University Challenge
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Reply 1760
The sale of the Crick/Watson Nobel today is sure to come up on a future UC!
Reply 1761
Interesting you point that out :P
I always thought that the most important thing for being a good quizzer is maintaining a state of mind round the clock. Being willing to accept that everything you read or hear, no matter how superfluous at the time, may very well come in useful and appear in a question. (Sid Meyer's Civillisation?).
Nevertheless, learning a topic in its entirety is extremely satisfying - especially if you turn up to a pub quiz and see say, "Summer Olympic Games" as one of the starter rounds. Now me and my mates have all turned 18, "The Fellowship (sometimes featuring my Dad a.k.a. Gandalf)" as we call ourselves is beginning to get a reputation around the locals.
I always thought that the most important thing for being a good quizzer is maintaining a state of mind round the clock. Being willing to accept that everything you read or hear, no matter how superfluous at the time, may very well come in useful and appear in a question. (Sid Meyer's Civillisation?).
Nevertheless, learning a topic in its entirety is extremely satisfying - especially if you turn up to a pub quiz and see say, "Summer Olympic Games" as one of the starter rounds. Now me and my mates have all turned 18, "The Fellowship (sometimes featuring my Dad a.k.a. Gandalf)" as we call ourselves is beginning to get a reputation around the locals.
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 1762
How many questions do you have to get right to be really proud of yourself? I got 14 the other week, nobody was there to witness it of course 
Reply 1763
17
Original post
by opaltigerCambridge Intercollegiate Quiz Championship
I didn't realise that this was a thing!
Reply 1764
17
Original post
by Silverland(two Booker prize winners in 1974 too)
And two general elections!
Reply 1765
Original post
by tommmI didn't realise that this was a thing!
It's not hugely well publicised, because the Cambridge Quiz Society isn't very big, but it does get a decent turnout (19 teams this year). Details here.
Reply 1766
UCL - Bangor final
(calling it now)
(calling it now)
Reply 1767
20
Original post
by FullofsurprisesI read that, but didn't even slightly understand it! 
Have you memorised all the world's flags, all flags and capitals of US states and all flags and currencies of the EU? Those appear to be a vital minimum for UC success.
Have you memorised all the world's flags, all flags and capitals of US states and all flags and currencies of the EU? Those appear to be a vital minimum for UC success.
Yeah they had some really obscure flags (i.e. flags of dependencies) a few months ago, I got 2 out of 3 of them (New Caledonia and Guam iirc) cause I know a lot of flags, but they didn't get any.
But I can't believe my uni Bangor has made the semi finals, especially considering the various Russell group/oxbridge unis they've beaten. When they went 100-0 up in one of their quarter finals and managed to lose I thought that would be it, but they won both their other quarters! Admittedly the fact they have a mature student who clearly has very good general knowledge, but in general its a very strong team and they're proving that contrary to some people on tsr's views, you're not necessarily an idiot if you go to a non-top 50 uni!
Reply 1768
Original post
by SilverlandUCL - Bangor final
(calling it now)
(calling it now)
Ohh what?? Thanks for that, not.
Reply 1769
Original post
by OlieYeah they had some really obscure flags (i.e. flags of dependencies) a few months ago, I got 2 out of 3 of them (New Caledonia and Guam iirc) cause I know a lot of flags, but they didn't get any.
But I can't believe my uni Bangor has made the semi finals, especially considering the various Russell group/oxbridge unis they've beaten. When they went 100-0 up in one of their quarter finals and managed to lose I thought that would be it, but they won both their other quarters! Admittedly the fact they have a mature student who clearly has very good general knowledge, but in general its a very strong team and they're proving that contrary to some people on tsr's views, you're not necessarily an idiot if you go to a non-top 50 uni!
But I can't believe my uni Bangor has made the semi finals, especially considering the various Russell group/oxbridge unis they've beaten. When they went 100-0 up in one of their quarter finals and managed to lose I thought that would be it, but they won both their other quarters! Admittedly the fact they have a mature student who clearly has very good general knowledge, but in general its a very strong team and they're proving that contrary to some people on tsr's views, you're not necessarily an idiot if you go to a non-top 50 uni!
So much for "some people on tsr's views".
Simple fact is, there are smart people all over the place, some of them have compendious knowledge and quick recall and some of those make it onto UC.
Reply 1770
Original post
by FullofsurprisesOhh what?? Thanks for that, not.
