Episode 5 University Challenge

Asking the questions, Jeremy Paxman!

Hello. Fourteen teams have accepted our invitation and gamely offered to entertain us

in this seasonal competition for graduates and teachers from our universities and colleges.

There are seven matches at this stage of the competition,

but only the four winning teams with the highest scores go through.

New College, Oxford's score of 240 has guaranteed them a place there

and the 165 scored by the University of Liverpool is the one to beat to be sure of joining them.

Founded in 1871, Newnham College, Cambridge, is a single-sex institution.

It's represented tonight by the first black woman to take a seat in the House of Commons.

She teamed up on TV with Michael Portillo to be the most entertaining double act since the Krankies.

She's joined by an expert on Chinese history and culture. Their captain is another face familiar from TV

and they're also joined by a former primary school teacher who is now a prolific author. Let's meet them.

My name is Diane Abbott. I read History at Newnham College.

I'm now an MP and Shadow Public Health Minister.

Hello. I'm Frances Wood. I studied Chinese at Newnham, graduating in 1971.

I'm a curator of the Chinese collections in the British Library.

-Their captain...

-Hello. I'm Rosemary Leonard. I graduated in Medicine in 1980. I'm a GP in South London

and I'm the doctor on the sofa on BBC Breakfast.

Hello. I'm Deborah Chancellor. I studied Modern and Medieval Languages in the mid-1980s

and now I'm a children's writer.

APPLAUSE

The University of Nottingham is anything but single sex. It's notorious for it!

Nevertheless, it is represented by four men.

One has a surname familiar from many a high street and has a CBE for services to the retail sector.

He's joined by the holder of the world record for the number of snails held on the face.

He's also an ecologist and broadcaster.

Their captain is a clinical psychologist and author of works such as Affluenza.

And their fourth is one of the very few people to play rugby for England

while also having a qualification in nail manicure. Let's say hello to them.

I'm John Timpson. I studied Industrial Economics and graduated in 1964.

These days I'm chairman of a family chain of shoe repair and key-cutting shops.

My name's Mike Dilger. I graduated in Botany in 1988 with a 2:2.

I got a First in socialising, but can't put that down on my CV.

I'm a wildlife reporter on The One Show and a natural history expert.

-And their captain...

-I'm Oliver James. I studied Child Clinical Psychology in 1979.

The only thing I've done since then that anybody noticed was to make Peter Mandelson shed a tear on TV.

I'm Brian Moore. I work in sports media and graduated from Nottingham in 1984

with a joint honours degree in Law, Plagiarism and Photocopying.

APPLAUSE

I'll remind you of the rules. Starter questions are answered individually on the buzzer.

Interrupt a starter incorrectly, you get a five-point penalty.

Bonus questions are team efforts. You can collaborate on those. They're worth 15 points.

Here's your first starter for ten.

Christmas Day, 1950, saw the removal by four Scottish students of what object from...

-The Stone of Scone.

-Correct.

You get the first set of bonuses. They're on pantomime.

Originally called Ching-Mustapha, which pantomime character was also formerly known by names

including Wee-Ping and Chow-Chow?

Wishy-Washy?

-Wishy-Washy?

-No, Widow Twankey.

The word Twankey derives from the Chinese name for a popular, but inferior variety of what substance?

BRIAN: Heroin.

-Heroin.

-Heroin?

No, it's tea! First published in the UK in the early 18th century,

which work provided the inspiration for Aladdin and other pantomime stories

such as Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves?

No idea.

-No idea.

-The Arabian Nights or The Thousand And One Nights.

10 points for this starter. Lady Circumference, Mr Prendergast,

Margot Beste-Chetwynde and Paul Pennyfeather are among the characters in which novel of 1928...

-Decline and Fall?

-Yes.

These bonuses are on a 19th-century statesman.

"The Battle of Jena came 20 years after the death of Frederick the Great.

"The crash will come 20 years after my departure."

Who said those words in 1895, four years after his dismissal?

British statesman, is it?

Is it Gladstone?

-Gladstone?

-It's as good as any.

-William Gladstone?

-No, Otto von Bismarck.

When first in power in 1863, Bismarck is said to have remarked,

"The secret of politics? Make a good treaty with..." which country?

-Must be France.

-Got to be France.

-No, it hasn't!

It's got to be Russia. Finally, Bismarck is alleged to have said,

"If ever there is another war in Europe, it will come out of some damn silly thing in..." which region

named after a mountain range?

-The Balkans.

-Right. Another starter.

"A noble dish is a turkey, roast or boiled. A Christmas dinner with the middle classes of this empire

"would scarcely be Christmas dinner without its turkey." Who wrote this in her book of household manage...

