University Challenge

[LMcD]

He hardly put a foot wrong - but then he hardly said anything!

[Nick Armstrong]

He hardly put a foot wrong - but then he hardly said anything!

"Better keep your mouth shut and have people think you a fool, than open it and remove all doubt" !

[ardcarp]

WOT??? No University Challenge tonight???? It's ruined my week......

[Richard Tarleton]

WOT??? No University Challenge tonight???? It's ruined my week......

Indeed, and there are 4 weeks of ruddy Autumnwatch .....

As you were, it's 4 successive nights.......

[teamsaint]

WOT??? No University Challenge tonight???? It's ruined my week......

International break.
Teams are off playing Switzerland or San Marino I expect.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Indeed, and there are 4 weeks of ruddy Autumnwatch .....

As you were, it's 4 successive nights.......

- phew!

AND - joy of joys! - Only Connect is back next Monday, too.

[Richard Tarleton]

One very iffy question last night - the greenfinch question had me stumped. Greenfinches have only been assigned to the genus Chloris since 2012 - in all but the most recent bird books it is a member of the genus Carduelis. Wiki sums up: The greenfiches were formerly placed in the genus Carduelis. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that the greenfinches form a monophyletic group that is not closely related to the species in Carduelis and instead is sister to a clade containing the desert finch (Rhodospiza obsoleta) and the Socotra golden-winged grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus socotranus). The greenfinches were therefore moved to the resurrected genus Chloris which had originally been introduced by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1800 with the European greenfinch as the type species. The name is from Ancient Greek khloris, the European greenfinch, from khloros, "green".

So there. Only a seriously up-to-speed ornithologist versed in the latest DNA work is likely to have known that - I didn't. The question setter was probably unaware of this recent change, merely flipping open the office bird book at random to choose three species of bird on the same page.

[LMcD]

Didn't Reynaldo Hahn dedicate one of his songs to a greenfinch?

[ardcarp]

One very iffy question last night - the greenfinch question had me stumped. Greenfinches have only been assigned to the genus Chloris since 2012 - in all but the most recent bird books it is a member of the genus Carduelis. Wiki sums up: The greenfiches were formerly placed in the genus Carduelis. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that the greenfinches form a monophyletic group that is not closely related to the species in Carduelis and instead is sister to a clade containing the desert finch (Rhodospiza obsoleta) and the Socotra golden-winged grosbeak (Rhynchostruthus socotranus). The greenfinches were therefore moved to the resurrected genus Chloris which had originally been introduced by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1800 with the European greenfinch as the type species. The name is from Ancient Greek khloris, the European greenfinch, from khloros, "green".

So there. Only a seriously up-to-speed ornithologist versed in the latest DNA work is likely to have known that - I didn't. The question setter was probably unaware of this recent change, merely flipping open the office bird book at random to choose three species of bird on the same page.

Fortunately for us, it was probably easier to guess 'green' from chloris.

Rather easy music questions I thought. It's probably wrong to be surprised, but I thought the University of East London did very well. Had they not dithered over the 'at-' prefix question, they might even have won.

[Richard Tarleton]

Didn't Reynaldo Hahn dedicate one of his songs to a greenfinch?

I think she was just some bird, no?

If it be true, Chloris, that you love me,
(And I'm told you love me dearly),
I do not believe that even kings
Can match the happiness I know.
Even death would be powerless
To alter my fortune
With the promise of heavenly bliss!
All that they say of ambrosia
Does not stir my imagination
Like the favour of your eyes!


(I have the Susan Graham recording)
The specific name has always been chloris, it's the assignation of genus that is only 6 years old.

[LMcD]

Fortunately for us, it was probably easier to guess 'green' from chloris.

Rather easy music questions I thought. It's probably wrong to be surprised, but I thought the University of East London did very well. Had they not dithered over the 'at-' prefix question, they might even have won.

I agree, word for word. But at least it was an enjoyably close-fought contest this time.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I agree, word for word. But at least it was an enjoyably close-fought contest this time.

- a pity UEL won't be returning, they were a good team. (A pity, as ardy says, that they completely failed to understand the premise of the "'a t' prefix" question.)

[Richard Tarleton]

Fortunately for us, it was probably easier to guess 'green' from chloris.

All very well for some - my Greek's a bit rusty

[BBMmk2]

All very well for some - my Greek's a bit rusty

It’s all Greek to me!

[agingjb]

The so-called scientific names of birds change so much that quiz setters should probably avoid them. English names: greenfinch, gannet, even blue tit, are more stable than the pseudo latin inventions that are alleged to provide clarity.