Pre-Med Quiz

6^th August - Taylor’s University College

Today might have been uneventful for many students in campus, but not for a select few. Not them at all. They have proven their mettle the day before, facing grueling questions having to do with biology and science in general, and they have emerged as the clear-cut chosen to compete in the final leg of the annual event hosted by the Pre-Medical Society: The Pre-Med Science Quiz. Oh yes, today, five hopefuls will indeed test their true knowledge and only one of them can be the true victor of the competition.

The event began at about 4.00 p.m. today, and the five finalists, Khaw Hawn Juet, Syazwany, Michelle Yip, John Ling, and another individual who wanted to be referred as only Yip, gathered at the front row of Lecture Theater 2 with much anxiety, and of course, nervousness. All of them had, of course, the ambition of becoming doctors in the future. “I want to understand more about the potential of the human brain,” said Syazwani, a demure maiden, soft-spoken and gentle. “Because you see: if we are only using such a little proportion of our brains, who knows how much we can do if we use it all?” Indeed, there is truth in her words.

Khaw Hawn Juet, however, wants to be a cardiologist. When asked about the heats (which commenced on the day previous), Khaw said that they were “terrible”, and that he “should not be here”. According to him, Khaw joined only to gain some additional knowledge he might have not gained from the textbooks. On the other hand, Michelle Yip was surprised to be in the finals at all, confirming Khaw’s words that the heats were absolutely difficult for them.

Before the finals kicked off, the Teacher-Advisor for the Pre-Medical Society was called to make a speech. “I would like to congratulate the finalists,” she said, and stated that this quiz was held to challenge the contestants’ knowledge in biology, as well as other sciences, and to impart other know-how related to biology to them. In her speech, she told all that she hoped that more people would get motivated to pursue a career in medicine, and thanked the committee who made the event so successful. “I also hope that those who join the society will embark a quest in the medicinal field with conscience and integrity,” Miss Ho added before giving the floor to the hosts of the event.

To start off with the quiz, or, as the hosts said, “To warm you guys (finalists) up”, two trick-questions were set, which came as surprises to the finalists. The first of these questions, enquired upon the name of the current head of Mercy Malaysia, which answer none of the finalists got right (The answer was: Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus).

All in all, the event went on quite smoothly, despite quite a few hiccoughs. There were also moments in which the finalists provided the most hilarious answers. Among them, was: If you were stung by a venomous insect, what type of shock would you suffer? Two of the answers were “culture” shock and “heart” shock respectively. There was also one rather quirky question involving an X-ray of a left hand with a ring on the ring-finger, and the finalists were asked the significance of it. To this, most of the finalists answered that the person who underwent the X-ray was married, but the judges’ answer was that it was the first X-ray, and the hand belonged to Wilhem Conrad’s wife. There was a minor argument about the answer, but the judge’s decision was final.

When all the 15 questions were answered, the hosts asked the finalists how was the quiz, to which they replied, “Lame” in utter Malaysian style, in miraculous unison. However, they all agreed that the questions were better than those in the heats, and were seconded by the hosts as well.

After much contemplation, the winners were announced, and the prizes were given by both the Chief Judge (the Pre-Med Society President: Nadia) and the co-Teacher Advisor, Mr. Bala. In fourth and fifth places, with a prize of RM 25 each, were John Ling and Syazwani respectively. Coming in third place, was Khaw, winning a prize of RM 50. Yip, ever humorous, was the runner-up for the quiz, walking away with RM 100, while Michelle Yip was the champion, who received the grand prize of RM 150. “It was a good experience,” said Michelle, before leaving in elation.

“I’m surprised that I didn’t get last (place),” John Ling said, while Yip was happy, and was in “good spirits”, and thanked his luck, and his biology teacher.