Answers to Quiz - 78

1. What method for determination of accurate costs was introduced in 1987 by 2 Harvard Business School professors, Robert Kaplan and William Bruns?

Activity Based Costing

2. Which organization first practiced the concept of Benchmarking in 1979 and who introduced it to them?

Xerox, Robert Camp

3. Who coined the term core competence in a 1990 article?

C.K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel

4. What model developed by Michael Porter explains why particular industries become competitive in particular locations?

Diamond Model

5. Which company developed and pioneered the concept of Economic Value Added (EVA), widely held today as the holy grail of corporate performance measure?

Stern Stewart

6. Who developed the principle of Force Field Analysis, which provides a framework for looking at factors that influence a situation?

Kurt Lewin

7. What theory of decision making was postulated by Irving Janis in 1970’s to explain how decisions are taken by groups more interested in maintaining their cohesiveness than evaluating facts realistically?

Groupthink

8. Name the 1954 book in which Abraham Maslow expounded his famous Hierarchy of Needs model?

Motivation and Personality

9. Who introduced the principle of ‘management by objectives’ in the 1954 book, The Practice of Management?

Peter Drucker

10. Name the management consultant who is widely credited with having devised the tool of SWOT Analysis?

Albert Humphrey

QUIZ -78

1. What method for determination of accurate costs was introduced in 1987 by 2 Harvard Business School professors, Robert Kaplan and William Bruns?

2. Which organization first practiced the concept of Benchmarking in 1979 and who introduced it to them?

3. Who coined the term core competence in a 1990 article?

4. What model developed by Michael Porter explains why particular industries become competitive in particular locations?

5. Which company developed and pioneered the concept of Economic Value Added (EVA), widely held today as the holy grail of corporate performance measure?

6. Who developed the principle of Force Field Analysis, which provides a framework for looking at factors that influence a situation?

7. What theory of decision making was postulated by Irving Janis in 1970’s to explain how decisions are taken by groups more interested in maintaining their cohesiveness than evaluating facts realistically?

8. Name the 1954 book in which Abraham Maslow expounded his famous Hierarchy of Needs model?

9. Who introduced the principle of ‘management by objectives’ in the 1954 book, The Practice of Management?

10. Name the management consultant who is widely credited with having devised the tool of SWOT Analysis?

Answers to Quiz - 77

1. What objects constitute a Hickson Compact Group?

Galaxies

2. What is 51 Pegasi b?

The first exoplanet to be discovered. Exoplanets are planets that orbit a star other than the Sun

3. Where is the Headquarters of the International Astronomical Union?

Paris

4. Who discovered the planet Pluto?

Clyde Tombaugh

5. What new category of astronomical objects did the International Astronomical Union create in 2008 following the redefinition of the word planet in 2006?

Plutoid

6. What is the name given to celestial objects between Jupiter and Neptune that act like both asteroids and comets?

Centaurs

7. What astronomical term describes the centre of mass of two bodies that orbit around each other, for example the earth and the moon?

Barycentre

8. What are the 3 satellites of Pluto?

Charon, Nix and Hydra

9. On 21st October 2003, an object bigger than Pluto was discovered and it eventually led to Pluto being stripped of its planetary status. Initially named 2003 UB313, by what name do we know it today?

Eris

10. Name the 19th Century astronomer who posed one of the most interesting problems of astrophysics – ‘why is the sky dark at night?’

Heinrich Olbers (Olbers Paradox)

QUIZ - 77

Ten questions for The International Year of Astronomy 2009

1. What objects constitute a Hickson Compact Group?

2. What is 51 Pegasi b?

3. Where is the Headquarters of the International Astronomical Union?

4. Who discovered the planet Pluto?

5. What new category of astronomical objects did the International Astronomical Union create in 2008 following the redefinition of the word planet in 2006?

6. What is the name given to celestial objects between Jupiter and Neptune that act like both asteroids and comets?

7. What astronomical term describes the centre of mass of two bodies that orbit around each other, for example the earth and the moon?

8. What are the 3 satellites of Pluto?

9. On 21st October 2003, an object bigger than Pluto was discovered and it eventually led to Pluto being stripped of its planetary status. Initially named 2003 UB313, by what name do we know it today?

10. Name the 19th Century astronomer who posed one of the most interesting problems of astrophysics – ‘why is the sky dark at night?’

Answers to Quiz - 76

1. What is an orphan drug?

A drug developed specifically to treat a rare medical condition, a disorder affecting fewer than 200,000 people in USA as per The Orphan Drug Act

2. What term describes a coral island surrounded by a lagoon?

Atoll

3. In which country would you hear the Dhivehi language?

Maldives

4. What is the name of the infamous award given by Greenpeace International for the worst act of deforestation?

Golden Chainsaw Award

5. Deriving its name from a literary society founded in England in the mid 18th Century, what derisive term is applied to a woman who affects literary interests?

Bluestocking

6. What landmark event n 1688 led to the overthrow of King James – II of England and paved the way for establishment of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy?

The Glorious Revolution

7. Name the largest of the 7 Canary Islands

Tenerife

8. What term borrowed from TV and film industry refers to formal financial approval to go ahead with a project?

Greenlighting

9. Under Megan’s Law in United States of America what details are required to be made available to the public?

Information about sex offenders

10. First stated by a French Mathematician Louis Bachelier in 1900 and later developed in 1960’s by Prof. Eugene Fama at University of Chicago, what theory states that the price at which an asset s traded in the market reflects all known information and instantly change to reflect new information?

Efficient Market Hypothesis

QUIZ - 76

1. What is an orphan drug?

2. What term describes a coral island surrounded by a lagoon?

3. In which country would you hear the Dhivehi language?

4. What is the name of the infamous award given by Greenpeace International for the worst act of deforestation?

5. Deriving its name from a literary society founded in England in the mid 18th Century, what derisive term is applied to a woman who affects literary interests?

6. What landmark event in 1688 led to the overthrow of King James – II of England and paved the way for establishment of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy?

7. Name the largest of the 7 Canary Islands

8. What term borrowed from TV and film industry refers to formal financial approval to go ahead with a project?

9. Under Megan’s Law in United States of America what details are required to be made available to the public?

10. First stated by a French Mathematician Louis Bachelier in 1900 and later developed in 1960’s by Prof. Eugene Fama at University of Chicago, what theory states that the price at which an asset s traded in the market reflects all known information and instantly change to reflect new information?

