on 09-Jan-2015 (Fri)

Looking or sounding sad and dismal:

Britain has produced many great fashion designers, including Mary Quant and Vivienne Westwood

The Tudor rose was a red rose with a white rose inside it, showing the alliance between the Houses of York and Lancaster, who had previously fought against each other.

The last Welsh rebellions were defeated by the middle of the 15th century.

If a judge finds that a public body is not respecting people’s legal rights, they can order that the body changes its practices and/or pays compensation.

The phrase ‘rain stopped play’ is used in cricket. The phrase has now passed into everyday usage.

The Bayeux Tapestry commemorates the victory of William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most minor criminal cases are dealt with in a Magistrates’ Court.

In Scotland, minor criminal offences go to a Justice of the Peace Court.

Parliament eventually passed the Emancipation Act that abolished slavery in 1833. William Wilberforce played an important part in changing the law.

Tim Berners-Lee (1955–) invented the World Wide Web.

The modern game of golf can be traced back to Scotland in the 15th century.

The UK National Anthem is called ‘God Save the Queen’ and is played at important national occasions and events attended by the Queen or the Royal Family.

Everyone over 75 years of age can apply for a free television licence.

The Union Flag comprises the crosses of Saints George, Andrew and Patrick.

Many local authorities appoint a mayor, who is the ceremonial leader of the council. (However in some towns, a mayor is elected to be the effective leader of the administration.)

The Channel Islands are not a part of the UK but are closely linked to it. They have their own governments and are called ‘Crown dependencies’.

D-Day refers to the allied invasion of Europe on 6 June 1944, which took place on the beaches of Normandy in France.

The capital city of Northern Ireland is Belfast.

The shamrock is the national flower of Northern Ireland,

the rose is the national flower of England.

There are a few members of Parliament (MPs) who do not represent any of the main political parties. They are called ‘independents’.

The Home Secretary is the government minister responsible for crime, policing and immigration.

Robert Burns is associated with Scotland. He was a poet.

One of Robert Burns' best-known works is the song, Auld Lang Syne.

After 1833, 2 million Indian and Chinese workers were employed to replace the freed slaves.

You have to be over 18 to go into a betting shop or a gambling club.

The Boer War took place in South Africa between the British army and the Boer settlers, who originally came from the Netherlands.

By 1400 the preferred language of the English court was English, which was also the language of official documents.

The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, serious offences are tried in front of a judge and jury at a Crown Court.

In Scotland, serious cases are heard in a Sheriff Court with either a sheriff or a sheriff with a jury.

In Scotland, serious cases are heard in a Sheriff Court.

The Lake District is England’s largest national park,

Horse races: the Grand National is held at Aintree near Liverpool, and Royal Ascot is a five-day meeting held in Berkshire.

In July 1916 the British suffered 60,000 casualties on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

The television was developed by John Logie Baird in the 1920s.

The Speaker is chosen by other members of Parliament (MPs) in a secret ballot.

Margaret Thatcher was the longest-serving UK Prime Minister of the 20th century.

In the UK Mothering Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday three weeks before Easter.

Entrance is free to watch debates at the Houses of Parliament. You can get a ticket from your local MP or queue on the day.

Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) was a Welsh poet and writer.

People under the age of 16 are not allowed to participate in the National Lottery.

The Quakers set up the first anti-slavery groups in the late 1700s.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the cabinet minister responsible for the economy.

Lewis Hamilton, Jensen Button and Damon Hill are all British winners of the Formula 1 World Championship.

Graham Greene was a writer.

General Elections in the UK are held at least every five years.

Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first woman Prime Minister

Northern Ireland has a system called ‘individual registration’, which means all those entitled to vote must complete their own registration form.