Zadania 9 & 10 — Matching tables, matching lists and multiple choice + open factual questions
Matching Tables
Table 1: Four National Parks of the UK
A. the UK’s first National Park, designated in 1951
B. Windermere, the largest lake in England
C. the least populated of the fifteen parks, with about 2,000 residents
D. man-made — the flooded peat diggings of medieval times
E. Scotland’s first National Park, established in 2002
F. the starting point of the Pennine Way, at Edale
G. the only National Park designated primarily for its coastal landscape
H. a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017
I. Hadrian’s Wall along its southern boundary
J. the only English National Park with a city — Norwich — inside it
K. Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain
National Park
Item 1
Item 2
Peak District
Lake District
Northumberland
The Broads
Distractors: 3 options do not belong to any of the four national parks above.
Show answers
National Park
Item 1
Item 2
Peak District
A
F
Lake District
B
H
Northumberland
C
I
The Broads
D
J
Distractors: E (Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, Scotland), G (the Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales), K (Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Wales)
Answers: Peak District = A, F | Lake District = B, H | Northumberland = C, I | The Broads = D, J
A: The Peak District was the UK’s original National Park, created in 1951 after the 1932 Kinder Scout mass trespass F: The Pennine Way, which runs along the UK’s spine to Scotland, starts in the Peak District at Edale, at the Nags Head pub B: The Lake District holds England’s largest and deepest lakes and highest peaks; Windermere is England’s largest lake H: In 2017 the Lake District joined the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon and Machu Picchu as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a 'cultural landscape’ C: Northumberland is the least populated of all 15 UK National Parks — around 2,000 people, 0.02 per hectare — and officially the most tranquil I: Northumberland National Park stretches from the Scottish border to just south of Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site D: Dr Joyce Lambert showed in the 1950s that the Broads are the result of medieval peat diggings that flooded by the 14th century J: The Broads is the only English National Park to have a city within it, Norwich; Wroxham is 'the capital of the Broads’ Distractors: E = Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, Scotland — not one of the four rows, G = the Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales — not one of the four rows, K = Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Wales — not one of the four rows.
Table 2: Peaks, Islands and Waters of the Four UK Countries
A. Scafell Pike, 978 m, in the Lake District
B. Ben Nevis, 1,345 m — once a large, active volcano
C. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), 1,085 m
D. Slieve Donard, 850 m, the tallest mountain in the country
E. the Isle of Wight, the largest island in the country
F. Loch Morar, the deepest freshwater lake in the UK
G. Anglesey, the largest island in the Irish Sea
H. Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles
I. Carrauntoohil, 1,038 m, in County Kerry
J. Mount Kosciuszko, 2,228 m, in the Great Dividing Range
K. Achill Island, the largest of the Irish isles
Country
Item 1
Item 2
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Distractors: 3 options do not belong to any of the four countries above.
Show answers
Country
Item 1
Item 2
England
A
E
Scotland
B
F
Wales
C
G
Northern Ireland
D
H
Distractors: I (Carrauntoohil is the highest mountain of the Republic of Ireland, not of a UK country), J (Mount Kosciuszko is Australia's highest peak), K (Achill Island lies off the west coast of the Republic of Ireland)
Answers: England = A, E | Scotland = B, F | Wales = C, G | Northern Ireland = D, H
A: Scafell Pike (978 m) is the tallest mountain in England; the tallest English mountains are in the Lake District E: The Isle of Wight, off the south coast, is the largest island in England B: Ben Nevis (1,345 m) in the Highlands is the tallest mountain in the UK and was once a large active volcano that exploded and collapsed in on itself F: Loch Morar in Scotland is the deepest freshwater lake in the UK C: Snowdon, Yr Wyddfa in Welsh, is the tallest mountain in Wales at 1,085 m G: Anglesey, in the Irish Sea, is the largest of the Welsh islands D: Slieve Donard (850 m) is the tallest mountain in Northern Ireland; the Mourne Mountains are dome mountains H: Lough Neagh, in the centre of Northern Ireland, is the largest lake in the British Isles at 391 sq km Distractors: I = Carrauntoohil is the highest mountain of the Republic of Ireland, not of a UK country, J = Mount Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest peak, K = Achill Island lies off the west coast of the Republic of Ireland.
Table 3: Four National Parks of Australia
A. the largest national park in Australia, nearly 20,000 km²
B. handed back to the Anangu people in 1985
C. a rainforest older than the Amazon
D. Australia’s first national park, established in 1879
E. the Three Sisters rock formation and a haze of eucalyptus oil
F. wetlands where a third of Australia’s bird species live
G. the most popular national park in Australia, drawing millions of visitors
H. Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the sea
I. the world’s second-oldest national park, just south of Sydney
J. the largest alpine ecosystem on mainland Australia
K. the smallest national park in Australia, about 119 km²
National Park
Item 1
Item 2
Kakadu
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
Daintree
Royal
Distractors: 3 options do not belong to any of the four national parks above.