Answers to Quiz - 75

1. Name the 3 Lehman brothers

Henry, Emmanuel and Mayer

2. Which Italian painter is widely referred to as the Rembrandt of Italy?

Caravaggio

3. What is the largest bay on Earth measured by shoreline length?

Hudson Bay

4. What fruit comes in varieties of Burgundy, Duncan and Marsh?

Grapefruit

5. Who was the first American woman to be commemorated on a postage stamp?

Martha Washington, wife of George Washington

6. The Argentines call this place Malvinas. By what name does rest of the world know this place?

Falkland Islands

7. What is the term used for courts that can review and overrule previous judgments given by a lower court?

Courts of Cassation

8. What food was deeply revered by the Incas and referred to as the mother of all grains?

Quinoa

9. What term coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov describes an obsessive kind of romantic love?

Limerence

10. What psychological term describes the tendency of people to form friendships or romantic relationships with those whom they encounter often

Propinquity Effect

QUIZ - 75

1. Name the 3 Lehman brothers

2. Which Italian painter is widely referred to as the Rembrandt of Italy?

3. What is the largest bay on Earth measured by shoreline length?

4. What fruit comes in varieties of Burgundy, Duncan and Marsh?

5. Who was the first American woman to be commemorated on a postage stamp?

6. The Argentines call this place Malvinas. By what name does rest of the world know this place?

7. What is the term used for courts that can review and overrule previous judgments given by a lower court?

8. What food was deeply revered by the Incas and referred to as the mother of all grains?

9. What term coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov describes an obsessive kind of romantic love?

10. What psychological term describes the tendency of people to form friendships or romantic relationships with those whom they encounter often

Answers to Quiz - 74

1. What international convention seeks to protect biodiversity against the potential risk of being contaminated by genetically modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology?

Cartagena Protocol

2. Who in 1896 developed the Swiss Army Knife and went on to name his company Victoria in memory of his mother?

Karl Elsener

3. Name the American company that introduced the Reclining Chair in 1928 and whose name is today synonymous with that product.

La-z-boy

4. What communication medium did Jack Dorsey create in 2006?

Twitter

5. With students such as Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, who popularized the Method School of acting?

Lee Strasberg

6. What game uses terms like Flop, Fish and Fold?

Poker

7. Which is world’s most active volcano?

Kilauea volcano on Hawaii

8. What is the only country in the world with a solid, single-coloured flag?

Libya. Green colour

9. What are drumlins and eskers formed by?

Glaciers

10. What are the followers of the Unification Church called?

Moonies

QUIZ - 74

1. What international convention seeks to protect biodiversity against the potential risk of being contaminated by genetically modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology?

2. Who in 1896 developed the Swiss Army Knife and went on to name his company Victoria in memory of his mother?

3. Name the American company that introduced the Reclining Chair in 1928 and whose name is today synonymous with that product.

4. What communication medium did Jack Dorsey create in 2006?

5. With students such as Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, who popularized the Method School of acting?

6. What game uses terms like Flop, Fish and Fold?

7. Which is world’s most active volcano?

8. What is the only country in the world with a solid, single-coloured flag?

9. What are drumlins and eskers formed by?

10. What are the followers of the Unification Church called?

Answers to Quiz - 73

1. What word describes a person who only eats food grown or produced locally within a limited area?

Locavore

2. From what fruit is the liquor Kirsch derived?
Cherry

3. What was Professor Stephen Salter’s 1974 invention Edinburgh Duck used for?

Converting wave energy to electricity

4. In what unit is cloud cover of the sky usually reported?

Octa. It ranges from 0 to 8, 0 being clear blue sky and 8 fully overcast sky

5. What is the term used to describe sailors who have not crossed the equator?

Pollywog

6. What is the popular name of the trophy awarded to the winner of the British Open Golf Championships?

Claret Jug

7. What protein in banana is responsible for producing the neurotransmitter Serotonin?

Tryptophan

8. Name the alternative rock band that in 1988 produced the album Daydream Nation, widely regarded by critics as a milestone of the 1980s underground music.

Sonic Youth

9. What recently became the one millionth word of English language?

Web 2.0

10. What is Polysomnography used for?

To study sleep related disorders

QUIZ - 73

1. What word describes a person who only eats food grown or produced locally within a limited area?

2. From what fruit is the liquor Kirsch derived?

3. What was Professor Stephen Salter’s 1974 invention Edinburgh Duck used for?

4. In what unit is cloud cover of the sky usually reported?

5. What is the term used to describe sailors who have not crossed the equator?

6. What is the popular name of the trophy awarded to the winner of the British Open Golf Championships?

7. What protein in banana is responsible for producing the neurotransmitter Serotonin?

8. Name the alternative rock band that in 1988 produced the album Daydream Nation, widely regarded by critics as a milestone of the 1980s underground music.

9. What recently became the one millionth word of English language?

10. What is Polysomnography used for?

Answers to Quiz - 72

1. Who became the world’s first woman president in 1974?

Isabel Perón of Argentina

2. Who in 1960 became the world’s first elected woman Prime Minister?

Sirivamo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka

3. Who is the first woman to win the Nobel Prize?

Marie Curie in 1903

4. Name the first woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal

Charlotte Cooper in 1900

5. Who was the first woman to climb Mount Everest in 1975?

Junko Tabei

6. Who was the first woman to land on moon?

Till today no woman has landed on moon.

7. Who in 1889 became America’s first female corporate CEO?

Anna Bissell

8. Who was the first woman to win the Grand Slam in tennis?

Maureen Connolly in 1953

9. Who in 1762 became the first woman newspaper editor?

Ann Franklin

10. Who in 1976 became the first woman to receive an Oscar nomination for the Best Director?

Lina Wertmüller

QUIZ - 72

Ten questions to mark International Women’s Day

1. Who became the world’s first woman president in 1974?

2. Who in 1960 became the world’s first elected woman Prime Minister?

3. Who is the first woman to win the Nobel Prize?

4. Name the first woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal

5. Who was the first woman to climb Mount Everest in 1975?

6. Who was the first woman to land on moon?

7. Who in 1889 became America’s first female corporate CEO?

8. Who was the first woman to win the Grand Slam in tennis?

9. Who in 1762 became the first woman newspaper editor?

10. Who in 1976 became the first woman to receive an Oscar nomination for the Best Director?

Answers to Quiz - 71

1. Named after a Boston endocrinologist, what term describes the most common sex chromosome disorder in which the affected male has an extra X chromosome?

Klinefelter’s Syndrome

2. Only two chemical elements exist as liquids at normal room temperature. What are they?

Bromine and Mercury

3. Name the historical event that took place between May 25 and September 17 in 1787 that resulted in drafting of the constitution of United States of America.

The Philadelphia Convention

4. Which king once famously said ‘I am the State’?

Louis XIV

5. What is the term in economics to describe highly liquid assets that are not cash but can be easily converted into cash?

Near Money

6. What term that literally means ‘Mountain Fortress’ denotes the popular Chinese subculture of pirated brands and goods?

