the best)
c) symbols (n = the best)
20 Test 7. Scotland

9. The Church of Scotland___________.

a) is a part of the Anglican Church
b) has the same organization as the Anglican Church
c) has a separate o rga n iza tion from the A n glican
Church

10. “The kirk” is the Scots word f o r ___________.

a) church
b) football
c) parliament
 Interesting facts. The national flower of Northern Ireland is the
shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover. An Irish tale
tells St Patrick found that the pagan Irish had great difficulty
comprehending the doctrine of the Trinity. He held up a shamrock
to show how the three leaves combined to make a single plant, just
as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost combined to make the Holy
Trinity. The Irish understood at once, and since then the shamrock
has been the symbol of the land.
The Vikings founded Dublin in 988, the year Prince Vladimir
introduced Christianity in Russia.
Dublin was originally called “Dubh Linn”, which means
“Black Pool”. The name refers to an ancient treacle lake in the
city, which is now part of a penguin enclosure at the Dublin City
Zoo.
An odd Irish birthday tradition is to lift the birthday child
upside down and give his head a few gentle bumps on the floor
for good luck. The number of bumps should allegedly correspond
to the child's age plus one.

TEST 8
NORTHERN IRELAND
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. In 432 AD St. Patrick converted Ireland into

(True/False)
Christianity

2. During the 19th century the British culture came

(True/False)
to predominate in Ireland

3. Northern Ireland is mostly agricultural (True/False)

4. Belfast is a small Irish town (True/False)

5. The harp is an emblem of both Wales and Ire­

(True/False)
land

II. Find the right answer

1. The longest river in Ireland i s ___________.
a) Liffey
b) Shannon
c) Lagan
22 Test 8. Northern Ireland

2. The flag of Ireland i s ___________.

a) Lion rampant
b) St. Patrick’s Cross
c) Dragon of Cadwallader

3. The Irish society is divided i n t o ___________ segregated

communities.
a) two
b) three
c) four

4. Eire i s ___________.
a) another name of the Republic of Ireland
b) a city in Ireland
c) a typical Irish surname

5. The colour of Ireland i s ___________.

a) red
b) white
c) green

6. Ulster i s ___________.
a) the name of one of four ancient kingdoms of Ireland
b) the Catholic part of Ireland
c) a part of Highlands

7. Irish climate i s ___________.

a) dry and hot
b) temperate and maritime
c) cold and severe

8. The Irish Free State emerged i n ___________.

a) 1922
b) 1940
c) 1990
 Test 8. Northern Ireland 23

9. Violent conflicts between the Catholic and the Protestant

groups began i n ___________.
a) the 1960s
b) the 1930s
c) the 1980s

10. The Ulster Museum is situated i n ___________.

a) Dublin
b) Cardiff
c) Belfast
 Interesting facts. The 2001 Census counted over 170 religions
in the United Kingdom.
72 % of the British public say they are Christian, but only
50 % believe in God.
Between 1979 and 2005, half of all Christians in Britain
stopped going to church on Sunday.

TEST 9
RELIGION
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. The official name of English church is the Church

(True/False)
of England
2. Britain is a multifaith society in which everyone
(True/False)
has the right to religious freedom
3. In Wales there is no established church at all (True/False)
4. Heirs to the British throne are not allowed to
(True/False)
marry anyone who is not Protestant
5. Priests of the Church of England are not allowed
(True/False)
to marry

II. Find the right answer

1. Christianity was introduced to Britain bv
a) the Celts
b) the Normans
c) the Romans

2. The head of the Church of England i s ___________.

a) the Queen
b) the Archbishop of Canterbury
c) the Prime Minister

3. The Kings and Queens of England are crowned by the

Archbishop of Canterbury i n ___________.
a) St. Paul’s Cathedral
b) Westminster Abbey
c) The Houses of Parliament
 Test 9. Religion 25

4. The Church of England is the e sta b lish e d ___________

church.
a) Presbyterian
b) Protestant
c) Methodist

5. In Scotland the official Church is t h e ___________Church

of Scotland.
a) Presbyterian
b) Protestant
c) Catholic

6. The official church in the Republic of Ireland i s ________ .

a) the Roman Catholic Church
b) the Methodist Church
c) the Baptist Church

7. The only country in the U K to have direct legal protection

from religious discrimination i s ___________.
a) England
b) Wales
c) Northern Ireland