Show answers
National Park
Item 1
Item 2
Kakadu
A
F
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
B
G
Daintree
C
H
Royal
D
I
Distractors: E (the Blue Mountains National Park, west of Sydney), J (Kosciuszko National Park), K (Dorrigo National Park, New South Wales)
Answers: Kakadu = A, F | Uluru-Kata Tjuta = B, G | Daintree = C, H | Royal = D, I
A: Kakadu, in the Northern Territory, covers about 19,804 km² and is the largest national park in Australia F: A third of Australia’s bird species — magpie geese, brolgas, jabirus — live in Kakadu’s wetlands B: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was formally handed back to the Anangu people in 1985 G: Uluru-Kata Tjuta is Australia’s most popular national park, a UNESCO World Heritage site attracting millions of visitors for sunsets over Uluru C: Daintree, in tropical Queensland, holds one of the oldest rainforests on Earth — older than the Amazon H: At Cape Tribulation in Daintree National Park the rainforest meets the sea D: Royal National Park, New South Wales, was established on 26 April 1879 I: Royal National Park is the world’s second-oldest national park after Yellowstone, on the coast just south of Sydney Distractors: E = the Blue Mountains National Park, west of Sydney, J = Kosciuszko National Park, K = Dorrigo National Park, New South Wales.
Table 4: Animals of Australia
A. lives in eucalypt forests along the eastern coast
B. the tallest bird in Australia, up to 2 m
C. a bill like a duck and a tail like a beaver
D. the world’s largest reptile, up to 6 m long
E. a chuckling call that sounds like human laughter
F. eats about 1 kg of eucalyptus leaves a day and sleeps up to 20 hours
G. cannot fly, but runs at up to 50 km/h
H. injects venom through spurs on its hind legs
I. can hold its breath for about an hour and sees underwater through transparent eyelids
J. a sponge-like casque made of keratin on its head
K. the largest carnivorous marsupial
Animal
Item 1
Item 2
Koala
Emu
Platypus
Saltwater crocodile
Distractors: 3 options do not belong to any of the four animals above.
Show answers
Animal
Item 1
Item 2
Koala
A
F
Emu
B
G
Platypus
C
H
Saltwater crocodile
D
I
Distractors: E (the kookaburra, the world's largest kingfisher), J (the cassowary), K (the Tasmanian devil)
Answers: Koala = A, F | Emu = B, G | Platypus = C, H | Saltwater crocodile = D, I
A: Koalas are marsupials living in eucalypt forests along the eastern coastline of Australia F: A koala eats about 1 kg of eucalyptus leaves a day and sleeps up to 20 hours B: The emu is the tallest bird in Australia, up to 2 m tall G: Emus cannot fly, like an ostrich, but run at speeds up to 50 km/h C: The platypus, a monotreme, has webbed feet, a bill like a duck and a tail like a beaver H: If it cannot flee, a platypus injects venom through spurs on its hind legs — strong enough to kill a dog D: Saltwater ('salties’) crocodiles are the world’s largest reptiles, up to 6 m long and one tonne I: Crocodiles can stay motionless for an hour, hold their breath for about an hour and have transparent eyelids Distractors: E = the kookaburra, the world’s largest kingfisher, J = the cassowary, K = the Tasmanian devil.
Matching Lists
The most common Zadanie 9 shape: numbered items matched to lettered options, two of which fit nothing. One point per item.
List 1: The highest point of each National Park
Match each national park (9.1.–9.5.) to one option (A–G). Two options are extra and match none of the national parks.
A. Ben More
B. Ben Nevis
C. Black Down
D. Pen y Fan
E. Scafell Pike
F. The Cheviot
G. Whernside
#
National Park
Letter
9.1.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)
9.2.
Lake District
9.3.
Northumberland
9.4.
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
9.5.
South Downs
Show answers
Answers: 9.1 = D | 9.2 = E | 9.3 = F | 9.4 = A | 9.5 = C
9.1 Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) — D: Bannau Brycheiniog is named after the Central Beacons, which rise to 886 m at Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain 9.2 Lake District — E: The Lake District is home to Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain at 978 m 9.3 Northumberland — F: The Cheviot, in the rolling Cheviot Hills on the Scottish border, is Northumberland’s highest point 9.4 Loch Lomond & The Trossachs — A: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs has 21 Munros (mountains above 3,000 ft); the highest is Ben More at 1,174 m 9.5 South Downs — C: Black Down, at 280 m, is the highest point in the South Downs — a park of rolling chalk hills, not mountains Extra options: B = Ben Nevis (1,345 m) is the UK’s highest mountain, in the Scottish Highlands — but it is the high point of neither Scottish park listed; Loch Lomond & The Trossachs tops out at Ben More, G = Whernside is one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, with Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent, in the Yorkshire Dales — a park that is not in the list.
List 2: Record-holding animals of Australia
Match each animal (9.1.–9.5.) to one option (A–G). Two options are extra and match none of the animals.
A. the biggest carnivorous mammal in Australia
B. the heaviest flightless bird in Australia
C. the largest carnivorous marsupial
D. the most venomous marine animal
E. the tallest bird in Australia
F. the world’s largest kingfisher
G. the world’s largest reptile
#
Animal
Letter
9.1.
Dingo
9.2.
Tasmanian devil
9.3.
Cassowary
9.4.
Emu
9.5.
Kookaburra
Show answers
Answers: 9.1 = A | 9.2 = C | 9.3 = B | 9.4 = E | 9.5 = F
9.1 Dingo — A: The dingo is the biggest carnivorous MAMMAL in Australia — a wild dog found all over the country except Tasmania 9.2 Tasmanian devil — C: The Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous MARSUPIAL — an endangered, nocturnal animal the size of a small dog, found in the wild only on Tasmania 9.3 Cassowary — B: The cassowary is the HEAVIEST flightless bird in Australia, with a keratin casque on its head and a dagger-like claw 9.4 Emu — E: The emu is the TALLEST bird in Australia, up to 2 m; like an ostrich it cannot fly, but it runs at up to 50 km/h 9.5 Kookaburra — F: The kookaburra is the world’s largest kingfisher, up to 46 cm, known for a chuckling call that sounds like human laughter Extra options: D = the Australian box jellyfish, whose tentacles up to 3 m long inject poison when touched, G = the saltwater or estuarine crocodile, up to 6 m long and one tonne.