Shanzhai

7. In professional wrestling who are jobbers?

Wrestlers who are scripted to lose their match

8. What word borrowed from German describes the feeling of delight at the suffering of others?

Schadenfreude

9. What rare mineral named after a famous crystallographer has displaced diamond as the hardest substance?.

Lonsdaleite

10. What term describes sharing of office space between employees who are on different shifts or schedule?

Hot Desk

QUIZ - 71

1. Named after a Boston endocrinologist, what term describes the most common sex chromosome disorder in which the affected male has an extra X chromosome?

2. Only two chemical elements exist as liquids at normal room temperature. What are they?

3. Name the historical event that took place between May 25 and September 17 in 1787 that resulted in drafting of the constitution of United States of America.

4. Which king once famously said ‘I am the State’?

5. What is the term in economics to describe highly liquid assets that are not cash but can be easily converted into cash?

6. What term that literally means ‘Mountain Fortress’ denotes the popular Chinese subculture of pirated brands and goods?

7. In professional wrestling who are jobbers?

8. What word borrowed from German describes the feeling of delight at the suffering of others?

9. What rare mineral named after a famous crystallographer has displaced diamond as the hardest substance?.

10. What term describes sharing of office space between employees who are on different shifts or schedule?

Answers to Quiz - 70

1. Which specie of bird is widely believed to have propelled Charles Darwin in his postulation of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?

Finch

2. At a meeting of which well known scientific society did Charles Darwin present his famous theory of evolution on 1st July 1858?

The Linnean Society

3. Which British naturalist independently proposed the theory of natural evolution and thereby precipitated Charles Darwin’s decision to publish his own theory?

Alfred Russell Wallace

4. The inheritance from which famous family, to which he was connected through both his mother and wife, helped Charles Darwin in his chosen vocation?

Wedgwood

5. Who was the captain of HMS Beagle that took Charles Darwin on his 5 year long path breaking scientific expedition?

Robert FitzRoy

6. What marine creature did Charles Darwin study for 8 long years from 1846 to 1854 to train himself in zoology?

Barnacles

7. Name the renowned Geologist whose work deeply influenced Charles Darwin.

Sir Charles Lyell

8. What did Charles Darwin study in Edinburgh between 1825 and 1827 before abandoning it for theological studies in Cambridge?

Medicine

9. Name the famous botanist and explorer with whom Charles Darwin struck a deep friendship and whom he described as "the one living soul from whom I have constantly received sympathy".

Joseph Dalton Hooker

10. What was the strange subject of Charles Darwin’s last book published in 1881, a year before his death?

Vegetable Mould and Worms

QUIZ - 70

February 12 marks the 200th birth anniversary of one of the all time great scientists, Charles Darwin. This quiz is dedicated to his memory.

1. Which specie of bird is widely believed to have propelled Charles Darwin in his postulation of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?
2. At a meeting of which well known scientific society did Charles Darwin present his famous theory of evolution on 1st July 1858?

3. Which British naturalist independently proposed the theory of natural evolution and thereby precipitated Charles Darwin’s decision to publish his own theory?

4. The inheritance from which famous family, to which he was connected through both his mother and wife, helped Charles Darwin in his chosen vocation?

5. Who was the captain of HMS Beagle that took Charles Darwin on his 5 year long path breaking scientific expedition?

6. What marine creature did Charles Darwin study for 8 long years from 1846 to 1854 to train himself in zoology?

7. Name the renowned Geologist whose work deeply influenced Charles Darwin.

8. What did Charles Darwin study in Edinburgh between 1825 and 1827 before abandoning it for theological studies in Cambridge?

9. Name the famous botanist and explorer with whom Charles Darwin struck a deep friendship and whom he described as "the one living soul from whom I have constantly received sympathy".

10. What was the strange subject of Charles Darwin’s last book published in 1881, a year before his death?

Answers to Quiz - 69

1. What is the most common language spoken by Kurdish people?

Kurmanji

2. What term describes the naturally occurring phenomenon of dense concentration of harmful algae in marine bodies that lead to the death of fish?

Red Tide

3. The national film awards of France are given out every year in February and are named after the sculptor who designed the trophies. What are these awards called?

César Awards after César Baldaccini

4. The Haute Route is considered to be the most challenging ski tour in the world. Between which two points in the Alps does this route stretch?

Chamonix in France and Zermatt in Switzerland

5. Who are schmooseoisie?

The people who make their living by talking

6. What term describes food derived from genetically modified plants and animals?

Frankenfood

7. The Henry Draper Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for contributions to astrophysics. What did Henry Draper pioneer?

Astrophotography

8. Which chemical compound has the highest melting point of all known substances in the world at 4215 Degrees C?

Tantalum Hafnium Carbide

9. 50 years ago the Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard Feynman delivered a famous lecture
‘There is Plenty of Room at the Bottom’. What concept did this lecture give birth to?

Nanotechnology

10. What famous bridge was known by the nickname of Galloping Gertie?

The Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge which collapsed dramatically on 7th Nov 1940.

QUIZ - 69

1. What is the most common language spoken by Kurdish people?

2. What term describes the naturally occurring phenomenon of dense concentration of harmful algae in marine bodies that lead to the death of fish?

3. The national film awards of France are given out every year in February and are named after the sculptor who designed the trophies. What are these awards called?

4. The Haute Route is considered to be the most challenging ski tour in the world. Between which two points in the Alps does this route stretch?

5. Who are schmooseoisie?

6. What term describes food derived from genetically modified plants and animals?

7. The Henry Draper Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for contributions to astrophysics. What did Henry Draper pioneer?

8. Which chemical compound has the highest melting point of all known substances in the world at 4215 Degrees C?

9. 50 years ago the Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard Feynman delivered a famous lecture ‘There is Plenty of Room at the Bottom’. What concept did this lecture give birth to?

10. What famous bridge was known by the nickname of Galloping Gertie?

Answers to Quiz - 68

1. In 1788 Robert Burns wrote his most famous poem ‘Auld Lang Syne’, which is customarily sung at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day. What do the words Auld Lang Syne literally mean?

Old Long Since

2. What is Robert Burns’ most famous nickname that reflects his humble origins as the son of a poor farmer?

The Ploughman Poet

3. Name the first poem of Robert Burns that he wrote in 1774 at the age of 15 inspired by Nelly Kilpatrick, the daughter of the village blacksmith.

My Handsome Nell

4. Robert Burns got his work published for the first time in 1786 and it was a turning point in his poetic career. By what popular name do we know this first collection of poems?

The Kilmarnock Edition

5. Robert Burns wrote one of his longest and finest poems in 1790. Name this poem which has also lent its name to a type of Scottish hat.

Tam O’ Shanter

6. What traditional Scottish dish is associated with Robert Burns?

Haggis

7. Name the muse of Robert Burns, whom he referred to in his poem The Vision

Colia

8. Into which cult organization was Robert Burns initiated in 1781?

Freemasons

9. What trade did Robert Burns formally learn?

Flax combing

10. Robert Burns had 9 children from his wife Jean Armour. What was unusual about his last child Maxwell?

He was born on the same day and almost to the same hour when his father died.