8. The services in the Church of England are i n ___________.

a) Latin
b) Old English
c) Modern English

9. England is divided in to ___________dioceses, each with a

bishop.
a) 24
b) 42
c) 50

10. The foundational prayer book of the Church of England

is called ___________ .
a) Book of Common Prayer
b) Common Worship
c) Directory of Public Worship
 Interesting facts. England's national sport is cricket although to
many people football (soccer) is seen as English national sport.
In the 19th century, students at Oxford and Cambridge were
huge fans of rowing. In 1829, the two schools agreed to hold a race
against each other on the Thames River. The Oxford boat won and
a tradition was born. Today, the University Boat Race is held
every spring in either late March or early April.
Table tennis was invented in England in 1880. It began with
Cambridge University students using cigar boxes and champagne
corks.

TEST 10
SPORTS A N D RECREATION
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. British schools and universities tend to give a high

priority to sport, as it helps to develop the “com­ (True/False)
plete” person

2. The British sense of “fair play” was developed in

(True/False)
the Victorian era

3. For modern British sportsmen winning isn’t ev­

(True/False)
erything

4. For a very large number of the British sport is the

(True/False)
main form of entertainment

5. Every local authority in Britain has a duty to

provide and maintain playing fields and other (True/False)
sport facilities

II. Find the right answer

1. The Cup Final and the Derby a r e ___________
a) the most famous annual sporting occasions
b) British sporting associations
c) sporting TV channels

2. Wimbledon i s ___________.
a) a cricket match
b) a tennis tournament
c) a motor race
 Test 10. Sports and Recreation 27

3. In a cricket team there a r e ___________.

a) 8 players
b) 10 players
c) 11 players

4. The full official name of football i s ___________.

a) soccer
b) British football
c) association football

5. The favourite sports of the British upper-class a r e ______ .

a) tennis and football
b) rugby and cricket
c) hunting, shooting and fishing

6. Dressing in 18th century riding clothes is associated with

a) horse-riding
b) foxhunting
c) hare-coursing

7. “Angling” is a com petitive___________.

a) fishing
b) shooting
c) horse-racing

8. is supposed to be the perfect example of the

concept of “fair play”.
a) Cricket
b) Rugby
c) Soccer

9. The British have a preference fo r ___________.

a) individual sports
b) team games
c) the upper-class sports

10. Rounders is a popular sport which is similar t o _______ .

a) American baseball
b) rugby
c) soccer
 Interesting facts. Famous wit Oscar Wilde was born Oscar
Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde in Dublin in 1854.
Fictional detective Sherlock Holmes lived at 221b Baker
Street, London.
The building is today occupied by the head office of the Abbey
Building Society.

TEST 11
ARTS
I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. British theatre is among the most innovative in (True/False)

the world

2 . An important feature of British theatre is the (True/False)

youthfulness of many productions

3. The Royal National Theatre stages only classical (True/False)

plays

4. In Shakespeare’s times there were no actresses, (True/False)

all female parts were played by boys

5. Covent Garden is originally the name of an area (True/False)

of London once popular by its fruit and vegetable
market

II. Find the right answer

1. The first proper theater as we know it appeared in London
in 1576 and was called___________.
a) the Coliseum
b) the Theatre
c) the Globe

2. The first president of the Royal Academy of Arts was

a) Joshua Reynolds
b) Thomas Gainsborough
c) W illiam Turner
 Test 11. Arts 29

3. Cult thrillers filmed by this world-famous English film

director earned him the nickname___________.
a) Steven Spielberg
b) Tobe Hooper
c) Alfred Hitchcock

4. The name of the foremost English novelist whose books

describe life in Victorian England and show how hard it was
especially for the poor and children i s ___________.
a) Henry James
b) Thomas Hardy
c) Charles Dickens

5. became the first actor to be made a peer of realm,

allowing him to sit in the House of Lords.
a) Laurence Olivier
b) Oliver Twist
c) Lucien Olivier

6. The finest native English composer Henry Purcell was

referred to a s ____________ .
a) Orpheus Britannicus
b) Orpheus Anglicus
c) English Orpheus

7. The names of the main characters of a popular British pup­

pet show a r e ___________.
a) Punch and Judy
b) Kasparle and Grete
c) Peter and Mary

8. Morris dances m ean___________.

a) folk dances
b) court dances
c) ballet dances
30 Test 11. Arts

9. A rural area in North West England famous for its associa­

tions with the early 19th century poetry.
a) Peak District
b) Lake District
c) Dartmoor

