Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an author and poet. His best-known novels focus on rural society and include Far from the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure.

The population is very unequally distributed over the four parts of the UK. England more or less consistently makes up 84% of the total population, Wales around 5%, Scotland just over 8% and Northern Ireland less than 3%.

Lucian Freud (1922-2011) was a German-born British artist. He is best known for his portraits.

Most citizens of the UK, the Irish Republic or the Commonwealth aged 18 or over can stand for public office.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, if an accused person is aged 10 to 17, the case is normally heard in a Youth Court in front of up to three specially trained magistrates or a District Judge. In Scotland a system called the Children’s Hearings System is used to deal with children and young people who have committed an offence.

The London Eye is situated on the southern bank of the River Thames and is a Ferris wheel that is 443 feet (135 metres) tall. It was originally built as part of the UK’s celebration of the new millennium and continues to be an important part of New Year celebrations.

The whole of the British Empire was involved in the conflict. More than a million Indians fought on behalf of Britain in lots of different countries, and around 40,000 were killed. Men trom the West Indies, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada also tought with the British.

Civil war between the king and Parliament could not be avoided and began in 1642. The country split into those who supported the king (the Cavaliers) and those who supported Parliament (the Roundheads).

Actors such as Sir Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Sir Rex Harrison and Richard Burton starred in a wide variety of popular films.

Thatcher worked closely with the United States President, Ronald Reagan, and was one of the first Western leaders to recognise and welcome the changes in the leadership of the Soviet Union which eventually led to the end of the Cold War.

J K Rowling (1965-) wrote the Harry Potter series of children’s books, which have enjoyed huge international success. She now writes fiction for adults as well.

To get a UK driving licence you must pass a driving test, which tests both your knowledge and your practical skills.

Many MPs, SMs and MSPs hold regular local surgeries’ where constituents can go in person to talk about issues that are of concern to them. These surgeries are often advertised in the local newspaper.

Protestants Elizabeth I succeeded in finding a balance between the views of Catholics and the more extreme Protestants. In this way, she avoided any serious religious conflict within England.

David Weir is a Paralympian who uses a wheelchair and has won six gold medals over two Paralympic Games. He has also won the London Marathon six times.

Charles Dickens (1812-70) wrote a number of very famous novels, including Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.

The population is very unequally distributed over the four parts of the UK. England more or less consistently makes up 84% of the total population, Wales around 5%, Scotland just over 8% and Northern Ireland less than 3%

Solicitors are trained lawyers who give advice on legal matters, take action for their clients and represent their clients in court.

The King or Queen is the head of state of the UK. She is also the monarch or head of state for many countries in the Commonwealth.

Many people in the UK are waiting for organ transplants. You can register to be an organ donor, which can make it easier for your family to decide whether to donate your organs when you die. Living people can also donate a kidney.

Many people in the UK enjoy cooking. They often invite each other to their homes for dinner. A wide variety of food is eaten in the UK because of the country’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population.

Working with radar led Sir Bernard Lovell (1913-2012) to make new discoveries in astronomy. The radio telescope he built at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire was for many years the biggest in the world and continues to operate today.

Although Britain is one of the world’s most diverse societies, there is a set of shared values and responsibilities that everyone can agree with.

The traditional heavy industries such as shipbuilding were badly affected but new industries - including the automobile and aviation industries - developed. As prices generally fell, those in work had more money to spend. Car ownership doubled from 1 million to 2 million between 1930 and 1939.