literanza 2017 open general quiz finals

Open General Quiz Finals

7th January, 2017Researched and conducted by Lokesh Kaza

Acknowledgments• Anand Swain, Abhinau Kumar and IIT Hyderabad, for the

invitation.• K-Circle, Hyderabad.

What is K-Circle?K-Circle is India’s oldest quiz club and was formed in 1972 in Hyderabad.Every Saturday at 4:30 pm, a group of quizzing enthusiasts (of all age groups) from across the twin cities meet up at a pre-designated venue to engage in fun and informative quiz sessions.Membership is free for all school students.For more information, log on to www.kcircle.com or send in a mail to [email protected]. You can also join the K-Circle group on Facebook to stay updated with information regarding our weekly sessions and other quizzes.

http://www.kcircle.com/

mailto:[email protected]

Format46 questionsWritten Round I – 7 questionsClockwise Pounce – 15 questionsWritten Round II – 9 questionsAnti-clockwise Pounce – 15 questions

Written Round I

Theme: 2016, The Year That Was!7 questions

+10 for each correct answer, no negatives

1.A documentary about the relationship between X and Y premiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival and was supposed to release in March this year, but the release date has been advanced.According to USA Today, the film is "an intimate portrait of Hollywood royalty... loosely chronicles their lives through interviews, photos, footage and vintage home movies...”a) Who are X and Y?b) What is the title of the documentary, which refers to the glamour and excitement of city life that X and Y lived in?

2.A common practice in many countries including USA, UK, Australia, Spain, Japan and New Zealand, the proposed policy (in India) has been hanging fire for several years with the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry failing to take a final call. However, it was reported in September 2016 that the Ministry was firming up a proposal to give people this option, while they applied for their driving license.“We are working on revising the form. An option will be introduced in the form.” said a senior road ministry official, adding that once the application forms are revised, the format of the current driving licence will also be changed to include a particular symbol.If this is implemented, it will bridge a massive gap between demand and supply.What option is this?

3.Nike has recently developed a high-stakes marketing project to try and answer a consistent topic of debate within sport. Considering that it sponsors and outfits most of the sport’s elite athletes, the initiative is a risky undertaking that comes as the company faces increasing pressure to prove it is a step ahead of competitors like Adidas AG and Under Armour Inc.The project involves Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, and Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea. While the company said it had assembled a team of experts to “unpack performance at the molecular level”, the project has been met with scepticism by some stating that it is too contrived and feels more like a science experiment. What is the exact aim of this project?

4.An article in The Hindu reported recently stating that the venue was as much a draw as the exhibits. Its co-founder Bose Krishnamachari along with curator Sudarshan Shetty recced an excavation site, where performances were set to take place. The area is part of a heritage project undertaken by the state government and described as the ‘most remarkable historical reclamation project’ by The New York Times. The article concluded by stating that, “Over the next 50 days, visitors will return home with stories of a lost port of India.”a) What is the site one of the hosts for, an event that first began in 2012?b) What title was given to the article, a pun based on the region’s biggest publication and the landscape of the event sites?

5.In 1926, the British decided to stop sourcing it from abroad and constructed the first one in Nasik. The city was picked for its stable climate and close proximity to a key railway line that connected it to the rest of India. Long after the British left, the Nasik facility remained the only one. An increasing demand meant that a larger production capacity was required. In 1975, the government established the country’s second one, this time in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. However, once again, demand was outpacing their combined capacity. The government decided to place a massive order with American, Canadian, and European companies to fix the shortfall. The move costed $95 million and attracted heavy criticism amid concerns over potential security risks. After this episode, two more were established: one in Mysore in 1999 and one in Salboni, West Bengal, in 2000. A new one was also set up by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Hoshangabad last year.What has been set up in these places?

6.A massive set was erected to resemble a cinematic rural paradise filled with quaint villages, temples, markets and homes. In the fake village, games such as tiger fight, hopscotch and, puzzlingly, throwball were played. People in rural costumes were placed around the venue to give it more authenticity.Set designer and art director Shashidhar Adapa, known for his work in Kannada cinema, worked on this set with his team for several weeks. A replica of the Vijayanagara Kingdom spanning over several hectares was constructed, with a model of Hampi, complete with a temple dedicated to Vitthala, Shiva and Ganesha. Why did all these arrangements come in for criticism?

7.These enjoyed a staggering renaissance in Britain in 2016, with sales jumping to their highest level in 25 years. More than 3.2 million were sold last year, a rise of 53% on 2015 and the highest annual total since 1991. However, this still only accounts for only 5% of the overall market. The industry as a whole is booming with the most preferred form of service, skyrocketing by 500% since 2013.a) What is the most preferred form?b) What revival has been seen? Who was at the top of this sales list last year?

