QUIZ - 121

1)      In which year was the month of July introduced into the calendar?

2)     What term coined by social scientists William Strauss and Neil Howe, describes the generation born after the advent of the Internet?

3)      What is meant by “Golden Set” in tennis?

4)      Who are the parents of Pegasus in Greek mythology?

5)   What is the name of the infamous bodyguards of Roman Emperors that is often synonymous with intrigue, conspiracy, disloyalty and assassination?

6)      What term is used for cars that repeatedly fail to meet quality and performance standards?

7)     What is the more popular name of Kleine-Levin Syndrome, which is characterized by long periods of sleeping, lasting as long as 6 weeks at a time?

8)    What French term is used to describe the process of gradually tilting and inverting Champagne bottles to remove the sediment formed by secondary fermentation?

9)     What is the name given to the materials that simultaneously show ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity?

10)  What is the UK equivalent of John Doe?

Answers to Quiz - 120

1)      There are two months in which the Transit of Venus can occur. One of them is June. What is the other month?

December

2)      What term describes the fear of being without a mobile phone?

Nomophobia

3)      All fundamental particles in nature can be divided into two categories. What are they?

Fermions and Bosons

4)      Besides egg, what main ingredient goes into making the Spanish Omelette?

Potatoes

5)      What consumer product almost universally uses the Bayer Filter?

Digital Camera (Image sensor)

6)      The precursor of today’s TV remote was invented by Eugene Polley in 1955. What was it known as?

Flash-Matic

7)      Vishwanathan Anand recently became the world chess champion for the 5^th time. Whom did he beat in 2000 for his first world championship title?

Alexei Shirov

8)      With which celestial phenomenon is the Black Drop effect associated?

Transit of Venus

9)      What has acquired the reputation of being the Best Bargain in New York City, since it is absolutely free?

Staten Island Ferry

10)  Who is known as the “Father of the Electric Guitar”?

Les Paul

QUIZ - 120

1)      There are two months in which the Transit of Venus can occur. One of them is June. What is the other month?

2)      What term describes the fear of being without a mobile phone?

3)      All fundamental particles in nature can be divided into two categories. What are they?

4)      Besides egg, what main ingredient goes into making the Spanish Omelette?

5)      What consumer product almost universally uses the Bayer Filter?

6)      The precursor of today’s TV remote was invented by Eugene Polley in 1955. What was it known as?

7)      Vishwanathan Anand recently became the world chess champion for the 5^th time. Whom did he beat in 2000 for his first world championship title?

8)      With which celestial phenomenon is the Black Drop effect associated?

9)      What has acquired the reputation of being the Best Bargain in New York City, since it is absolutely free?

10)  Who is known as the “Father of the Electric Guitar”?

Answers to Quiz - 119

1)      What is the name of the Goddess revered as Mother Earth by the people of Andes?

Pachamama

2)      Who composed the 12 “London Symphonies” between 1791 and 1795?

Joseph Hadyn

3)      Who holds the second highest batting average of 71.64 in first class cricket, behind that only of Don Bradman?

Vijay Merchant 

4)      What are the terms Christmas Puddings, Yule Logs, Parsnips and Candles used to describe?

The build of male bodies

5)      What annual event is described as the “Woodstock of Capitalism”?

Shareholders meeting of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway

6)      Who coined the feminist slogan – A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle?

Irina Dunn, Australian writer and Senator

7)      With which country would you associate the martial art of Angampora?

Sri Lanka

8)      In which gadget would you see the “Four Thirds System” being used as a standard?

Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) Camera

9)      Name the French inventor who first patented the idea for today’s Smart Card

Roland Moreno

10)  By what popular term is Perigee – Syzygy of the Earth – Moon system known?

Supermoon

QUIZ - 119

1)      What is the name of the Goddess revered as Mother Earth by the people of Andes?

2)      Who composed the 12 “London Symphonies” between 1791 and 1795?

 

3)    Who holds the second highest batting average of 71.64 in first class cricket, behind that only of Don Bradman?

4)      What are the terms Christmas Puddings, Yule Logs, Parsnips and Candles used to describe?

5)      What annual event is described as the “Woodstock of Capitalism”?

6)      Who coined the feminist slogan – A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle?

7)      With which country would you associate the martial art of Angampora?

8)      In which gadget would you see the “Four Thirds System” being used as a standard?

9)      Name the French inventor who first patented the idea for today’s Smart Card

10)  By what popular term is Perigee – Syzygy of the Earth – Moon system known?