QUIZ - 68

Today the whole of England is celebrating the 250th birth anniversary of Robert Burns.
Here are 10 questions on Robert Burns

1. In 1788 Robert Burns wrote his most famous poem ‘Auld Lang Syne’, which is customarily sung at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day. What do the words Auld Lang Syne literally mean?

2. What is Robert Burns’ most famous nickname that reflects his humble origins as the son of a poor farmer?

3. Name the first poem of Robert Burns that he wrote in 1774 at the age of 15 inspired by Nelly Kilpatrick, the daughter of the village blacksmith.

4. Robert Burns got his work published for the first time in 1786 and it was a turning point in his poetic career. By what popular name do we know this first collection of poems?

5. Robert Burns wrote one of his longest and finest poems in 1790. Name this poem which has also lent its name to a type of Scottish hat.

6. What traditional Scottish dish is associated with Robert Burns?

7. Name the muse of Robert Burns, whom he referred to in his poem The Vision

8. Into which cult organization was Robert Burns initiated in 1781?

9. What trade did Robert Burns formally learn?

10. Robert Burns had 9 children from his wife Jean Armour. What was unusual about his last child Maxwell?

Answers to Quiz - 67

1. Our heart is normally located in the left side of the chest. What term describes the abnormal condition in which the heart is on the right side of the chest?

Dextrocardia

2. What is Pognology the study of?

Beards

3. What structure built on a rock in the Atlantic Ocean is popularly known as The Teardrop of Ireland, because it was the last piece of the country the emigrants saw as they sailed for a better life in America?

The Fastnet Lighthouse

4. What is the name of the tool used for drilling a hole in the skull in a surgery?

Craniotome

5. What sphere of human activity does the Washington Accord signed in 1989 cover?

Engineering Education

6. In which sport would you come across horns, antlers, ears and winglets?

Formula One Racing. They are appendages on the car for improving its aerodynamics.

7. What is meant by Elvis Year?

The year in which the popularity of a product, service, or individual is at its peak

8. What fatal disease, named after a Japanese doctor, is predominantly found among young children, and results in the inflammation of blood vessels?

Kawasaki Syndrome

9. The maximum theoretical efficiency of a solar cell is named after two physicists who first calculated this value in 1961. What is the name of this term?

Shockley-Queisser Limit after William Shockley and Hans Queisser.

10. In 1926 a Russian economist proposed a business cycle lasting 50-60 years in capitalist economies consisting of four phases – beneficial inflation, stagflation, beneficial deflation and deflation. What is the name of this business cycle?

Kondratieff Cycle

QUIZ - 67

1. Our heart is normally located in the left side of the chest. What term describes the abnormal condition in which the heart is on the right side of the chest?

2. What is Pognology the study of?

3. What structure built on a rock in the Atlantic Ocean is popularly known as The Teardrop of Ireland, because it was the last piece of the country the emigrants saw as they sailed for a better life in America?

4. What is the name of the tool used for drilling a hole in the skull in a surgery?

5. What sphere of human activity does the Washington Accord signed in 1989 cover?

6. In which sport would you come across horns, antlers, ears and winglets?

7. What is meant by Elvis Year?

8. What fatal disease, named after a Japanese doctor, is predominantly found among young children, and results in the inflammation of blood vessels?

9. The maximum theoretical efficiency of a solar cell is named after two physicists who first calculated this value in 1961. What is the name of this term?

10. In 1926 a Russian economist proposed a business cycle lasting 50-60 years in capitalist economies consisting of four phases – beneficial inflation, stagflation, beneficial deflation and deflation. What is the name of this business cycle?

Answers to Quiz- 66

1. For 70 years he rented, repaired, rebuilt, reconfigured and restored typewriters in a shop in New York that advertised itself as “Psychoanalysis for Your Typewriter.” Such was his authority and popularity that letters addressed to "Mr. Typewriter, New York" would be delivered to his store. Name this wizard of Manual Typewriters who passed away in September 2008.

Martin Tytell


2. An article published in 1945 in Wireless World gave birth to the concept of Geostationary Orbits for communication satellites. The article’s author, an extraordinary science fiction writer and futurist among other things passed away in March 2008. He has been immortalized for posterity by having the Geostationary Orbits named after him. What is the name given to these orbits?

Clarke Orbits

3. Born as Tula Elice Finklea, she started dancing lessons at the age of 6 to build up her strength after a bout of polio. She then went on to act in Hollywood Musicals such as Singin’ in the Rain and The Band Wagon opposite Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Fred Astaire called her ‘Beautiful Dynamite’. She passed away in June 2008. By what name do we know her?

Cyd Charisse

4. He served as President of his country for 32 years, one of the longest reigns of uninterrupted power in modern history. Known as the ‘Smiling General’, he passed away in January 2008. Name him.

Suharto, former President of Indonesia.


5. In 1958 he became the youngest Grandmaster in chess at the age of 15 years and 6 months, a record broken only in 1991 by Judit Polgar. Name this eccentric maestro, considered to be one of the greatest chess players of all time, who died in January 2008.

Bobby Fischer


6. Known as The Giggling Guru for the high-pitched laugh he often used to emphasize his observations, his followers included celebrities like The Beatles. He introduced Transcendentalist Meditation to the West, but later became embroiled in many controversies and John Lennon wrote the song "Sexy Sadie" as a thinly-disguised denunciation of him. Name this spiritual purveyor who passed away in February 2008.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

7. Sir Edmund Hilary, the first man to climb Mount Everest died in January 2008. Who was the leader of that successful 1953 British Expedition?

John Hunt

8. Who directed ‘Out of Africa’, the 1985 epic film that won 7 Academy Awards including those for Best Picture and Best Director? He died in May 2008.

Sydney Pollack

9. Name the Cambodian photojournalist and Genocide survivor who was the subject of the Academy Award-winning film The Killing Fields. He passed away in March 2008.

Dith Pran

10. Name the South African Grammy Award winning singer and Civil Rights activist who was often referred to as Mama Afrika. She died in November 2008.

Miriam Makeba

QUIZ - 66

1. For 70 years he rented, repaired, rebuilt, reconfigured and restored typewriters in a shop in New York that advertised itself as “Psychoanalysis for Your Typewriter.” Such was his authority and popularity that letters addressed to "Mr. Typewriter, New York" would be delivered to his store. Name this wizard of Manual Typewriters who passed away in September 2008.

2. An article published in 1945 in Wireless World gave birth to the concept of Geostationary Orbits for communication satellites. The article’s author, an extraordinary science fiction writer and futurist among other things passed away in March 2008. He has been immortalized for posterity by having the Geostationary Orbits named after him. What is the name given to these orbits?

