Q 01/05

Which tavern grievance sparked Oxford's 1355 St Scholastica Day riot that killed dozens of scholars?

A) The quality of the wine

B) The price of bread

C) A rigged dice game

D) Rent owed to the landlord

Answer · why

A) The quality of the wine

The quality of the wine served to two students at the Swindlestock Tavern started it all; the town's mayor was made to do annual penance for the dead ...

Q 02/05

Great Tom tolls 101 times at 9:05 each night, once per original scholar, over which college?

A) Trinity

B) Pembroke

C) Christ Church

D) St John's

Answer · why

C) Christ Church

Christ Church began with 100 scholars and added one in 1663, hence 101 strokes; 9:05 pm is nine o'clock in old 'Oxford time', which ran five minutes b...

Q 03/05

By Oxford tradition, what colour carnation does a student pin on for the final exam of their run?

A) White

B) Red

C) Pink

D) Yellow

Answer · why

B) Red

Red marks the last paper: candidates start with a white carnation, switch to pink for the middle exams, and finish in red, usually a gift from friends...

Q 04/05

Which Latin-derived term names the dark clothes, gown and cap Oxford students wear to sit exams?

A) Sine die

B) Sub rosa

C) Ad eundem

D) Sub fusc

Answer · why

D) Sub fusc

Sub fusc comes from the Latin for 'of a dark or dusky colour' and is compulsory at matriculation, university exams and degree ceremonies; the rules no...

Q 05/05

Which future Australian prime minister set an Oxford college record for downing a yard of ale?

A) Paul Keating

B) Bob Hawke

C) Malcolm Fraser

D) Gough Whitlam

Answer · why

B) Bob Hawke

Bob Hawke's feat is routinely sold as a Guinness world record, but it was only a record among students of his own college; he swore off alcohol entire...