Exchange Sheets

1.A documentary about the relationship between X and Y premiered last year at the Cannes Film Festival with the caption “a different kind of love story.”According to USA Today, the film is "an intimate portrait of Hollywood royalty... and loosely chronicles their lives through interviews, photos, footage and vintage home movies.”a) Who are X and Y?b) What is the title of the documentary, which refers to the glamour and excitement of city life that X and Y lived in?

Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

Bright Lights

2.A common practice in many countries including USA, UK, Australia, Spain, Japan and New Zealand, the proposed policy (in India) has been hanging fire for several years with the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry failing to take a final call. However, it was reported in September 2016 that the Ministry was firming up a proposal to give people this option, while they applied for their driving license.“We are working on revising the form. An option will be introduced in the form.” said a senior road ministry official, adding that once the application forms are revised, the format of the current driving licence will also be changed to include a particular symbol.If this is implemented, it will bridge a massive gap between demand and supply.What option is this?

Organ Donation, in case of accidents leading to death

3.Nike has recently developed a high-stakes marketing project to try and answer a consistent topic of debate within sport. Considering that it sponsors and outfits most of the sport’s elite athletes, the initiative is a risky undertaking that comes as the company faces increasing pressure to prove it is a step ahead of competitors like Adidas AG and Under Armour Inc.The project involves Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, and Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea. While the company said it had assembled a team of experts to “unpack performance at the molecular level”, the project has been met with scepticism by some stating that it is too contrived and feels more like a science experiment. What is the exact aim of this project?

Reducing marathon timings to under two hours.

4.An article in The Hindu reported recently stating that the venue was as much a draw as the exhibits. Its co-founder Bose Krishnamachari along with curator Sudarshan Shetty recced an excavation site, where performances were set to take place. The area is part of a heritage project undertaken by the state government and described as the ‘most remarkable historical reclamation project’ by The New York Times. The article concluded by stating that, “Over the next 50 days, visitors will return home with stories of a lost port of India.”a) What is the site one of the hosts for, an event that first began in 2012?b) What title was given to the article, a pun based on the region’s biggest publication and the landscape of the event sites?

Kochi-Muziris Biennale

Malayala Panorama

5.In 1926, the British decided to stop sourcing it from abroad and constructed the first one in Nasik. The city was picked for its stable climate and close proximity to a key railway line that connected it to the rest of India. Long after the British left, the Nasik facility remained the only one. An increasing demand meant that a larger production capacity was required. In 1975, the government established the country’s second one, this time in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. However, once again, demand was outpacing their combined capacity. The government decided to place a massive order with American, Canadian, and European companies to fix the shortfall. The move costed $95 million and attracted heavy criticism amid concerns over potential security risks. After this episode, two more were established: one in Mysore in 1999 and one in Salboni, West Bengal, in 2000. A new one was also set up by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Hoshangabad last year.What has been set up in these places?

Security Presses, for printing bank notes

6.A massive set was erected to resemble a cinematic rural paradise filled with quaint villages, temples, markets and homes. In the fake village, games such as tiger fight, hopscotch and, puzzlingly, throwball were played. People in rural costumes were placed around the venue to give it more authenticity.Set designer and art director Shashidhar Adapa, known for his work in Kannada cinema, worked on this set with his team for several weeks. A replica of the Vijayanagara Kingdom spanning over several hectares was constructed, with a model of Hampi, complete with a temple dedicated to Vitthala, Shiva and Ganesha. Why did all these arrangements come in for criticism?

Wedding of Gali Janardhan Reddy’s daughter

7.These enjoyed a staggering renaissance in Britain in 2016, with sales jumping to their highest level in 25 years. More than 3.2 million were sold last year, a rise of 53 per cent on 2015 and the highest annual total since 1991. However, this still only accounts for only 5% of the overall market. The industry as a whole is booming with the most preferred form of service, skyrocketing by 500% since 2013.a) What is the most preferred form?b) What revival has been seen? Who was at the top of this sales list last year?

Online Music Streaming services

Vinyl, David Bowie

Scores

Clockwise Pounce

15 questionsInfinite Bounce, with Pounce+10 for direct, +10 for pass

-10 on incorrect pounce

1.Put in place by Asian Paints, St+art India Foundation and the Krishnakriti Foundation, it was designed by artist Hitesh Malaviya in collaboration with Hanif Kureshi.The icon is seen as symbolic of the city itself, which, according to one legend, represents the great love story of a prince and an ordinary woman. One unique aspect of this which differs from other such projects is the incorporation of a multilingual aspect which imbibes elements from the Hinglish speaking generation and popular culture, explained one of the organisations behind the venture.What project is this?

