Misc. Flashcards
Who mapped the coast of Australia?
Captain James Cook
Which British sportsman won 5 consecutive golds in rowing?
Sir Steve Redgrave
What is Cenotaph?
Cenotaph is the monument for Remembrance Day in Whitehall London
Who invented the World Wide Web?
Tim Berners Lee
How many MPs are in the Scottish Parliament?
129
When did Britain join the EEC (European Economic Community)
1973
Which Scottish city is known as the home for golf?
St Andrews
Which court deals with serious cases involving children 10-17?
Almost all cases involving children and young people are dealt with in Youth Court, although the most serious offences such as murder or rape will be sent to the Crown Court.
When was the National Trust founded?
1895
Who were the Gentry or landed gentry?
A largely historical British social class of landowners who could live entirely from rental income, or at least had a country estate.
Who was Elizabeth I’s father?
Henry VIII
Which 3 operas were written by Gilbert and Sullivan?
HMS Pinafore
Pirates of Penzance
Mikado
Where is Loch Lomond located?
Western Scotland
What is another word for the Church of England?
The Episcopal Church
Who was the first British Prime Minister?
Sir Robert Walpole
How old do you need to be to apply for a free TV licence?
75+
What time do pubs usually open on Sundays and other days in the UK?
11am normally, 12pm on Sundays
Which British sportswoman won two gold medals for running in the 2004 Olympic Games?
Dame Kelly Holmes
What is the name of the building where the Scottish Parliament meet?
Holyrood
Who was Robert Burns?
The national poet of Scotland
In which decade did British film flourish?
1930s
Who is the fastest person to have sailed around the world single-handed?
Dame Ellen MacArthur
When did WW1 end? (date and year)
11th No 1918
What are Welsh cakes made of?
Flour, butter or lard, fruit and sprices
Which British scientist was awarded a Nobel Prize for discovering the structure of the DNA molecule?
Francis Crick
How much can you be fined if you watch TV but do not have a TV licence?
up to £1,000
How old is the clock at the Houses of Parliament in London, also known as ‘Big Ben?
Built in 1859, Big Ben is 163 years old
NATO is a group of EU and North American countries that was created with what two purposes?
- Help each other in case of attack
2. Maintain peace between member states
The small claims procedure is used in England and Wales for minor disputes for amounts up to?
£10,000
What does the ‘magna carta’ mean or translate to?
‘a charter of liberties’ or ‘the great charter’
When did the war of roses END?
1485 (started 1455)
What is the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
The Economy
Where did Issac Newton go to University?
Trinity, Cambridge University
Who invaded England after the Romans?
Anglo-Saxons
What does the Mercury Prize award?
The best album released by a British or Irish artist. (Not the best solo act.)
How often are elections held for the National Assembly for Wales?
Every 4 years
Who was the British Minister after Margaret Thatcher?
John Major. He was known for helping establish the Irish peace process.
What name is given to the person appointed by local authorities to be the ceremonial leader of a particular council?
The Mayor
Who defeated Emperor Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815?
The Duke of Wellington.
At Waterloo in Belgium, Napoleon Bonaparte suffers defeat at the hands of the Duke of Wellington, bringing an end to the Napoleonic era of European history. The Corsica-born Napoleon, one of the greatest military strategists in history, rapidly rose in the ranks of the French Revolutionary Army during the late 1790s.
Which court deals with the MOST serious cases in Scotland, such as murder?
The High Court
What was the symbol of the House of Tudor?
A red rose with a white rose inside it.
What animal is represented in the Welsh flag?
A dragon
Which famous economist developed ideas about economics during the 18th century and which are still referred to today?
Adam Smith
In which TWO movie categories does Britain continue to be particularly strong at?
Special effects
Animation
What British artist was a portrait painter who often painted people in country or garden scenarios?
Thomas Gainsborough
During which religious celebration do Muslims sacrifice an animal to eat?
Eid ul Adha
Where is Ascot?
In Berkshire England
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most minor criminal cases are dealt in which court?
The Magistrates’ Court
What name is given to the tombs where people buried the dead during the Bronze Age?
Round Barrows
In which category did Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean win gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1984?
