Key points to memorize for Life in the UK test chapter 3

Population

• England makes up the majority of the UK’s population, 84% are living in England, 8% in Scotland, 5% in Wales, and 3% in the Northern Ireland.

• Population has grown since 1971 by 7.7%, some areas, like Northeast and Northwest England, has had a decline in population. Birth rates and death rates are falling too, that is why there are people aged 60 above, or even 85 up.

• A census is a count of the whole population. It collects statistics and some personal info. It is taken every 10 years; the last census was taken on 2001.

• Due to migration on the past few years, UK has been ethnically diverse. It makes up 8.3% of the total UK population.

• The largest ethnic minority groups live on England, 9% of their total population. 2% of the population in Wales and Scotland, and 1% in the Northern Ireland.

The nations and regions of the UK

• The UK is a medium-sized country.

• There are many dialects in the UK. Examples, in England, are Geordie (Tyneside), Scouse (Liverpool), and Cockney (London). In Wales, some speak Welsh. In Scotland, Gaelic is being practiced, or English but it shows influence of the old Scottish language, Scots. In Northern Ireland, some speak Irish Gaelic or Ulster Scots.

Religion

• UK is a Christian society, but everyone has the right to practice their religious beliefs.

• In the 2001 census, it shows that 75% admitted they had a religion, and 7 out of 10 people are Christians. These makes up 71.6% (in which 10% are Roman Catholics) of the total population, the remaining percentage practicing other religions.

• There is a constitutional link between the church and the state. The official church of the state is the Church of England, which is also called the Anglican Church in other countries, and the Episcopal Church in Scotland, and in the USA. It has existed since 1530.

• The King or Queen (monarch) is the head, or Supreme Governor, of the Church of England. The monarch is not allowed to marry who is not a Protestant.

- The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the Church of England.

• The monarch has the right to select the Archbishop and church officials, but the choices are made by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet members.

• In Scotland, the established church is the Presbyterian Church, and its head is the Chief Moderator. No established churches in Wales or Northern Ireland.

• Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Quakers are Protestant groups. 10% are Roman Catholics (40% in Northern Ireland).

• Every country under UK has a patron Saint. Every year, public holidays are announced to honor them.
  • St. David for Wales, celebrated every March 1
  • St. Patrick for Northern Ireland, celebrated every March 17
  • St. George for England, celebrated every April 23
  • St. Andrew for Scotland, celebrated every November 30

Customs and traditions

• As a Christian country, they also celebrate Christian, as well as non-Christian, traditions such as Christmas Day (Dec 25), New Year’s Day (Jan 1), Valentine’s Day (Feb 14), April Fools’ Day (Apr 1), Mother’s Day (3 weeks before Easter), and Halloween (Oct 31).

• They also celebrate / honor public holidays such as Guy Fawkes’ Night (Nov 5) as a remembrance to the failed Gunpowder Plot, and Remembrance Day (Nov 11) commemorating those who died fighting in the World War 1 and 2.

• Sports play an important role in UK. Popular sports include football, tennis, rugby, and cricket. There are different football teams for every country.

• Important sport events include the Grand National horse race, Football Association (FA) cup, Open Golf championship, and Wimbledon tournaments.