Life in the UK Test 36

There are five ski centres in Scotland, as well as Europe’s longest dry ski slope near Edinburgh.

Thomas Gainsborough (1727–88) was a portrait painter who often painted people in country or garden scenery.

If an MP dies or resigns, there will be a fresh election, called a by election, in his or her constituency.

Bonfire Night, 5th November, is an occasion when people in Great Britain set off fireworks at home or in special displays. On 5th November 1605 a group of Catholics led by Guy Fawkes failed in their plan to kill the Protestant king with a bomb in the Houses of Parliament.

A lot of people have gardens at home and will spend their free time looking after them. Some people rent additional land called ‘an allotment’, where they grow fruit and vegetables.

Britain’s navy fought against combined French and Spanish fleets, winning the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Admiral Nelson was in charge of the British fleet at Trafalgar and was killed in the battle.

Britain and France developed the world’s only supersonic commercial airliner, Concorde. 

Radar was developed by Scotsman Sir Robert Watson-Watt (1892–1973), who proposed that enemy aircraft could be detected by radio waves. The first successful radar test took place in 1935.

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.

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland.

In the 19th century, satirical magazines began to be published. The most famous was ‘Punch’, which was published for the first time in the 1840s.

The Tower of London was first built by William the Conqueror after he became king in 1066. Tours are given by the Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, who tell visitors about the building’s history.

Brief Encounter (1945), Lawrence of Arabia (1962) were directed by David Lean

In 2002, Winston Churchill was voted the greatest Briton of all time by the public.

Loch Lomond and the Edinburgh Castle are located in Scotland.

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

The longest distance on the mainland is from John O’Groats on the north coast of Scotland to Land’s End in the south-west corner of England. It is about 870 miles (approximately 1,400 kilometres).

If you think someone is trying to persuade you to join an extremist or terrorist cause, you should notify your local police force.

Despite losing the Battle of Britain, the German air force was able to continue bombing London and other British cities at night-time. This was called the Blitz.

In Elizabeth I’s time, English settlers first began to colonise the eastern coast of America. 

There are also several British overseas territories in other parts of the world, such as St Helena and the Falkland Islands. They are also linked to the UK but are not a part of it.

The traditions of comedy and satire, and the ability to laugh at ourselves, are an important part of the UK character.

Bradley Wiggins (1980–) is a cyclist. In 2012, he became the first Briton to win the Tour de France. He has won seven Olympic medals, including gold medals in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

The UK has hosted the Olympic Games on three occasions in 1908, 1948 and 2012