10. The mid-1960s musical 'British Invasion’ into the US was

led b y ___________.
a) the Rolling Stones
b) the Beatles
c) The Who
 Interesting facts. The British buy more papers than any
other people except the Swedes and the Japanese.
William Caxton (c. 1422-1492) was the first English printer
and a translator and importer of books into England. Amongst
the books he printed were Chaucer's ‘Canterbury Tales', Gowers
‘Confession Amantis’and Malory's ‘Le Morte d Arthur'. He printed
more than 100 books in his lifetime, books which were known for
their craftsmanship and careful editing. He was also the trans­
lator of many of the books he published, using his knowledge of
French, Latin and Dutch.

TEST 12
MEDIA

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. All over Britain most people read local and regional /т? } \
papers
2 . The first English printing press was established it? \ \
by William Caxton in Fleet Street ' rue a se'
3. Fleet Street is no more the home of newspaper /p i \
business
4. The popularity of the British Broadcasting Corpo­
ration depends on its high reputation for objective (True/False)
and honest news reporting
5. There is no commercial TV and radio in the U K (True/False)

II. Find the right answer

1. The first regular English daily newspaper was published
in 1702 and called___________.
a) the London Gazette
b) the Daily Courant
c) the Times

2. Mass-circulation popular newspapers are commonly called

in Britain.
a) tabloids
b) broadsheets
c) penny papers
32 Test 12. Media

3. The Times, The Guardian and the Financial Times are the
examples o f ___________.
a) yellow press
b) tabloid press
c) quality papers

4. is the most authoritative English-language

weekly magazine focusing on international politics and busi­
ness news.
a) The Daily Telegraph
b) The Independent
c) The Economist

5. The BBC was established i n ___________.

a) 1920
b) 1922
c) 1924

6. Radio coverage of the House of Commons began o n _____

a) 23 April 1939
b) 23 April 1947
c) 23 April 1968

7. The first true television outside broadcast w a s __________.

a) the Coronation of King George V I in 1937
b) the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
c) the Royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince
Philip

8. The BBC is a public corporation funded mainly b y ______

a) the television licence fee

b) advertising
c) private donation
 Test 12. Media 33

9. The first live broadcast from Russia seen in Britain showed

a) the Victory Parade in Moscow in June 1945

b) the heroic return of pioneer cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin
in April 1961
c) the Opening Ceremony of Moscow Olympic Games in
1980

10. On 27 August 1950 the BBC transmitted the first ever live
television pictures across the Channel___________.
a) from England to France
b) from England to Ireland
c) from France to England
 Interesting fact. Postmen in Victorian England were popularly
called robins'. This was because their uniforms were red. Victo­
rian Xmas cards often showed a robin delivering Xmas mail.

TEST 13
HOLIDAYS

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. In England, they celebrate the New Year as widely (True/False)

as Christmas
2 . In Britain, many people like to go to Disneyland (True/False)
for holidays
3. Bank holidays usually fall on a Monday giving (True/False)
people a long weekend
4. ‘Bank’ holidays are called so because these are the (True/False)
days on which banks are legally closed
5. A traditional Christmas plant ‘poinsettia’ was first (True/False)
brought to Britain from Mexico

II. Find the right answer

1. The most famous N ew Year celebration takes place in
___________in London, where big crowds gather to welcome
the New Year.
a) Hyde Park
b) Trafalgar Square
c) Madison Square Garden

2. In Scotland, the first visitor to enter the house on New

Year’s morning is called___________.
a) the First Visitor
b) the Newcomer
c) the First Foot

3. December 24th, the day before Christmas Day, is called

a) Christmas time
b) Christmas Eve
c) Christmas dinner
 Test 13. Holidays 35

4. In the evening of the 24th of December children hang their

___________on their beds for Father Christmas to put presents
into them.
a) Christmas stockings
b) Christmas baskets
c) Christmas cards

5. _ is/are a traditional dish served at Christmas.

a) Pancakes
b) Toffee apples
c) Turkey

6. Traditionally a __________ is placed into the Christmas

pudding. It is believed to bring good luck to a person who will
find it.
a) candy
b) coin
c) medal