3. Born as Tula Elice Finklea, she started dancing lessons at the age of 6 to build up her strength after a bout of polio. She then went on to act in Hollywood Musicals such as Singin’ in the Rain and The Band Wagon opposite Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Fred Astaire called her ‘Beautiful Dynamite’. She passed away in June 2008. By what name do we know her?

4. He served as President of his country for 32 years, one of the longest reigns of uninterrupted power in modern history. Known as the ‘Smiling General’, he passed away in January 2008. Name him.

5. In 1958 he became the youngest Grandmaster in chess at the age of 15 years and 6 months, a record broken only in 1991 by Judit Polgar. Name this eccentric maestro, considered to be one of the greatest chess players of all time, who died in January 2008.

6. Known as The Giggling Guru for the high-pitched laugh he often used to emphasize his observations, his followers included celebrities like The Beatles. He introduced Transcendentalist Meditation to the West, but later became embroiled in many controversies and John Lennon wrote the song "Sexy Sadie" as a thinly-disguised denunciation of him. Name this spiritual purveyor who passed away in February 2008.

7. Sir Edmund Hilary, the first man to climb Mount Everest died in January 2008. Who was the leader of that successful 1953 British Expedition?

8. Who directed ‘Out of Africa’, the 1985 epic film that won 7 Academy Awards including those for Best Picture and Best Director? He died in May 2008.

9. Name the Cambodian photojournalist and Genocide survivor who was the subject of the Academy Award-winning film The Killing Fields. He passed away in March 2008.

10. Name the South African Grammy Award winning singer and Civil Rights activist who was often referred to as Mama Afrika. She died in November 2008.

Answers to Quiz - 65

1. Eight American Presidents have died in office. Who was the first one to do so? Incidentally his tenure is the shortest, a mere 31 days.

William Henry Harrison

2. Four American Presidents have been assassinated. Two of them are Abraham Lincoln and
John F Kennedy. Name the other two.

James Garfield (1881) and William McKinley (1901)

3. 15 Presidents have been elected for two consecutive terms. Name the only President to have served two non-consecutive terms.

Grover Cleveland (1885-89 and 1893-97)

4. What ignominy do Presidents Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson share?

The only 2 Presidents to have been impeached

5. Name the President, whose grandfather was also a president

Benjamin Harrison

6. In the history of American Presidency, what is the extraordinary record held by Gerald Ford?

The only President to serve as President without being elected to either the presidency or the vice presidency, following the resignations of Vice-President Spiro Agnew and President Richard Nixon

7. Which two Presidents have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize during the tenure of their presidency? Jimmy Carter won it in 2002 after the tenure of his presidency.

Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 and Woodrow Wilson in 1919

8. There have been 4 instances of a President winning the election despite losing the majority popular vote. The last time it happened was in 2000, when George Bush won despite Al Gore winning the majority popular vote. When did this happen the first time and who were the 2 contestants?

1824, John Quincy Adams was elected as the president despite Andrew Jackson winning the majority popular vote

9. Name the only bachelor President

James Buchanan (1857-61)

10. What is the so called ‘20 year curse’ finally broken by President Ronald Reagan?

Prior to him all presidents elected in an year ending in 0 had died in office

QUIZ - 65

Next week we will know who will be 44th President of USA, arguably the most powerful elected office on earth. Here are 10 questions on the American Presidents of the past.

1. Eight American Presidents have died in office. Who was the first one to do so? Incidentally his tenure is the shortest, a mere 31 days.

2. Four American Presidents have been assassinated. Two of them are Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy. Name the other two.

3. 15 Presidents have been elected for two consecutive terms. Name the only President to have served two non-consecutive terms.

4. What ignominy do Presidents Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson share?

5. Name the President, whose grandfather was also a president

6. In the history of American Presidency, what is the extraordinary record held by Gerald Ford?

7. Which two Presidents have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize during the tenure of their presidency? Jimmy Carter won it in 2002 after the tenure of his presidency.

8. There have been 4 instances of a President winning the election despite losing the majority popular vote. The last time it happened was in 2000, when George Bush won despite Al Gore winning the majority popular vote. When did this happen the first time and who were the 2 contestants?

9. Name the only bachelor President

10. What is the so called ‘20 year curse’ finally broken by President Ronald Reagan?

Answers to Quiz - 64

1. Name Paul Newman’s debut film of 1954, in which he played a Greek artisan who makes an ornate holder for the goblet employed by Jesus at the Last Supper. The reviews were so bad Newman actually took out a full-page advert in a trade paper, apologising to film-goers for his performance.

The Silver Chalice

2. For which 1956 film did his producer Charles Schnee and director Robert Wise give him what they called a "Noscar” when he failed to receive an Oscar nomination?

Somebody Up There Likes Me

3. For which 1958 film did Paul Newman receive his first Oscar nomination for playing a bitter, alcoholic former star athlete opposite Elizabeth Taylor?

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

4. With which 1968 film about a repressed school teacher did Paul Newman make his directorial debut?

Rachel Rachel

5. Name the production company that Paul Newman founded in 1971 along with Sidney Poitier, Barbra Streisand and Steve McQueen.

First Artists

6. Paul Newman was nominated for nine acting Academy Awards in five different decades – 50’s, 60’s, 80’s, 90’s and finally in 2002. Which 1986 film fetched him his one and only acting Oscar?

The Color of Money

7. Along with Peter O'Toole, Al Pacino, Bing Crosby and Cate Blanchett, Paul Newman shares a rare distinction to be nominated for an Oscar twice for playing the same role in two separate films. What was the role and the two films?

Fast Eddie Felson in The Hustler (1961) and The Color of Money (1986)

8. What unique Oscar distinction does Paul Newman share with Frank Sinatra?

The only other actor to win an Actor Academy Award (1986) , a Humanitarian Academy Award (1993) and a Special Honorary Academy Award (1985)

9. Students of Princeton University and some other American colleges observe an annual tradition of Newman’s Day when they down 24 beers in 24 hours. This celebration is allegedly based on a Paul Newman character from one of his fims. Name the film.

Cool Hand Luke

10. In 1958 Paul Newman married Joanne Woodward and their 50 year long marriage is one of the most celebrated and longest matrimonial unions in the otherwise fickle Hollywood relationships. They acted together in 10 films. Name their first film together which led to Paul Newman divorcing his first wife Jackie Witte followed by their marriage.

The Long Hot Summer

QUIZ - 64

This was meant to be a quiz on F1 Race Circuits, to welcome the latest addition to F1 venues, Singapore, where in less than an hour from now, an exciting night time race on the city streets will get underway. But then the sad demise of Paul Newman, one of the finest actors and also a perfect gentleman, changed all that. Here are 10 questions on Paul Newman, the actor.

