ZestW

Is it true that a student in a philosophy exam answered the question: "Is this a question?" with: "If that is a question, then this is an answer" and got top marks? Even if not, was the answer right?

No. No.

MrNotQuiteWright

I've heard a variation on the philosophy exam paper, one paper merely asked the question: "Why?" to which one student got top marks because he answered "because". I suspect this was a philosopher's gag that developed into legend.

Lushattic

It all depends what you mean by "a question".

Patrick McCauley, Otley, West Yorks

One of my A-level teachers always claimed it was her. She was a biochemistry student at Leeds in the early 70s and one year, slightly bored but game for a laugh, she got herself into a philosophy exam and sat the paper. One of the questions, apparently, was: "Is this a question?" and she wrote: "If that is a question, then this is the answer" and thought no more of it. She heard later that her response was read out, analysed and praised for its erudition and insight at a subsequent philosophy lecture.

Louise Harley-Smeur, Den Haag, Netherlands

I hope so, it's my only chance. I have my philosophy A-level exam tomorrow afternoon. The real answer, for me at least, is: "I don't know, but if it is a question, my answer isn't worth reading".

Andrew Warren, Fareham, Hants

This philosophy exam question is a long-running urban myth. Generally, philosophy exam questions, as is the case with exams in any subject, are designed to encourage students to prove that they have read at least some of the textbook, not to test the student's throwaway quip-making skills. Which is a shame.

rehearsal

I don't know the answer to the philosophy question, but do recall Woody Allen saying he was expelled from college for cheating in the metaphysics exam. He was caught looking into the soul of the boy next to him.

xck33l

What point in central London is furthest from a tube station?

Without wishing to come across as some malfunctioning geek, I wonder if someone can please explain to me in plain-ish English what this Mornington Crescent thing (N&Q, 28 June) is all about? I remember it was a feature of a pretty decent Radio 4 programme that a mate used to listen to (ashamed to say I can't remember what it was called) and anyway, I never did get the Mornington Crescent bit – it just struck me as people spouting random nonsense.

stooze

We are often told to make tea with freshly boiled water. What has previously boiled water lost?

Tea should be made with freshly boiled water because previously boiled water has lost its dissolved air, which will contribute to the flavour (though I can't tell the difference). Dissolved salts will probably also have been altered by heating, depending on local water quality.

Henry Warne, Middlesbrough

I once attempted to make tea with water that had been boiled some 50 times. The result was interestingly bitter, but this came at the expense of any incentive to drink it.

EuclideanSabotage

Titans, in popular culture, are often portrayed as "clashing" or "wrathful". Was there a time when they were more benevolent, or simply chillaxed?

In Buddhism the Titans try to get into the realm of the gods and to the wish-fulfilling tree. As Greek and Indian mythology share a common ancestry, I would guess that the Titans represent frustrated ambition.

madrupert

Any answers

After the latest spat about equal prize money for women's tennis, why don't the women play five-set matches as well? Or are we still in thrall to Edwardian notions of female fragility?

Pam Lunn, Kenilworth, Warwicks

Why do pests never eat the weeds?

Nigel Agar, Hitchin

Once shoes start squeaking, is there any way of stopping them?

Helen Jones, London E8

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