Chapter 26 of 32 · Updated for 2026

Sport, Arts & Culture: The Full Picture: practice questions

Ten Life in the UK test questions on Sport, Arts & Culture: The Full Picture, each checked against the official handbook and set in the four formats the real test uses. Pick your answer, then tap Show the answer to see why.

1. One answer

   1. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is mainly a showcase of which kinds of performance?

   • AClassical orchestral music and opera
   • BWelsh poetry and singing competitions
   • CTheatre and comedy, often experimental
   • DPop and rock concerts, often outdoors
   Show the answer

   C: Theatre and comedy, often experimental

   The Fringe is the biggest part of the Edinburgh Festival each summer and mainly shows theatre and comedy, often experimental work.

2. One answer

   2. Which British musician created the stage persona Ziggy Stardust?

   • AElton John
   • BMarc Bolan
   • CMick Jagger
   • DDavid Bowie
   Show the answer

   D: David Bowie

   David Bowie (1947 to 2016) introduced Ziggy Stardust on his 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. He was known for constantly reinventing his music and image.

3. True or false

   3. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE?

   Robert Burns lived and wrote in the 17th century.

   • ATrue
   • BFalse
   Show the answer

   B: False

   Burns lived from 1759 to 1796, so he belongs to the 18th century.

4. One answer

   4. Expressions such as 'rain stopped play' and 'batting on a sticky wicket' come from which sport?

   • ATennis
   • BGolf
   • CRugby
   • DCricket
   Show the answer

   D: Cricket

   Cricket has given everyday English phrases such as 'rain stopped play', 'playing a straight bat' and 'it's just not cricket'.

5. Choose TWO answers

   5. Which TWO of these countries did Rudyard Kipling live in, according to the handbook?

   • AAustralia
   • BNew Zealand
   • CIndia
   • DThe USA
   Show the answer

   C: India
   D: The USA

   Kipling was born in India and later lived in India, the UK and the USA.

6. One answer

   6. In which year was Dylan Thomas's radio play Under Milk Wood first performed?

   • A1954
   • B1952
   • C1936
   • D1947
   Show the answer

   A: 1954

   Under Milk Wood was first performed in 1954, after Thomas's death. In 1952 he wrote Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.

7. Which statement is correct

   7. Which of these statements is correct?

   • AThe Union Flag, often called the Union Jack, is still the official flag of the UK today.
   • BThe Union Flag, often called the Union Jack, was replaced as the official flag of the UK in 1922.
   Show the answer

   A: The Union Flag, often called the Union Jack, is still the official flag of the UK today.

   The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, was created as a symbol of the union and is still the UK's official flag.

8. One answer

   8. Which famous horse race is held at Aintree, near Liverpool?

   • ARoyal Ascot
   • BThe Scottish Grand National
   • CThe Boat Race
   • DThe Grand National
   Show the answer

   D: The Grand National

   The Grand National is run at Aintree near Liverpool. The Scottish Grand National is at Ayr.

9. True or false

   9. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE?

   Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operas often made fun of popular culture and politics.

   • ATrue
   • BFalse
   Show the answer

   A: True

   Their comic operas, such as The Mikado, poked fun at popular culture and politics.

10. One answer

    10. Which of these novels was written by Evelyn Waugh?

    • ABrighton Rock
    • BScoop
    • CLucky Jim
    • DKidnapped
    Show the answer

    B: Scoop

    Waugh wrote Scoop, Decline and Fall and Brideshead Revisited. Brighton Rock is by Greene, Lucky Jim by Amis and Kidnapped by Stevenson.

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