1. Name Paul Newman’s debut film of 1954, in which he played a Greek artisan who makes an ornate holder for the goblet employed by Jesus at the Last Supper. The reviews were so bad that Newman actually took out a full-page advert in a trade paper, apologising to film-goers for his performance.

2. For which 1956 film did his producer Charles Schnee and director Robert Wise give him what they called a "Noscar” when he failed to receive an Oscar nomination?

3. For which 1958 film did Paul Newman receive his first Oscar nomination for playing a bitter, alcoholic former star athlete opposite Elizabeth Taylor?

4. With which 1968 film about a repressed school teacher did Paul Newman make his directorial debut?

5. Name the production company that Paul Newman founded in 1971 along with Sidney Poitier, Barbra Streisand and Steve McQueen.

6. Paul Newman was nominated for nine acting Academy Awards in five different decades – 50’s, 60’s, 80’s, 90’s and finally in 2002. Which 1986 film fetched him his one and only acting Oscar?

7. Along with Peter O'Toole, Al Pacino, Bing Crosby and Cate Blanchett, Paul Newman shares a rare distinction to be nominated for an Oscar twice for playing the same role in two separate films. What was the role and the two films?

8. What unique Oscar distinction does Paul Newman share with Frank Sinatra?

9. Students of Princeton University and some other American colleges observe an annual tradition of Newman’s Day when they down 24 beers in 24 hours. This celebration is allegedly based on a Paul Newman character from one of his fims. Name the film.

10. In 1958 Paul Newman married Joanne Woodward and their 50 year long marriage is one of the most celebrated and longest matrimonial unions in the otherwise fickle Hollywood relationships. They acted together in 10 films. Name their first film together which led to Paul Newman divorcing his first wife Jackie Witte followed by their marriage.

Answers to Quiz - 63

1. In which 1946 film did Ingmar Bergman make his directorial debut?

Crisis

2. Between 1961 and 1963 Bergman produced three films on the theme of religion. These are often known as ‘The Faith Trilogy’ or ‘The Chamber Trilogy’ because of the extensive use of Bach’s chamber music in them. ‘Through a Glass Darkly’ and ‘Winter Light’ are the first 2 films of this trilogy. Name the third.

Silence

3. One of Bergman’s most celebrated techniques is the use of facial close-ups. In which 1966 film is this technique strikingly evident?

Persona

4. Bergman won three Oscars for the ‘Best Foreign Language Film’. Two of these are ‘The Virgin Spring’ and ‘Through a Glass Darkly’. Name the third, which is also his last major feature film.

Fanny and Alexander

5. Name the remote Swedish island in which Bergman spent the final decades of his life in solitude?

Fårö

6. Bergman married 5 times and in addition had romantic relationships with his actresses. Name this famous Norwegian actress by whom he had love child (daughter).

Liv Ullmann

7. The collaboration between Bergman and his cinematographer Sven Nykvist is legendary in the history of cinema. Together they made 20 films over a span of 30 years. Which was their first film together?

Sawdust and Tinsel

8. Name the production house that Bergman set up in 1966 to produce his own films

Cinematograph

9. What is the name of Bergman’s first autobiography that was published in 1987?

The Magic Lantern

10. Which of Bergman’s film contains one of the most memorable scenes in all of cinema, in which the knight portrayed by Max Von Sydow plays a game of chess against Death?

The Seventh Seal

QUIZ - 63

These days I am watching a retrospective of films by Ingmar Bergman, one of the finest film makers of all time. Here are 10 questions on Ingmar Bergman.

1. In which 1946 film did Ingmar Bergman make his directorial debut?

2. Between 1961 and 1963 Bergman produced three films on the theme of religion. These are often known as ‘The Faith Trilogy’ or ‘The Chamber Trilogy’ because of the extensive use of Bach’s chamber music in them. ‘Through a Glass Darkly’ and ‘Winter Light’ are the first 2 films of this trilogy. Name the third.

3. One of Bergman’s most celebrated techniques is the use of facial close-ups. In which 1966 film is this technique strikingly evident?

4. Bergman won three Oscars for the ‘Best Foreign Language Film’. Two of these are ‘The Virgin Spring’ and ‘Through a Glass Darkly’. Name the third, which is also his last major feature film.

5. Name the remote Swedish island in which Bergman spent the final decades of his life in solitude.

6. Bergman married 5 times and in addition had romantic relationships with his actresses. Name this famous Norwegian actress by whom he had a love child (daughter).


7. The collaboration between Bergman and his cinematographer Sven Nykvist is legendary in the history of cinema. Together they made 20 films over a span of 30 years. Which was their first film together?

8. Name the production house that Bergman set up in 1966 to produce his own films

9. What is the name of Bergman’s first autobiography that was published in 1987?

10. Which of Bergman’s film contains one of the most memorable scenes in all of cinema, in which the knight portrayed by Max Von Sydow plays a game of chess against Death?

Answers to Quiz - 62

1. Brought by German emigrants to Argentina, identify this instrument which is an important part of the orchestra for tango music



Bandoneón

2. Which two woods are primarily used for making the violin?

Spruce and Maple

3. Often doubling as a stool, name this percussion instrument of Peruvian origin that is an important part of flamenco music.



Cajon
4. Name the 17th Century Italian, who is generally credited with the invention of piano

Bartolomeo Cristofori

5. What low profile instrument of the brass family is celebrated internationally every year, for the last 30 years on the first Friday of May?

The Tuba

6. What instrument did Dr. Robert Moog invent in 1964?

The Synthesizer

7. How many strings are there in a Grand Harp used in concerts?

47

8. The drone and the chanter are important parts of which musical instrument?

The Bagpipe

9. What musical instrument is celebrated at a world music festival held every 4 years in the German town of Trossingen?

Harmonica

10. Identify this South American wind instrument



zampoña

QUIZ - 62

Ten questions on musical instruments

1. Brought by German emigrants to Argentina, identify this instrument which is an important part of the orchestra for tango music

2. Which two woods are primarily used for making the violin?

3. Often doubling as a stool, name this percussion instrument of Peruvian origin that is an important part of flamenco music


4. Name the 17th Century Italian, who is generally credited with the invention of piano

5. What low profile instrument of the brass family is celebrated internationally every year, for the last 30 years on the first Friday of May?

6. What instrument did Dr. Robert Moog invent in 1964?

7. How many strings are there in a Grand Harp used in concerts?

8. The drone and the chanter are important parts of which musical instrument?

9. What musical instrument is celebrated at a world music festival held every 4 years in the German town of Trossingen?

10. Identify this South American wind instrument

Answers to Quiz - 61

1. 100 years ago on August 17, 1908, the first animated film was premiered. Name the film and its maker.

