Independent study & practice

A modern, thriving society

Chapter 4 · 250 questions · Untimed practice. Read the notes below or begin your chapter quiz.

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Study notes: make the connections

Learn authors with one anchor work

Start with Austen, Dickens, Stevenson and Hardy, then add detectives, modern novels and poetry. Use an author’s other works to strengthen the connection.

Names in a multiple-choice list can all be real authors. Recall the exact work, rather than choosing the most familiar name.

Separate composers, works and venues

Make a mental distinction between orchestral music, opera, comic opera and modern musicals. Handel and Holst are easy to confuse by name but their works are different.

Theatre questions also cover long-running plays and the writers behind them. Practise recalling a work from its creator as well as the reverse.

Use a visual association for each name

Connect Constable with Dedham Vale, Moore with bronze sculpture, Wren with St Paul’s and Lutyens with the Cenotaph. Garden and furniture designers belong in the same revision plan.

Do not treat every artist as a painter. The handbook also covers sculpture, stained glass, architecture, ceramics and landscape design.

Pair the film with the director

Work through the films chronologically, from The 39 Steps to Touching the Void. David Lean appears more than once, which makes careful recall more useful than guessing by elimination.

These notes concern the named films and directors in the handbook, rather than recent releases or award totals.

Match the athlete, sport and achievement

Start with the sport, then add the particular achievement and year. Separate Redgrave’s rowing, Hoy’s cycling, Holmes’s running and Simmonds’s swimming.

Achievements here are explicitly historical. Later medals do not change what an athlete achieved at a named Games.

Competitions are useful anchors

Keep the Ashes with cricket, the Six Nations with rugby union and Wimbledon with tennis. Then learn the places and teams associated with each event.

Rugby union and rugby league use different rules. International tournaments and club competitions are also separate categories.

Connect the landmark to a region

Revise by moving around a map: Cornwall, London, north-west England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Pair each landmark with the feature that makes it memorable.

Some places have both Welsh and English names. Eryri is also known in English as Snowdonia; do not mistake the two names for different parks.

Learn the annual calendar in order

Start with the four patron saints’ days, then add national traditions and Christian festivals. Separate fixed dates from Easter, which moves between March and April.

Remembrance Day is 11 November. Remembrance Sunday is the second Sunday in November, so they do not always fall on the same date.

Separate beliefs, buildings and festivals

Learn the place-of-worship terms and the purpose of each festival. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan; Eid ul Adha recalls Ibrahim’s willingness to obey God.

England’s established Church and Scotland’s Presbyterian national Church have different structures. Freedom of belief also protects people who do not practise a religion.