And the answer is…

Love Hyderabad structure at Tank Bund

2.The animators of this hugely successful 1992 film designed each character based on a different geometrical shape. They used this style guide depicting the main characters. Which film?The characteristics of which three ‘characters’ is depicted here?

Aladdin

Jasmine, Jafar, Genie

3.In the early 1990s, President George H. W. Bush’s government issued an Executive Order imposing UN Security Council Resolution sanctions against engaging in economic activities in Yugoslavia. In response, X spat on the U.S. order, saying "this is my reply". His violation of the order led U.S. Federal officials to initiate a warrant for his arrest upon completion of something. Now a fugitive, he went on to live in the Hungary, Philippines, and Japan before he was granted full citizenship by a country in recognition for something he was a part of in 1972, which made front page news across the world.a) Who was X?b) Which country granted citizenship to him, and what had happened there in 1972?

Bobby Fischer

Iceland, World Chess Championship

4.Alghero is a city on the northwest coast of the Italian island of Sardinia and is known for its linguistic anomaly. In the 14th century, troops from X sailed here as part of an expansion into the Mediterranean. After an uprising slaughtered the local forces, King Peter IV populated the city mostly with convicts, prostitutes and other undesirables from X, leading to the language Y being introduced here, after which it flourished. After Sardinia was taken over by the Turin-based House of Savoy in 1720, becoming part of Italy, Y virtually disappeared on the island. Today, only about one-quarter of the inhabitants speak Y as a main language. It is hardly spoken among younger people and barely taught in schools. Nearly a century ago, almost everyone spoke it, according to a 1921 census. What linguistic anomaly is Alghero known for?

Has Catalan as an official language

5.Initially organized by the governments of X and Y, they are organized by X’s NGOs today. However, their effectiveness has been debated with the official stance of both governments against the practise. Activists have been blamed for disrupting any existing cooperation as there has been no reliable study on how many are perused in the first place. The government of X has been hesitant to intervene due to concerns about freedom of expression. Historically, these included sweets, lighters, tobacco and pornography. Today, they include various kinds of media and other goods like, radios, USB sticks and booklets.On the other hand, Y’s government continues to be involved and their response includes various slogans, some of which are known for including racist and sexist contents. In 2016, trash comprising of cigarette butts and used toilet paper were also used. 1) What two countries are these, and what practise is being spoken of?2) Since 2014, some of X’s activists have included many as 100,000 copies of something after an international incident and this has only made matters worse. What have they been including?

North Korea, South KoreaBalloon Propaganda Campaigns

DVDs of The Interview

6.In a recent paper, historian Gertjan Broek has suggested another possibility, which might shed new light on a long-held belief.Three of the members were longtime police officers whose work was related to cases involving cash, jewellery or confiscation of belongings. One, Gezinus Gringhuis, was working for the Special Unit of the Central Investigation Division. The arrest of two salesmen, Martin Brouwer and Pieter Daatzelaar, for ration-card fraud, or the illegal use or selling of the ration cards required to buy food further gives credence to the fact that it was accidental, considering Gringhuis' job involved investigating economic violations. The research paper also highlights other circumstantial evidence that pokes holes in the current theory such as many phone lines being cut off.What was Broek trying to prove with his paper?

That Anne Frank’s discovery was accidental

7.Surgeon David Wartinger, a professor emeritus at Michigan State has recently found an unlikely solution to a problem which affects around one in 10 people at some point in life. It sends hundreds of thousands of people to emergency rooms and costs an estimated $3.8 billion every year in treatment, but Wartinger’s research could make that a whole lot cheaper. For years in practice, he noticed anecdotal reports from patients who had returned from family vacations. Wartinger’s studies support the evidence that it could benefit some patients, especially after he created an anatomically accurate silicone mold and tested it out on his own. As brutish, rough, quick and uncomfortable as it may seem, it is actually in line with some common non-surgical treatments.What is the problem, and what is the unlikely solution Wartinger endorses?

Kidney Stones

Riding on roller coasters, to pass them

8.The lesser-known Russo-Japanese War was fought over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea and marked the first time a non-Western power defeated a Western state in the modern era. It had far-reaching consequences and started with the commencement of a pet project of Sergei Witte, an influential minister in Russia who had sought ways to secure the country’s eastern border, harvest its natural resources, and expand trade with East Asia. The Japanese became concerned that the Russians would keep expanding throughout East Asia, even into Korea and this created a crisis, one that both sides came to believe would end in war. The resulting conflict was a devastating defeat for the Russians- due, in part to the state of the project itself. a) What project was this?b) What specific aspect of the project (at that time) led to the undoing of the Russians, owing to the Japanese successfully exploiting a chink in their armour?