Ice Dance Competitions
What is the first verse of the National Anthem of the UK ‘God save the Queen’?
God save our gracious Queen…
What is the national flower of Scotland?
Thistle
Members of the Welsh government are elected every 4 years on the basis of proportional representation OR First past the post system?
Proportional Representation
Which architect helped to rebuild St Paul’s in London after the Great Fire in 1666?
Sir Christopher Wren
Is Mozambique in the Commonwealth?
Yes
Is Morocco in the Commonwealth?
No
Is Algeria in the Commonwealth?
No
Is Mali in the Commonwealth?
No
Who was the first Brit to win the Tour de France?
Bradley Wiggins
What do Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel and Julian Barnes have in common?
They are all writers who were awarded the Man Booker Prize for fiction
What voting system is used for the Northern Ireland Assembly?
Proportional Representation
Who designed the Clifton Suspension Bridge located over the Avon George?
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Does Britain have a written constitution?
No.
Was Japan an ally with Britain in WWI?
Yes, Japan was an ally fighting against Germany
Was Bulgaria an ally power in WWI?
No, Bulgaria was Central Power in WWI and it invaded Serbia.
How many times has UK hosted the Olympics?
3 times
When were films first shown publicly in the UK?
1896
What is Stormont Estate?
The Parliament building in Belfast, Northern Ireland
What is the name of the building where the Welsh government members meet?
Senedd
What was Florence Nightingale famous for?
Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) was the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale was a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, in which she organised care for wounded soldiers at Constantinople.
What was the name of the act that abolished slavery throughout the British Empire in 1833?
The Emancipation Act
Who succeeded Queen Anne?
George I
When did Habeas Corpus Act become law?
1679
Who discovered penicillin in 1928?
Alexander Fleming
During the middle ages, people from which country came to work as glass manufacturers?
Italy
During the middle ages, people from which country came to work as engineers?
Germany
During the middle ages, people from which country came to work as canal builders?
Holland
During the middle ages, people from which country came to work as weavers?
France?
Where can victims of domestic violence get help?
Citizens Advice Bureau
Solicitors
Women’s shelters
Domestic abuse hotline
Who was the first Archbishop of Canterbury? (this is a saint)
St Augustine
How many people are on a jury in England, Wales and NI?
12
Name 2 films directed by David Lean
Lawrence of Arabia
Brief Encounter
How many British were killed on the first day of the Somme?
Around 60,000 casualties
True/False: the Welsh dragon on the Welsh flag does not appear on the Union Flag because, when the first Union Flag was created in 1606 from the flags of Scotland and England, the Principality of Wales was already untied with England.
True
What was the population of the UK in 1801?
8 million
What was the UK population in 1951?
50 million
What was the UK population in 1901?
40 million
What was the UK population in 2005?
Just under 60 million
What was the UK population in 2010?
Just over 62 million
What is the Council of Europe?
The Council of Europe is an international organisation founded in the wake of World War II to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.
Who was Sir Alfred Hitchcock?
Famous British filmmaker
Which Scottish physician co-discovered insulin?
John Macleod
Who was Elizabeth I’s mother?
Anne Boleyn
Name Henry VIII’s 6 wives in order
Catherine of Aragon Anne Boleyn Jane Seymour Anne of Cleves Catherine Howard Catherine Parr
Who created the Concorde and when did it fly for the first time?
France and Britain.
21st Jan 1969.
When was the Northern Ireland Parliament established for the first time?
1921-1922
Which two languages combined form the basis of the English language?
Norman French and Anglo-Saxon
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.
Who invented the hovercraft?
Sir Christopher Cockrell
Which court deals with serious criminal offences in Wales?
The Crown Count
The Magistrates Count always passes the most serious crimes to the Crown Court
When were Protection Orders to protect a person from being forced into a marriage introduced in Scotland?
November 2011
Who wrote an oratorio called ‘Messiah’, which is regularly sung by choirs at Easter time?
George Frederick Handel
When did hereditary peers lose the automatic right to attend the House of Lords?
(Right to attend, not the automatic right to be a peer)
1999
Who was Emmeline Pankhurst? Where was she born?
Women’s suffrage movement. Born in Manchester.
