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The University of Oxford Trivia Quiz

In 2002, The University of Oxford received first place in the annual Times Good University Guide, which ranks universities according to the quality of teaching and research. This is a quiz about this great University.

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

Author
mgeigert

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
135,236

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
12 / 20

Plays
589

Last 3 plays: klotzplate (20/20), PurpleComet (18/20), Guest 82 (13/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. The Arms of the University of Oxford feature which motto? Hint

Veritas Liberavit

Sapientiae et Felicitatis

Bonitas Regnabit

Dominus Illuminatio Mea

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Question 2 of 20

2. What is the name of the first known overseas student at Oxford? Hint

Emo of Friesland

Eric of Freyvid

Edel of Frimunt

Erp of Finnbogi

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Question 3 of 20

3. Green College is famous for its Radcliffe Observatory. What two sculptured figures support the globe on the roof of the Observatory? Hint

Aristotle and Plato

Atlas and Hercules

Diana and Minerva

Romulus and Julius

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Question 4 of 20

4. Oxford is the oldest University in the English speaking world. True or false?

True

False

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Question 5 of 20

5. Up to and including the year 2003, how many British Prime Ministers were educated at Oxford? Hint

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Question 6 of 20

6. Speaking of Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher studied what subject in her days at Oxford? Hint

Mathematics

Politics

English Literature

Chemistry

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Question 7 of 20

7. The author of 'Bridget Jones's Diary' studied at Oxford. What is her name? Hint

Helen Fielding

Rosie Thomas

India Knight

Ruth Rendell

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Question 8 of 20

8. This famous British TV Chef and 'domestic goddess' studied at Oxford in 1979. What is her name? Hint

Nigella Lawson

Delia Smith

Sophie Griegson

Silvana Franco

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Question 9 of 20

9. What is the full name of All Souls College? Hint

The College of All Souls of the Faithful Departed

The College of All Souls of the Forgiven Sinners

The College of All Souls of the Blessed Righteous

The College of All Souls of the Excellent Students

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Question 10 of 20

10. Among the 39 official Colleges of the University and the six Permanent Private Halls how many admit graduate students only? Hint

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Question 11 of 20

11. Which was the first women's college founded at Oxford? Hint

St Hugh's

St Hilda's

Somerville

Lady Margaret Hall

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Question 12 of 20

12. If you wanted to prepare for Christian ministry, which Oxford college may be a place for you? Hint

St Antony's College

Lady Margaret Hall

Wycliffe Hall

St Hugh's College

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Question 13 of 20

13. Which college is owned and run by the Society of Jesus? Hint

Christ Church College

All Souls College

St Edmund Hall

Campion Hall

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Question 14 of 20

14. Which former US president opened Rothermere American Institute on 25 May 2001? Hint

Ronald Reagan

Richard Nixon

George Bush

Bill Clinton

15. In 1865, the fourth Earl of Ilchester died, leaving Oxford University a sum for the study of the Polish and other Slavonic languages, literatures and history. How much money did he leave? Hint

1 million pounds

10,000 pounds

1000 pounds

100,000 pounds

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Question 16 of 20

16. Which of the following centres does the Department of Politics and International Relations not include? Hint

Centre for the Study of Democratic Government

Centre for International Studies

Centre for the Politics of Development

Centre for Political Ideologies

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Question 17 of 20

17. What is the main research library of the University of Oxford?

Answer: (One word- the name only no 'the' or 'library')

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Question 18 of 20

18. Which of these glasshouses is not part of the University Botanic Gardens? Hint

The Lily House

The Cactus House

The Palm House

The Gardenia House

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Question 19 of 20

19. What was the name of John Balliol's wife and the co-founder of Balliol College? Hint

Condwiramurs

Aethelthryth

Dervorguilla

Bearrocsir

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Question 20 of 20

20. Which Oxford college changed places four times, moving from Manchester to York, from York back to Manchester, from Manchester to London and finally to Oxford? Hint

Harris Manchester College

Christ Church College

Lady Margaret Hall

All Souls College

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 04 2024 : klotzplate: 20/20
Oct 29 2024 : PurpleComet: 18/20
Oct 29 2024 : Guest 82: 13/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Arms of the University of Oxford feature which motto?

Answer: Dominus Illuminatio Mea

Dominus Illuminatio Mea or 'The Lord is my light' are the opening words of Psalm 27.

2. What is the name of the first known overseas student at Oxford?

Answer: Emo of Friesland

The arrival of Emo of Friesland in 1190 started the University's tradition of international scholarship. Nowadays approximately one quarter of all students at Oxford are from overseas and they come from about 130 countries.

3. Green College is famous for its Radcliffe Observatory. What two sculptured figures support the globe on the roof of the Observatory?

