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Quiz about Oxford The City of Dreaming Spires

Oxford- The 'City of Dreaming Spires' Quiz

Interesting facts both about 'town and gown'.

A multiple-choice quiz by mgeigert. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
mgeigert

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
133,668

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
670

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. What is the Upper River Thames called in Oxford? Hint

Iris

Ilse

Irene

Isis

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Question 2 of 15

2. Compared to other major towns in England, what is Oxford the farthest from? Hint

Any airports

Republic of Ireland

London

Sea coast

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Question 3 of 15

3. How many colleges does the University of Oxford have? Hint

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Question 4 of 15

4. What happened in 1355 on St Scholastica's day? Hint

First St Giles Fair took place

University College was founded

The Black Death came into town

Massacre of dozens of scholars by the townies

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Question 5 of 15

5. Who is considered to be the patron saint of Oxford? Hint

St Frideswide

St Antony

St Hilde

St Hugh

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which college is the only one in Oxford never to admit any students? Hint

New College

University College

All Souls College

Balliol College

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Question 7 of 15

7. What interesting detail decorates the house No 131, High Street? Hint

Dog with a giant watch in its mouth

Figure of a saint with a big cross in his hands

Cat holding a huge key

Head of an emperor with an enormous beard

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Question 8 of 15

8. What is the name of the tower built by Christopher Wren over the entrance to Christ Church College? Hint

Bill Tower

Jas Tower

Bob Tower

Tom Tower

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Question 9 of 15

9. One of Oxford's twin cities has a square in Oxford named after it. What is the city?

Answer: (One word - Think Germany...)

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Question 10 of 15

10. Every May morning Latin grace is sung from the top of the Bell Tower. To what college does this tower belong? Hint

Worcester College

Magdalen College

New College

Christ Church College

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Question 11 of 15

11. William Morris is the Oxford businessman who started with a bicycle business and progressed to opening his own car factory. What is his title? Hint

Lord Somerville

Lord Balliol

Lord Nuffield

Lord Exeter

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Question 12 of 15

12. What is an ethnic origin of Wafic Said, the founder of the Oxford Business School? Hint

Greek

Russian

Turkish

Syrian

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Question 13 of 15

13. Which Oxford college is known as a Welsh college? Hint

Jesus College

Lincoln College

Trinity College

St Peter's College

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Question 14 of 15

14. What is considered to be the most famous artifact of the Ashmolean museum in Oxford (Anglo-Saxon section)? Hint

Arthur Jewel

Alfred Jewel

Edward Jewel

William Jewel

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which Merton College alumni is the author of 'Zuleika Dobson', a satire on Oxford's undergraduate life? Hint

Max Beerbohm

John Galsworthy

Oscar Wilde

Charles Dickens

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the Upper River Thames called in Oxford?

Answer: Isis

Oxford is situated on a gravel terrace between the Isis and the smaller River Cherwell. The city is about 50 miles west-northwest from London and has about 100,000 inhabitants

2. Compared to other major towns in England, what is Oxford the farthest from?

Answer: Sea coast

A glance at any map will reveal this. This central location was Oxford's strategic importance and attracted scholarly clerics from the Early Middle Ages onwards.

3. How many colleges does the University of Oxford have?

Answer: 45

Oxford's 45 colleges and 6 private halls accommodate about 24,000 students. Apart from the University of Oxford there is another university in Oxford, called Oxford Brooks University.

4. What happened in 1355 on St Scholastica's day?

Answer: Massacre of dozens of scholars by the townies

A pub brawl between scholars and the landlord of the Swindlestock Tavern at Carfax turned into a riot with academic halls being attacked by townsmen for three days in a row. As a result of this conflict the town lost all its rights and privileges and did not receive them back until 19th century.

5. Who is considered to be the patron saint of Oxford?

Answer: St Frideswide

According to the legend St Frideswide founded the first abbey in Oxford. It was built in 730 on the site of present-day Christ Church and was the core of the original town.

6. Which college is the only one in Oxford never to admit any students?

Answer: All Souls College

All Souls College restricts membership to Fellows only providing them with the facilities to do research. New College is famous for being the first one to admit undergraduates.

7. What interesting detail decorates the house No 131, High Street?

Answer: Dog with a giant watch in its mouth

Another building of interest on High Street is No 126; it is the best preserved example of a 17th century facade in Oxford.

8. What is the name of the tower built by Christopher Wren over the entrance to Christ Church College?

Answer: Tom Tower

Inside the Tom Tower there is the Great Tom bell that chimes 101 times (once for each member of the original college foundation) each evening at 9.05pm. Apparently it is 9.05 and not 9.00 because Oxford is situated five minutes west of Greenwich.

9. One of Oxford's twin cities has a square in Oxford named after it. What is the city?

Answer: Bonn

It is at the west end of Queen Street opposite the Westgate Shopping centre and is a popular meeting place. Another twin city of Oxford is Leiden.

10. Every May morning Latin grace is sung from the top of the Bell Tower. To what college does this tower belong?

Answer: Magdalen College

May Morning starts at 6am with Magdalen College Choir singing Latin grace from the bell tower. It is followed by Morris Dancing in Radcliffe Square and Broad street. Another tradition of the day is students jumping off Magdalen Bridge into the Cherwell.

11. William Morris is the Oxford businessman who started with a bicycle business and progressed to opening his own car factory. What is his title?

Answer: Lord Nuffield

William Morris Lord Nuffield started his bicycle business in 1893 and in 1913 he opened Morris Motors and transformed Oxford into an industrial centre. 1970s were the most productive years, not nearly as many cars are made in Oxford now.

12. What is an ethnic origin of Wafic Said, the founder of the Oxford Business School?

Answer: Syrian

In 1996 Wafic Said offered the university 20 million pounds and the Oxford Business School (also known as Said Business School) was established.

13. Which Oxford college is known as a Welsh college?

Answer: Jesus College

The money for the foundation of Jesus College in 1571 was provided by a Welshman called Hugh Price and a lot of the college's intake was from grammar schools in Wales.

14. What is considered to be the most famous artifact of the Ashmolean museum in Oxford (Anglo-Saxon section)?

Answer: Alfred Jewel

Alfred Jewel consists of an enamel seated figure set under a rock crystal in a gold frame bearing the inscription in Latin 'Alfred had me made'. It is considered the finest item of Saxon art.

15. Which Merton College alumni is the author of 'Zuleika Dobson', a satire on Oxford's undergraduate life?

Answer: Max Beerbohm

Max Beerbohm (1872-1956) is actually a famous caricaturist. Merton college has the Max Beerbohm Room that is full of his drawings.

Source: Author mgeigert

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