Life in the UK Test 3rd Edition Practice 7

William Shakespeare was a playwright and actor and wrote many poems and plays. His most famous plays include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a Scottish doctor and writer. He was best known for his stories about Sherlock Holmes, who was one of the first fictional detectives.

Everyone in the UK with a TV, computer or other medium which can be used for watching TV must have a television licence. 

Roald Dahl is most well known for his children’s books, although he also wrote for adults. His best-known works include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and George’s Marvellous Medicine. Several of his books have been made into films.

The Queen is the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth. Membership is voluntary. The Commonwealth has no power over its members, although it can suspend membership.

For most local authorities, local elections for councillors are held in May every year.

The monarch has regular meetings with the Prime Minister and can advise, warn and encourage, but the decisions on government policies are made by the Prime Minister and cabinet.

The UN was set up after the Second World War and aims to prevent war and promote international peace and security. There are 15 members on the UN Security Council.

Hanukkah is in November or December and is celebrated for eight days.

Mothering Sunday (or Mother’s Day) is the Sunday three weeks before Easter. Children send cards or buy gifts for their mothers.

The Assembly has the power to make laws for Wales in 20 areas, including:

• education and training
• health and social services
• economic development
• housing.

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in the United Kingdom.

Bonfire Night, 5 November, is an occasion when people in Great Britain set off fireworks at home or in special displays. The origin of this celebration was an event in 1605, when 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.

The Union Flag consists of three crosses:

• The cross of St George, patron saint of England, is a red cross on a white ground.
• The cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground.
• The cross of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal red cross on a white ground.

The Eden Project is located in Cornwall, in the south west of England.

Pool and darts are traditional pub games. 

Forced Marriage Protection Orders were introduced in 2008 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland under the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007.

The Romans remained in Britain for 400 years. They built roads and public buildings, created a structure of law, and introduced new plants and animals. It was during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD that the first Christian communities began to appear in Britain.

The electoral register is updated every year in September or October.

EU law is legally binding in the UK and all the other EU member states. European laws are called directives, regulations or framework decisions.

The Council of Europe is separate from the EU. It has 47 member countries, including the UK, and is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights in those countries.

Areas of what is now Scotland were never conquered by the Romans, and the Emperor Hadrian built a wall in the north of England to keep out the Picts (ancestors of the Scottish people).

Elections for the European Parliament are held every five years. Elected members are called Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). 

The London Eye is situated on the southern bank of the River Thames and is a Ferris wheel that is 443 feet (135 metres) tall.

Although Britain is one of the world’s most diverse societies, there is a set of shared values and responsibilities that everyone can agree with. These values and responsibilities include:

• to obey and respect the law
• to be aware of the rights of others and respect those rights
• to treat others with fairness
• to behave responsibly
• to help and protect your family
• to respect and preserve the environment
• to treat everyone equally, regardless of sex, race, religion, age, disability, class or sexual orientation
• to work to provide for yourself and your family
• to help others
• to vote in local and national government elections.