Answer: Atlas and Hercules

Apart from the figures of Atlas and Hercules the Observatory also features the Signs of the Zodiac, the three Morning, Noon and Evening panels with Helios, Nyx and Artemis on them, and the Eight Winds.

4. Oxford is the oldest University in the English speaking world. True or false?

Answer: True

There is no clear date of foundation but teaching existed at Oxford as early as 1096 and developed from 1167 when King Henry II banned English students from studying at the University of Paris.

5. Up to and including the year 2003, how many British Prime Ministers were educated at Oxford?

Answer: 25

More than a half of them (13) came from Christ Church college, other colleges that produced PMs are Trinity, Balliol, Brasenose, Hertford, Jesus, St John's, Somerville, and University College.

6. Speaking of Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher studied what subject in her days at Oxford?

Answer: Chemistry

Margaret Thatcher is a Somerville college alumni, she studied there 1943-1947. She was the Prime Minister of Britain for 11 years.

7. The author of 'Bridget Jones's Diary' studied at Oxford. What is her name?

Answer: Helen Fielding

Helen Fielding's 'Bridget Jones's Diary' was made into a movie. Bad and charming Daniel Cleaver was played in the movie by Hugh Grant, also an Oxford graduate.

8. This famous British TV Chef and 'domestic goddess' studied at Oxford in 1979. What is her name?

Answer: Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson is a popular UK TV Chef and the author of Nigella Bites, Forever Summer and How to be a Domestic Goddess.

9. What is the full name of All Souls College?

Answer: The College of All Souls of the Faithful Departed

The College of All Souls of the Faithful Departed is for Fellows only, it does not admit undergraduate members and only a dozen or so of post-graduates.

10. Among the 39 official Colleges of the University and the six Permanent Private Halls how many admit graduate students only?

Answer: 7

Green, Linacre, Nuffield, St Antony's, St Cross, and Templeton are graduate colleges. Kellogg College admits only part-time graduate students.

11. Which was the first women's college founded at Oxford?

Answer: Lady Margaret Hall

Lady Margaret Hall and St Anne's were founded in 1878, Somerville in 1879, St Hugh's in 1886, and St Hilda's in 1893. In 1920 women received full membership at the University. Nowadays the only women's only college is St Hilda's.

12. If you wanted to prepare for Christian ministry, which Oxford college may be a place for you?

Answer: Wycliffe Hall

Wycliffe Hall was founded in 1877 for training Christian leaders for the church. It became officially a part of the University in 1996 when it received a status of a permanent private hall.

13. Which college is owned and run by the Society of Jesus?

Answer: Campion Hall

About two thirds of Campion Hall members are Jesuits although members of other religious congregations are also accepted. Majority of the students are seminarians, priests and members of religious orders. Laymen are rarely accepted.

14. Which former US president opened Rothermere American Institute on 25 May 2001?

Answer: Bill Clinton

Rothermere American Institute is an international centre for the study of the United States. This newly built institute hosts the best library of Americana to be found outside the USA.

15. In 1865, the fourth Earl of Ilchester died, leaving Oxford University a sum for the study of the Polish and other Slavonic languages, literatures and history. How much money did he leave?

Answer: 1000 pounds

The Ilchester course of lectures on the ethnology was one of the first steps towards the foundation of the Russian and East European Centre at Oxford.

16. Which of the following centres does the Department of Politics and International Relations not include?

Answer: Centre for the Politics of Development

The Department of Politics and International Relations was established in 2000, and is one of the largest teaching and research departments in its field in the UK.

17. What is the main research library of the University of Oxford?

Answer: Bodleian

The Bodleian Library in the University of Oxford is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in England is second in size only to the British Library. It was established in 1602 but even then it was founded on the site of an earlier library.

18. Which of these glasshouses is not part of the University Botanic Gardens?

Answer: The Gardenia House

The largest of all glasshouses is the Palm House. One of the 'inhabitants' here is the rosy periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) that produces two chemicals that help save the lives of children born with leukaemia.

19. What was the name of John Balliol's wife and the co-founder of Balliol College?

Answer: Dervorguilla

Dervorguilla of Galloway was a Scottish princess and the mother of John Balliol, King of Scots (1292-96). She is honoured as a co-founder of Balliol College.

20. Which Oxford college changed places four times, moving from Manchester to York, from York back to Manchester, from Manchester to London and finally to Oxford?

Answer: Harris Manchester College

Harris Manchester College was founded in Manchester as Manchester Academy in 1786 by English Presbyterians to provide higher education for Nonconformists. The college came to Oxford in 1889. Today it is a college for mature undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Source: Author mgeigert

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