7. A person who becomes a victim of jokers on April 1 is called

a) April Fool
b) April Silly
c) April Mug

8. Every February 14, millions of people sen d___________to

those whom they love.
a) Valentine boxes
b) Valentine cards
c) Valentine buns

9. A traditional Easter pastime which consists of rolling col­

oured eggs down a slope until they are cracked and broken and
then eaten by their owners is called___________.
a) egg-rolling
b) egg-eating
c) egg-boiling
10. The central figure in M ay Day celebrations i s __________.
a) the M ay Princess
b) the May Lady
c) the May Queen
 Interesting facts. On the edge of British coins, the letters D. G.
REG. F. D. always appear after the Queen's name. The letters
stand for the Latin words Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor, which
means By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith'.
The Bank of England is said to be the second oldest central
bank. Sweden is believed to have got there first.

TEST 14
ECONOMY

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. Britain was the first country to enter the Industrial /rr. m i ч

Revolution (True/False)

2 . The seat of Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords

is considered a symbol of England’s coal trade and (True/False)
resulting prosperity

3. The economy of the U K is essentially a capitalist

economy with little government interference in (True/False)
private enterprise

4. The service sector is the dominant sector of the /rrt m ix

U K economy nowadays (True/False)

5. National Insurance is a tax which is taken from

pay for the U K’s health and social security sys- (True/False)
tem

Ii. Find the right answer

1. The British currency is the .
a) Euro
b) pound sterling
c) English

2. Prior to decimalization the pound was divided into

pence.
a) 100
b) 150
c) 240
 Test 14. Economy 37

3. The Scottish philosopher and political economist___________

is known as the founder of the modern academic discipline of
free market economics.
a) John Lock
b) John Meinard Keynes
c) Adam Smith

4. The Bank of England was founded i n ___________.

a) 1694
b) 1794
c) 1894

5. In the 19th century Britain became the first economic su­

perpower and was called___________.
a) ‘the factory of the world’
b) ‘the workshop of the world’
c) ‘the workforce of the world’

6. The Exhibition of Industry of A ll Nations, now better known

as the Great Crystal Palace Exhibition, was officially opened
by HRM Queen Victoria o n ___________.
a) M ay 1, 1851
b) M ay 1, 1870
c) M ay 1, 1877

7. The East India Company, the world’s first and most endur­
ing transnational corporation, incorporated by royal charter
on December 31,___________.
a) 1600
b) 1602
c) 1616

8. The process of moving state-owned industries into the

private sector is one of the defining characteristics of the
era.
a) Thatcher
b) Major
c) Blair
38 Test 14. Economy

9. North Sea oil was discovered in the e a rly ___________.

a) 1930s
b) 1960s
c) 1980s

10. The government organization responsible for taxation is

known a s ___________.
a) the Inland Revenue
b) the Benefit Agency
c) HM Revenue & Customs
 Interesting facts. No King or Queen has entered the House of
Commons since 1642, when Charles I stormed in with his soldiers
and tried to arrest 5 MPs who were there.
There are more than 1,000 rooms and more than 2 miles of
corridors in the Houses of Parliament.

TEST 15
POLITICAL SYSTEM

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. The U K is a parliamentary democracy with a con- ,т л? i \

stitutional Monarch as Head of State { 1rue/* alse'
2. Britain has a two-party parliamentary system of /f i \
government ' '
3. British prime ministers have never been assas- /rn л 4
. (True/False)
smated x 7
4. The Queen is not allowed to take part in political ^ it ? ] \
activity ' '
5. The 1st woman Prim e M in ister of B ritain,
M. Thatcher, was given the nickname “the Iron (True/False)
Lady” because of her forceful style of government

II. Find the right answer

1. The first political parties in Britain were known a s _____

d) the Cavaliers and the Roundheads

e) the Whigs and the Tories
f) the Royalists and the Parliamentarians

2. The “Tories” are ancestors of th e ____________ Party.

a) Liberal
b) Labour
c) Conservative

3. A bill (proposal for a new law) has to go through_____

readings to become a law.
a) two
b) three
c) four
40 Test 15. Political system

4. The British Parliament is often called___________because

of a distinguished building in central London it is housed in.
a) Westminster
b) Buckingham Palace
c) Westminster Abbey

5. There a r e ___________members in the House of Lords.

a) 657
b) 675
c) 600

6. The House of Commons h a s ___________members elected

by local residents.
a) 650
b) 659
c) 695

7. Each M P represents in Parliament one political area, known

as .
a) constituency
b) county
c) shire

8. The Government of the U K is formed by the party which

wins most seats i n ___________at a general election.
d) the House of Commons
e) the House of Lords
f) the Cabinet