Remember the link	Key fact
Pride and Prejudice	Jane Austen Austen’s novels explore family relationships and marriage.
Sense and Sensibility	Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility is a novel by Jane Austen.
Oliver Twist	Charles Dickens Dickens wrote Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.
Great Expectations	Charles Dickens Great Expectations is one of Dickens’s best-known novels.
Treasure Island	Robert Louis Stevenson Stevenson wrote Treasure Island and Kidnapped.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde	Robert Louis Stevenson Stevenson’s fiction includes Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Far from the Madding Crowd	Thomas Hardy Hardy often wrote about rural society.
Jude the Obscure	Thomas Hardy Jude the Obscure is one of Hardy’s novels.
the Sherlock Holmes stories	Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Conan Doyle was a Scottish doctor and the creator of Sherlock Holmes.
Brideshead Revisited	Evelyn Waugh Waugh wrote satirical fiction as well as Brideshead Revisited.
Lucky Jim	Kingsley Amis Lucky Jim is a well-known novel by Kingsley Amis.
Brighton Rock	Graham Greene Greene’s fiction often reflects religious concerns.
Our Man in Havana	Graham Greene Our Man in Havana is a novel by Graham Greene.
the Harry Potter series	J K Rowling Rowling’s Harry Potter books became internationally successful.
The Lord of the Rings	J R R Tolkien Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings.
the James Bond novels	Ian Fleming Fleming created the fictional agent James Bond.
Paradise Lost	John Milton Milton’s poetry was influenced by his religious beliefs.
The Daffodils	William Wordsworth Wordsworth’s poetry was often inspired by nature.
The Tyger	William Blake The Tyger is a poem by William Blake.
She Walks in Beauty	Lord Byron She Walks in Beauty is a poem by Lord Byron.
Anthem for Doomed Youth	Wilfred Owen Owen wrote about the First World War from experience.
Home Thoughts from Abroad	Robert Browning Home Thoughts from Abroad is by Robert Browning.
Water Music	George Frederick Handel Handel composed Water Music for George I.
Messiah	George Frederick Handel Messiah is an oratorio by Handel.
The Planets	Gustav Holst Holst’s suite The Planets includes Jupiter.
Pomp and Circumstance Marches	Sir Edward Elgar Elgar’s first Pomp and Circumstance March is associated with Land of Hope and Glory.
Façade	Sir William Walton Walton’s Façade was adapted as a ballet.
Peter Grimes	Benjamin Britten Britten composed Peter Grimes and founded the Aldeburgh festival.
A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra	Benjamin Britten Britten’s guide introduces the sections of an orchestra.
The Mousetrap	Agatha Christie Christie’s murder mystery began its West End run in 1952.
The Mikado	Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan wrote comic operas including The Mikado.
The Pirates of Penzance	Gilbert and Sullivan The Pirates of Penzance is a Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera.
Cats	Andrew Lloyd Webber Lloyd Webber wrote the music for Cats.
The Phantom of the Opera	Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera is a Lloyd Webber musical.
landscape paintings of Dedham Vale	John Constable Constable is particularly associated with landscapes of Dedham Vale.
large abstract bronze sculptures	Henry Moore Moore is known for large bronze abstract sculptures.
Welsh engravings and stained glass	John Petts Petts was a Welsh artist working in engraving and stained glass.
portraits by the German-born artist Freud	Lucian Freud Lucian Freud was a German-born British portrait artist.
the 1960s pop art movement	David Hockney Hockney was an important contributor to British pop art.
The Origin of Painting	David Allan The Origin of Painting is one of David Allan’s well-known works.
portraits set in gardens and countryside	Thomas Gainsborough Gainsborough often placed portrait subjects in country scenery.
landscape painting and the namesake of the Turner Prize	Joseph Turner Turner helped establish landscape painting’s importance.
the Queen’s House at Greenwich	Inigo Jones Jones drew on classical architecture for the Queen’s House.
the new St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire	Sir Christopher Wren Wren designed the cathedral rebuilt after the fire of 1666.
the interiors and architecture of Dumfries House	Robert Adam Adam designed both buildings and their interior decoration.
the Cenotaph in Whitehall	Sir Edwin Lutyens Lutyens designed the Cenotaph as a war memorial.
natural-looking country-house landscapes	Lancelot Capability Brown Brown designed parkland with trees, grass and lakes.
colourful gardens alongside Lutyens’s houses	Gertrude Jekyll Jekyll collaborated with Lutyens on gardens.
18th-century furniture design	Thomas Chippendale Chippendale is associated with furniture design.
Art Deco ceramics	Clarice Cliff Cliff is known for Art Deco ceramic designs.
20th-century interior design	Sir Terence Conran Conran was an influential British interior designer.
The 39 Steps	Alfred Hitchcock The 39 Steps was directed by Hitchcock and released in 1935.
Brief Encounter	David Lean Lean directed Brief Encounter, released in 1945.
The Third Man	Carol Reed Carol Reed directed The Third Man, released in 1949.
The Belles of St Trinian’s	Frank Launder Frank Launder directed The Belles of St Trinian’s in 1954.
Lawrence of Arabia	David Lean Lean directed Lawrence of Arabia, released in 1962.
Women in Love	Ken Russell Ken Russell directed Women in Love, released in 1969.
Don’t Look Now	Nicolas Roeg Roeg directed Don’t Look Now, released in 1973.
Chariots of Fire	Hugh Hudson Hugh Hudson directed Chariots of Fire, released in 1981.
The Killing Fields	Roland Joffé Roland Joffé directed The Killing Fields, released in 1984.
Four Weddings and a Funeral	Mike Newell Mike Newell directed Four Weddings and a Funeral, released in 1994.
Touching the Void	Kevin Macdonald Kevin Macdonald directed Touching the Void, released in 2003.
first man to run a mile in under four minutes	Sir Roger Bannister Bannister broke the four-minute mile in 1954.
three Formula 1 world championships as a Scottish driver	Sir Jackie Stewart Stewart won the Formula 1 world championship three times.
captaining England’s 1966 World Cup winning side	Bobby Moore Moore captained England to the football World Cup in 1966.
captaining England and excelling at both batting and bowling	Ian Botham Botham was an England cricket captain and a leading all-rounder.
Olympic ice-dancing gold in 1984	Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean Torvill and Dean won Olympic ice-dancing gold in 1984.
rowing gold at five consecutive Olympics	Sir Steve Redgrave Redgrave won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games.
11 Paralympic gold medals across five Games	Tanni Grey-Thompson Grey-Thompson won 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 gold.