List 3: Islands of the UK
Match each island (9.1.–9.5.) to one option (A–G). Two options are extra and match none of the islands.
A. a Crown dependency in the middle of the Irish Sea, whose parliament is the Tynwald
B. the largest island in England, just off the south coast
C. the largest island in the Irish Sea
D. the largest of the Irish isles, with the third highest sea cliffs in Europe
E. the only inhabited offshore island of Northern Ireland
F. the smallest of the UK islands, off the Isles of Scilly
G. the largest island in the UK
#
Island
Letter
9.1.
Anglesey
9.2.
Bishop Rock
9.3.
The Isle of Man
9.4.
The Isle of Wight
9.5.
Rathlin Island
Show answers
Answers: 9.1 = C | 9.2 = F | 9.3 = A | 9.4 = B | 9.5 = E
9.1 Anglesey — C: Anglesey, off Wales, is the largest island in the Irish Sea 9.2 Bishop Rock — F: Bishop Rock, off the Scilly Isles in southern England, is the smallest of the UK islands 9.3 The Isle of Man — A: The Isle of Man lies in the middle of the Irish Sea between the two major islands; a dependency of the British Crown, its parliament, the Tynwald, claims to be the oldest continuously ruling body in the world 9.4 The Isle of Wight — B: The Isle of Wight, just off the south coast, is the largest island in England 9.5 Rathlin Island — E: Rathlin Island, off the north coast, is the only inhabited offshore island in Northern Ireland Extra options: D = Achill Island, off the west coast of the Republic of Ireland — not a UK island, G = Great Britain itself — the main island of England, Scotland and Wales — is the largest island in the UK.
List 4: Environment vocabulary
Match each term (9.1.–9.5.) to one option (A–G). Two options are extra and match none of the terms.
A. anything, such as a wetland, that absorbs more carbon than it releases
B. carbon dioxide trapping heat from the sun and raising the Earth’s temperature
C. countryside around towns and cities where building is not allowed, or is very limited
D. the long-term pattern of weather in a place over many years
E. rotten plants at the bottom of a bog, which can be dug up and burned as fuel
F. the release of harmful substances into the environment
G. using the Earth so that there are enough resources left for the future
#
Term
Letter
9.1.
A carbon sink
9.2.
Green belt
9.3.
Sustainability
9.4.
The greenhouse effect
9.5.
Peat
Show answers
Answers: 9.1 = A | 9.2 = C | 9.3 = G | 9.4 = B | 9.5 = E
9.1 A carbon sink — A: Wetlands act as carbon sinks because their plants absorb carbon dioxide — one of the reasons they matter 9.2 Green belt — C: Green belt is a special type of countryside around towns and cities where building is not allowed at all, or is very limited 9.3 Sustainability — G: Sustainability means using the Earth so that there are enough resources for the future 9.4 The greenhouse effect — B: Carbon dioxide traps heat from the sun — the greenhouse effect — and raises the Earth’s temperature, which is global warming 9.5 Peat — E: In a bog, rotten plants at the bottom form peat, which can be used as fuel; bogs were destroyed for centuries to dig it Extra options: D = the definition of CLIMATE — weather is the short-term condition of the atmosphere; the difference is time, F = the definition of POLLUTION, which can happen naturally (a volcanic eruption) or through human activity.
List 5: When was each National Park designated?
Match each national park (9.1.–9.4.) to one option (A–F). Two options are extra and match none of the national parks.
A. 1949
B. 1951
C. 1989
D. 2002
E. 2003
F. 2010
#
National Park
Letter
9.1.
Peak District
9.2.
The Broads
9.3.
Cairngorms
9.4.
South Downs
Show answers
Answers: 9.1 = B | 9.2 = C | 9.3 = E | 9.4 = F
9.1 Peak District — B: The Peak District, designated in 1951, was the UK’s first National Park, largely because of the 1932 Kinder Scout trespass 9.2 The Broads — C: The Broads gained National Park-equivalent status in 1989 — Britain’s largest protected wetland 9.3 Cairngorms — E: The Cairngorms, Scotland’s largest park, was created in 2003, a year after Loch Lomond & The Trossachs 9.4 South Downs — F: The South Downs, the UK’s newest National Park, officially came into being on 1 April 2010 Extra options: A = 1949 is the year Parliament passed the Act establishing National Parks; the first park itself came two years later, D = 2002 is Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, Scotland’s first National Park — not in the list.
List 6: The longest river
Match each country (9.1.–9.4.) to one option (A–F). Two options are extra and match none of the countries.
A. the River Bann
B. the River Severn
C. the River Shannon
D. the River Tay
E. the River Thames
F. the River Tywi
#
Country
Letter
9.1.
The United Kingdom (as a whole)
9.2.
Scotland
9.3.
Wales
9.4.
Northern Ireland
Show answers
Answers: 9.1 = B | 9.2 = D | 9.3 = F | 9.4 = A
9.1 The United Kingdom (as a whole) — B: The River Severn, 354 km / 220 miles, is the longest river in the UK; a bridge over it links England with Wales 9.2 Scotland — D: The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland 9.3 Wales — F: The River Tywi is the longest river in Wales 9.4 Northern Ireland — A: The River Bann is the longest river in Northern Ireland Extra options: C = the River Shannon is the longest river of the Republic of Ireland, over 350 km, running through Limerick — not a UK river, E = the River Thames is England’s most famous river, the one London was built on, but at 354 km the Severn is longer.