9. In the U K the government department that is respon­

sible for the general management of the economy is called

a) the Treasury
b) the Exchequer
c) the Ministry of Finance

10. An important aspect of parliamentary control over the

Government’s policy i s ___________, when ministers deal in
turn with M Ps questions.
a) Question Time
b) Answers Time
c) M Ps Time
 Interesting facts. Britain's oldest school — The King’s School,
Canterbury — traces its origins back to the year 597A D with the
founding of Christianity in England by St. Augustine.
Oxford University was founded in 1167, by English students
fleeing unrest in France.
Cambridge University was founded in 1209, by students
fleeing from unrest at Oxford University.

TEST 16
EDUCATION

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. Local education authorities are responsible for

(True/False)
organizing the schools in their area
2. Education in Britain mirrors the country’s social
(True/False)
system: it is class-divided and selective
3. Public education is the same for all the British. It
(True/False)
has no variations
4. British public schools are free of charge (True/False)
5. Oxbridge is a well-known college (True/False)

II. Find the right answer

1. The academic year in Britain’s universities is divided into
terms.
a) two
b) three
c) four

2. schools are selective.

a) Grammar
b) Comprehensive
c) Composite

3. The English school syllabus is divided into

a) Arts and Sciences
b) Literature and Maths
c) Philosophy and Technical subjests
42 Test 16. Education

4. British university course generally last f o r ___________

years.
a) 2
b) 3
c) 5

5. The SCE and Highers examinations are held in ___________

for school students.
a) Northern Ireland
b) Scotland
c) Wales

6. British universities choose their students a fte r__________.

a) entrance exams
b) aptitude tests
c) interviews

7. Sandwich courses a r e ___________.

a) part-time courses offered in Polytechnics to those who
work
b) full-time university courses for first degree students
c) offered especially to hungry students

8. In Oxford and Cambridge they traditionally use___________

at degree ceremonies.
a) Latin
b) Old English
c) Welsh

9. Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of

governed by Masters.
a) colleges
b) high schools
c) faculties

10. Public schools a r e ___________.

a) the same as comprehensive schools
b) state schools
c) independent and free from state control
 Interesting facts. The Christmas pudding known today began
life as Christmas porridge called Frumenty, a dish made of wheat
or corn boiled up in milk. As time went on, other ingredients, such
as dried plums or prunes, eggs, and lumps of meat were added to
make it more interesting. When cooked, it was poured into a dish.
This pudding was called Plum Pudding. The name Plum Pud­
ding'continued to be used even when people used raisins, currants,
and sultanas instead of prunes.
The British are renowned for their love of tea, but the worlds
biggest tea drinkers are the Irish, who drink 1,184 cups per person
each year. The British drink just 1,025, making them the fifth
biggest consumers behind the Turks (1,056), the Kuwaitis (1,069)
and the Libyans (1,074).
Curry is now Britain's most popular meal. It became popular
among the English living in India during the days of the British
Empire. The word ‘curry' comes from kari, meaning (sauce\ and
grew out of a need to preserve meat in a hot climate.

TEST 17
FOOD A N D DRINK

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. Nowadays a typical English breakfast is usually

a bowl of cereals, a slice of toast, orange juice and (True/False)
a cup of coffee
2. The main meal is usually eaten between 6:30 and it? ] \
8:00 p.m. Urue/raise;

3. Yorkshire pudding is usually eaten as a dessert /rn , ^ 1 4

like other puddings (True/False)
4. Most Britons like their tea strong and dark with ^ /тр 1 \
a lot of milk
5. Cheddar, a hard cheese with a strong, nutty taste, , 4
is considered the most popular in Britain

II. Find the right answer

1. In England, they usually h a v e___________meals a day.
a) three
b) four
c) five
2. The traditional English breakfast is called
a) the Full English
b) the Whole English
c) Standard English

3. The traditional 6 o’clock tea is known a s ___________.

a) Afternoon Tea
b) High Tea
c) Black Tea

4. The first tea imported into Britain in the 16th century was

a) green
b) black
c) loose

5. Sandwiches were invented in England in 1762 and were

named a fte r___________.
a) the town Sandwich in the south of England
b) John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich
c) sandy beaches of Miami