Trans-Siberian Railway

Back then, the track was a single track and as such could only allow train travel in one direction. This caused strategic and supply difficulties for the Russians, as they could not move resources to and from the front as quickly as would be necessary. A goods train carrying supplies, men and ammunition coming from west to east would have to wait in the sidings, whilst troops and injured personnel in a troop train travelling from east to west went along the line. Thus the Japanese were quickly able to advance whilst the Russians were waiting.

9.An early reference to these was made in the 1969 Finnish science-fiction film A Time of Roses. The concept became a reality soon and was used by eco-activists meeting outdoors, so that local wildlife were not inconvenienced. By the late 1990s, bands like The Flaming Lips were advertising a form of these, which marked a pivotal point in their utilization. They were no longer just for eco-activists, but for others who wanted to bypass local laws as well. Over the past few years, these have turned it into novelty events and have popped up all over the world, with the Oxford Dictionary Online adding the term to their website in 2011. At least half a dozen companies offering this have been set up in the UK and all reported that business was booming.What concept is this?

Silent Discos

10.X’s grandson believes that there were multiple factors that led to his composition of something. One of which was that the song had been inspired by an incident which took place in the shrine of Tirupathi in 1925, when X had defended the right of a lower-caste man, to enter the shrine. The composition was published in a magazine in 1967, and Y’s rendition of it became very popular. Y had previously raised funds for the magazine by playing a role in a film. a) Who was X, and what composition is this?b) Who was Y, and which magazine published the song?

C. Rajagopalachari, Kurai Onrum Illai

MS Subbulakshmi, Kalki

11.This is a term for political messaging employing coded language that appears to mean one thing to the general population but has an additional, different or more specific resonance for a targeted subgroup. The phrase is often used as a pejorative because of the inherently deceptive nature of the practice and because the messages are frequently distasteful to the general populace. Richard Morin, director of polling for The Washington Post, writing in 1988, said "subtle changes in question-wording sometimes produce remarkably different results.....researchers call this the _______ ________ _______': Respondents hear something in the question that researchers do not", and speculates that campaign workers adapted the phrase from political pollsters.What term is this?

Dog-whistle effect/Dog-whistle politics

12.In 1927, Joseph Stalin began to give up the Russian Imperial legacy for desperately needed Western currency to support his new regime. He hit upon a solution, after experts from the Kremlin conducted an appraisal, after specific analysis and valuation of the materials involved. This was incremented by a percentage presumably intended to take account of labour, and then multiplied by four to arrive at a ‘minimum price’. How did Stalin decide to finance his new regime?

Sold Fabergé eggs

13.It was during this period that the concept of cruise liners really took off in a big way. Shipping lines sought to exploit an opportunity, owing to an exaggerated demand. Itineraries were devised, although some of them did not have any particular destination and were termed ‘cruises to nowhere’.Trips were offered by well known ships, such as the Majestic, Olympic and Aquitania and ranged from overnight to “nowhere” to five days.a) Why did the industry come up with the concept of ‘cruises to nowhere’?b) A two-word rhyming nickname was given to these journeys, which was later also used to refer to trips from Britain to France with people intending to take advantage of lower prices there, and buying personal supplies of these in bulk quantities. What nickname?

a) To sidestep Prohibition, passengers were free to drink legally in international waters.

b) Booze Cruise

14.In the show Silicon Valley, the protagonist and his friends are involved in an attempted ruse, planned in order to ensure that their innovation, a compression engine is not turned into a commercial “box” by their boss, for enterprise use. They come up with a plan where they continue building their compression engine for platform use while working parallely to convince their boss that they were actually building the box that he wanted the entire time. The come up with “secret company within the company” and generate fake status reports, fake deliverables, etc., to convince their boss they were still working on the box. However, Richard trips and fall down with all of his plans, in front of his boss. The ending of the episode left audiences hooked, with some stating that his fall was accidental, but others taking the name of the episode seriously and contemplating that Richard actually intended for his boss to see the plans.How does the title of the episode allude to a military tactic used in World War I?

The title of the episode was Meinertzhagen’s Haversack, a reference to the Haversack Ruse employed by British Colonel

Richard Meinertzhagen during World War I. He doctored a bunch of fake war plans, put them in his haversack and

tricked a few soldiers into thinking that he had dropped it accidentally. Those who found the bag made plans

accordingly, and were caught unawares when the British attacked.