-Beeton.

-Mrs Beeton is correct.

The first set of bonuses for you, Newnham, are on seasonal poems.

"Heap on more wood! The wind is chill, let it whistle as it will, we'll keep Christmas merry still."

These are the opening lines of Christmas In The Olden Time,

which featured in the epic poem Marmion by which writer?

Tennyson?

Tennyson.

No, it was Sir Walter Scott. The Winter's Come and Snow Storm are works by which English nature poet

who lived in poverty and died in 1864, having spent 27 years in asylums?

Clare.

-John Clare.

-Correct.

Born in Missouri in 1888, which literary figure was the author of The Cultivation of Christmas Trees

and Journey of the Magi, part of the collection known as the Ariel Poems?

-Sylvia Plath?

-No, it was TS Eliot.

We're going to take a picture round. You're going to see a word cloud

featuring words from a traditional Christmas carol. For 10 points, I want the carol's opening words.

-"Ding dong merrily on high".

-Yes!

Your bonuses are three more word clouds of well-known carols.

In each case I want the opening words of the carol. Firstly...

-"Away in a manger".

-Correct. Secondly...

-"Joy to the world".

-Yes! And, finally...

-"The holly and the ivy".

-Yes! Well done. 10 points for this.

In his 1632 dialogue concerning the two chief world systems,

which natural philosopher described his principle of relativity

using the example of the relative movement of the cargo on a ship sailing out of Venice?

Newton?

Nope. Newnham? One of you buzz.

-Einstein.

-In 1632?!

I don't think so. Galileo. 10 points for this.

The Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry, followed his 1949 single success, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,

with a song in 1950 about which other seasonal figure?

Father Christmas.

Nope. Newnham? One of you buzz.

You may not confer! One of you can buzz.

-Frosty the Snowman?

-Yes!

You're very good on Christmas songs. Your bonuses are on entries in The Portable Flower Garden,

a work of 1823 by the botanist Bess Kent. In each case, identify the common garden plant or flower

from the author's description. Firstly, which plant "not only served to grace triumphant brows,

"mortal and immortal, but was also placed over the houses of sick persons

"from some superstitious notion of its efficacy"?

-Laurel.

-Yes, bay. "It's connected with the sports of childhood and the pleasures of youth.

-"It's a favourite with man, woman and child. It is the robin of flowers."

-Rose?

-Daisies?

-It'd have to be red.

-Daisy.

-Daisy.

-Correct.

"One of the greatest pests to gardeners and yet it must be acknowledged

"that this little red and white flower is...beautiful and...would doubtless be a general favourite."

-Roses?

-No, convolvulus or bindweed. 10 points for this. For what do the letters CN stand

in the international organisation known as the IUCN?

-Founded in 1948...

-Conservation of Nature.

-Correct!

If you hadn't got that, you should lose your job! Your bonuses this time are on Christmas morning.

If Father Christmas falls down a 5-metre chimney, starting from rest,

where acceleration due to gravity is 10 metres per second squared, in metres, what's his final velocity?

-Could you repeat?

-No.

-OK.

-Don't know.

-5,000?

5,000?! No, it's 10.

Viewers will be relieved to know that Father Christmas landed safely in a pile of soot.

Weighing 100 kilograms, he now re-climbs the 5-metre chimney.

What, in joules, is the work he expends in climbing it?

- One. - It's 100 times five.

Isn't it 500 or something like that?

-500?

-No, that was 5,000 joules.

Finally, having remounted his sleigh, he departs by accelerating from rest to 30 metres per second

in two seconds. What acceleration does he experience, in units of G?

Two G?

-Two?

-No, it's 1.5.

10 points for this. Christmas Day in the year 800 saw the coronation in Rome of which historical figure

as Emperor of the Romans?

You may not confer. One of you may buzz.

-Constantine?

-Nope. One of you buzz from Newnham.

-Charlemagne?

-Charlemagne is correct.

These bonuses are on the stage works of George Bernard Shaw.

Described as "a paradoxical version of the Don Juan story",

in which play by Shaw is John Tanner pursued by Ann Whitefield?

-Major Barbara?

-No, it's Man and Superman.

In The Beginning: BC 4004

and As Far As Thought Can Reach: AD 31,920

are the first and last in which series of five plays by Shaw?

Play...

- I can't remember. - I don't know.

-Plays Serious and Unserious?

-No, Back To Methuselah. Which play

examines the conflict between a Salvation Army officer and her father, an armaments manufacturer?

-Major Barbara.

-Correct.

We're going to take a music round now. You will hear an excerpt from an opera.

10 points for the British composer.

# Let me, let me

# Let me freeze again... #

Britten?

No. Nottingham, you can hear a bit more.