6. I f someone asks if you would ‘like a cuppa’, they are asking

if you would lik e ___________.
a) a cup of Coca Cola
b) a cup of tea
c) a cup of coffee

7. A sandwich, a packet of crisps, a piece of fruit and a drink

usually taken by children to school is called___________.
a) a ‘packed lunch’
b) a ‘package lunch’
c) a ‘school lunch’

8. is England’s traditional take-away food.

a) Fish and chips
b) Roast beef
c) Big Mac
 Test 1 7. Food and drink 45

9. Cider, a popular English alcoholic drink, is made from

a) grapes
b) apples
c) plums

10. Mild, bitter, lager, stout, ale, porter are different varieties

a) tea
b) wine
c) beer
 Interesting facts. The tradition of the royal Christmas broadcast
began in 1932. King George V became the first reigning monarch
to deliver a Christmas Day message to the Empire via ‘wireless'
from his home in Sandringham. The script of the Kings speech
was written by his friend Rudyard Kipling.
Elizabeth II, in full Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, officially
Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territo­
ries Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
The Queen speaks fluent French and often uses the language
for Audiences and State Visits. Her Majesty does not require an
interpreter.
The Queens official limousines are the only cars in Britain to
have no number plates.

TEST 18
THE ROYAL FAM ILY

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. The British regard the monarchy as an outdated

(True/False)
and useless institution

2 . The House of Windsor came into being in 1917 (True/False)

3. During World War II the Queen of England was

(True/False)
Elizabeth II

4. Edward V III, present Queen’s uncle, was the

only English king who voluntarily abdicated the (True/False)
throne

5. Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the first

(True/False)
coronation broadcast nationally on television

II. Find the right answer

1. Queen Elizabeth II was born Elizabeth Alexandra M ary
o n ___________.
a) April 21, 1923
b) April 21, 1925
c) April 21, 1926
2. The official family title of Queen Elizabeth II i s ________ .
a) the House of Stuart
b) the House of Windsor
c) the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

3. Elizabeth II w a s ___________when she gave her first radio

address.
a) 14
b) 21
c) 26

4. Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne o n ___________.

a) February 6, 1952
b) February 6, 1953
c) February 6, 1954

5. The official title of Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Philip, is

a) The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

b) The Prince Philip, Prince of Wales
c) The Prince Philip, Duke of York

6. Queen Elizabeth II has g o t___________children.

a) 3
b) 4
c) 5

7. The name of Queen Elizabeth IPs oldest son is _

a) Prince Edward
b) Prince Charles
c) Prince Andrew

8. Princess Diana’s maiden name w a s ___________.

a) Lady Diana Spencer
b) Lady Di
c) Lady Spencer Perceval
to Test 18. The Royal family

9. A t the end of the 20th century,___________was second in

line to the throne.
a) Prince William
b) Prince Charles
c) Prince Harry

10. Elizabeth II was the first British Monarch to v is it_____

a) Russia
b) India
c) China
 Interesting facts: Britain is a country of mixed cultures. Lon­
don has the largest non-white population of any European city
and over 250 languages are spoken there.
The largest ethnic minorities in Britain are those of Carib­
bean, African or other black descent (1,149,000 people). The
next largest ethnic groups are Indians (1,053,000 people), and
Pakistanis and Bangladeshis (1,030,000 people).

TEST 19
BRITAIN IN THE W ORLD

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer.

1. At the beginning of the 20th century the British „п /т? i \

Empire was the largest in the world ^ rue a se'

2. People in Scotland and Wales are more sympathetic /pi \

to a European Parliament than the English are * rue a se'

3. The Commonwealth is an international organiza­

tion composed of the countries that used to be parts (True/False)
of the Empire

4. Most Commonwealth countries are French- /rn , 4

speaking (True/False)

5. After the dismantling of the Empire, good rela­

tions between Britain and the newly independent (True/False)
countries were established

II. Find the right answer

1. I n ___________ Britain recaptured the Falklands Islands
from the Argentinean invasion.
a) 1900
b) 1950
c) 1982

2. trying to invade England was defeated in 1588.

a) The French fleet
b) The Spanish Armada
c) The Irish Arm y
50 Test 19. Britain in the world