List 7: Which county is the National Park in?
Match each national park (9.1.–9.4.) to one option (A–F). Two options are extra and match none of the national parks.
A. Cumbria
B. Derbyshire
C. Devon
D. Hampshire
E. Norfolk
F. Somerset
#
National Park
Letter
9.1.
Dartmoor
9.2.
Lake District
9.3.
New Forest
9.4.
The Broads
Show answers
Answers: 9.1 = C | 9.2 = A | 9.3 = D | 9.4 = E
9.1 Dartmoor — C: Dartmoor is a vast moorland in the county of Devon, with granite tors and the prison at Princetown 9.2 Lake District — A: The Lake District covers 912 square miles in the north-west of Cumbria 9.3 New Forest — D: The New Forest stretches across Hampshire and Wiltshire 9.4 The Broads — E: The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads are a network of waterways and fens in East Anglia Extra options: B = Derbyshire is the Peak District — Ladybower Reservoir is 'in the Peak District, Derbyshire’ — and the Peak District is not in the list, F = Somerset, with Devon, holds Exmoor — the other south-western moor, not in the list.
List 8: Landmarks of Australia’s national parks
Match each national park (9.1.–9.4.) to one option (A–F). Two options are extra and match none of the national parks.
A. Cape Tribulation
B. the Olgas
C. Mount Kosciuszko
D. the Three Sisters
E. the Twelve Apostles
F. Aboriginal rock art in Arnhem Land
#
National Park
Letter
9.1.
Kakadu
9.2.
Daintree
9.3.
Blue Mountains
9.4.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
Show answers
Answers: 9.1 = F | 9.2 = A | 9.3 = D | 9.4 = B
9.1 Kakadu — F: Kakadu, in the Northern Territory, holds ancient Aboriginal rock art dating back tens of thousands of years, including the rock art of Arnhem Land 9.2 Daintree — A: Cape Tribulation, in Daintree National Park, is where the rainforest meets the sea 9.3 Blue Mountains — D: The Three Sisters rock formation is the icon of the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney 9.4 Uluru-Kata Tjuta — B: Kata Tjuta, also called the Olgas, is the second rock formation of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, beside Uluru (Ayers Rock) Extra options: C = Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, is the summit of Kosciuszko National Park — not in the list, E = the Twelve Apostles stand along the Great Ocean Road, outside the national parks listed.
Multiple Choice
The 2021/22 Zadanie 9 shape: four gapped sentences, one correct option in A–D. One point each.
Set 1: National Parks of the UK
Complete each sentence by choosing A, B, C or D.
9.1.
The UK’s newest National Park, the South Downs, officially came into being in _______.
Show answer
C
The South Downs came into being on 1 April 2010. The other years are real park milestones: 1989 the Broads, 2005 the New Forest, 2017 the Lake District’s UNESCO listing.
9.2.
The 1932 mass trespass that started the campaign for access to the countryside took place on _______.
Show answer
A
The Kinder Scout mass trespass in the Peak District led to five men being imprisoned and, nineteen years later, to the first National Park. Malham Cove is in the Yorkshire Dales, Pen y Fan in Bannau Brycheiniog, Scafell Pike in the Lake District.
9.3.
Hadrian’s Wall runs along the southern boundary of _______ National Park.
Show answer
B
Northumberland National Park stretches from the Scottish border to just south of Hadrian’s Wall, on the Whin Sill ridge. The Sill discovery centre stands beside the Wall at Once Brewed.
9.4.
William the Conqueror created the New Forest in 1079 for _______.
Show answer
D
The New Forest was a royal hunting ground for deer and pigs. Ship-building, salt-making and 500 years of military coastal defence are the park’s LATER heritage, listed on the same page.
Set 2: Landscapes of the UK
Complete each sentence by choosing A, B, C or D.
9.1.
The lake that contains the most freshwater in the British Isles is _______.
Show answer
D
Loch Ness, 37 km long and 230 m deep, holds the most freshwater in the British Isles. Each wrong option holds a different record: Lough Neagh is the largest lake by area, Loch Morar the deepest, Windermere the largest in England.
9.2.
The columns of the Giant’s Causeway are made of _______.
Show answer
A
The Causeway’s columns are basalt — lava from a volcanic eruption about 60 million years ago that cooled, contracted and cracked. Granite forms Dartmoor’s tors, limestone the Yorkshire Dales’ pavements, old red sandstone the valleys of Bannau Brycheiniog.
9.3.
The smallest city in the UK is _______.
Show answer
B
St Davids in Wales, population about 1,600, is the UK’s smallest city. Wells, Ely and Salisbury are the small English settlements that are cities because they have a cathedral.
9.4.
The Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland are an example of _______ mountains.
Show answer
C
Dome mountains form when magma swells up under the Earth’s crust without breaking through. The Highlands are fold mountains, Arthur’s Seat is volcanic, and the Black Mountains in Wales are a plateau.
Set 3: Australia: land and records
Complete each sentence by choosing A, B, C or D.
9.1.
Australia’s lowest point, 15 metres below sea level, is _______.
Show answer
A
Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre) in central Australia is the lowest point and also the country’s largest salt lake. The Murray is the longest river, the Great Victoria the largest desert, Port Jackson the harbour where Sydney began.
9.2.
The Great Dividing Range, Australia’s longest mountain range, stretches over _______.
