Have you got the Ox Factor?

joanlawson

Hi

These are some examples of the questions posed by Oxbridge dons at interviews for candidates for Oxford and Cambridge. There is not meant to be a right or a wrong answer; the idea is to make the candidates think laterally and logically, and to test their powers of original thought.

How would you answer any of these questions :?:

1. Would you rather be a novel or a poem?

2. Is nature natural?

3. What does it mean to be happy?

4. How could crime be reduced though architecture?

5. How would you design a better brain?

6. Where would you take some Martians to show them British culture?

7. Are you your body?

8. What is not history?

9. Is humanity destined to repeat the mistakes of history?

10. Can music be made by robots?

Have you got the Ox Factor :?: I would be interested in your answers to any of the questions.

Joan

joanlawson

Well done, Rehab :!: :!: You have definitely got the Ox Factor :!: :!: Answered with ease, and your usual wit

joanlawson

I've been contemplating the first question: Would you rather be a novel or a poem?

I think I would rather be a poem. A novel tells a story, with a beginning, a middle and an end, so in that sense it is a metaphor for life. But a poem is rather like a painting; you can look at it time after time, and still find something new and interesting in it that you hadn't noticed before. A novel is often read and then cast aside, but poetry is read and then re-read, and the words are often memorised with affection.

valval

1. Would you rather be a novel or a poem? novel (thriller)

2. Is nature natural?(depends on your point of view)

3. What does it mean to be happy?(if you do not know no one can tell you)

4. How could crime be reduced though architecture? if some where nice to look at and well lit with space for comunity to meet they will respect there suroundings

5. How would you design a better brain? not posible

6. Where would you take some Martians to show them British culture? local fish and chip shop and childrens play park

7. Are you your body? no i am my mind

8. What is not history? the future

9. Is humanity destined to repeat the mistakes of history? yes

10. Can music be made by robots? yes made but not felt



val

joanlawson

Excellent answers, Val :!: :!: Brief, but to the point. You have definitely got the Ox Factor :!:

Where do you want to go :?: Oxford or Cambridge :?:

valval

joanlawson wrote:

Excellent answers, Val :!: :!: Brief, but to the point. You have definitely got the Ox Factor :!:

Where do you want to go :?: Oxford or Cambridge :?:

well neither not posh enough for them will stick to the university of life

joanlawson

I think you have already got a first class degree from the University of Life, Val :!: You often come up with comments which I would never have thought of, and you make me smile too

valval

joanlawson wrote:

I think you have already got a first class degree from the University of Life, Val :!: You often come up with comments which I would never have thought of, and you make me smile too

thankyou that lovely of you to say that as me and words do not get along lol (well written ones)

joanlawson

Thanks for your reply, Del. Some interesting answers, and you have definitely got the Ox Factor. As a novel, you make a good read :!:

ninakang

joanlawson wrote:

Hi

These are some examples of the questions posed by Oxbridge dons at interviews for candidates for Oxford and Cambridge. There is not meant to be a right or a wrong answer; the idea is to make the candidates think laterally and logically, and to test their powers of original thought.

How would you answer any of these questions :?:

1. Would you rather be a novel or a poem?
A novel - would probably be a chicklit, mainly about shoes

2. Is nature natural?
There's nothing more natural in the world.

3. What does it mean to be happy?
To have fulfilled your potential - whatever that may mean to you as an individual - and to live life to the full

4. How could crime be reduced though architecture?
Got to agree with Rehab on this one - through creating wider open spaces in which people feel safe and secure

5. How would you design a better brain?
Get rid of the prejudice part

6. Where would you take some Martians to show them British culture?
A family pub where kids are welcome

7. Are you your body?
No, it's only a very small part of me (which is why I wear heels)

8. What is not history?
Anything happening right now or in the future

9. Is humanity destined to repeat the mistakes of history?
Yes, we never seem to learn and repeat the same mistakes over and over. In our highly technological society, have we solved the problems of people starving? Have we cured cancer?!

10. Can music be made by robots?
It is art and you have to be slightly bonkers to make it, so only if the robot had some kind of virus...?

Nx

joanlawson

Well done, Nina :!: :!: You have most definitely got the Ox Factor ( but I already knew that anyway :!: )