3. The British Empire collapsed a fte r___________.

a) the First World War
b) the Second World War
c) the Falklands W ar
4. Britain joined the EEC (European Economic Community)
in .
a) 1973
b) 1990
c) 2001
5. The opening of the Channel tunnel (the Chunnel) in 1994
made the British links w ith ___________closer.
a) Europe
b) the USA
c) Africa
6. In 1919 the British Empire included Australia, parts of
Africa, the Indian sub-continent an d ___________.
a) Brazil
b) Alaska
c) Canada
7. Britain ranks____ in the world in terms of population size.
a) 20th
b) 5th
c) 100th

8. was the first British colony to achieve independence.

a) Brazil
b) India
c) Canada
9. Britain has no significant historic links with any of Eastern
European countries, except___________.
a) the Russian Empire
b) Poland
c) Bulgaria
10. Britain is bound b y__________ for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
a) the Maastricht Treaty
b) the European Convention
c) the US Congress
 DO YOU KNOW GREAT BRITAIN?
TEST YOURSELF

I. True or False? Underline the correct answer

1. In Britain, many people go to church regularly (True/False

2. No place in Britain is more than three hours from ^ i

the sea by car

3. There is no ‘Christian’ political party in England (True/False

4. Women are allowed by the Anglican Church to be

(True/False
ordained as priests

5. The British regard the monarchy as a symbol of ^ /-p i

national integrity

6 . Queen Elizabeth II has got 3 children (True/False

7. The Queen or King of England is the official head /F i

of British Government ' rUe a Se

8. None of the wax figures made by Madam Tussaud ^ ,

herself survived to the present times ' rUe a se

9. In Britain there is no written constitution (True/False

10. The largest religious minority in the UK are the .m i

Muslims

II. Find the right answer

1. The U K is bordered to the south b y .

a) the Irish Sea
b) the English Channel
c) the North Sea
bZ Do you know Great Britain? Test yourself

2. The highest peak in Great Britain i s ___________.

a) Snowdon in Wales
b) Scafell Pike in England
c) Ben Nevis in Scotland

3. The plant symbolizing Ireland i s _______________ .

a) leek
b) shamrock
c) daffodil

4. St Patrick’s Day is celebrated to commemorate__________.

a) the day St Patrick was born
b) the day St Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland
c) the day St Patrick died

5. The official religion of Britain i s ___________.

a) Islam
b) Christianity
c) Hinduism

6. The Church of England was separated from the Roman

Catholic Church in the 16th century b y ___________.
a) Henry V III
b) Henry V II
c) Oliver Cromwell

7. Mary Tudor earned her nickname ‘Bloody M ary’ for the

a) persecution of Protestants
b) persecution of Catholics
c) invention of the famous cocktail with tomato juice

8. was the longest reigning British monarch.

a) Edward III
b) Queen Elizabeth I
c) Queen Victoria
 Do you know Great Britain? Test yourself 53

9. The British Parliament consists o f ___________houses or

chambers.
a) two
b) three
c) four

10. General elections to the House of Commons are held once

in years.
a) 4
b) 5
c) 8

11. The leader of the Government i s ___________.

a) the Secretary of State
b) the Prime Minister
c) the Chancellor

12. In his first speech to the House of Commons British Prime

M in ister___________said: “I have nothing to offer but blood,
toil, tears and sweat” .
a) Neville Chamberlain
b) Clement Attlee
c) Winston Churchill

13. A t the height of its power the British Empire covered about
a of Earth’s total land area.
a) quarter
b) third
c) half

14. The region roughly equivalent to modern day Scotland

was once called___________by the Romans.
a) Caledonia
b) Scotia
c) Britannia
 ио you know Great Britain? Test yourself

15. The ancestors of many of the people in present-day High­

land Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Cornwall a r e ___________.
a) the Anglo-Saxons
b) the Celts
c) the Normans

16. is regarded as the national instrument of

Wales.
a) The bagpipe
b) The harp
c) The horn

17. The capital of Scotland i s ___________.

a) Cardiff
b) Edinburgh
c) Belfast

18. Scots i s ___________.

a) genuine whisky
b) political party in Scotland
c) a written language in lowland Scotland appeared in
the 17th century

19. Darts is a very popular___________game.

a) pub
b) office
c) school

20. The Tate Gallery, which houses an extensive collection of

British painting from Tudor times and modern art and sculp­
ture from Britain and abroad, began______ .
a) with a gift of 65 paintings from the sugar magnate
b) with the purchase by the government of 38 paintings
belonging a rich merchant
c) with the material from the expeditions of Captain Cook
and Charles Darwin