Chapter 4 topic practice

British Literature, Art and Music Practice Questions

Attach every name to a field and one representative work. This prevents a famous author, composer or painter from becoming a plausible-looking answer to the wrong question.

Questions with explanations

10 Literature, art and music questions

Choose an answer before opening the explanation. These study questions are presented in static HTML so they can be read without starting a timer or enabling JavaScript.

  1. Sample question 1

    Which British artist was a portrait painter who often painted people in country or garden scenarios?

    • Thomas Gainsborough
    • David Allan
    • Joseph Turner
    • John Constable
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: Thomas Gainsborough

    Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was a portrait painter who often painted people in country or garden scenery.

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  2. Sample question 2

    Who wrote ‘The Lord of the Rings’?

    • JK Rowling
    • JRR Tolkien
    • Sir William Golding
    • Jane Austen
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: JRR Tolkien

    The Lord of the Rings was written by JRR Tolkien.

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  3. Sample question 3

    What do Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel and Julian Barnes have in common?

    • They are British sports players
    • They were awarded with the Man Booker Prize for Fiction
    • They won a Nobel Prize in Literature
    • They were awarded with the Mercury Music Prize
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: They were awarded with the Man Booker Prize for Fiction

    The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded annually for the best fiction novel written by an author from the Commonwealth, Ireland or Zimbabwe. It has been awarded since 1968. Past winners include Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel and Julian Barnes.

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  4. Sample question 4

    What British actor was best known for his roles in various Shakespeare plays?

    • Sir Laurence Olivier
    • Joseph Turner
    • Andrew Lloyd Webber
    • Tim Rice
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: Sir Laurence Olivier

    The Laurence Olivier Awards take place annually at different venues in London. There are a variety of categories, including best director, best actor and best actress. The awards are named after the British actor Sir Laurence Olivier, later Lord Olivier, who was best known for his roles in various Shakespeare plays.

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  5. Sample question 5

    Who composed a suite of pieces themed around the planets and the solar system called ‘The Planets’?

    • The Edward Elgar
    • George Frederick Handel
    • Gustav Holst
    • Sir William Walton
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: Gustav Holst

    Important British composers include Gustav Holst, whose work includes The Planets, a suite of pieces themed around the planets and the solar system.

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  6. Sample question 6

    The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded annually for the best fiction novel written by an author from:

    • The Commonwealth, Ireland or Zimbabwe
    • The European Union, Zambia or Zimbabwe
    • The Commonwealth, the USA or Australia
    • The European Union, Canada or Australia
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: The Commonwealth, Ireland or Zimbabwe

    The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded annually for the best fiction novel written by an author from the Commonwealth, Ireland or Zimbabwe. It has been awarded since 1968.

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  7. Sample question 7

    Jenson Button is a famous:

    • British poet
    • Football player
    • Tennis player
    • Formula 1 driver
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: Formula 1 driver

    Jenson Button is a famous Formula 1 driver.

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  8. Sample question 8

    Which book written by JRR Tolkien was voted the country’s best-loved novel in 2003?

    • Harry Potter
    • The Lord of the Rings
    • Sense and Sensibility
    • Pride and Prejudice
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: The Lord of the Rings

    In 2003, The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien was voted the country’s best-loved novel.

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  9. Sample question 9

    What British writer created the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes?

    • Sir Kingsley Amis
    • Robert Louis Stevenson
    • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
    • Jane Austen
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a Scottish doctor and writer. He was best known for his stories about Sherlock Holmes, who was one of the first fictional detectives.

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  10. Sample question 10

    What is the name of the annual cultural Welsh festival which includes music, dance, art and original performances largely in Welsh?

    • The Arts Festival of Wales
    • The National Eisteddfod of Wales
    • The Music Festival of Wales
    • The National Performance Festival of Wales
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: The National Eisteddfod of Wales

    The National Eisteddfod of Wales is an annual cultural festival which includes music, dance, art and original performances largely in Welsh. It includes a number of important competitions for Welsh poetry.

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