15.A few years ago, an animal-rights group in Kazakhstan decided to act on complaints from animal-lovers who were objecting to the continuation of something. The group said it received a letter from the official body agreeing to take their complaints into account and try out other methods. The body had already carried out tests on different models from Pakistan and a locally produced one, but as these lacked flexibility, these were deemed unfit. It is unclear how this alternative to tradition will be received. However, some state that for this to become international, it has to “stop being semi-barbaric and start being civilised”.What practise is this?

Buzkashi/Kokpar

Written Round II

Theme: Puns/Wordplay9 questions

+5 for each correct answer, no negatives+5 bonus for all correct answers.

1.X and Y have 8 letters in common, and a love for speed, which is understandable considering how quick they can be. The three-year old X, in 2012 was reported to have won 13 races on the trot. X’s owner said that Y was not the easiest person to get a hold of but hoped that the two would get to meet. While that did not happen, Y knows of X. When Prince Harry visited Y’s country, he met Y and showed him a picture of X. Y was quoted as saying that it was an honour to share his name with X.

Who are X and Y?

2.It is unsurprising that X favoured aestheticism as a universal judgment of beauty indifferent to social and ethical conventions was an ideal potential for him in late-nineteenth-century England. His novel was perhaps the most prominent example of aestheticism in nineteenth century literature.Through this work, he rejects the idea of Art as didactic. Of a philosopher he was influenced by, X once said:“__________ doesn't pun. He _______.”Who was X?Fill in the blanks.

3.Voters didn't know much about this Democrat when he headed into the 1852 Presidential campaign, so he decided to cast himself as the rightful heir to the popular ex-president.His pun of a slogan based on their two surnames, “We ________ You in '44, We Shall _______ You in '52” may sound oddly threatening now, but it did the trick. It was thought that the combative tenor of the language naturally fit a campaign involving veterans of the Mexicans War.

Fill in the blanks.

4.In 2012, he presented a special weather forecast during a visit to BBC Scotland's headquarters at Pacific Quay, Glasgow. Although initially he appeared bemused by the “clicker”, which forecasters use to change the picture behind them, he quickly got into his stride.A daily tabloid newspaper did not pass up on the chance to make an appropriate pun and said “Little Chance of ______”.

Who was the person? What word finishes the headline?

5.Jokes about this chocolate brand, owned by Cadbury UK have abounded since it launched in 1981. One of the most famous ones has been : ‘Why has X got chocolate all over his face? He was _______ with his ________.’ The joke has resurfaced over the past few days owing to X’s demise. The blanks are a reference to X’s first solo single, and is also a pun on the name of the brand.

Who is X?Fill in the blanks. Spelling matters.

6.Rose Sélavy was one of the pseudonyms of this person, who emerged it in 1921. Throughout that decade, visual artist Man Ray collaborated on taking many photos of Sélavy.The pseudonym was later used as the byline on written material and signed creations as well. There was also a sculpture named ‘Why Not Sneeze, Rose Sélavy’.

What was the name a pun on?Who was the person?

7.X delivered the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh Memorial Lecture on the topic ‘Achieving the zero hunger challenge’ at the Pondicherry Central University last year.He is an advocate of moving India to a new approach to farming that focuses on sustainable development, especially using environmentally sustainable agriculture, sustainable food security and the preservation of biodiversity, which he calls an “__________ ____________”.Who is X, who was placed in the 'Time 20' list of most influential Asian people of the 20th century?What is the term he says is the need for the future?

8.The Capitol Steps are an American political satire group. The group has been performing since 1981, and has released over 40 albums, consisting primarily of song parodies. Originally consisting exclusively of congressional staffers performing around Washington, D.C., the troupe now primarily employs professional actors and singers. In 2003, they released an album, the title of which echoed the uncertain political climate owing to George Bush’s foreign policies. Some of the tracks in the album had names like "Talk 'bout Saddam“, "Condoleezza“, and "The Law Firm of Zacarias Moussaoui.”What was the name of this album?

9.A number of leading Indian newspapers last year reacted after an enthralling final in a quadrennial event by punning on the title of a 2000 film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, with the name of the losing finalist.

What headline did they come up with?

Exchange Sheets

1.X and Y have 8 letters in common, and a love for speed, which is understandable considering how quick they can be. The three-year old X, in 2012 was reported to have won 13 races on the trot. X’s owner said that Y was not the easiest person to get a hold of but hoped that the two would get to meet. While that did not happen, Y knows of X. When Prince Harry visited Y’s country, he met Y and showed him a picture of X. Y was quoted as saying that it was an honour to share his name with X.

Who are X and Y?

Usain Colt, Usain Bolt

2.It is unsurprising that X favoured aestheticism as a universal judgment of beauty indifferent to social and ethical conventions was an ideal potential for him in late-nineteenth-century England. His novel was perhaps the most prominent example of aestheticism in nineteenth century literature.Through this work, he rejects the idea of Art as didactic. Of a philosopher he was influenced by, X once said:“__________ doesn't pun. He _______.”Who was X?Fill in the blanks.

