Q 01/05

MI6 is the common name of which British organisation?

A) Secret Intelligence Service

B) Security Service

C) Government Communications Headquarters

D) Special Operations Executive

Answer · why

A) Secret Intelligence Service

The name MI6 was a convenient label from the Second World War era that stuck in popular culture; the service itself has used the SIS title since aroun...

Q 02/05

What kind of work is MI6 primarily responsible for?

A) Military police work

B) Foreign espionage overseas

C) Signals interception

D) Domestic security

Answer · why

B) Foreign espionage overseas

Unlike MI5 and GCHQ, the law only lets SIS operate against people outside the British Islands.

Q 03/05

By what single letter is the chief of MI6 traditionally known?

A) M

B) C

C) K

D) Q

Answer · why

B) C

Ian Fleming borrowed the idea for James Bond's boss but changed the letter to M.

Q 04/05

To which cabinet minister is the chief of MI6 directly accountable?

A) Prime Minister

B) Foreign Secretary

C) Defence Secretary

D) Home Secretary

Answer · why

B) Foreign Secretary

MI6 sits under the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whereas MI5 answers to the Home Secretary.

Q 05/05

In which year was the Secret Service Bureau, the ancestor of MI6, founded?

A) 1909

B) 1899

C) 1920

D) 1916

Answer · why

A) 1909

It was a joint Admiralty and War Office initiative aimed largely at Imperial Germany, and its naval section became the foreign-intelligence arm.