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Quiz about What Might Have Been
Quiz about What Might Have Been

What Might Have Been Trivia Quiz


Ah, what might have been - if these famous people had lived up (or down!) to their teacher's opinions! See if you can work out who got these school reports to take home!

A multiple-choice quiz by Quiz_Beagle. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
Quiz_Beagle
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
317,288
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
684
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Well, according to 'Mr Brown' he "...easily passed in Geography", which must have helped him get around the world in 80 days, but his housemaster thought he had "a slightly put-on manner of affectation" - maybe he should have become a lumberjack after all? Which pupil at Shrewsbury School in 1960 did these remarks apply to? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This deceased Canadian-born magnate, lampooned by novelist Evelyn Waugh as Lord Copper in 'Scoop' and in both 'Put Out More Flags' and 'Vile Bodies' as Lord Monomark, became Minister of Aircraft Production and later Minister of Supply under Winston Churchill in World War II. His headmaster's report, when he left Harkins Academy, started, "I never believed he would be in any way successful." Who was he so wrong about?
Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This author was written off at age 12 by Westminster School who declared that he "Has done ill, showing little or no ambition, even in mathematics". In actual fact he went on to Trinity College, Cambridge on a mathematics scholarship, become an assistant editor of "Punch", a writer of note and a playwright, and the author of two books about one of childrens' fiction's best loved characters. Who was he? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This much-loved English writer and poet's most famous work is an autobiographical trilogy. The first volume deals with his idyllic chilhood in Slad, Gloucestershire. It seems strange, then, that his English teacher wrote, "Off you go and I'm glad to get rid of you". Who was this, who walked out one summer morning? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What might have been? The British Royal family might look different today had this West Heath pupil taken the advice from her report that "She must try to be less emotional in her dealings with others". Who was this person, who left school without an O-Level, but at one time was one of the most famous and talked-about people ever? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This lady, whose eponymous character's Diary has been made into films starring Renee Zellweger, was told in senior school English that she "... must learn not to use such flowery language". Which author was this? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Schools often find themselves nonplussed by individuality. What might have been, had the advice of Westminster School, reading "He shows great individuality, which must be curbed at all costs" been followed in the case of this great Renaissance man. Who was this man, knighted in 1990, who went on to become a Goodwill ambassador for UNICEF among many other talents? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This late actor, born John Eric Bartholomew, was half of a much-loved British comedy duo. However, at Lancaster Road Junior School, his headmaster concluded that "This boy will never get anywhere in life". What might have been? Well, had he believed that, Christmas would not have been the same in Britain! Who was this man who, with his comedy partner, was almost as much an institution on BBC at Christmas as the Queen's Speech between 1969 and 1980? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This talented director, actor, comedian and musician certainly took his report from New York University at the end of his first semester to heart, spending at least 30 years in psychoanalysis. Who did the reviewing board write this about: "While cautiously holding out some hope of readmission suggested he seek counselling for his inability to take life seriously"? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Finally, probably the best example of 'What Might Have Been'. This person's terrible school reports are the stuff of legend. From his first reports at St George's School "... a regular 'pickle' in many ways...", to "A constant trouble to everybody ... He cannot be trusted to behave himself anywhere ", to "... He has no ambition" to Harrow's "Constantly late ... losing his books and papers..so regular in his irregularity...'made useless by habitual negligence'", it was not until after an impassioned letter from his mother that he left Harrow with "His work this term has been excellent". The world would have been a very different place without this statesman. Who was this man? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Well, according to 'Mr Brown' he "...easily passed in Geography", which must have helped him get around the world in 80 days, but his housemaster thought he had "a slightly put-on manner of affectation" - maybe he should have become a lumberjack after all? Which pupil at Shrewsbury School in 1960 did these remarks apply to?

Answer: Michael Palin

Writer, comedian, television presenter, actor and co-creator of Monty Python, Michael Palin was born in Yorkshire, but attended Shrewsbury School in Shropshire after going to prep school in Sheffield. As well as his part in Monty Python, Palin has shown his ability as an actor, writer, director, travel and documentary writer. If his headmaster's comment on this report "I think he is just a teensy bit pleased with himself - or so I am prepared to believe" was true, perhaps he has earned the right to be!
2. This deceased Canadian-born magnate, lampooned by novelist Evelyn Waugh as Lord Copper in 'Scoop' and in both 'Put Out More Flags' and 'Vile Bodies' as Lord Monomark, became Minister of Aircraft Production and later Minister of Supply under Winston Churchill in World War II. His headmaster's report, when he left Harkins Academy, started, "I never believed he would be in any way successful." Who was he so wrong about?

Answer: Max Aitken

William Maxwell Aitken went on to become 1st Baron Beaverbrook, and became a great benefactor of New Brunswick, so presumably felt no malice. The headmaster went on to expand: "This was simply because he never stuck at anything but was switching from one idea to another.

