Can you study hard enough to live here?

Why do you have to study if you want to live in the U.K.? 

The answer is that for around ten years or so, the British government has required immigrants who want to live permanently in the U.K. to pass a test.  This is similar to the citizenship tests given in many countries like Canada and Australia.  There are 24 questions about British culture, history, employment and the health system.  The purpose of the test is to show that the candidate has enough English ability to live in the U.K. and enough knowledge about Britain to live without difficulty.  You need to get 18 of the 24 questions correct, or 75% to pass. 

Of course there are some problems with this.  After testing around 11,000 people already living in Britain, it was found that only 14% of people passed it.  If it is so difficult for people already living here then why should immigrants be forced to study for it? 

Here is a very small sample of questions.  Could you get four out of these six questions right?  If not, then the government doesn’t want you!

 

1.The monarch is the head of the Church of England
 True or false?

2.How often are elections held in Britain?
 Every 3 years
 Every 4 years
 At least every 5 years
 Every 7 years

3.A lot of People carve lanterns out of ______ and put a candle inside of them during Halloween    
 Melons
 Pineapples
 Coconuts
 Pumpkins

4.'The Enlightenment' is known as New ideas about politics, philosophy and science that were developed in the 18th century
 The abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire in the 19th century
 New laws introduced in the 18th century to protect workers
 The Industrial Revolution in the 18th century

5.When were women allowed to vote?
 1882
 1948
 1928
 1918

6.What is the Grand National?
 A tennis championship
 A football cup competition
 A horse race
 A motor race

 

Answers: 1: true; 2: at least every five years 3: pumpkins; 4: new ideas about politics, philosophy and science which were developed in the eighteenth century; 5: 1918; 6: a horse race

 

How did you do?  Actually, I left out some harder questions because I don’t want to bore you. 

Recently, I received a permanent resident visa for Japan.  Fortunately, they didn’t have a test like this.  But if they did, what questions should they include?  And could you pass it?

 

Vocabulary:

To require someone to do something – To say that someone has to do something.  For example, the postman often requires you to sign a piece of paper before getting a parcel.

Immigrants – People who move from one country to live in another

Permanent – Without limit of time; forever.

Candidate – Someone who applies for something is a candidate.  Someone who takes an exam or test is often called a candidate.

Monarch – The king or Queen.