Don't worry, I'm sure tonight will be full of surprises
(and at any rate it happened pretty much exactly one year ago whatever happens tonight so my shoddy predictions can't have any influence :v )
Reply 1771
Original post
by SilverlandUCL - Bangor final
(calling it now)
(calling it now)
I would really love that, because they're my two favourite teams this year, but I am not convinced that Bangor will beat Manchester. They certainly have the ability, I think, but it'll really depend on the questions and how both teams are feeling.
Pretty confident about tonight, though. Surely UCL can't possibly lose?
Reply 1772
Original post
by opaltigerI would really love that, because they're my two favourite teams this year, but I am not convinced that Bangor will beat Manchester. They certainly have the ability, I think, but it'll really depend on the questions and how both teams are feeling.
mmm. I think with Both Manchester and Bangor they have two great "question sweepers" and two decent "support" characters each. I just think Bangor have a better pool of knowledge this season and also play a much more confident game.
However it mustn't be forgotten that Manchester have their own university challenge coach
(but like you say it'll come down to questions I guess)
Reply 1773
Original post
by Silverlandmmm. I think with Both Manchester and Bangor they have two great "question sweepers" and two decent "support" characters each. I just think Bangor have a better pool of knowledge this season and also play a much more confident game.
However it mustn't be forgotten that Manchester have their own university challenge coach
(but like you say it'll come down to questions I guess)
However it mustn't be forgotten that Manchester have their own university challenge coach
(but like you say it'll come down to questions I guess)
Also, I reckon it'll be to Bangor's advantage that they're very much the underdogs, whereas Manchester are pretty much expected to make at least the semis every year.
Reply 1774
Very frustrating night. I only got 95. Questions are getting harder
Having said that though that's still a lot better than India Lenon who got zilch all night. Poor Oxford were playing with a team of 3 it appeared. UCL deserved winners to me as everyone seemed to come up with the answers as often as they needed to
Having said that though that's still a lot better than India Lenon who got zilch all night. Poor Oxford were playing with a team of 3 it appeared. UCL deserved winners to me as everyone seemed to come up with the answers as often as they needed to
Reply 1775
Original post
by SilverlandVery frustrating night. I only got 95. Questions are getting harder
Having said that though that's still a lot better than India Lenon who got zilch all night. Poor Oxford were playing with a team of 3 it appeared. UCL deserved winners to me as everyone seemed to come up with the answers as often as they needed to
Having said that though that's still a lot better than India Lenon who got zilch all night. Poor Oxford were playing with a team of 3 it appeared. UCL deserved winners to me as everyone seemed to come up with the answers as often as they needed to
India Lenon never does anything. She's only there so that the cameras have something to focus on when the team is answering the follow-up questions.
Reply 1776
Disappointed to see Cappleman, I mean New College, lose. Hard to see past UCL for the final, they're strong in nearly every area.
Hood looked gutted at the gong!
Hood looked gutted at the gong!
Reply 1777
I would love to see a Bangor-UCL final.
Reply 1778
Well, that was a good episode. I appreciated their inclusion of no fewer than two "what is the common name of [taxon]" starters (while bemoaning the lack of any when I'm actually in a position to answer them). I really don't see UCL losing the final at this point, but I suppose anything can happen.
I got 31 this week (9 starters/22 bonuses), which is about average. Could have used fewer bonuses on towns in the UK. Especially when they're described in heraldic terms. I am incredibly impressed they got any of those right.
I appreciated their inclusion of no fewer than two "what is the common name of [taxon]" starters (while bemoaning the lack of any when I'm actually in a position to answer them). I really don't see UCL losing the final at this point, but I suppose anything can happen.I got 31 this week (9 starters/22 bonuses), which is about average. Could have used fewer bonuses on towns in the UK. Especially when they're described in heraldic terms. I am incredibly impressed they got any of those right.
Reply 1779
Original post
by Ho Chi MinhIndia Lenon never does anything. She's only there so that the cameras have something to focus on when the team is answering the follow-up questions.
I was never a fan of hers at the start tbh. Vacant camera smiles don't make up for doing zilch. I'm glad she's going
I wonder who'll be presenting the trophy this year anyways. That's always a fun guess. I have the strangest feeling it might be Hillary Mantel (they love Literary figures giving out them trophies), but that's just a stab in the dark in all honesty.
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