English Language Questions for CLAT | QB Set 9

The population of the United Kingdom grew by 1% to reach 68.3 million by mid-2023, driven primarily by high levels of immigration, according to official data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on October 8, 2024. Net international migration played a crucial role in the population increase across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. However, the natural change in population (the difference between births and deaths) saw a decrease of 16,300, earlier than previously projected by the ONS, which had anticipated a negative natural change in the mid-2030s. The UK has experienced a significant rise in immigration in recent years, including economic migrants and asylum seekers arriving via irregular means, such as small boat crossings. This surge in immigration, while a politically sensitive issue due to the pressure on public services, led to the largest annual population increase in 75 years, with England and Wales seeing the most substantial growth. England and Wales both posted a 1% rise in population, while Scotland saw a 0.8% increase, and Northern Ireland’s population grew by 0.5%. Post-Brexit visa changes led to a reduction in European Union migrants, but immigration from countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan surged, especially in sectors like health and social care. In August 2024, far-right groups protested against immigration, posing an early challenge to the newly elected Labour government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer has adopted a pragmatic approach to illegal migration, marking a shift from the previous Conservative government’s policies, including the controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which he scrapped upon taking office.

Passage-based Questions

1. What was the main factor contributing to the UK’s population growth in mid-2023?

a) Increase in the birth rate
b) High levels of immigration
c) Decrease in death rates
d) Economic growth

2. What did the Office for National Statistics (ONS) previously predict about the natural change in the UK’s population?

a) The natural change would remain positive until the mid-2040s
b) The natural change would become negative by the mid-2030s
c) The natural change would remain neutral through 2023
d) There would be a consistent rise in both births and deaths

3. How did the population growth differ between the regions of the UK?

a) England saw the smallest population increase
b) Northern Ireland experienced a larger population growth than Wales
c) Scotland’s population increased by 1.5%, the highest in the UK
d) England and Wales saw the highest population growth at 1%

4. What was one of the key consequences of post-Brexit visa changes?

a) A surge in migration from EU countries
b) Increased immigration from non-EU countries like India and Nigeria
c) A sharp decline in immigration across all sectors
d) A significant rise in asylum seekers from EU nations

5. What policy shift did Prime Minister Keir Starmer implement regarding immigration after taking office?

a) He continued the Conservative government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda
b) He took a more lenient approach to economic migration from the EU
c) He scrapped the plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda
d) He intensified measures against asylum seekers arriving via small boat crossings

Answers with Explanations

1. Answer: b) High levels of immigration
Explanation: The passage clearly states that immigration, particularly net international migration, was the primary driver of the UK’s population growth in mid-2023.

2. Answer: b) The natural change would become negative by the mid-2030s
Explanation: The ONS had projected that the natural change in population would turn negative in the mid-2030s, but this occurred earlier than expected in mid-2023.

3. Answer: d) England and Wales saw the highest population growth at 1%
Explanation: The passage highlights that England and Wales both had a 1% population increase, the highest in the UK, whereas Scotland saw a 0.8% rise, and Northern Ireland experienced a 0.5% increase.

4. Answer: b) Increased immigration from non-EU countries like India and Nigeria
Explanation: The passage mentions that post-Brexit visa changes led to a reduction in EU migrants, but immigration from non-EU countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan surged, especially in sectors like health and social care.

5. Answer: c) He scrapped the plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda
Explanation: The passage states that Starmer adopted a pragmatic approach to illegal migration and scrapped the previous Conservative government’s controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.