Show answer
C
The Great Dividing Range stretches over 3,500 km. The near-misses come from the same page: the Murray River is 2,508 km long, and Australia is about 4,000 km wide from west to east.
9.3.
The only major Australian city located inland is _______.
Show answer
D
Canberra, the capital, lies about 150 km inland from the Pacific coast. Alice Springs is the main city of the interior but not a major city; Darwin and Perth are on the coast.
9.4.
Colonisation of Australia began on 26 January 1788, when Captain Arthur Phillip landed at _______.
Show answer
B
Phillip landed at Port Jackson, later Sydney, and on 7 February proclaimed the colony of New South Wales. Melbourne was the seat of government until it moved to Canberra in 1927.
Set 4: Australia’s national parks
Complete each sentence by choosing A, B, C or D.
9.1.
The world’s second-oldest national park, established in 1879, is _______.
Show answer
C
Royal National Park, on the coast just south of Sydney, was established on 26 April 1879 — second in the world only to Yellowstone. Kakadu is the largest park, Uluru-Kata Tjuta the most popular.
9.2.
In 1985 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was handed back to its traditional custodians, the _______.
Show answer
A
The Anangu are the traditional custodians of Uluru; their law, Tjukurpa, guides the park. The Bininj care for Kakadu, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji co-manage Daintree, and the Ngarigo help guide Kosciuszko.
9.3.
The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, take their name from _______.
Show answer
B
The eucalyptus trees release a fine mist of oil that creates the blue haze which gives the park its name. Glacial lakes and alpine meadows belong to Kosciuszko National Park.
9.4.
The largest national park in Australia, covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres, is _______.
Show answer
D
Kakadu, in the Northern Territory, covers about 19,804 sq km — one of the largest national parks in the world, with wetlands, escarpments and saltwater crocodiles.
Set 5: Environment and wildlife protection
Complete each sentence by choosing A, B, C or D.
9.1.
The UK government aims to cut carbon emissions by 78% by _______.
Show answer
B
The target is a 78% cut by 2035, and almost zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 — the second date is the near-miss.
9.2.
Bogs are wetlands fed by _______, whereas fens are fed by groundwater.
Show answer
A
Bogs are waterlogged by rainfall and have spongy, nutrient-poor soil; fens are always full of groundwater. Marshes form near rivers and coasts, and swamps are marshes with trees.
9.3.
The free-roaming ponies, cattle, donkeys and pigs of the New Forest belong to local people known as _______.
Show answer
C
The animals are 'the architects of the Forest’ and are owned by commoners under a historic commoning system. Rangers are National Park Authority staff; crofts are the small farms of the Cairngorms.
9.4.
The Great Barrier Reef supports _______ of the world’s seven species of threatened marine turtles.
Show answer
D
Six of the seven threatened marine turtle species live on the reef, along with more than 1,500 species of fish and 400 species of hard coral.
Open Factual Questions
Question 1
The UK has the third longest coastline in Europe. Which two countries have longer ones?
Show answer
Norway; Denmark (counting Greenland)
At 12,430 km the UK’s coastline is the third longest in Europe, after Norway and Denmark (whose figure includes Greenland).
Question 2
Which is the smallest of the UK’s islands, lying off the Scilly Isles?
Show answer
Bishop Rock
Bishop Rock, off the Isles of Scilly in southern England, is the smallest of the UK islands.
Question 3
Which is the only inhabited offshore island of Northern Ireland?
Show answer
Rathlin Island
Rathlin Island, off the north coast, is the only inhabited offshore island in Northern Ireland.
Question 4
Which is the largest island in England, and which is the largest island in the Irish Sea?
Show answer
The Isle of Wight; Anglesey
The Isle of Wight, off the south coast, is the largest island in England. Anglesey, off Wales, is the largest island in the Irish Sea.
Question 5
Which archipelago off the coast of Cornwall is known for its subtropical climate?
Show answer
The Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly, a small archipelago off the south-west coast of Cornwall, are known for their subtropical climate and unique flora.
Question 6
What is the parliament of the Isle of Man called? It claims to be the oldest continuously ruling body in the world.
Show answer
The Tynwald
The Isle of Man, a Crown dependency in the middle of the Irish Sea, has a parliament called the Tynwald, which claims to be the world’s oldest continuously ruling body.
Question 7
What separates Great Britain from continental Europe, and what connects them under the sea?
Show answer
The English Channel; the Channel Tunnel
England is separated from the continent by the 21-mile (34 km) English Channel and connected to it by the undersea Channel Tunnel.
Question 8
Nowhere in the UK is more than a certain distance from the sea. What is that distance?
Show answer
125 km (77 miles)
Nowhere in the UK is more than 125 km / 77 miles from the sea — the country sits mainly on two large islands in the Atlantic.
Question 9
Which UK mountain, the highest in the country, was once a large, active volcano that exploded and collapsed in on itself?
Show answer
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis (1,345 m), in the Scottish Highlands, is the tallest mountain in the UK and was once a large active volcano.
Question 10
The Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland were formed by magma swelling up under the Earth’s crust without breaking through. What type of mountain are they?
Show answer
Dome mountains
Bitesize gives the Mourne Mountains as the UK example of dome mountains; the Highlands are fold mountains and the Black Mountains in Wales are a plateau.
Question 11
What is the highest peak in southern Britain, and how high is it?
Show answer
Pen y Fan; 886 m
Pen y Fan in the Central Beacons of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park rises to 886 m, the highest peak in southern Britain.
Question 12
What is the longest river in Scotland, and the longest in Northern Ireland?