Oscar Wilde, Immanuel doesn't pun. He Kant.

3.Voters didn't know much about this Democrat when he headed into the 1852 Presidential campaign, so he decided to cast himself as the rightful heir to the popular ex-president.His pun of a slogan based on their two surnames, “We ________ You in '44, We Shall _______ You in '52” may sound oddly threatening now, but it did the trick. It was thought that the combative tenor of the language naturally fit a campaign involving veterans of the Mexicans War.

Fill in the blanks.

We Polked You In '44, We Shall Pierce You In '52.

James Polk Franklin Pierce

4.In 2012, he presented a special weather forecast during a visit to BBC Scotland's headquarters at Pacific Quay, Glasgow. Although initially he appeared bemused by the “clicker”, which forecasters use to change the picture behind them, he quickly got into his stride.A daily tabloid newspaper did not pass up on the chance to make an appropriate pun and said “Little Chance of ______”.

Who was the person? What word finishes the headline?

Prince Charles, Reign

5.Jokes about this chocolate brand, owned by Cadbury UK have abounded since it launched in 1981. One of the most famous ones has been : ‘Why has X got chocolate all over his face? He was _______ with his ________.’ The joke has resurfaced over the past few days owing to X’s demise. The blanks are a reference to X’s first solo single, and is also a pun on the name of the brand.

Who is X?Fill in the blanks. Spelling matters.

George Michael, Careless Wispa

6.Rose Sélavy was one of the pseudonyms of this person, who emerged it in 1921. Throughout that decade, visual artist Man Ray collaborated on taking many photos of Sélavy.The pseudonym was later used as the byline on written material and signed creations as well. There was also a sculpture named ‘Why Not Sneeze, Rose Sélavy’.

What was the name a pun on?Who was the person?

“Eros, c'est la vie”, Marcel Duchamp

7.X delivered the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh Memorial Lecture on the topic ‘Achieving the zero hunger challenge’ at the Pondicherry Central University last year.He is an advocate of moving India to a new approach to farming that focuses on sustainable development, especially using environmentally sustainable agriculture, sustainable food security and the preservation of biodiversity, which he calls an “__________ ____________”.Who is X, who was placed in the 'Time 20' list of most influential Asian people of the 20th century?What is the term he says is the need for the future?

MS Swaminathan, Evergreen Revolution

8.The Capitol Steps are an American political satire group. The group has been performing since 1981, and has released over 40 albums, consisting primarily of song parodies. Originally consisting exclusively of congressional staffers performing around Washington, D.C., the troupe now primarily employs professional actors and singers. In 2003, they released an album, the title of which echoed the uncertain political climate owing to George Bush’s foreign policies. Some of the tracks in the album had names like "Talk 'bout Saddam“, "Condoleezza“, and "The Law Firm of Zacarias Moussaoui.”What was the name of this album?

Between Iraq and a hard place

9.A number of leading Indian newspapers last year reacted after an enthralling final in a quadrennial event by punning on the title of a 2000 film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, with the name of the losing finalist.

What headline did they come up with?

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Sindhustani

Scores

Anti-clockwise Pounce

15 questionsInfinite Bounce, with Pounce+10 for direct, +10 for pass

-10 on incorrect pounce

16. A new state rule in Chicago that took effect from 1st January recognizes the unique relationship between members of this profession and their customers, and may help curb domestic abuse and sexual assault. The amendment to a law that governs this industry will require workers to take one hour of training every two years and will provide them with a list of resources. Without the training, some members of this industry will not be able to renew their licenses. The industry’s professional association has some worries about the impact of the rule— whether clients who were experiencing problems might stop patronizing them and whether an abuser could show up. The final version of the law, which was signed in August last year, does not require workers to act on their suspicions, but helps them to recognize warning signs and provides them with resources to pass on to victims so they can get help.What profession/industry is this, whose spirit of camaraderie and recognition as safe spaces lead to this rule?

Cosmetology industry including hairstylists, nail technicians and

aestheticians.

17.For decades, residents have been battling the constant wave of sightseers, with some putting up flyers on streets, warning that there is no access. While one may think it’s glaringly obvious, it is actually quite elusive to get to. For a long time, the design of the neighbourhood actually served as its best protection. With the confusingly named, corkscrewing streets, it was hard to tell someone how to get to it. However, over the past few years, visitors no longer sought directions. They began to confidently go through the neighbourhoods where they’d park and wander along the narrow streets, to the access gate.a) Where is this, and how have some residents tried to discourage sightseeing in the recent past?b) While traffic gridlocks are obviously an inconvenience, the slow vehicular movement also represented something much more dangerous for the attraction, owing to its location. What are the residents concerned about?

