Oxford

I follow an online news site called "Business Insider". They recently posted an article highlighting 13 abstract interview questions that Oxford University asks its candidates before granting admission into the prestigious university. There are apparently no right or wrong answers-- they're more subjective so as to discover what kind of person you are.

Here are the questions, as well as my answers:

Question 1: Is it easier for organisms to live in the sea or on land?

That depends on whether or not you would prefer to float in the endless ocean, constantly being bathed by the salty seas, scavenging for krill while luckily avoiding bait, or if you'd like to graze in the forest, your ears twitching every so often at the sound of each distant, snapping twig, in fear that it might be an irrational mammal bearing an overpowered machine.

I wouldn't mind trading places with a jellyfish for a day. Then again, I doubt jellyfish have much of an emotional connection to anything in their lives seeing as how they are mostly giant bacteria.

Question 2: What makes a short story different from a novel?

Most people would probably say "the length". In fact, most people would probably say "Most people would probably say 'the length'".

Good authors can write both. The difference is the amount of time invested. Not by the author, but by the reader. I consider movies based on books to be the "short story" versions of the books they're based on. This is because a book not only might take longer to read than the average film, but more pages are devoted to the description of the protagonist's environment and thought processes, creating a more lasting impression on the reader.

Novels can also be best sellers because they provide long lasting value.

Question 3: Imagine we had no records about the past at all, except everything to do with sport-- how much of the past could we find out about?

The story goes that Olympians used to compete in the nude, so you can learn a lot about what is socially acceptable in each period.

Question 4: Why do human beings have two eyes?

Conveniently, having two eyes lets us see in 3D. As for why we ended up having two eyes, that was either the maker's will, or a perfect evolutionary accident.

Question 5: Should poetry be difficult to understand?

No, it should not be,

It really should never be,

Why is it ever?

Question 6: Is violence always political? Does "political" mean something different in different contexts?

In war, yes, violence is political. In civilian life, people commit violent crimes, some premeditated and others out of passion.

Animals are also violent. The "politics" involved in the animal kingdom pertain to a literal food chain. Humans, in our modern society, vie to be figuratively on top.

But "political" has several meanings. While a politician might use the word "political" to describe foreign affairs, a student might scold another classmate for saying something "politically incorrect".

Question 7: Ladybirds are red. So are strawberries. Why?

They could have just as easily been blue.

Question 8: If the punishment for parking on double yellow lines were death, and therefore nobody did it, would that be a just and effective law?

If no one really did park on double yellow lines in fear of this punishment, it would be an effective law, but criminally unjust.

I'm a firm believer that a vast majority of crimes go unreported, often unnoticed. So I know there would be people who would break that law and not get caught. Therefore, it would realistically be an ineffective law, and if another person was caught and punished, grossly unjust for the "guilty" person(s).

Question 9: Why do you think an English student might be interested in the fact that Coronation Street has been running for 50 years?

I have never seen this show, but from what I know, it's an English soap opera. Although I believe any scholar should be interested in the fact that any show would last that long. It says a lot about the viewers and might not necessarily mean the show is good or bad, but that it has done a successful job of creating a transgenerational cult following, like "Doctor Who".

Question 10: What is "normal" for humans?

A lot of people strive for "normalcy" in their lives. They try to blend in with their environments, colleagues, and culture in an attempt to avoid conflict and maximize opportunity.

Then there are those who do the exact opposite in an attempt to spite others, or to combat the monotony of an average life, or because they're on a quest to discover new things about themselves that differentiate them from everyone else.

Normalcy is relative. Like I mentioned earlier, Olympians used to compete nude. Maybe that will happen again, but nudity is currently not "normal" enough to broadcast on network television.

Question 11: Would it matter if tigers became extinct?

It would matter to the tigers.

It would more than likely matter to their ecosystems, too. There's a popular video online about how the emergence of wolves helped Yellowstone National Park become a more thriving wildlife community, inviting more animals, catalyzing plant growth, ultimately even displaying a positive effect on the rivers.

Question 12: If you could invent a new musical instrument, what kind of sound would it make?

I'm a fan of all music. I really enjoy Indian "Raga", especially the relaxing sound a good tabla drum. I also love the resonance of the gong, so my instrument would be a new blend of the "gong" and "tabla".

Question 13: Here's a cactus (there's a picture of a cactus). Tell me about it.

Cacti aren't very sociable.

And those are the 13 Oxford questions.

Here's the wolf video I referred to in question 11.

And here's the Business Insider article that inspired today's blog.

Thanks for reading,

-Philip