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British inventions of the 20th century — Life in the UK Test practice questions

These practice questions cover British inventions of the 20th century, part of the A modern, thriving society chapter of the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. The correct answer and a clear explanation sit under every question.

Practice questions

1 · British inventions of the 20th century

Who developed the television?

  1. Sir Frank Whittle
  2. ✓ John Logie Baird — Correct answer
  3. Alan Turing
  4. Sir Robert Watson-Watt
Explanation

John Logie Baird developed the television in the 1920s. In 1932, he made the first television broadcast between London and Glasgow.

2 · British inventions of the 20th century

Which pair pioneered IVF therapy in Britain?

  1. Sir Peter Mansfield and Sir Tim Berners-Lee
  2. ✓ Sir Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe — Correct answer
  3. Sir Ian Wilmot and Keith Campbell
  4. John MacLeod and Francis Crick
Explanation

IVF therapy for infertility was pioneered in Britain by Sir Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe. The first ‘test-tube baby’ was born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1978.

3 · British inventions of the 20th century

Who developed the television?

  1. ✓ John Logie Baird — Correct answer
  2. Sir Tim Berners-Lee
  3. Sir Peter Mansfield
  4. Sir Robert Watson-Watt
Explanation

John Logie Baird developed the television in the 1920s. Sir Robert Watson-Watt developed radar, and Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.

4 · British inventions of the 20th century

What did Sir Peter Mansfield co-invent?

  1. The hovercraft
  2. Radar
  3. ✓ The MRI scanner — Correct answer
  4. The jet engine
Explanation

Sir Peter Mansfield co-invented the MRI scanner. It gives exact, non-invasive images of internal organs and has transformed diagnostic medicine.

5 · British inventions of the 20th century

When was the first information successfully transferred via the World Wide Web?

  1. 1969
  2. ✓ 25 December 1990 — Correct answer
  3. 25 December 1967
  4. 1 January 1996
Explanation

The first information was successfully transferred via the World Wide Web on 25 December 1990. Sir Tim Berners-Lee was the British inventor of the World Wide Web.

6 · British inventions of the 20th century

What did Sir Peter Mansfield co-invent?

  1. The jet engine
  2. ✓ The MRI scanner — Correct answer
  3. Concorde
  4. The hovercraft
Explanation

Sir Peter Mansfield was the co-inventor of the MRI scanner. It gives exact and non-invasive images of human internal organs.

7 · British inventions of the 20th century

Which invention is linked with Sir Robert Watson-Watt?

  1. The World Wide Web
  2. ✓ Radar — Correct answer
  3. The MRI scanner
  4. The hovercraft
Explanation

Sir Robert Watson-Watt developed radar. He proposed that enemy aircraft could be detected by radio waves, and the first successful radar test took place in 1935.

8 · British inventions of the 20th century

Which invention was introduced by James Goodfellow in the 1960s?

  1. ✓ The cash-dispensing ATM — Correct answer
  2. Concorde
  3. The hovercraft
  4. The MRI scanner
Explanation

James Goodfellow invented the cash-dispensing ATM in the 1960s. The first one was used by Barclays Bank in Enfield, north London, in 1967.

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