法律（Law）

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

如果停车停在双黄线上将判处死刑，那么没人会这么做。这是一条公正且行之有效的法律吗？

解答提示：

结果不重要，对结果引发问题的思考才是考官们最看重的。

Candidates are not meant to give a right or wrong answer to this question. They need to demonstrate that they have recognised the various issues that arise. The candidate who distinguishes between 'just' and 'effective' does best. The issues are different once that distinction is made. A just law might not be effective, or vice versa.

这道题不是要考生给出正确或错误的答案，但他们需要认识到结果将引发的系列问题。能够区分“公正”和“有效”的考生才是最优秀的。如果做出区分，则两者差别显而易见，公正的法律未必有效，反之亦然。

材料科学（Materials Science）

How hot does the air have to be in a hot air balloon if I wanted to use it to lift an elephant?

如果我想用热气球吊起一头大象，里面的空气得多热？

解答提示：

教授们设置这道题，肯定不是为了在很短时间内让你给出一个确切的答案。

Things we are looking for include how readily they can see into the core of a problem； how they respond to hints and suggestions from us； estimates （typical size of balloon, weight of elephant） and sorting out what's important...

我们看中的是：他们怎样快速地考虑到问题的核心；对于我们给出的暗示和建议他们如何应对；预估（典型热气球的大小，大象的重量）及归纳出最重要的是什么……

现代语言学（Modern Languages）

In a world where English is a global language, why learn French?

既然英语是全球性语言，为什么要学法语？

解答提示：

这个问题看似简单，实际大有深意，你的回答，会影响老师们后续的问题。

Given the nature of the Modern Languages course, I would be interested in responses about the French language as a 'window' into French culture/literature/history, etc.； but would also be happy to see candidates investigate some of the assumptions underlying the question: Is English a global language？ What about Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, etc.？

考虑到现代语言学课程的属性，我会对法语是通向法国文化、文学、历史的“窗口”等这样的回答感兴趣；不过，如果有考生能探究该问题背后的假设：为什么英语是全球语言？那汉语和西班牙语呢？我也会很开心。