Show answer
The River Tay; the River Bann
Bitesize lists the longest river in each country: the Severn (England), the Tay (Scotland), the Bann (Northern Ireland) and the Tywi (Wales).
Question 13
Ladybower Reservoir in the Peak District was made by flooding a river valley. Which river fills it?
Show answer
The River Derwent
A dam across the valley traps the water of the River Derwent; the villages in the valley were lost. Ladybower is one of three dams supplying Nottingham, Leicester and Derby.
Question 14
Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the British Isles. Which is the deepest freshwater lake in the UK?
Show answer
Loch Morar
Lough Neagh (391 sq km, in the centre of Northern Ireland) is the largest lake by area; Loch Morar in Scotland is the deepest.
Question 15
Loch Ness lies above which geological fault, and what record does it hold among the lakes of the British Isles?
Show answer
The Great Glen fault; it contains the most freshwater
Loch Ness sits in a glacial valley above the Great Glen fault, where two tectonic plates moved past each other; at 37 km long and 230 m deep it contains the most freshwater in the British Isles.
Question 16
Windermere, the largest lake in England, formed in a valley carved out by a glacier. What type of lake is it?
Show answer
A ribbon lake
Glaciers widened river valleys into U-shaped valleys that filled with water — ribbon lakes. Windermere is 17 km long and 1.6 km wide.
Question 17
What are lakes called in Wales, and what is a large, shallow lake called in England?
Show answer
Llyns; a mere
Lakes are lochs in Scotland, loughs in Northern Ireland and llyns in Wales; a large shallow lake is a mere and a small one a pond.
Question 18
The columns of the Giant’s Causeway are made of which rock, and how did they form?
Show answer
Basalt; lava from a volcanic eruption cooled, contracted and cracked into columns
About 60 million years ago lava poured from fissures; as it cooled it contracted and cracked into column-like basalt. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Question 19
Which seaside town in north-west England is the only beach resort in the UK with three piers?
Show answer
Blackpool
Blackpool, on a sandy coast by the Irish Sea, is the only UK beach resort with three piers; it rests on soft rock and needs a sea defence wall.
Question 20
Spurn Head in England is an example of which coastal landform, created by deposition?
Show answer
A spit
Stones and sand carried to sheltered parts of the coast are deposited as beaches, spits and sand dunes; Spurn Head is Bitesize’s example of a spit.
Question 21
Which warm ocean current, flowing north-east from the Gulf of Mexico, gives the UK a mild climate?
Show answer
The Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream carries warm water across the Atlantic towards the UK; despite its latitude, Scotland’s climate is temperate because of it.
Question 22
Why do Northern Ireland, Wales and the western parts of England and Scotland get the most wind and rain?
Show answer
The mountains in the north and west force the moist western winds to rise and cool, forming clouds and rain
The UK’s climate is shaped by western winds bringing moisture; where mountains force that air to rise and cool, more cloud and rain form. The south-east of England, reached by hot air from Africa in summer, is the warmest region.
Question 23
Bogs and fens are both waterlogged wetlands. Where does each get its water from?
Show answer
Bogs from rainfall; fens from groundwater
Bogs are fed by rainwater and fens, in the lowlands, by groundwater. In both, dead plants cannot rot and build up as peat.
Question 24
What did the botanist Dr Joyce Lambert discover about the Norfolk Broads in the 1950s?
Show answer
That they are man-made — flooded medieval peat diggings
The Broads were thought to be natural until Dr Lambert’s research showed they are peat pits dug for fuel in medieval times and flooded by the 14th century.
Question 25
How many cities are there in the UK, and which is the smallest?
Show answer
76; St Davids (in Wales)
The UK has 76 cities — 55 in England, 8 in Scotland, 7 in Wales and 6 in Northern Ireland. The smallest is St Davids in Wales, with about 1,600 people.
Question 26
Historically, what building did a settlement need in order to be made a city?
Show answer
A cathedral
City status is awarded by the monarch. A settlement once had to have a cathedral, which is why small places such as Wells, Ely and Salisbury are still cities.
Question 27
Which river runs through Cardiff, and what did the city’s port trade in during the 19th century?
Show answer
The River Taff; coal
Cardiff stands at the mouth of the Severn with the River Taff running through it; coal mining in Wales turned it into an important coal-trading port. Its derelict docks are now Cardiff Bay.
Question 28
In which year did the mass trespass on Kinder Scout take place, and how many men were imprisoned as a result?
Show answer
1932; five
The 1932 mass trespasses on Kinder Scout in the Peak District led to five men being imprisoned — and, in 1951, to the Peak District becoming the first National Park.
Question 29
Which MP introduced the first 'freedom to roam’ bill to Parliament, in 1884?
Show answer
James Bryce
James Bryce MP’s 1884 bill failed, but it started the campaign that ended with the 1949 Act of Parliament establishing National Parks.
Question 30
Which was the UK’s first National Park, and in which year was it designated?
Show answer
The Peak District; 1951
The Peak District, close to Manchester and Sheffield, was designated in 1951; the Lake District, Dartmoor and Snowdonia followed the same year.
Question 31
Which is the UK’s newest National Park, and in which year did it come into being?
Show answer
The South Downs; 2010
The South Downs officially came into being on 1 April 2010 after decades of campaigning — the most populated National Park, with over 117,000 residents.
Question 32
Which of the four UK countries has no National Park?
Show answer
Northern Ireland
The 15 UK National Parks are 10 in England, 3 in Wales and 2 in Scotland — none in Northern Ireland.
Question 33
Which is the largest and most northerly National Park in the UK?
