牛津刁钻面试样题：海盗如何分宝？为什么很多动物有条纹？

They are designed to stump Britain's brightest teenagers to see if they are worthy of a place at Oxford University.

这些问题是牛津大学为了考察申请者是否有资格在牛津争得一席之地，而专门设计出来刁难英国最聪明的学生的。

But now anyone can put their knowledge to the test to find out if they can make the grade and answer the questions that would-be scholars have to ponder during their entrance interview.

不过现在所有人都可以运用所学知识来挑战，看看自己是否能够成功回答出这些未来的学者们在入学面试中需要仔细思索的问题。

The institution has released its annual sample of questions as part of a continuing bid to demystify its admissions process.

牛津大学已经发表了今年的面试样题，这是该院校消除其录取过程神秘化的持续努力的一部分。

Oxford's director of admissions Samina Khan stated that the interviews are mainly an 'academic conversation' relating to the course the student has applied for.

牛津大学的招办主任萨米娜·汗 Published just days before the deadline for applications for the next academic year, put your brain power to the test with FEMAIL's pick of past admissions questions.

这些试题在下一学年的申请截止日期之前几天刚发布，开动你的脑筋，试着回答女性频道精心挑选的这所名校以往的招生试题吧。

1. English literature candidates: JK Rowling has just published a book for adults after the hugely successful Harry Potter series. In what ways do you think that writing for children is different to writing for adults?

英国文学方向考生：在大获成功的《哈利·波特》系列之后，JK罗琳又出版了一本写给成年人的作品。你认为，为成人写作与为儿童写作有哪些方面的不同？

2. History candidates: Which person (or sort of person) in the past would you most like to interview, and why?

历史方向考生：你最想采访历史中的哪个人 3. English literature candidates: Why do you think an English student might be interested in the fact that Coronation Street has been running for 50 years?

英国文学方向考生：你认为一个英国学生会对《加冕街》 4. Computer science candidates: How do pirates divide their treasure?

计算机科学方向考生：海盗如何瓜分他们的宝藏？

A group of seven pirates has 100 gold coins. They have to decide amongst themselves how to divide the treasure, but must abide by pirate rules:

七个海盗有100枚金币，他们要决定要在他们内部如何瓜分，而且必须遵守海盗规则：

The most senior pirate proposes the division.

由海盗头目提出划分方案。

All of the pirates (including the most senior) vote on the division. If half or more vote for the division, it stands. If less than half vote for it, they throw the most senior pirate overboard and start again.

所有的海盗 The pirates are perfectly logical, and entirely ruthless (only caring about maximising their own share of the gold).

这群海盗极有逻辑头脑并且冷酷无情，只会考虑怎样使自己拿到的金币数目最大化。

So, what division should the most senior pirate suggest to the other six?

那么海盗头目应该向其他六个人提出怎样的划分建议？

5. Geography candidates: If I were to visit the area where you live, what would I be interested in?

地理方向考生：如果我要去你居住的地方旅行，我会对什么感兴趣？

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

法律方向考生：假设在双黄线上停车会被判处死刑，因此没有人再这样做了，那这项法律能算得上是公正有效的吗？

7. Medicine candidates: Why does your heart rate increase when you exercise?

医药方向考生：为什么人在锻炼时心率增加？

8. Modern languages candidates: Should poetry be difficult to understand?

现代语言学方向考生：诗歌应该晦涩难懂吗？

9. Modern languages candidates: What is language?

现代语言学方向考生：语言是什么？

10. Biology candidates: Why do many animals have stripes?

生物学方向考生：为什么那么多动物都有条纹？

Vocabulary

stump：把…难住

demystify：使(事物)非神秘化，使(人)不再迷惑不解