Dublin Opinion

The following are all taken from the general knowledge section of the exam for Clerical Officer (temporary), which was held in June 1925. (I came across it in the National Library today while looking for something else.) Top marks overall went to Mr. to Patrick Caldwell, of 2 Ranelagh Avenue, Dublin.

If a friend offered you a dozen books for your library, what books would you select, and why?

Write a telegram costing 1s 4d, explaining that you have met with an accident in an out-of-the-way place, and that you cannot be in time for an appointment.

Name the authors of five of the following:- The Mill on the Floss, Nicholas Nickleby, Saint Joan, Riders to the Sea, The Green Cockade, The Green Hat, Gullivar’s Travels, The Doll’s house.

To what nations did the following persons belong:- Abraham Lincoln, Issac Butt, Bismark, Balfe, Carl Marx (sic), Kosciusko, Murillo, St. Patrick, Garibaldi.

State (in order of time) the ten most important events that occurred during the past twelve months.

Name the four largest cities in Great Britain, United States, France, Germany, South America.

Are the majority of the people of Monaghan content to remain under the British Parliament?

In what month of the year 1856 did O’Connell found the Land League?

How would you prepare potatoes for sowing / preserve potato plants from blight?

How would you store apples for winter use?

How do editors of newspapers get their information?

Name your favourite song, your favourite flower, your favourite amusement, your favourite film star, stating briefly the reasons for your choice in each case.

Describe two of the most striking advertisements which you have seen.

Explain by the aid of a rough sketch the action of any two of the following: - a bicycle pump, the trap of a kitchen sink, a canal lock, a self-filling pen, a Primus stove.