Cambridge University used to do entrance exams (as well as looking at A-Level results). Then they ditched them. Now they are making a comeback.
If you've not seen these in the press already, here are some sample questions. Could you have done these at 16/17/18? I'd probably have been struggling, but then I see the real exam papers (after the exams!) quite often these days and still think "you what with the what now?" for most of them anyway. Which is as it should be.
I expect these would be trivial for some. Have a crack if you like.
1) Calves farmed for veal are reared in extremely cruel conditions and have a short and miserable life. Other meats are available, such as lamb, and meat-eaters who are concerned about cruelty to animals should avoid veal and consume one of these alternatives.
Which one of the following is an underlying assumption of the above argument?
A. Animals should be allowed to live as long as possible before being eaten.
B. Calves should not be reared for consumption of their meat.
C. The methods used to rear other animals are not equally cruel.
D. Animals have a right to be treated humanely.
E. Meat-eaters who are concerned with cruelty to animals do not eat veal.
2) There are any number of theories to explain these events and, since even the experts disagree, it is ---- the rest of us in our role as responsible scholars to ---- dogmatic statements.
Each of the following pairs of words can be inserted into the blanks, but which pair makes the best sense?
A.Paradoxical for… refrain from
B.Arrogant of… compensate from
C.Appropriate for… abstain from
D.Incumbent on… issue forth
3) Albert says: 'Everything Caroline says is true.' Betty says: 'Everything I say is false.' Caroline says: 'Everything David says is true.' David says: 'Everything Caroline says is false.'
Who is the only one who could be telling the truth?
A. Albert
B.Betty
C. Caroline
D. David
4) Compose an essay on the writer George Orwell's observation that 'there are some ideas so wrong that only an intelligent person could believe in them'
|
