Word: oral
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...been brought out in recent debates, the nature of the qualifying examination has been defined in as vague a manner as possible, but must involve something beyond a consideration of the student's record. Some departments have mentioned the possibility of essays written under non-examination conditions, or "oral examination interviews...
...years ago the Chinese Communists, trying to curb an annual population growth of 15 million, revived the ancient Chinese myth that a dose of tadpoles after each meal is an effective oral contraceptive. Thousands of women promptly rushed to dirty lakes and rivers to scoop up tadpoles with rice bowls. One result: widespread schistosomiasis (infestation with blood flukes). Even worse, the government admitted ruefully last week, women who religiously swallow tadpoles get pregnant just the same...
...initiations have also descended in quality. Originally the new members were given a speech by the president, welcomed into the Society, and then asked to read "parts," or papers on various topics. Later on, the ceremony was elaborated into a parody of the Oral Exams. Nowadays, the initiations are preceded by a cocktail hour, and a semi-sober group shouts nonsense while the novitiate attempts to read his part. It is usually not even witty, and it is certainly never an academic discipline. There has recently been a move to reform these affairs, and the next initiation is expected...
...spent as infants at their mothers' breasts. Those weaned at eight months were easily able to stop smoking; those at six months still had a chance. But the most confirmed (and heaviest) smokers had taken to the bottle at four months, say the psychologists, too early to satisfy oral need and later keep them off the weed...
...nature was perhaps best manifest in oral examinations. As one student commented, "Many a candidate felt relief, after being subjected to a host of merciless, polished questions, at Kittredge's taking over the exam with his mild kindliness and amazing ability to elicit information from exhausted minds that objected to thinking further." Once a frightened candidate for Honors in English said in reply to one of his questions, "I'm afraid I can't answer; I have not read all of Wordsworth." Kitteredge reassuringly disclosed, "Neither have I. I couldn't be hired to." He always helped the candidate...