to ask you, if you are British born, to answer these six questions without Googling?

[IceLollyMolly]

Just a small experiment. Not a marketing gimmick, but I will explain shortly, once a few people have answered. Or not answered!
If you are British born, can you answer these five questions without Googling or using any other materials for the answers?
(1) Who was the first person to circumnavigate the world without stopping?
(2) What date was the Battle of Boyne?
(3) How many local authorities are there in London?
(4) Which composer composed music for George the I?
(5) What significant event took place in 1284?
(6) Who is the paralympian who won six gold medals over two Paralympic Games?

1

I got one right (Handel).

I thought the first one was Magellan, but WTF does that have to do with Life in the UK, so would have probably guessed Drake under pressure.

I have a history degree and had no idea on the two history questions. I knew 1684 wasn't Magna Carta as that's 1215 (one of the -15 dates I do remember - Agincourt is 1415 and Waterloo 1815).

I should really have known the London boroughs one as I have looked that up before to argue on a thread about what constitues London.

I confidently know 2 and 4, although I could only pinpoint a year for the Battle of Boyle and not an exact date.

1 is difficult to answer for anyone because this is contested.

1 and 2: I happened to have been reading around both these areas either out of interest or because they related in some way to my own interests. 4 I knew because I love and am interested in classical music.

3, 5 and 6 I have no idea.

1690
I remember it as 1 69 0

I'll give it a go:

1. Absolutely no idea - I'm rubbish at history.
2. 12 July (I think) but no idea on the year.
3. Guess - 20 local authorities in Greater London.
4. Initially I was thinking Mozart but I think he played music for George III, so wild guess would be Beethoven.
5. No idea - really rubbish at history!
6. I'm assuming there's been a few, but I'll guess at the British swimmer Ellie, but I can't think of her surname.

Nope!

And in solidarity with a friend I did the British citizenship test… and failed 🤦‍♀️. Only needed 18 out of 25 answers (there are 400 odd questions).

one of the questions was about “Carry On” films from the 1960’s/1970’s - as if that represents the best of British culture.

I only know because DH had to do it, so we learnt together.

All the bloody hoops to jump through, cost us absolutely thousands, despite him genetically being more British than I am.

There is a different one for Scotland that my colleague had to sit.

Me too 😂 But I am sure they could answer the question of what they are supposed to do.

british as they come here and educated to the nth degree and would have got zero. Even multiple choice wouldn’t help me!

maybe it’s good that people need to learn a whole load of this stuff so there’s a sense of commonality??? Seems mad to me. And the questions are bizarre and trivial…

I am a naturalised British Citizen, so not British born. But you cannot compare the two. If you are born in the country, you have natural affinity and exposure to culture, even if you don’t know the answer to these question, just by growing up in the country. I had to learn about years of battles in my countries in history class, which I don’t remember at all but if a person moves there and want to take citizenship, and needed to prepare for a small test, I don’t think it would be fair for them to complain and compare to people like me.

The purpose of these questions is to instil knowledge and pride in the country you are adopting.

This test may require some preparation but not that hard. Now talk to people living for years and still not given citizenships in countries like Switzerland, Singapore, etc. even when they moved in as children. You won’t think twice that you are treated differently to the natural born citizens when it came to immigration related rules. But immigrants there are leading good lives. You made a choice by moving to a country and you need to respect the rules and ways of the country including life in the UK test. Complaining to citizens about it shows an entitled attitude.

I knew four and five. (I’m Welsh). Not a clue about any of the others.

I can’t answer any of them because the only history I was taught at school apart from a brief stint on the Tudors was about WW1 and WW2.

I'd say complaining is quintessentially British actually. Brits love to moan.
But anyway, it's not so much complaining about needing to take the test, but observing that it is close to useless.

I’ve heard about these citizen tests and no I don’t know a single answer. It’s ridiculous and has nothing to do with living in the uk.

I really need the laugh reaction back 😂😂😂

Question 6 has a second correct answer as Lee Pearson won 3 golds in 200 and another 3 in 2004.

Francis Chichester?
16 something? 1655?
No idea. 23?
1284? was that Magna Carta? (Cadfael 1138 was Stephen etc and 1385 was Chaucer and the big Black Death soooo when was crusading Richard was he 1188 or 1288 either way 1284 isn't just after him damn well it's the only thing I can think of)
Handel (this one I actually know, Zadok the Priest and all that)
Hannah Cockroft? Johnny Peacock? Laura the cyclist?

Don't know any

I missed this one! 😂

Such absolutely ridiculous questions that most British born people couldn't answer. I get it is to encourage immigrants to learn about the history but surely there are far more relevant things for them to research like the age of consent, Laws and financial matters.

I think one is Francis Drake. The Paralympian is either David Weir or Tanni Grey-Thompson?

It's the stupid life in the UK test.

I have friends who've done the test etc and they and myself always assumed it's simply to show a level of research/interest in the country they are choosing to become a citizen of. Other countries have similar I believe. Its multiple choice and you're able to prepare for it so its not like its sprung on you? And yes some things are deemed "irrelevant" in a way to modern life but they're still facts of the history of the UK.

Or Dame Sarah Storey?

I watch the Paralympics and even I don't know.

1. Was going to say Magellan because I missed the without stopping bit. I did know it was RKJ.
2. 1690- something?
3. 33. Well, 32 boroughs and the City
4. Handel
5. No idea!
6. Tanni Grey Thompson? After a quick Google is it David Weir - I'd forgotten all about him!