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?

I’ve done the German one too <waves to fellow Newkraut>. Actually studied for it and got 33 out of 33 in 10 minutes; DH did no prep at all and got 32 right in 15 minutes. From memory the only real history questions do pertain to the existence of the state itself, like the date of reunification and suchlike. There are a few about the political system, and always one question about women having equal rights (a bit of a cheek flaunting that since rape was legal within marriage until 2000). Three questions are specific to the federal state where you live. The whole caboodle was a lot cheaper than the process in the UK too. The main embarrassment was that our neighbour works for the naturalisation office so she now knows utterly everything about us.

Done without checking:
(1) Who was the first person to circumnavigate the world without stopping?
Captain Cook
(2) What date was the Battle of Boyne?
Don’t know - 1660??
(3) How many local authorities are there in London?
Don’t know - 12?
(4) Which composer composed music for George the I?
Handel
(5) What significant event took place in 1284?
Don’t know - battle of Bannockburn??
(6) Who is the paralympian who won six gold medals over two Paralympic Games? Tanni Gray Thompson?

People are rather missing the point.

If you read a local guide book for any foreign destination you'll probably come across facts that many locals don't know. That doesn't reflect badly on the locals.

It's not unreasonable for people coming to this country to be asked to learn a little about our history and how we 'got' here. The fact that many British born people can't answer those questions reflects badly on the shallow thinking progressive curriculum setters who believe that deriding anything as pale, male and stale is a profound justification of their own wrong-headed thinking.

I don't understand WTF the first person to circumnavigate the globe has to do with British citizenship, given that they weren't British?

Nope. Not a scooby after 53yrs of being British.

What ridiculous questions to ask. What relevance do they have.to anything?

I'm not at all convinced that is true. The usual revision is just cramming in questions and answers. There's no context or understanding needed for of any of it. For example, you can remember the date of a battle, without ever learning a single thing about the battle. If it's intended purpose is understanding culture and history, it isn't fit for purpose.

They are evil questions! I don't think I actually know any of them, and could only guess.

1. there was a man who sailed around the world in a yacht in perhaps early 1970s but no idea of his name!
2. No idea!
3. About 20??
4. I think George 1st was around 1700s? so I'd guess Handel or Bach?? Or possibly Mozart but I think he was born a bit too late.
5. No idea!
6. Ellie Simmonds (swimmer)? Although I think some of her gods are not Paralympics.

I probably got a big fat zero on those!

No, it doesn't reflect badly on current curriculum setters, given that the MN population reflects all ages. In my case, it may say something about the curriculum in the 1960s. Or it may say that these are fairly silly questions to choose.

Da was so incredibly happy on the day he passed his Australian citizenship - leading up to it he told anyone and everyone he could what he was doing. He has the photo of the day on a shelf in his living room. This was before social media and anything beyond a Nokia brick.
The details he had to learn have probably been forgotten by him now but he definitely appreciated the fact that he needed to learn them, to show a certain level dedication to his new home. It wasn’t the details themselves but the act of studying for it. He is an Aussie through and through now, and proud of it.

I’m duel citizenship by birth, but I’m proud to hold both passports. I’ve lived here far longer than I have in Oz and consider myself a Londoner first, then equally UK/Oz.

I guess if you’re coming at it from the point of being an EU citizen, having to take on the UK test might be less of a moment. But surely for anyone else it’s something to be invested in, emotionally? At least a little bit.

I don't know any!
What ridiculous questions.

(1) Vascoda Gama?
(2) 1650?
(3) 8?
(4) Hayden?
(5) King John signed Magna Carta?
(6) De Jardin (can't remember 1st name), dressage

Number 4 -Handel,and that's it.

I thought the answer was Christopher Columbus 😳 😂 🙈

The intention is for people to read the book to learn things in context. The fact that many people can't be bothered to do that, but seemingly prefer to learn things as a list of things to remember (eg practising tests online) is another thing. People always try to take shortcuts. This goes for most learning. The university students I teach also often try to take shortcuts and too often try to 'learn' things out of context.

@PlainJaneSuperbrainthe2nd Is the Magma Carter, Floor is lava day?

Not a clue about any of them.

I got 2: The composer and the Battle of the Boyne. I only knew the latter because I read a book by Irvine Welsh in which a subplot was that a lot of bank cards were stolen from Rangers supporters and half of them had that date as their PIN code. 🤣

Zero. Born and raised in the UK and absolutely not a clue.

My DH is not an EU citizen. He was very happy to pass the test. But the test was a means to an end, not a celebration in and of itself. Perhaps the Australian test was more relevant and meaningful, I have no idea. But cramming multiple choice Q&As is hardly something to be emotionally invested in. I can't imagine anyone thinking it is.

This is easily solved by putting another scone on top, so it's scone jam cream scone. Then just eat it sideways.

You want all 3?

George V
Edward VIII
George VI

😏

My post was lighthearted, in case you missed the grin emoji.

I hope there’s a question about the Magna Carta somewhere! 15th June 1215

Otherwise, no.

@PlainJaneSuperbrainthe2nd Is the Magma Carter, Floor is lava day?
🤣 I might have remembered the year if it was

Cant answer one single one.