SettleReady › Life in the UK Test

Chapter 4: A modern, thriving society

The UK today

The capitals are London (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland). The longest distance on the mainland, from John O'Groats to Land's End, is about 870 miles (1,400 km). The currency is the pound sterling; Scotland and Northern Ireland print their own banknotes, which are valid across the UK.

Festivals and special days

Patron saints' days: St David (Wales) 1 March, St Patrick (Northern Ireland) 17 March, St George (England) 23 April and St Andrew (Scotland) 30 November. Only Scotland and Northern Ireland make theirs official holidays.

Christmas Day is 25 December and Boxing Day 26 December. In Scotland New Year's Eve is called Hogmanay. Bonfire Night (5 November) marks the failure of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, a Catholic plot (Guy Fawkes was one of the plotters) to blow up Parliament. On Remembrance Day (11 November) people wear poppies to remember those who died in wars.

Sport

London hosted the Olympics in 1908, 1948 and 2012. The Paralympics grew from Dr Sir Ludwig Guttmann's work at Stoke Mandeville hospital. Wimbledon is the world's oldest tennis tournament; St Andrews is the home of golf; the Grand National is run at Aintree near Liverpool. Roger Bannister ran the first mile under four minutes in 1954, and Andy Murray won the US Open in 2012.

Arts, culture and places

The Proms are an eight-week summer season of classical music organised by the BBC; Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance is played on the Last Night. Wales holds the Eisteddfod, a festival of music and poetry. The Turner Prize celebrates contemporary art.

Famous writers include Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice), Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) and the poet William Wordsworth. Places to know: the Giant's Causeway (Northern Ireland), the Eden Project (Cornwall), the Lake District (England's largest national park) and Big Ben — the nickname of the great bell at the Houses of Parliament. The National Trust was founded in 1895.

Practice questions on this chapter

Tap a question to see the answer and explanation.

What is the capital city of Northern Ireland?
  1. Glasgow
  2. Belfast
  3. Dublin
  4. Londonderry

Answer: B. Belfast

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland, which is not part of the UK.

When is St Andrew's Day, the patron saint's day of Scotland?
  1. 1 March
  2. 23 April
  3. 30 November
  4. 31 December

Answer: C. 30 November

St Andrew's Day is 30 November. It is an official holiday in Scotland.

What is the name for New Year's Eve in Scotland?
  1. Hogmanay
  2. Ceilidh
  3. Eisteddfod
  4. Burns Night

Answer: A. Hogmanay

In Scotland, 31 December is called Hogmanay and some people see it as more important than Christmas.

When is Boxing Day?
  1. 26 December
  2. 24 December
  3. 31 December
  4. 1 January

Answer: A. 26 December

Boxing Day is the day after Christmas Day and is a public holiday.

Which place is known as the home of golf?
  1. Cardiff, Wales
  2. St Andrews, Scotland
  3. Aintree, England
  4. Belfast, Northern Ireland

Answer: B. St Andrews, Scotland

Golf can be traced back to 15th-century Scotland; St Andrews is known as the home of golf.

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