Life in the UK Test chapter 2: What is the UK?

UK, Great Britain and the British Isles

These three terms are easy to mix up, and the test likes to ask about them.

• The United Kingdom is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales only.
• The British Isles include the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
• The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies. They are not part of the UK.

Capitals, patron saints and national days

The Union Flag

The Union Flag, often called the Union Jack, combines the crosses of three saints: St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland) and St Patrick (Ireland). Wales is not represented separately on the flag.

Devolution

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own devolved parliament or assembly that makes decisions on some matters, such as education and health. These are the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament) and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The UK Parliament in London keeps control of areas such as defence and foreign affairs.

Languages and landmarks

• English is spoken throughout the UK. Welsh is widely spoken in Wales, and Scottish Gaelic and Irish are spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain in the UK.
• Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland is the largest lake in the UK.

How to study it

Learn the table above by heart, then practise telling the UK, Great Britain and the British Isles apart. Those distinctions come up often.

Practice questions from this chapter

1. Which countries make up Great Britain?

   • England, Scotland and Wales
   • England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
   • England and Wales only
   • England, Wales and Northern Ireland
   Show answer

   England, Scotland and Wales

   Great Britain is the island of England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom adds Northern Ireland.

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