Amol Rajan floored by the history answers about the “Island of the True Cross” – both UCL and SOAS are stumped.

University Challenge Amol

During the latest round it was UCL v SOAS on University Challenge (Image: BBC)

University Challenge was back for another mind-boggling round of questions that only the brightest brains can guess correctly. This week, it was UCL v SOAS; however, both teams were caught out by a difficult question early on in the episode. With host Amol Rajan reading out the questions, the teams had a chance to solve a starter for 10 points, but failed to get the right answer. Are you ready to give it a go?

He said: “In what present-day country was a territory that was given the name ‘Island of the True Cross’ by Pedro Álvares Cabral during a trading expedition to India in 1500? Perhaps attempting to avoid becalm waters in the Gulf of Guinea, Cabral sailed south-west under the terms of the Treaty of Tordesillas, claimed the place for the Crown of Portugal.”

University Challenge

One history question left both teams stumped – but can you solve it? (Image: BBC)

Doherty from UCL buzzed and guessed “Goa”, which was incorrect. Then Mozayen tried to have a go at answering, to which he said: “Sri Lanka?”

Amol said, “Nope,” but don’t worry, the answer is coming up shortly.

University Challenge BBC

University Challenge was back for another mind-boggling round (Image: BBC)

The correct answer was Brazil.

Did you manage to get the answer right? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Last week, the new series of University Challenge kicked off in dramatic style as Warwick stunned Sheffield with a last-minute comeback.

In Monday’s episode (July 14), Sheffield University dominated from the very start, earning 170 points against Warwick’s 120. However, in the final few minutes, Warwick stormed to victory with an impressive last-minute surge.

In the end, they snatched the win with an outstanding 210 points. Amol Rajan was also floored by the comeback, exclaiming to Sheffield: “That is an absolutely perfect example of how momentum is everything because you began in the first 10 minutes by soaring and taking it away and then just disappeared in the last five minutes. I’m so sorry, bad luck, but you lost to a fantastic team.”