Practice questions on Part 1 of Our Common Bond, guide pages 7 to 16, grouped by topic. Pick your answer, then open it: the explanation and the page in the guide are under each question.
Written by Cal Australia from the guide. These are not questions from the test. The number of answer options in the test is not published; we show 3, or 2 for situations.
1. Who were the first people to live in Australia?
AA: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
BB: British settlers who arrived on the First Fleet
CC: Chinese miners who came in the gold rush
See the answer
Answer: A, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were the first people to live in Australia. The glossary calls them the original inhabitants of the land. See Our Common Bond, pages 8 and 40.
Not B: The First Fleet arrived in 1788, many thousands of years after the first peoples.
Not C: Chinese miners came during the 1850s gold rush, long after the first peoples.
2. How does Our Common Bond say Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples express their connection with the land?
AA: In gold mining and sheep farming
BB: In coins and postage stamps
CC: In their stories, art and dance
See the answer
Answer: C, In their stories, art and dance
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a deep connection with the land. They express it in their stories, art and dance. See Our Common Bond, page 8.
Not A: Gold mining belongs to the gold rush story from 1851, not to Indigenous connection with land.
Not B: Coins and stamps are not how these peoples express their bond with the land.
4. What was the first colony set up by the British in Australia?
AA: New South Wales
BB: Victoria
CC: Tasmania
See the answer
Answer: A, New South Wales
New South Wales was the first colony established by the British. Convicts were sent to the new colony of New South Wales. See Our Common Bond, pages 8 and 11.
Not B: Victoria came later; the first British colony was New South Wales.
Not C: Tasmania came later; the first British colony was New South Wales.
5. Most early free settlers brought a heritage that has strongly shaped Australia. Which heritage is it?
AA: British and Irish heritage
BB: Dutch and Portuguese heritage
CC: Russian and Japanese heritage
See the answer
Answer: A, British and Irish heritage
British and Irish heritage has had a major influence on Australia's recent history, culture and politics. Early free settlers came from Great Britain and Ireland. See Our Common Bond, page 8.
Not B: Early free settlers did not come from the Netherlands or Portugal; they came from Great Britain and Ireland.
Not C: Early free settlers did not come from Russia or Japan; they came from Great Britain and Ireland.
8. Which of these was set up in 1901 under the new Australian Constitution?
AA: The Australian Federal Police
BB: The Australian Human Rights Commission
CC: A national parliament
See the answer
Answer: C, A national parliament
In 1901 the new Australian Constitution set up our national parliament. It also set up the national government and the High Court. See Our Common Bond, page 9.
Not A: The guide lists the parliament, government and High Court as set up in 1901, not the Australian Federal Police.
Not B: The Australian Human Rights Commission is not among the institutions the guide says began in 1901.
9. In the first half of the 20th century, migration programs mainly encouraged people from where to settle in Australia?
AA: South America
BB: Britain
CC: Asia
See the answer
Answer: B, Britain
In the first half of the 20th century there were programs to actively encourage British migrants to settle in Australia, and many did. See Our Common Bond, page 9.
Not A: Programs in that period encouraged British migrants, not people from South America.
Not C: Programs in that period encouraged British migrants; migration from all over the world came in recent years.
12. What does Our Common Bond say Australia's diverse and prosperous society does?
AA: Makes a unified nation impossible to ever build
BB: Enhances Australia's connection to the world
CC: Removes the need for a shared language
See the answer
Answer: B, Enhances Australia's connection to the world
Australia's diverse and prosperous society enhances its connection to the world. Australia celebrates diversity and also aims to build a cohesive and unified nation. See Our Common Bond, page 9.
Not A: Australia celebrates diversity and still aims for a cohesive, unified nation.
Not C: English remains the shared national language that migrants should learn and use.
13. Why is communicating in English important for people in Australia?
AA: It is the only language allowed in schools
BB: It is needed to follow any religion here
CC: It helps them make the most of life and work here
See the answer
Answer: C, It helps them make the most of life and work here
Communicating in English is important for making the most of living and working in Australia. Migrants should learn and use English to take part in society. See Our Common Bond, page 9.
Not A: The guide does not say this; other languages, including Indigenous languages, are valued.
Not B: People are free to follow any religion; English is not a condition for it.
22. On Australia Day, what do communities across Australia reflect on?
AA: Our history and the people who contributed to it
BB: Only the soldiers who died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping
CC: Only the laws passed in the past year
See the answer
Answer: A, Our history and the people who contributed to it
On Australia Day, communities think about our history. They also think about the people who helped us achieve things together. See Our Common Bond, page 13.
Not B: Remembering those who served in wars is the focus of Anzac Day, not Australia Day.
Not C: Australia Day looks at our whole history and its people, not just recent laws.
24. Anzac Day is a solemn day. Whose sacrifice do Australians remember on that day?
AA: Australians who served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping
BB: Only the soldiers who died at Gallipoli during World War I
CC: Only the convicts and soldiers who came on the First Fleet
See the answer
Answer: A, Australians who served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping
Anzac Day is a solemn day to remember all Australians who served and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. See Our Common Bond, page 13.
Not B: Anzac Day remembers all who served and died, not only those at Gallipoli.
Not C: Anzac Day is about those who served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping, not the First Fleet.
30. On which occasions is the national anthem sung?
AA: Only when the King visits Australia in person
BB: At citizenship ceremonies and sporting events
CC: Only on Anzac Day and Australia Day each year
See the answer
Answer: B, At citizenship ceremonies and sporting events
The national anthem is sung at important national events. These include citizenship ceremonies and major sporting events. See Our Common Bond, page 16.
Not A: It is sung at many national events, not only during a visit by the King.
Not C: It is not limited to two days; citizenship ceremonies and big sporting events use it too.