# Let me, let me freeze again to death

# Let me, let me

# Let me freeze again to death... #

You may not confer. One of you may buzz.

You all look a bit blank. OK, I'll tell you. It's Purcell.

Music bonuses shortly. Ten points for this starter question.

What rank in the British Army links a period of direct military government

during Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate with a patter song in Gilbert and Sullivan's...

-Major-General.

-Yes.

A moment ago, we heard the Song Of Cold Genius from The Frost Scene in Purcell's opera King Arthur.

For your bonuses, three more pieces of music with a winter theme.

For each piece, I want the name of the composer. Firstly...

CLASSICAL PIANO MUSIC

WHISPERING

-Saint-Saens?

-Nominate Moore.

-No, it's Debussy's The Snow Is Dancing.

Secondly, the family name of this composer?

LIVELY CLASSICAL PIECE

-Strauss.

-Correct, yes, that's Winterlust, Polka Schnell. And finally...?

CLASSICAL PIANO MUSIC

WHISPERING

-We think it's Chopin.

-It is Chopin, yes, his Winter Wind. Right, ten points for this.

What given name links a cousin of Jane Eyre in the novel by Charlotte Bronte,

the only "plain" Bennet daughter in Jane Austen's Pride And Prejudice

and the daughter of a trade unionist, the title character of an 1848 novel by Elizabeth Gaskell?

-Emma.

-No. Anyone like to buzz from Newnham? You may not confer!

-Mary.

-Mary is correct, yes.

Your bonuses are on English history this time, Newnham.

Killed by the Danes in 1012 after he refused to be ransomed,

Alphege is generally held to be the first holder of which ecclesiastical office to die a violent death?

WHISPERING

-Archbishop of Canterbury?

-Correct.

Simon of Sudbury became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1375 and later Chancellor of England.

Believed to be responsible for the third poll tax, he was beheaded by rebels during which disturbance?

-Peasants' Revolt.

-Correct.

Archbishop William Laud, an ally of the Earl of Strafford and a persecutor of the Puritans,

was executed for high treason following an act of attainder passed during which decade?

Guess?

WHISPERING

-1590s.

-No, it was the 1640s. Ten points for this.

Reputed to be the noisiest amphibian in Europe, Epidalea calamita has what common name?

The smallest and rarest of our two native British toads,

it's characterised by a thin, bold, yellow dorsal stripe and a tendency...

-Natterjack toad.

-Correct, yes.

You get bonuses this time on an ungulate mammal, Nottingham.

Which mammal of the family Cervidae has the binomial Rangifer tarandus?

Reindeer. Reindeer.

-Reindeer.

-Correct. Reindeer survive on a low-protein diet

by recycling what specific substance, also known as carbamide, within the digestive system?

Normally a waste product, the process enables them to make use of its nitrogen.

I think they recycle their own stools.

-Nominate Dilger.

-They will recycle their own stools.

-No, it's urea.

And finally, according to research published by University College London in 2011,

reindeer's survival is also due to their ability to see light in what part of the spectrum?

-I think it's ultraviolet.

-Ultraviolet.

-Correct.

We're going to take another picture round.

For your starter, you'll see a portrait of a prominent historical figure. Ten points for his name.

Christopher Wren.

No. One of you buzz...

-Samuel Pepys?

-No, it's Sir Isaac Newton, so we'll take the picture bonuses shortly.

Fingers on the buzzers. Here's a starter question.

Officially called Promoter of the Faith, what two-word term is used in the Roman Catholic Church

for someone appointed to present arguments against a proposed canonisation or beatification?

-Agent provocateur?

-No.

One of you like to buzz from Newnham?

I'll tell you. It's the Devil's Advocate. Ten points for this.

Ultimately from a Latin term meaning "born", what given name links Streatfeild, Fielding and...

-Noel.

-Noel is right, yes.

After that excursion, we return to the picture round.

Sir Isaac Newton, whose picture you saw, was born on Christmas Day 1642 according to the Julian calendar.

For your bonuses, you'll see portraits of three noted and somewhat disparate figures,

all born on the 25th of December.

Five points for each one you can identify. Firstly...?

Anwar Sadat.

WHISPERING

-Nominate Wood.

-Anwar Sadat?

-It is Anwar Sadat. A terrible likeness, isn't it?

Secondly, this literary figure?

WHISPERING

-Nominate Wood again.

-Harriet Beecher Stowe.

-No, it's Dorothy Wordsworth.

And finally, who's this?

-Quentin Crisp.

-Quentin Crisp.

-Correct.

Ten points for this. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Sunda Trench

and island nations including the Comoros, Mauritius and the Maldives all lie in which ocean?