Fantasmagorie, Émile Cohl

2. What commodity does the index Live-ex 100 track?

Wine

3. Name the hormone responsible for stimulation of milk secretion during lactation and uterine contraction during birth, and which is released during orgasm

Oxytocin

4. What term describes the method of purchasing wine 12 – 18 months before it is actually bottled, while still in a barrel?

En primeur

5. Standing next to the grave of the poet John Keats in Rome is that of his painter friend who nursed him during his final months. Name this painter, whose letters are the definitive account of Keats’ final months.

Joseph Severn

6. What movement did Marc Kelly Smith, a construction worker turned poet, create during November 1984 in Chicago?

Poetry Slam, a competition in which poets recite their original work, which is then judged on a numeric scale by pre-selected members of the audience

7. If the hormone Ghrelin increases the appetite, name the hormone that suppresses it

Leptin

8. Name the dining society in London, that took its name after Christopher Cat, the owner of the inn where the diners met, that flourished for a couple of decades beginning 1690 with a strong leaning towards Whig policies.

The Kit-Cat Club

9. Its original name in Arabic is Jabal Tāriq meaning "mountain of Tariq". By what name do we know this place today?

Gibraltar

10. The Orange Revolution happened in Ukraine. Where did the Rose Revolution take place?

Georgia

Quiz - 61

1. 100 years ago this month, on August 17, 1908, the first animated film was premiered. Name the film and its maker.

2. What commodity does the index Live-ex 100 track?

3. Name the hormone responsible for stimulation of milk secretion during lactation and uterine contraction during birth, and which is also released during orgasm

4. What term describes the method of purchasing wine 12 – 18 months before it is actually bottled, while still in a barrel?

5. Standing next to the grave of the poet John Keats in Rome is that of his painter friend who nursed him during his final months. Name this painter, whose letters are the definitive account of Keats’ final months.

6. What movement did Marc Kelly Smith, a construction worker turned poet, create during November 1984 in Chicago?

7. If the hormone Ghrelin increases the appetite, name the hormone that suppresses it

8. Name the dining society in London, that took its name after Christopher Cat, the owner of the inn where the diners met, that flourished for a couple of decades beginning 1690, with a strong leaning towards Whig policies.

9. Its original name in Arabic is Jabal Tāriq meaning "mountain of Tariq". By what name do we know this place today?

10. The Orange Revolution happened in Ukraine. Where did the Rose Revolution take place?

Answers to Quiz - 60

1. Name the French monk of the Dominican order and a close friend of Pierre de Coubertin who coined the slogan of the modern Olympics - Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger).

Henri Didon

2. The distance over which the Marathon was run at the first Olympics in Athens in 1896 was 24.85 miles (40kms). In which Olympics was an extra 2 kms added and why?

1908 London

3. Name the Russian gymnast who holds the record of having won the most number of Olympic medals (18)

Larissa Latynina

4. Where is the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee?

Lausanne, Switzerland

5. What dubious distinction is held by the Swedish modern pentathlete Hans-Gunnar Liljenwal?

The first athlete to be disqualified at the Olympics for drug - 1968 Mexico City

6. What is the ‘Antwerp Ceremony’ held during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games?

The ceremonial handing over of the Olympic flags by the mayor of the city that organized the games to the IOC president who then passes it on to the mayor of the next city that will host the games

QUIZ - 60

1. Name the French monk of the Dominican order and a close friend of Pierre de Coubertin who coined the slogan of the modern Olympics - Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger).

2. The distance over which the Marathon was run at the first Olympics in Athens in 1896 was 24.85 miles (40kms). In which Olympics was an extra 2 kms added and why?

3. Name the Russian gymnast who holds the record of having won the most number of Olympic medals (18)

4. Where is the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee?

5. What dubious distinction is held by the Swedish modern pentathlete Hans-Gunnar Liljenwal?

6. What is the ‘Antwerp Ceremony’ held during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games?

Answers to Quiz - 59

1. What American political action group composed of conservative, fundamentalist Christians was founded in 1979 by evangelist Rev. Jerry Falwell?

Moral Majority

2. What famous German youth movement was started in 1901 in the town of Steglitz?

Wandervogel

3. What is the name given to the biological process of a living organism approaching an advanced age?

Senescence

4. Name the term coined by Dr. Bruce McEwan of Rockefeller University to describe the damage suffered by the human body as it fights and adapts to a stressful environment.

Allostatic Load

5. What are Habstars?

Stars that could set up favorable conditions for life as we know it on Earth

6. What did Alfred Winslow Jones, a sociologist and financial journalist pioneer in 1949?

The world’s first modern Hedge Fund

7. In which sport would you encounter the term En passant?

It is a special capture mode by pawn in the game of chess

8. Name the 15th Century king of Hungary, known often as the ‘raven king’, who is most famous for having built one of the finest libraries

Matthias Corvinus

9. After what fictional character is the famous coffee chain Starbucks named?

Captain Ahab’s first mate in Hermann Melville’s book Moby-Dick

10. Name the largest crater of earth’s moon, which until recently was also believed to be the largest of our solar system

South pole Aitken

QUIZ - 59

1. What American political action group composed of conservative, fundamentalist Christians was founded in 1979 by evangelist Rev. Jerry Falwell?

2. What famous German youth movement was started in 1901 in the town of Steglitz?

3. What is the name given to the biological process of a living organism approaching an advanced age?

4. Name the term coined by Dr. Bruce McEwan of Rockefeller University to describe the damage suffered by the human body as it fights and adapts to a stressful environment.

5. What are Habstars?

6. What did Alfred Winslow Jones, a sociologist and financial journalist pioneer in 1949?

7. In which sport would you encounter the term En passant?

8. Name the 15th Century king of Hungary, known often as the ‘raven king’, who is most famous for having built one of the finest libraries

9. After what fictional character is the famous coffee chain Starbucks named?

10. Name the largest crater of earth’s moon, which until recently was also believed to be the largest of our solar system

Answers to Quiz - 58

1. What term describes a snatch of song or music that keeps playing itself in one’s mind?

Earworm

2. Established in 2000 and referred to as African Booker, what is the annual award for African writing?

The Caine Prize

3. What are aerological days?

Days agreed upon internationally to carry out intensive observation of the earth’s atmsosphere.

4. What parasitic fungus that grows on caterpillars found in certain parts of Nepal is highly prized as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine?

Yarchagumba

5. What style of novel writing actually describes a real-life story thinly disguised as fiction?

Roman à clef

6. What medical term describes the condition of excessive body hair?

Hypertrichosis or Werewolf Syndrome

7. What or who is the Tasmanian Devil

The largest carnivorous marsupial which is found in the wild only in the Australian island state of Tasmania

8. What substance is responsible for the yellow colour of turmeric?

Curcumin

9. What kind of commercial fishing technique uses hundreds of baited hooks strung out on a single line?

Longlining

10. What term in linguistics describes a word or phrase that is borrowed from another language by literal word to word translation?