Under the Hollywood Sign, Giving misleading information/erasing it from

Google Maps

Restricting path for fire engines, in case of a possible fire in the hills

18.The Tour X was a cycling stage race in the United States held between 1989 and 1996 and was initially called the Tour de Y. The first edition of the race was described as "a smashing success" in Sports Illustrated but after the 1990 edition, Y withdrew his sponsorship of the race due to his business's financial problemsAfter Y withdrew, X, a well known conglomerate became the primary sponsor till 1996. While the next edition was being scheduled, X announced that it was ending its sponsorship of the race. The withdrawal came months after the heir to the X family fortune, a keen sports enthusiast was convicted for something, which was later featured in a 2014 American film. a) Who was Y, who decided to withdraw his sponsorship?b) What was X, and which film was based on the eccentric heir?

Donald Trump

DuPont, Foxcatcher

19.The song X wasn't released by Folkways until 1951, but was originally written in February 1940, when its composer first arrived in New York City from Oklahoma. He was irritated by another song Y, which seemed to be endlessly playing on the radio in the late 1930s. This composer grew ever sicker of the blatant jingoism Y encouraged and its perfect portrayal of the country. He had little tolerance for a culture that attempted to sugar-coat the hard daily reality for poor and working people, which is why he wrote Y.

What are the two songs?

This Land Is Your Land, God Bless America

20.Since 2007, the Israel Medical Association Journal and European Neurology have each published articles cataloguing certain medical eponyms. Some physicians have argued that these eponyms must be discontinued in medical naming conventions altogether, while others have argued that such eponyms should be retained as "a means of conveying immortal dishonour.“Replacement terms for some eponyms have been suggested.

Why do some seek to replace these eponyms?

Medical eponyms associated with Nazi human experimentation or Nazi politics.

21.This practice originated in 1991 in the town of Bormaru and was intended to instil fear in those who supported the government. It became widespread during the transition of power in 1996 and affected 27,000 people across the country. After the turn of the millennium, a Truth and Reconciliation Committee was set up which recommended reparations in the form of free education for their children, free health care and skills training.In 2002, a particular problem arose owing to which those who were affected had to practise something for several weeks, so that their attempt was not wasted. Today, most of the affected in the capital city survive by begging, as even those who are educated beyond secondary school level find it hard to get work.a) What country, and what practise was this?b) What problem arose in 2002, which troubled those who were affected quite severely?

Sierra Leone, Forcible amputation of arms and legs

Sierra Leonean General Election. Those who had no arms had to practise inking the paper with their feet, they had to

make sure they did not smudge/go outside the box.

22.Pornthip Rojanasunand is a Thai forensic pathologist, author and human rights activist. Her work has raised awareness of DNA evidence, but she has also been in the centre of controversy, owing to her findings contradicting those of the Thai police and sometimes even pointing to their involvement. She made international headlines after taking charge of one of the world’s largest-ever forensics jobs, for which she and her team were widely praised for their hard work and dedication.a) What particularly tough task was this?b) A nickname has been given to her, owing to the nature of her work. This name has been used more famously for Jack Kevorkian and wrestler Steve Williams. What nickname is this?

Identifying those killed in the 2004 tsunami

Dr. Death

23.In 1976, INS Vikrant with embarked squadrons of Seahawks, Alizes, Seakings and Chetaks was operating in the Arabian Sea. Commander Peter Debras, an Indian Navy pilot was readying himself for a regular sortie in his Seahawk, whose engines had reached full power. Over the next few seconds, something happened on board the ship which had not happened in more than 10,000 successful attempts. Due to this occurrence, Debras found himself in a situation no Indian pilot had ever been in before. Owing to the alert captain’s presence of mind, Debras waited for a few moments and then got himself out of the aircraft. The time elapse from the first instance to his rescue was less than three minutes. A British entity later stated that whatever Debras had done had a very unique distinction across all such instances recorded previously. a) What happened on the ship? What situation did Debras find himself in? b) Which entity was this, and what was the unique distinction?

a) The carrier’s catapult malfunctioned, and the bridle fell.

The aircraft toppled off the edge and Debras found himself underwater.

b) Martin Baker, the makers of the ejection seat stated this was the deepest underwater ejection

ever.

