Exam Questions Promote Humility; E.g., 'Discuss Attic Greek Vowels'

During this time of year, there are two things one may do: study, or more realistically, try to mitigate the biannual terrors of exam period. One may turn, of course, to booze or pot, but an even more soothing alternative is to take a look at last year's final exams posted in Lamont. They are a cogent reminder that while things are bad, they could be worse.

* "Describe the development of the Indo-European vowel system into that of IV Century Attic Greek. Treat the vowels as a structured system, not as an agglomerate of isolated cases."

* "Can you imagine the conceivable Mysteries, the Persephone complex, hysteria, male envy of females, creativity, the cult of Dionysos, the effect of alcohol on fantasy, involvement in reality, and mental health? Does any of this help explain why Rudy Kats has found that college males whose verbal-math SAT scores differ by more than 100 points drink much more heavily than thoses whose scores differ less?"

* "What is unique about the Merriam Cooper 'Webster's--Third Edition'?"

* "Write a brief note on the history of the word "lignum.'"

* "Discuss the rise of Kilwa."

* "You, stranded on a desert island, have completely forgotten the value of the earth's mass. Desirous of launching a geodisic earth satellite into orbit, you wish to know this quantity accurately. Having only a fully equipped physics laboratory at hand, describe how you would be about measuring the earth's mass. Answer this intriguing question concisely."

* "Describe the hats of the Bickelmann family."