Show answer
The Cairngorms
The Cairngorms (1,748 square miles) is the biggest and most northerly National Park in Britain, with the UK’s highest range of mountains; Balmoral lies within it.
Question 34
Which National Park is the least populated of the fifteen, with only about 2,000 residents?
Show answer
Northumberland
Northumberland is England’s northernmost and officially most tranquil National Park — 0.02 people per hectare — and holds Europe’s largest protected Dark Sky Park.
Question 35
Which National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017?
Show answer
The Lake District
In 2017 the Lake District joined the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon and Machu Picchu on the World Heritage list, as a 'cultural landscape’.
Question 36
Which is the only English National Park with a city inside it, and which city is it?
Show answer
The Broads; Norwich
The Broads in Norfolk — Britain’s largest protected wetland — is the only English National Park with a city, Norwich, within it.
Question 37
Which is the only UK National Park designated primarily for its coastal landscape?
Show answer
The Pembrokeshire Coast
The Pembrokeshire Coast, one of the smallest parks, is Britain’s only truly coastal National Park; nowhere in it is more than ten miles from the sea.
Question 38
In 2023 the Brecon Beacons adopted its Welsh name as its official title. What is that name, and which other Welsh park had done the same?
Show answer
Bannau Brycheiniog; Eryri (Snowdonia)
Both parks now use their Welsh names as their official titles; Welsh is spoken by 58% of Eryri’s population.
Question 39
Which was Scotland’s first National Park, and in which year was it established?
Show answer
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs; 2002
The National Parks (Scotland) Act of 2000 created Loch Lomond & The Trossachs in 2002 and the Cairngorms in 2003.
Question 40
Who created the New Forest as a royal hunting ground, and in which year?
Show answer
William the Conqueror; 1079
William the Conqueror created the New Forest in 1079 to hunt deer and pigs. Its free-roaming ponies, cattle, donkeys and pigs, owned by commoners, are 'the architects of the Forest’.
Question 41
Which long-distance path, running along 'the UK’s spine’ to Scotland, starts in the Peak District at Edale?
Show answer
The Pennine Way
The Pennine Way starts at the Nags Head pub in Edale and runs north along the Pennines into Scotland.
Question 42
Which Roman monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, marks the southern edge of Northumberland National Park?
Show answer
Hadrian’s Wall
Northumberland National Park stretches from the Scottish border to just south of Hadrian’s Wall; The Sill discovery centre stands beside its most iconic stretches.
Question 43
Which National Park has the longest cave system in the UK and half of the country’s limestone pavements?
Show answer
The Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the most extensive caving area in the UK (the Three Counties System) and has limestone pavements such as Malham Cove, plus 8,000 km of dry-stone walls.
Question 44
Which National Park has the highest coastline on the British mainland and was Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve?
Show answer
Exmoor
Exmoor’s coast reaches 314 m above sea level, with England’s highest sea cliffs at Great Hangman; its 60 km coastline is the first stage of the South West Coast Path.
Question 45
What is Lili’r Wyddfa in English, and where does it grow?
Show answer
The Snowdon Lily; only on the highest peaks of Eryri (Snowdonia)
Lili’r Wyddfa, the Snowdon Lily, is the rarest plant in Eryri and grows only at its highest peaks. Yr Wyddfa itself was under the sea 500 million years ago — shell fossils have been found at its summit.
Question 46
Which town on the River Wye, in the Brecon Beacons National Park, is famous for its bookshops and its literature festival?
Show answer
Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye, once a Norman castle town on a coal route, draws tourists with its many bookshops, a yearly literature festival, a Thursday market and canoeing on the Wye.
Question 47
By what percentage does the UK government aim to cut carbon emissions by 2035?
Show answer
78%
The UK target is a 78% cut by 2035 and almost zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 — through renewable energy, electric cars, energy-efficient buildings, tree planting and recycling.
Question 48
Which greenhouse gas is released from landfills and is also produced by cows?
Show answer
Methane
Methane escapes from landfills where rubbish is buried and is produced by cattle, which is why eating less beef is listed as a way to cut emissions.
Question 49
What is the term for anything — a wetland, for instance — that absorbs more carbon than it releases?
Show answer
A carbon sink
Wetlands act as carbon sinks because their plants absorb carbon dioxide; peat locks the carbon away. Planting trees is another way of removing carbon dioxide from the air.
Question 50
What is 'green belt’ land?
Show answer
Countryside around towns and cities where building is not allowed, or is very limited
Green belt is a special type of countryside around towns and cities; National Parks and other protected sites likewise cannot be built on or changed.
Question 51
What is the highest mountain in Ireland, and in which county is it?
Show answer
Carrauntoohil; County Kerry
Carrauntoohil, 1,038 m, in County Kerry in the south-west, is Ireland’s highest peak.
Question 52
Which is the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland?
Show answer
Lough Corrib
Lough Corrib is the largest lake in the Republic and the deepest on the island; the island’s largest lake, Lough Neagh, is in Northern Ireland.
Question 53
Which is the largest of the Irish islands, and what natural feature is it known for?
Show answer
Achill Island; the third highest sea cliffs in Europe
Achill Island, off the west coast, was first settled around 3,000 BC and is known for the third highest sea cliffs in Europe; Keem Bay nearby has a famous beach.
Question 54
Roughly how long is the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland?
Show answer
About 490 km (304 miles)
The border is about 490 km long; Northern Ireland’s land area is about five times smaller than the Republic’s.
Question 55
What is Australia’s highest peak, and in which mountain range does it stand?