24. Martha Gellhorn was an American novelist, travel writer, and journalist, who is now considered one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century. She first met her future husband X during a 1936 Christmas family trip to Florida and they agreed to travel to Spain together to cover the Spanish Civil War. After the outbreak of World War II, she lacked official press credentials to report something, unlike her husband X (they were both working for the same publication), owing to which she hid in a bathroom and later impersonated a stretcher bearer. She later recalled, "I followed the war wherever I could reach it.” Gellhorn and her husband would go on to get divorced a year later. a) Owing to her hiding in the bathroom, what unique distinction is credited to Gellhorn?b) Who was her husband?

Gellhorn was the only woman to land at Normandy on D-Day on June 6, 1944

Ernest Hemingway

25.This global industry had humble beginnings with the first commercial British business beginning at Harrogate in 1740. In the early 20th century, an outbreak of a typhoid epidemic in Lincoln prompted a practise which had spread around the world, and nearly collapsed the business. It slowly began to pick up over the next few decades, and a key practical innovation, introduced in 1977 opened up additional commercial opportunities. The global market for this was valued at $157 billion in 2013, and is expected to reach $280 billion by 2020. Last year, in the UK alone, consumption of grew by 8.2%, meaning that sale are 100 times higher than in 1980. a) What industry, and what was the practise which nearly killed it?b) What was the key practical innovation that was introduced in 1977?

Commercial Water/Bottled WaterChlorination of Municipal Water

Introduction of plastic or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles

26.The __________ murders were a series of poisoning deaths resulting from drug tampering in the Chicago metropolitan area in 1982. The victims had all taken capsules of a certain brand that had been laced with potassium cyanide. A total of seven people died in the original poisonings, with several more deaths in subsequent copycat crimes.No suspect was ever charged or convicted of the poisonings, but the actions of Johnson & Johnson to reduce deaths and warn the public of poisoning risks has been widely praised as an exemplary response to such a crisis.a) What brand was this?b) In what way did this inspire a change in the pharmaceutical, food and consumer product industries?

Tylenol

Tamper-resistant packaging with triple-seal features

- Glued Box- Plastic Seal over neck of bottle- Foil Seal over mouth of bottle

27.Steven McAuliffe is a Senior US District Judge in New Hampshire. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute as a member of the class of 1970. During the Ring Figure dance, an important ritual of the Institute, he received his ceremonial class ring, which he later gave his wife, Christa.More than a decade later, Christa died in circumstances owing to which the ring was lost and possibly destroyed. A few days later, cadets at VMI ordered a new ring for him on which was inscribed, "To Steven, in memory of Christa”. A scholarship fund in Christa's name was also set up and first awarded in 1987-88.a) What circumstances were this?b) What program, announced in in 1984 was cancelled in 1990 due to Christa’s death?

Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

NASA’s Teacher in Space Project

28. Ecstasy is a 1933 romantic drama which caused a storm of controversy when it was released. The film is about a young woman who marries a wealthy but much older man, and has an affair with another, while still married. It was the first non-pornographic movie to portray sexual intercourse and female orgasm on screen.Owing to its non judgmental approach, the film was heavily condemned by conservatives and was not released in the United States until 1940, where most censor boards only allowed it with restrictions and demanded substantial cuts.b) After its release, the wealthy arms dealer Friedrich Mandl, reportedly spent $280,000 in an unsuccessful attempt to suppress the film by purchasing every existing print. Why did he do so?c) What was the two-word title of a 2008 play featuring the life of Ecstasy’s leading lady, which won a prize for best new play about science and technology?

Mandl was married to the film’s leading lady, Hedy Lamarr and wasn’t too pleased with the

film’s content.

Frequency Hopping

29.A third of the United States’ operations in this industry are in California. It is a $1.8 billion trade, driven by roughly 1,500 such places, which contain 95% of the country’s total number of ‘workers’. Over the past few years, their commercial value has rapidly increased and they are now rented out for specific periods. In the early 2000s, two things shook up the industry. Thanks to global demand for a particular edible, particularly from Asia, these ‘workers’ were put to task in what became the largest annual managed one of its kind. California produces more than 80% of the world’s supply for this edible today, due to the help of the ‘workers’. However, the business has been heavily affected owing to a phenomenon , causing absence of such ‘workers’ and increasing rental costs.a) What industry is this, and what edible was heavily sought after?b) What phenomenon was this, which caused significant economic and ecological impact?

Beekeeping, Almonds

Colony Collapse Disorder

30. Archaeologists have recently found a 3,000-year-old burial ground at Ashkelon, in southern Israel, marking the culmination of more than 30 years of exploration. Historians have long hoped to learn more about a particular group, and the burial ground offers an insight into this ancient and historic population.Another site called the Khirbet Qeiyafa is believed to be the site where something occurred in Biblical times.a) What group were the archaeologists keen to find out more about? b) What supposedly took place at this site?

Philistines

David vs. Goliath

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