Awkward's Humour and Sillies

Oxford University Entrance Exam

1. H I S T O R Y
   Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the
   present day, concentrating especially, but not exclusively, on
   its social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical
   impact on Europe, Asia, America, and Africa.
   Be brief, concise, and specific.

2. M E D I C I N E
   You have been provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and
   a bottle of Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until
   your work has been inspected.
   You have 15 minutes.

3. P U B L I C S P E A K I N G
   Twenty-five hundred riot-crazed aborigines are storming the
   classroom. Calm them.
   You may use any ancient language except Latin or Greek.

4. B I O L O G Y
   
   • Create life.
   • Estimate the differences in subsequent human culture if this form
     of life had developed 500 million years earlier, with special attention
     to its probable effect on the English parliamentary system.
   • Prove your thesis.

5. M U S I C
   
   • Write a piano concerto.
   • Orchestrate and perform it with flute and drum.
     You will find a piano under your seat.

6. P S Y C H O L O G Y
   
   • Based on your degree of knowledge of their works, evaluate the
     emotional stability, degree of adjustment, and repressed
     frustrations of each of the following:
     • Alexander of Aphrodisias
     • Rameses II
     • Gregory of Nicea
     • Hammurabi
     
     
   • Support your evaluations with quotations from each man's work,
     making appropriate references.
     It is not necessary to translate.

7. S O C I O L O G Y
   
   • Estimate the sociological problems which might accompany the end of the world.
   • Construct an experiment to test your theory.

8. M A N A G E M E N T   S C I E N C E
   
   1.  
      • Define management.
      • Define science.
      • How do they relate?
      • Why?
      
      
   2. Create a generalized algorithm to optimize all managerial decisions.
      Assuming an 1130 CPU supporting 50 terminals, each terminal to activate
      your algorithm; design the communications interface and all necessary
      control programs.

9. E N G I N E E R I N G
   
   • The disassembled parts of a high-powered rifle have been placed in a box on your desk.
     You will also find an instruction manual printed in Swahili.
     In ten minutes a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room.
   • Take whatever action you feel is appropriate.
   • Be prepared to justify your decision.

10. E C O N O M I C S
    
    • Develop a realistic plan for refinancing the national debt.
    • Trace the possible effects of your plan in the following areas:
      • Cubism
      • The Donatist controversy
      • The wave theory of light.
      
      
    • Outline a method for preventing these effects.
    • Criticize this method from all possible points of view.
    • Point out the deficiencies in your point of view,
      as demonstrated in your answer to the last question.

11. P O L I T I C A L   S C I E N C E
    
    • There is a red telephone on the desk beside you.
    • Start World War III.
    • Report at length on its socio-political effects, if any.

12. E P I S T E M O L O G Y
    
    • Take a position for or against truth.
    • Prove the validity of your position.

13. P H Y S I C S
    Explain the nature of matter.
    Include in your answer an evaluation of the impact of the development
    of mathematics on science.

14. P H I L O S O P H Y
    
    • Sketch the development of human thought; estimate its significance.
    • Compare with the development of any other kind of thought.

15. G E N E R A L   K N O W L E D G E
    Describe in detail.
    Be objective and specific.

• E X T R A   C R E D I T
  Define the universe; give three examples.

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