Show answer
Mount Kosciuszko; the Great Dividing Range
Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) stands in the Great Dividing Range, Australia’s longest mountain range at over 3,500 km.
Question 56
What is Australia’s lowest point, and what other record does it hold?
Show answer
Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre); it is Australia’s largest salt lake
Kati Thanda, or Lake Eyre, in central Australia lies 15 m below sea level and is also the country’s largest salt lake.
Question 57
What is the longest river in Australia?
Show answer
The Murray River
The Murray, at 2,508 km, is Australia’s longest river.
Question 58
Name Australia’s two self-governing territories.
Show answer
The Northern Territory; the Australian Capital Territory
Australia has six states — New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia — and two self-governing territories, the Northern Territory and the ACT around Canberra.
Question 59
Which is the largest state of Australia, and which is the smallest?
Show answer
Western Australia; Tasmania
Western Australia is the largest state and the island of Tasmania the smallest; New South Wales is the most populous.
Question 60
Which is the largest desert in Australia, covering much of Western Australia and South Australia?
Show answer
The Great Victoria Desert
About 35% of Australia is desert and about 70% is outback; the Great Victoria Desert is the largest.
Question 61
Which is the only major Australian city located inland?
Show answer
Canberra
Canberra, the capital, lies about 150 km inland from the Pacific coast and 280 km south-west of Sydney; Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide are all on or near the coast.
Question 62
Uluru, in the centre of Australia, holds which world record?
Show answer
It is the largest free-standing rock in the world
Uluru, formerly Ayers Rock, is the largest free-standing rock in the world and sacred to the Anangu people.
Question 63
The Great Barrier Reef is made up of roughly how many reefs, and how many islands?
Show answer
More than 3,000 reefs; 900 islands
The world’s biggest coral reef system consists of more than 3,000 reefs and 900 islands, with over 350 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish.
Question 64
What are Australia’s national flower and national gemstone?
Show answer
The golden wattle; the opal
The golden wattle (an acacia) is the national flower and the opal the national gemstone; the national animals are the kangaroo and the emu.
Question 65
When and where did Captain Arthur Phillip land to begin the colonisation of Australia?
Show answer
26 January 1788; Port Jackson (later Sydney)
Captain Cook had mapped the east coast in 1770; on 26 January 1788 — now Australia Day — Arthur Phillip landed at Port Jackson and proclaimed the colony of New South Wales.
Question 66
Which is Australia’s largest national park, and in which territory is it?
Show answer
Kakadu; the Northern Territory
Kakadu National Park covers about 19,804 sq km of wetlands, escarpments and floodplains, with saltwater crocodiles and ancient Aboriginal rock art; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Question 67
Which was Australia’s first national park, and in which year was it established?
Show answer
The Royal National Park; 1879
Royal National Park, on the coast just south of Sydney, was established on 26 April 1879 — the world’s second-oldest national park after Yellowstone.
Question 68
Who are the traditional custodians of Uluru, and in which year was the national park handed back to them?
Show answer
The Anangu people; 1985
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was formally handed back to the Anangu in 1985; their spiritual law, Tjukurpa, guides its management.
Question 69
What gives the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, their name?
Show answer
A blue haze created by a fine mist of oil released by the eucalyptus trees
The eucalyptus forests release a fine mist of oil that creates the characteristic blue haze; the park is also known for the Three Sisters rock formation.
Question 70
Which national park in tropical Queensland protects a rainforest older than the Amazon?
Show answer
Daintree National Park
Daintree holds one of the oldest rainforests on Earth, home to the endangered cassowary; at Cape Tribulation the rainforest meets the sea.
Question 71
What proportion of Australia’s land area is protected as national parks?
Show answer
About 4.2%
Roughly 4.2% of Australia’s land — over 352,000 sq km — lies in national parks; the country has over 500 of them.
Question 72
The platypus and the echidna are the world’s only egg-laying mammals. What is this group of mammals called?
Show answer
Monotremes
Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs; Australia’s platypus and two echidna species are the only ones in the world.
Question 73
What is the biggest carnivorous mammal in Australia, and in which part of the country is it not found?
Show answer
The dingo; Tasmania
Dingoes, wild dogs, are found all over Australia except Tasmania and live mainly in the outback.
Question 74
Which endangered animal is the largest carnivorous marsupial and lives in the wild on only one island?
Show answer
The Tasmanian devil
The Tasmanian devil is found in the wild only on Tasmania; nocturnal, the size of a small dog, with powerful jaws.
Question 75
Which Australian bird is the world’s largest kingfisher, known for a call that sounds like human laughter?
Show answer
The kookaburra
The kookaburra grows up to 46 cm from beak to tail and is known for its chuckling voice.
Question 76
Which is the world’s largest reptile, found in the waters of Kakadu National Park?
Show answer
The saltwater (estuarine) crocodile
'Salties’ grow up to 6 m and one tonne; the freshwater crocodile, the other Australian species, is found only in Australia.
Question 77
Which is the tallest bird in Australia, and how fast can it run?
Show answer
The emu; up to 50 km/h
The emu reaches 2 m in height and, like an ostrich, cannot fly; it defends itself with powerful kicks. Its name comes from the Portuguese 'ema’, large bird.
Question 78
Australian snakes are described as venomous, not poisonous. What is the difference?
Show answer
Venom is injected by a bite or sting; poison harms when it is eaten, swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin
Australian snakes such as the coastal taipan are venomous — they bite; a poison dart frog is poisonous — touching or eating it harms you. Fewer people die in Australia from snake bites or shark attacks each year than from bee stings.