two running gold medals at the 2004 Olympics	Dame Kelly Holmes Holmes won two Olympic gold medals in 2004.
being a record-setting solo round-the-world yachtswoman	Dame Ellen MacArthur MacArthur is known for single-handed round-the-world sailing.
six Olympic gold medals as a Scottish cyclist	Sir Chris Hoy Hoy won six Olympic gold medals in track cycling.
becoming the first British Tour de France winner in 2012	Bradley Wiggins Wiggins became the first British Tour de France winner in 2012.
winning both 5,000m and 10,000m gold at London 2012	Mo Farah Farah won both long-distance track events at the 2012 Olympics.
winning the 2012 Olympic heptathlon	Jessica Ennis Ennis won gold in the seven-event heptathlon at London 2012.
winning the men’s singles US Open in 2012	Andy Murray Murray won the US Open men’s singles title in 2012.
swimming gold at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics	Ellie Simmonds Simmonds won Paralympic gold medals in swimming.
the Ashes	Cricket The Ashes is a Test series between England and Australia.
the Six Nations Championship	Rugby union England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy contest the Six Nations.
the Super League	Rugby league The Super League is a major rugby league club competition.
the Grand National at Aintree	Horse racing The Grand National takes place at Aintree near Liverpool.
the Open Championship	Golf The Open is a major golf championship held on different courses.
the Wimbledon Championships	Tennis Wimbledon is the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
the Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race	Rowing Oxford and Cambridge race on the River Thames.
Cowes Week	Sailing Cowes on the Isle of Wight hosts a famous sailing event.
the British Formula 1 Grand Prix	Motor racing The British Grand Prix is a Formula 1 motor race.
the Eden Project	Cornwall The Eden Project’s biomes contain plants from around the world.
the Giant’s Causeway	Northern Ireland The Causeway’s stone columns were formed by volcanic activity.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs	Scotland Loch Lomond and the Trossachs form a Scottish national park.
Snowdonia (Eryri)	North Wales Snowdonia is the English name for Eryri, the national park in North Wales.
the London Eye	South bank of the Thames The London Eye was built for the millennium celebrations.
the Crown Jewels	Tower of London Visitors can see the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.
the Lake District	North-west England The Lake District is known for its lakes and mountains.
HMS Victory	Portsmouth Nelson’s ship HMS Victory can be visited in Portsmouth.
the Grand National course	Aintree The Grand National is held at Aintree near Liverpool.
the Scottish Grand National	Ayr Ayr hosts the Scottish Grand National horse race.
the National Horseracing Museum	Newmarket The National Horseracing Museum is in Newmarket, Suffolk.
the home of golf	St Andrews St Andrews in Scotland is traditionally called the home of golf.
the first tennis club in 1872	Leamington Spa The handbook places the first tennis club at Leamington Spa.
Poets’ Corner	Westminster Abbey Many poets are buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey.
New Year’s Day	1 January New Year’s Day is celebrated on 1 January.
Valentine’s Day	14 February Valentine’s Day is associated with exchanging cards and gifts.
St David’s Day	1 March Wales celebrates St David’s Day on 1 March.
St Patrick’s Day	17 March St Patrick’s Day is celebrated on 17 March.
April Fool’s Day	1 April April Fool’s jokes are traditionally played before midday.
St George’s Day	23 April England’s patron saint’s day is 23 April.
Halloween	31 October Halloween is associated with costumes, pumpkins and trick-or-treating.
Bonfire Night	5 November Bonfire Night remembers the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
Remembrance Day	11 November Remembrance Day honours those who died fighting for the UK and its allies.
St Andrew’s Day	30 November Scotland’s patron saint’s day is 30 November.
Christmas Day	25 December Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ.
Boxing Day	26 December Boxing Day is the day after Christmas.
Hogmanay	31 December Hogmanay is Scotland’s New Year’s Eve celebration.
the spiritual leader of the Church of England	Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury is the Church of England’s spiritual leader.
the person chairing the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly	Moderator The Moderator chairs the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly.
a Jewish place of worship	Synagogue Jewish communities worship in synagogues.
a Muslim place of worship	Mosque Muslim communities worship in mosques.
a Sikh place of worship	Gurdwara Sikh communities worship in gurdwaras.
the Christian season of preparation before Easter	Lent Lent is the 40-day period before Easter.
the day also called Pancake Day	Shrove Tuesday Shrove Tuesday comes before the start of Lent.
the first day of Lent	Ash Wednesday Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
the Christian commemoration of Jesus’s death	Good Friday Good Friday marks the death of Jesus Christ.
the Christian celebration of Jesus’s resurrection	Easter Sunday Christians celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
the Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs	Diwali Diwali celebrates good overcoming evil and normally lasts five days.
the Jewish festival lasting eight days	Hanukkah Hanukkah remembers the struggle for religious freedom.
the Muslim festival at the end of Ramadan	Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Fitr marks the completion of the Ramadan fast.
the Muslim festival remembering Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice	Eid ul Adha Eid ul Adha recalls Ibrahim’s obedience to God.
the Sikh festival celebrating the founding of the Khalsa	Vaisakhi Vaisakhi celebrates the founding of the Khalsa community.

Handbook reference: Chapter 4: A modern, thriving society — Arts and culture; Chapter 4: A modern, thriving society — Leisure; Chapter 4: A modern, thriving society — Sport; Chapter 4: A modern, thriving society — Places of interest; Chapter 4: A modern, thriving society — Customs and traditions; Chapter 4: A modern, thriving society — Religion. These are original revision notes, not a reproduction of the handbook.

Practise a smaller topic

39 questions

A modern, thriving society

Study notes: make the connections

Learn authors with one anchor work

Separate composers, works and venues

Use a visual association for each name

Pair the film with the director

Match the athlete, sport and achievement

Competitions are useful anchors

Connect the landmark to a region

Learn the annual calendar in order

Separate beliefs, buildings and festivals

Practise a smaller topic

Literature

Music And Theatre

Art And Architecture

Cinema

Sporting People

Sports And Events

Places And Landmarks

Celebrations

Religion And Customs