What are pantomimes based on?
Fairytale stories
What was inscribed in the first coins to be minted in Britain during the Iron Age?
The names of Iron Age Kings
Who directed the movie ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ in 1994?
Mike Newell
True/false: In Northern Ireland, a newly qualified driver must display an R plate for one year after passing the test.
True
When did Emmeline Pankhurst set up the women’s Franchise League, which fought to get the vote in local elections for married women?
1889
How many ski centres are there in Scotland?
5
Who invented The Harrier jump jet? When?
Hawker Siddeley in the 1960s
Who were the main political parties in Britain 17th century?
The Whigs and the Tories
When did Emmeline Pankhurst establish the WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union) in Manchester?
1903
Where is Haggis a popular food?
Scotland?
Where is an Ulster Fry popular?
Northern Ireland
Who wrote the Mousetrap, the mystery play?
Agatha Christie
Which flag is blue with a white, diagonal cross?
Scotland
Which flag comprises a red cross on a white ground? (this is also the English football flag)
The cross of St George, patron saint of England
What is the best-known work from Robert Burns?
Auld Lang Syne
Who was the first British distance runner to win a gold medal in the Olympic games in the 10,000 metres?
Mo Farah
Mo Farah (1983-) is a British distance runner, born in Somalia. He won gold medals in the 2012 Olympics for the 5,000 and 10,000 metres and is the first Briton to win the Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 metres.
What is Hogmanay?
In Scotland, 31 December is called Hogmanay. For some Scottish people, Hogmanay is a bigger holiday than Christmas.
What British actor was best known for his roles in various Shakespeare plays?
Sir Lawrence Olivier
Who built the Tower of London after becoming King in 1066?
William the Conqueror
When was the treaty of Rome signed? What did this treaty do?
25 March 1957
The European Union (EU), originally called the European Economic Community (EEC), was set up by six western European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) who signed the Treaty of Rome on 25 March 1957. The UK originally decided not to join this group but it became a member in 1973.
Who composed a suite of pieces themed around the planets and the solar system called ‘The Planets’?
Gustav Holst
What was the population of the UK in 1998?
57 million
How old was Queen Victoria when she became Queen?
18
When did WWI start and end?
28 July 1914 - 11 Nov 1918
Who directed the movie ‘The Killing Fields’ in 1984?
Roland Joffe
Where is Conwy Castle?
Wales
Where is Caernarfon Castle?
Where is Crathes Castle?
Scotland
Where is Inveraray Castle?
Scotland
Which battle ended the war of roses?
The Battle of Bosworth Field
Which court deals with minor criminal offences in Scotland?
The Justice of the Peace Court
If an MP dies or resigns, there will be a fresh election, which is known as (blank)
By-election
A person who has not paid enough National Insurance contributions will not be able to receive certain contributory benefits including (name TWO):
Job seeker’s allowance
Full state retirement pension
Who was responsible for the construction of the Great Western Railway?
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859). He is regarded as a visionary, genius engineer.
How many members comprise the UN Security Council?
15
What are 2 forts that can still be seen as part of Hadrian’s wall?
- Housesteads
2. Vindolanda
Members of the Welsh Assembly can speak English and Welsh, but all publications of the Assembly must be in what language?
Both English and Welsh
What was the name of the first cloned mammal?
Dolly (the sheep)
Who is responsible for the creation of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms?
The Council of Europe
The Council of Europe has no power to make laws but draws up conventions and charters, the most well-known of which is the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
What are Beefeaters and Yeoman Wardens?
These are two names for people who give tours at the Tower of London.
What does PDSA stand for?
People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals
What name is given to the elected members of the Welsh Assembly?
AM which stands for Assembly Members
How many countries in the UN?
193
How many British casualties were recorded during the First World War?
More than 2 million
How many local authorities are there in London?
32-33
When did British combat troops leave Iraq?
2009.
Some non-combat troops remained until 2011.
True/False: In the Elizabethan Period, settlers started to Colonise the Americas.
True.
The Elizabethan period was mid 1500s to early 1600s
Where are Mount Stewart Gardens located?
Northern Ireland
Who was in charge of the British fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar?
Admiral Nelson