-The Indian Ocean.

-Correct.

Your bonuses, Nottingham, are on major cities of China.

Name the city from the description.

To make it easier, all three end with "joe", written Z-H-O-U.

A provincial capital, firstly, around 200 kilometres south of Shanghai?

From the early 12th century, it was the capital of the Southern Sung Dynasty.

Is it Guangzhou?

-Guangzhou?

-No, it's Hangzhou.

Secondly, a city on the upper course of the Yellow River, around 1,200 kilometres south-west of Beijing?

It's the capital of Gansu province.

WHISPERING

-Yangzhou.

-No, it's Lanzhou.

Finally, a major city of South China situated on the Pearl River Estuary

around 100 kilometres north of Hong Kong and formerly known as Canton?

Just make one up.

-London Zhou.

-LAUGHTER

It's Guangzhou.

There's about five minutes to go and there are ten points for this starter question.

In 1993, to which weapon was Boris Yeltsin referring

when he said that you can make a throne from them, but you can't sit on it for long?

-Cruise?

-No. Anyone like to buzz from Newnham? You may not confer.

-Cobbles?

-No, it's bayonets. Ten points for this.

What short noun links Crow, Ghost and Famished

in the titles of novels by Iain Banks, Pat Barker and Ben Okri?

-Road.

-Road is correct, yes.

For your bonuses, identify the following novels by F Scott Fitzgerald

from the summary on the back of the Penguin Modern Classics edition.

Firstly, "To the just fashionable French Riviera come Dick and Nicole Diver - handsome, rich..."

-Tender Is The Night.

-Correct. Secondly,

"Slick-talking, snappily dressed Amory Blaine is also a very smart thinker and he knows it,

"granting himself magnetism, personality and poise,

"power over men and the gift of fascinating all women."

-Is it The Great Gatsby?

-No, it's not.

WHISPERING

-We'll say The Great Gatsby, but we don't think it is.

-No, it's This Side Of Paradise.

"Some said he had been a German spy, others that he was related to one of Europe's royal families.

-"Nearly everyone took..."

-That is The Great Gatsby.

Ten points for this. Listen carefully.

If the initial letters of each month of the year are written in chronological order,

which five-letter boys' name is spelled out...

-Jason.

-Jason is correct, yes.

From July to November. Your bonuses this time are on the names of countries that become another word

by the substitution of the initial letter. For example, "Niger" and "tiger".

In each case, give both words from the descriptions.

Firstly, a large country of western Europe and a half-conscious state

in which one does not respond to external stimuli?

WHISPERING

-France and trance.

-Correct.

Secondly, a Middle Eastern country and husks of grain sometimes consumed as a breakfast cereal

to alleviate constipation?

WHISPERING

-Iran.

-Iran and bran.

-Correct.

Finally, a landlocked country in the Himalayas and a leaf-like part of the calyx of a flower?

Petal...

Petal and Nepal.

-No, sepal.

-Sepal.

-Sepal and Nepal. I have to accept your first answer, so we can't take that.

Ten points for this. Of the British Prime Ministers since 1721,

who is the only one to have served under three monarchs?

His final term of office coincided with the abdication crisis of 1936.

-Baldwin.

-Baldwin it is, of course, right, yes.

These bonuses are on New Year celebrations, Nottingham.

In India's Gujarat state, New Year is celebrated the day after which festival, particularly associated

with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity?

Diwali?

-Diwali?

-Correct. In Greece, January the 1st is also the feast day of which saint,

one of the forefathers of the Greek Orthodox Church?

-Don't know.

-It's St Basil.

Finally, a tradition since 1907, the New Year's Eve Ball Drop is staged at which New York City venue,

and since 2008 has involved a geodesic sphere weighing almost 12,000 pounds?

WHISPERING

-Carnegie Hall.

-No, it's Times Square. Ten points for this.

In music, a continually repeated phrase or rhythm

is known by what single word, the Italian for "stubborn"?

-Staccato?

-No.

One of you buzz, Newnham?

I'll tell you. It's ostinato. Ten points for this.

The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive are among the films of which director born in 1946?

-Lynch.

-David Lynch is right, yes. Your bonuses this time...

-GONG

-At the gong, Nottingham University have 110, Newnham College have 155.

APPLAUSE

The questions didn't fall right for you, Nottingham, but London Zhou was a brilliant piece of inspiration.

Newnham, 155, I don't know whether you'll be one of the teams to come back in the semi-finals,

but you could well be, so many congratulations to you.

-Join us next time for another first round match. But until then, it's goodbye from Nottingham.

-Goodbye.

-Goodbye from Newnham College, Cambridge.

-Goodbye.

-And it's goodbye from me.

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