Calque

QUIZ - 58

1. What term describes a snatch of song or music that keeps playing itself in one’s mind?

2. Established in 2000 and referred to as African Booker, what is the annual award for African writing?

3. What are aerological days?

4. What parasitic fungus that grows on caterpillars found in certain parts of Nepal is highly prized as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine?

5. What style of novel writing actually describes a real-life story thinly disguised as fiction?

6. What medical term describes the condition of excessive body hair?

7. What or who is the Tasmanian Devil

8. What substance is responsible for the yellow colour of turmeric?

9. What kind of commercial fishing technique uses hundreds of baited hooks strung out on a single line?

10. What term in linguistics describes a word or phrase that is borrowed from another language by literal word to word translation?

Answers to Quiz - 57

1. What is the name of the stretch of sea that separates mainland England from the Isle of Wright?

The Solent

2. What term in archaeology and anthropology is used to describe the transition from a nomadic way of life to a permanent settlement?

Sedentism

3. What is the name of the vast depression covering as much as 40% of the surface of Mars, believed to be the largest asteroid impact crater known anywhere in the solar system?

Borealis Basin

4. Who is a pescatarian?

A person who is a vegetarian with the exception of eating fish

5. Which civilization is credited with having created the first known pottery in the world?

Jomon people in Japan, dating back to 14th Century BC

6. What is the name of the new theory developed in 2004 to explain the origin of the planets in our solar system?

Nice Model, after the city of Nice in France, where the scientists met to put forward the theory

7. In honour of whose martyrdom is the bull running ceremony observed in the streets of the Spanish town of Pamplona every July?

Saint Fermin

8. What are Imbrium, Serenitatis, Crisium and Nectaris?

Prominent craters on the moon

9. Name the English intellectual, pamphleteer and inventor who had a great influence on American and French revolutions through such powerful works like Common Sense and Rights of Man.

Thomas Paine

10. What is the name of the former landmass in the North Sea that connected Great Britain and mainland Europe?

Doggerland

QUIZ - 57

1. What is the name of the stretch of sea that separates mainland England from the Isle of Wright?

2. What term in archaeology and anthropology is used to describe the transition from a nomadic way of life to a permanent settlement?

3. What is the name of the vast depression covering as much as 40% of the surface of Mars, believed to be the largest asteroid impact crater known anywhere in the solar system?

4. Who is a pescatarian?

5. Which civilization is credited with having created the first known pottery in the world?

6. What is the name of the new theory developed in 2004 to explain the origin of the planets in our solar system?

7. In honour of whose martyrdom is the bull running ceremony observed in the streets of the Spanish town of Pamplona every July?

8. What are Imbrium, Serenitatis, Crisium and Nectaris?

9. Name the English intellectual, pamphleteer and inventor who had a great influence on American and French revolutions through such powerful works like Common Sense and Rights of Man.

10. What is the name of the former landmass in the North Sea that connected Great Britain and mainland Europe?

Answers to Quiz - 56

1. What term named after a famous American singer-actress describes the phenomenon on the internet when an attempt to remove or block a piece of information backfires and actually increases its popularity?

The Streisand effect

2. What branch of applied chemistry deals with the production of industrial chemicals from agricultural feedstock?

Chemurgy

3. Name the social psychologist who conducted a series of famous experiments on ‘obedience to authority’ at Yale University in 1961-1962, in which ordinary people were found willing to give apparently harmful electric shocks to protesting victims, simply because a scientific authority commanded them to.

Stanley Milgram

4. What endangered animal of New Zealand, resembling a lizard, is often termed as ‘living fossil’?

Tuatara

5. What hallucinogenic substance is derived from certain types of mushrooms called magic mushrooms or shrooms grown in parts of South America and Mexico?

Psilocybin

6. What is the popular name of the 1984 US Law that stimulated the generic drugs industry and gave it considerable clout in patent litigation?

Hatch Waxman Act

7. Name the American tailor who in 1924 invented and patented the necktie as we know it today.

Jesse Langsdorf

8. In which part of Europe is the language Euskara widely spoken?

The Basque province in North-East Spain

9. Name the Hungarian writer who in 1929 proposed in his short story ‘Chains’ the concept of ‘Six Degrees of Separation’, according to which everyone in this world is separated from everyone else by six links.

Frigyes Karinthy

10. What are metabolomes?

The complete set of intermediates and products of the process of metabolism in a living cell.

QUIZ - 56

1. What term named after a famous American singer-actress describes the phenomenon on the internet when an attempt to remove or block a piece of information backfires and actually increases its popularity?

2. What branch of applied chemistry deals with the production of industrial chemicals from agricultural feedstock?

3. Name the social psychologist who conducted a series of famous experiments on ‘obedience to authority’ at Yale University in 1961-1962, in which ordinary people were found willing to give apparently harmful electric shocks to protesting victims, simply because a scientific authority commanded them to.

4. What endangered animal of New Zealand, resembling a lizard, is often termed as ‘living fossil’?

5. What hallucinogenic substance is derived from certain types of mushrooms called magic mushrooms or shrooms grown in parts of South America and Mexico?

6. What is the popular name of the 1984 US Law that stimulated the generic drugs industry and gave it considerable clout in patent litigation?

7. Name the American tailor who in 1924 invented and patented the necktie as we know it today.

8. In which part of Europe is the language Euskara widely spoken?

9. Name the Hungarian writer who in 1929 proposed in his short story ‘Chains’ the concept of ‘Six Degrees of Separation’, according to which everyone in this world is separated from everyone else by six links.

10. What are metabolomes?

Answers to Quiz - 55

1. What term originating from London’s Savile Row, usually applied to a suit is used to describe something that is made exactly to a customer’s specification?

Bespoke

2. Name the behavioural economist who suggested ‘The Endowment Effect’, according to which people place a higher value on objects they own than objects that they do not.

Richard Thaler

3. Robot, introduced and popularized by Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R, is derived from the Czech word robota. What does robota mean in the Czech language?

Labour

4. It is referred to as Contraterrene in Science Fiction. By what name do physicists call it?

Antimatter

5. The site of what cataclysmic event that took place on June 30, 1908 is marked by a totem pole dedicated to Agdy, the God of Thunder?

Tunguska Explosion

6. A sequel continues a story begun in a previous film. A prequel narrates the story prior to that of a previous film. But what is a requel?

A movie with the same subject matter as an earlier film, but not a remake of that film

7. What kind of fear is Scolionophobia?

Fear of schools

8. In what field do you use the term Jansen’s Alpha?

Finance, specifically portfolio management

9. What is the practice of people consuming insects for food known as?

Entomophagy

10. Name the pioneering Rock and Roll musician whose trademark instrument was the rectangular guitar?

Bo Diddley