There was never any doubt about his ability but he was so mischievous that I did not believe his ability would ever possibly carry him to success". All the wrong answers were also newspaper tycoons.
3. This author was written off at age 12 by Westminster School who declared that he "Has done ill, showing little or no ambition, even in mathematics". In actual fact he went on to Trinity College, Cambridge on a mathematics scholarship, become an assistant editor of "Punch", a writer of note and a playwright, and the author of two books about one of childrens' fiction's best loved characters. Who was he?

Answer: A A Milne

In Ann Thwaite's biography of A A Milne, the latter explained, 'When he read this, Father turned his face to the wall, and abandoned hope. I, on the other hand, turned my face to the lighter side of life, and abandoned work ... It was useless to point out to Father that the report was written before the result of the examinations, and that the examinations proved that the report was ridiculously wrong.

Headmasters' reports couldn't be wrong. If Dr Rutherford said I had done ill, I had done ill.' I hope this quiz proves how wrong this is! Thankfully A A Milne turned his face to the lighter side of life, otherwise this might have been be a world without Winnie-the-Pooh.
4. This much-loved English writer and poet's most famous work is an autobiographical trilogy. The first volume deals with his idyllic chilhood in Slad, Gloucestershire. It seems strange, then, that his English teacher wrote, "Off you go and I'm glad to get rid of you". Who was this, who walked out one summer morning?

Answer: Laurie Lee

Obviously, without the context, one cannot know why this remark was made, but Laurie Lee went on to become a great English writer and as far as I know, his English teacher, Miss French, didn't.
5. What might have been? The British Royal family might look different today had this West Heath pupil taken the advice from her report that "She must try to be less emotional in her dealings with others". Who was this person, who left school without an O-Level, but at one time was one of the most famous and talked-about people ever?

Answer: Diana Spencer

The supporters of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, would no doubt claim that her warm emotions were an excellent thing for the Royal Family, but even they would perhaps agree that her life would have been very different had she taken this to heart.
6. This lady, whose eponymous character's Diary has been made into films starring Renee Zellweger, was told in senior school English that she "... must learn not to use such flowery language". Which author was this?

Answer: Helen Fielding

Helen Fielding was halfway through a novel about class and race in the Caribbean, presumably without flowery language, when her editor suggested she turn her 'Bridget Jones' Diary' column in the "Independent" newspaper into a book. The rest is history (and over £2 million for Ms Fielding).
7. Schools often find themselves nonplussed by individuality. What might have been, had the advice of Westminster School, reading "He shows great individuality, which must be curbed at all costs" been followed in the case of this great Renaissance man. Who was this man, knighted in 1990, who went on to become a Goodwill ambassador for UNICEF among many other talents?

Answer: Sir Peter Ustinov

Whilst all the wrong choices were undoubtedly talented, their main talent was football (soccer). Sir Peter Ustinov, however, spoke six languages fluently and could get by in two others, being proficient in accents and dialects in all these languages. He was an actor, director, playwright and writer and won a Grammy, a Golden Globe, three Emmys, a BAFTA and two Oscars. He was also the President of the World Federalist Movement from 1991 until his death. What might have been, had his originality been curbed!
8. This late actor, born John Eric Bartholomew, was half of a much-loved British comedy duo. However, at Lancaster Road Junior School, his headmaster concluded that "This boy will never get anywhere in life". What might have been? Well, had he believed that, Christmas would not have been the same in Britain! Who was this man who, with his comedy partner, was almost as much an institution on BBC at Christmas as the Queen's Speech between 1969 and 1980?

Answer: Eric Morecambe

The 1977 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special was watched by 28 million people (about half of the UK population at the time!) So much for not getting anywhere in life! As Eric would have said, "Rubbish"! In 1984 Eric Morecambe collapsed on stage at Tewkesbury's Roses Theatre and died at the young age of 58 in Cheltenham General Hospital.
9. This talented director, actor, comedian and musician certainly took his report from New York University at the end of his first semester to heart, spending at least 30 years in psychoanalysis. Who did the reviewing board write this about: "While cautiously holding out some hope of readmission suggested he seek counselling for his inability to take life seriously"?

Answer: Woody Allen

Whilst the wrong answers are all NYU alumni, Woody Allen was expelled after failing a film course (!) Thanks to Woody being unable to take life seriously, we have great comedies like 'Bananas', 'Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)', 'Sleeper', 'Love and Death' and 'Take the Money and Run'.
10. Finally, probably the best example of 'What Might Have Been'. This person's terrible school reports are the stuff of legend. From his first reports at St George's School "... a regular 'pickle' in many ways...", to "A constant trouble to everybody ... He cannot be trusted to behave himself anywhere ", to "... He has no ambition" to Harrow's "Constantly late ... losing his books and papers..so regular in his irregularity...'made useless by habitual negligence'", it was not until after an impassioned letter from his mother that he left Harrow with "His work this term has been excellent". The world would have been a very different place without this statesman. Who was this man?

Answer: Winston Churchill

Churchill himself said in 1930 "I am all for the Public schools, but I do not want to go there again" and was apparently miserable at Harrow. I hope you've enjoyed this quiz and it has convinced you all that school reports are not the be-all and end-all!
Source: Author Quiz_Beagle

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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