The British Experience Quiz | General

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which nation is 'limey' a slang expression for a British person; especially a British sailor?

Answer: USA

This expression derives from the 18th century tradition of giving British sailors a ration of limes to supplement their diet on-board ships.
The limes, which contain vitamin C, helped to prevent the onset of scurvy experienced by many sailors on long voyages.

2. Which Somerset village, famous for its gorge, gives its name to a type of cheese?

Answer: Cheddar

Cheddar is a beautiful rural village located at the foot of the Mendip Hills in the English county of Somerset.
Along with the limestone gorge and caves, with their stalactites and stalagmites, the village also has the remains of a Saxon palace.

3. Conkers is a popular playground game amongst schoolboys in the UK. Which of these are used to play the game of conkers?

Answer: horse chestnuts

The game of conkers originated in the 15th century. It is played with horse chestnuts which are threaded on a string. You take turns to strike your opponents conker which is dangled in front of you. The aim of the game is to smash your opponents conkers from its string. If your prize conker has smashed six others it is known as a 'sixer'. If your 'sixer' destroys a 'fourer' it becomes a 'elevener' (6+4+1) by inheriting the score of the vanquished conker plus one.
How to produce a champion conker -
Select the best conker; these are the ones which sink in water as they have greater density.
Next you can soak it in vinegar or bake it in the oven.
Now put it in a safe place, as the older the conker is the harder it becomes... Happy conkering!

4. On what date do we traditionally celebrate 'Bonfire Night' in the UK?

Answer: 5th November

'Bonfire Night' commemorates the day in 1605 on which a plot to blow up the Parliament of King James I was thwarted. The plot was foiled when explosives were discovered in the cellar of the Palace of Westminster following a tip-off.
Because of his involvement in the conspiracy Guy Fawkes was captured and hanged.
Bonfire Night is marked with firework displays and the burning of an effigy of Guy Fawkes on the fire.

5. Which British seaside resort boasts a Royal Pavilion built in an Oriental style?

Answer: Brighton

The Brighton Royal Pavilion was built in 1782 for the Prince Regent, later to become King George IV.

6. In which part of the UK was the industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie born?

Answer: Scotland

Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland in 1835.
He emigrated to the USA in 1848 and made his vast wealth in the steel industry.

7. What are the main ingredients of the British dish known as 'bubble-and-squeak'?

Answer: potato, cabbage and other vegetables

'Bubble-and-squeak' gets its name from the noise it makes when it is cooked.
Mashed potato and boiled cabbage are mixed together and fried in a pan until crisp and golden on the outside.

8. Which of these is a traditional English folk dance?

Answer: morris dance

The morris dance is traditionally performed by men.
One of the men dresses as a horse and another as a woman.
The other men wave white handkerchiefs, have clusters of small bells around their arms and legs, and wear hats decorated with flowers.
The morris dance is thought to have developed from a pre-Christian fertility ritual.

9. What is stored in an oast house; a circular building with a conical roof?

Answer: hops

An oast house is used to dry and store the hops.
The hops are used to give the bitter flavour to beer.
Oast houses are a fairly common sight in the English county of Kent.

10. Where was the English writer William Shakespeare born?

Answer: Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in the district of Stratford-on-Avon in 1564.
England's best-known dramatist and poet, Shakespeare wrote 38 plays and many sonnets.
He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and died in 1616.

11. Hogmanay would be celebrated in which of these UK cities?

Answer: Edinburgh

Hogmanay is a Scottish name for New Year's Eve, and Edinburgh is in Scotland.

12. British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated in the twentieth century.

Answer: false

Prime Minister Spencer Perceval was shot dead in 1812.
He was assassinated in the Lobby of the House of Commons by John Bellingham.
Bellingham, who was hanged, blamed government regulations for his bankruptcy.

13. What was Diana, Princess of Wales's surname (family name) prior to her marriage to Prince Charles?

Answer: Spencer

Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles at St Paul's Cathedral, London in 1981.
She gave birth to two sons, Prince William in 1982 and Prince Henry (known as Harry) in 1984.
The couple separated in 1992.
The Princess had many charitable interests and campaigned for the banning of land mines.
Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash in Paris, France in 1997.

14. On which day of the year are 'pancake races' traditionally held in the UK?

Answer: Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is the day before the beginning of Lent.
The contestants In a pancake race run the course while flipping a pancake in a pan.
Pancakes are traditionally made to use-up rich food before the 40 day period of fasting.

15. What family relationship does Queen Elizabeth II have with Prince Philip - other than by marriage?

Answer: third cousin

Queen Elizabeth II was born in London on the 21st April 1926.
The Queen married Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) in 1947.
In the same year Prince Philip became a British subject, changing his surname to Mountbatten March.
He is a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

Source: Author musicmonkeyman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor sunfloweruk23 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The British Experience Trivia Quiz

This quiz will be easy for those from the UK and a little more testing for non-Brits. Give it a try - The best of British luck to you!

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