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Oxford University Trivia Quiz

As a companion to Matve's Cambridge University Quiz, here's one about Oxford!

A multiple-choice quiz by Frideswide. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Frideswide

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
103,996

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
673

Last 3 plays: Guest 217 (8/15), Guest 49 (11/15), Guest 91 (13/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Which of these isn't an Oxford college? Hint

Pembroke

St Catherine's

Queen's

King's

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Question 2 of 15

2. Slightly harder now - when was New College actually founded? Hint

1509

1979

1379

1929

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Question 3 of 15

3. Which of these Oxford colleges has a famous deer park? Hint

St John's

Trinity

Magdalen

Oriel

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Question 4 of 15

4. If you were standing on Catte Street, which college would you be looking at? Hint

St Peter's

Hertford

St Catherine's

Keble

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Question 5 of 15

5. Occasionally described in nearby giant Christ Church as 'the coalshed', which of these is the smallest college in Oxford? Hint

Worcester

Jesus

Lincoln

Corpus Christi

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Question 6 of 15

6. Unique to Oxford University, what is 'sub fusc'? Hint

academic dress

being expelled from the university

a degree category, just above Fail

a pub in the centre of Oxford

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Question 7 of 15

7. Priscilla is about to apply to Oxford University to take an undergraduate degree. Which of these colleges can't she put down on her application form? Hint

Harris Manchester

St Edmund Hall

Corpus Christi

All Souls

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Question 8 of 15

8. In 1998, Archibald was about to apply to Oxford University to take a graduate degree. Which of these colleges could he not put down on his application form? Hint

St Hilda's

St Hugh's

St Anne's

Lady Margaret Hall

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Question 9 of 15

9. Another bit of Oxford lingo for you: if you saw a 'scout' crossing the quad, what would you be looking at? Hint

a college cleaner

a university mailman

one of the college groundskeepers

an Oxford tour guide

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. What is the name of the huge bookshop associated with Oxford?

Answer: (One word; first syllable is a colour)

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Question 11 of 15

11. What is the motto of Oxford University, found on the University Arms? Hint

Domine refugium factus es nobis

Deus misereatur nostri

Levavi oculos meos in Oxoniensis

Dominus illuminatio mea

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Question 12 of 15

12. And what is the main colour on the heraldic arms? Hint

violet

light blue

dark blue

crimson

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Question 13 of 15

13. As an undergraduate at Oxford you can be a scholar if you do well in exams. What are you if you aren't a scholar? Hint

an oppidan

a fresher

a member in ordinary

a commoner

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Question 14 of 15

14. 'Henrietta has just completed a doctorate at Oxford University and has received a certificate stating she has a PhD!' Is this statement true or false?

True

False

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which university was founded by Oxford scholars fleeing one of the 'Town versus Gown' riots that erupted in Oxford in the thirteenth century?

Answer: (One Word - think east)

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 20 2024 : Guest 217: 8/15
Nov 18 2024 : Guest 49: 11/15
Nov 13 2024 : Guest 91: 13/15
Nov 05 2024 : Guest 82: 11/15
Nov 04 2024 : Guest 163: 13/15
Oct 29 2024 : PurpleComet: 13/15
Oct 28 2024 : Guest 129: 11/15
Oct 23 2024 : Guest 81: 11/15
Oct 21 2024 : Guest 86: 0/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of these isn't an Oxford college?

Answer: King's

Oxford and Cambridge both have colleges with the above names except for King's; there is no King's College in Oxford, only Cambridge.

2. Slightly harder now - when was New College actually founded?

Answer: 1379

Don't be misled by its name - New College is in fact one of the university's oldest colleges.

3. Which of these Oxford colleges has a famous deer park?

Answer: Magdalen

Other Magdalen feaures include the singing of madrigals from the college tower on May the first... at dawn!

4. If you were standing on Catte Street, which college would you be looking at?

Answer: Hertford

Hertford's landmarks include the famous 'Bridge of Sighs'. Also to be found on Catte Street is the old part of the Bodleian Library.

5. Occasionally described in nearby giant Christ Church as 'the coalshed', which of these is the smallest college in Oxford?

Answer: Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is a tiny college just south of the High Street.

6. Unique to Oxford University, what is 'sub fusc'?

Answer: academic dress

Sub fusc is the university's official academic clothing, worn for matriculation, graduation and all examinations. Men wear a black suit with a white shirt, bow tie and the appropriate gown. Women wear black skirts and tights, a white shirt, a black ribbon around their necks plus their gowns.

7. Priscilla is about to apply to Oxford University to take an undergraduate degree. Which of these colleges can't she put down on her application form?

Answer: All Souls

All Souls is one of the most exclusive academic communities in the world, being a research college that admits no undergraduate members.

8. In 1998, Archibald was about to apply to Oxford University to take a graduate degree. Which of these colleges could he not put down on his application form?

Answer: St Hilda's

St Hilda's was the only Oxford college to admit women exclusively, so Archibald couldn't apply there.

9. Another bit of Oxford lingo for you: if you saw a 'scout' crossing the quad, what would you be looking at?

Answer: a college cleaner

Scouts are the wonderful people who clean undergraduate rooms and empty their bins each day.

10. What is the name of the huge bookshop associated with Oxford?

Answer: Blackwell

Blackwells is spread along Broad Street, with several separate shops for different categories including music, art and childrens' books.

11. What is the motto of Oxford University, found on the University Arms?

Answer: Dominus illuminatio mea

The motto asks for God's enlightenment!

12. And what is the main colour on the heraldic arms?

Answer: dark blue

The background of the arms is dark blue (the Oxford colour - Cambridge is light blue), behind the book with 'Dominus illuminatio mea' written on it.

13. As an undergraduate at Oxford you can be a scholar if you do well in exams. What are you if you aren't a scholar?

Answer: a commoner

Commoners and scholars are separated in appearance by their gowns; scholars wear a longer garment with a gathered yoke and billowing sleeves. Commoners wear a shorter gown with tassels that looks more like a waistcoat.

14. 'Henrietta has just completed a doctorate at Oxford University and has received a certificate stating she has a PhD!' Is this statement true or false?

Answer: False

Oxford University doesn't give out PhDs to its students, it gives out DPhils. It just has to be different.

15. Which university was founded by Oxford scholars fleeing one of the 'Town versus Gown' riots that erupted in Oxford in the thirteenth century?

Answer: Cambridge

The University of Cambridge was actually founded by Oxford men. They were trying to get away from the infamous 'Town and Gown' riots, the first of which took place in 1209.

Source: Author Frideswide

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