British Culture Quiz

What makes up the United Kingdom?

• Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

• Wales, England and Scotland

• Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Answer explanation

The United Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707 and in 1801 Ireland joined Great Britain. In 1922 the south of Ireland withdrew from this union and became a sovereign republic, whilst Northern Ireland remained part of The United Kingdom.

Which title do many British women use to avoid indicating whether or not they are married?

• Miss

• Mrs

• Ms

Answer explanation

Mrs is used by married women and Miss by single women but many women prefer using Ms as it doesn’t reveal their marital status.

One of these UK regional dishes is Scottish. Which one?

• Haggis

• Colcannon

• Laverbread

Answer explanation

Haggis, the national dish of Scotland, is a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep (or other animal), minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal and seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices. The mixture is packed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled.

What do the British celebrate on Bonfire night on 5 November?

• The failure of Guy Fawkes to blow up the king and Houses of Parliament

• The end of the Great Fire of London

• The formation of the United Kingdom

Answer explanation

Many British people light bonfires and set off fireworks on 5 November to celebrate the failure of a Catholic plot led by Guy Fawkes to blow up the king and houses of parliament in 1605.

Which of the following nationalities has the largest number of UK residents?

• Polish

• Indian

• Irish

Answer explanation

According to the 2015 United Nations Estimate there were 776,603 Indians living in the UK compared to 703,050 Polish and 503,288 Irish.

After English (and Welsh in Wales), which language is the most commonly spoken mother tongue in the UK?

• Punjabi

• Polish

• French

Answer explanation

Polish was found to be spoken by 546,000 residents of England and Wales in the 2011 Census.

Scotland's capital city is...

• Aberdeen

• Edinburgh

• Glasgow

Answer explanation

Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since 1437, when it replaced Scone.

Which of the following was not invented in the UK?

• Marmite

• Chicken tikka masala

• Peanut butter

Answer explanation

Chicken tikka masala is one of the UK’s most popular dishes. Although it is a curry, it is credited as having been created in Britain, some say in Glasgow. Marmite, either loved or hated by the Brits, is a British-born spread made from brewer’s yeast,

How often is a general election held in the UK?

• Every four years, on the last Thursday in May

• Every five years or sooner if the Prime Minister decides

• Every five years, on the first Thursday in May

Answer explanation

General elections take place every five years using the ‘first past the post’ system. Since the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 the Prime Minister cannot call a ‘snap’ election without a two-thirds majority in a parliamentary vote.

Which of the following is considered poor etiquette in the UK?

• Arriving for dinner at someone's house 15 minutes late

• Eating lunch at your desk

• Arriving at someone's house to say 'hello' uninvited

Answer explanation

The British tend to value their privacy and so appearing on someone’s doorstep unexpectedly can be taken as an invasion of this privacy. It is always better to let somebody know you’re visiting them before knocking on their door!