Answers to Quiz - 118

1)      Name the shipyard in Belfast where RMS Titanic was built from 1909 to 1911

Harland and Wolff

2)      Which company owned RMS Titanic?

White Star Line

3)      Name the ocean liner, whose revised design served as the basis for Titanic’s construction.

Olympic

4)      How many decks did the Titanic have?

Eleven

5)      Name the captain of RMS Titanic, who went down with the ship and whose body was never found. His reportedly famous last words to the crew – Be British - are inscribed on a plaque at his memorial statue in Staffordshire, England.

Edward John Smith

6)      RMS Titanic set off on her maiden voyage from Southampton. What was the last port at which she called before the disaster?

Queenstown, Ireland 

7)      Name the wireless operator of SS Californian, who sent out warning messages about icebergs, but   was asked to shut up by the operator of Titanic.

Cyril Evans

8)      Which ship picked up 710 survivors from the lifeboats?

RMS Carpathia

9)      When was Titanic’s wreck discovered?

1^st September 1985

10)  The most heroic act in the Titanic saga was played by out by the live band by keeping on playing even as the ship was sinking. Name the much celebrated band leader.

Wallace Hartley

QUIZ - 118

Today is the centenary of the sinking of RMS Titanic,  Here are ten questions about one of the biggest
peacetime disaster in maritime history.

1)      Name the shipyard in Belfast where RMS Titanic was built from 1909 to 1911

 

2)      Which company owned RMS Titanic?

 

3)      Name the ocean liner, whose revised design served as the basis for Titanic’s construction.

4)      How many decks did the Titanic have?

5)     Name the captain of RMS Titanic, who went down with the ship and whose body was never found. His reportedly famous last words to the crew – Be British - are inscribed on a plaque at his memorial statue in Staffordshire, England.

 

6)      RMS Titanic set off on her maiden voyage from Southampton. What was the last port at which she called before the disaster?

7)    Name the wireless operator of SS Californian, who sent out warning messages about icebergs, but was asked to shut up by the operator of Titanic.

 

8)      Which ship picked up 710 survivors from the lifeboats?

 

9)      When was Titanic’s wreck discovered?

10)  The most heroic act in the Titanic saga was played by out by the live band by keeping on playing even as the ship was sinking. Name the much celebrated band leader.

 

Answers to Quiz - 117

I am sure answers are not needed for this Quiz. I hope the questions were more interesting than the answers.

1) Under what label did Venus Williams launch her clothing line in 2007?

EleVEN

2) How many vows did Mahatma Gandhi prescribe for a life in the Ashram?

Eleven

3) A Dodecagon has 12 sides. How many sides does a Hendecagon have?

Eleven

4) The magnetic activity of the Sun is determined by the number of sunspots which increase and decrease in an irregular cycle. How many years are there in an average sunspot cycle?

Eleven

5) The Canadian dollar is popularly known as “Loonie”. A unique feature of the “Loonie” is its unusual shape. How many sides are there in this coin?

Eleven

6) How many days were dropped from September 1752 to switch from Julian to Gregorian calendar?

Eleven

7) Ben-Hur, Titanic and Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King share the record for the film to win the most number of Oscars. How many Oscars did they each win?

Eleven

8) What is the name of the 2006 novel by David Llewellyn that it is written entirely in the form of emails?

Eleven

9) How many chemical elements are gases at room temperature?

Eleven

10) If you get traditional gifts in steel, what anniversary are you celebrating?

Eleventh

11) How many forms does Shiva have?

Eleven (Rudras)

QUIZ - 117

11 questions to commemorate 11.11.11

1) Under what label did Venus Williams launch her clothing line in 2007?

2) How many vows did Mahatma Gandhi prescribe for a life in the Ashram?

3) A Dodecagon has 12 sides. How many sides does a Hendecagon have?

4) The magnetic activity of the Sun is determined by the number of sunspots which increase and decrease in an irregular cycle. How many years are there in an average sunspot cycle?

5) The Canadian dollar is popularly known as “Loonie”. A unique feature of the “Loonie” is its unusual shape. How many sides are there in this coin?

6) How many days were dropped from September 1752 to switch from Julian to Gregorian calendar?

7) Ben-Hur, Titanic and Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King share the record for the film to win the most number of Oscars. How many Oscars did they each win?

8) What is the name of the 2006 novel by David Llewellyn that it is written entirely in the form of emails?

9) How many chemical elements are gases at room temperature?

10) If you get traditional gifts in steel, what anniversary are you celebrating?

11) How many forms does Shiva have?

Answers to Quiz - 116

1) What is the codename for the illicit homemade alcohol in the Arabian countries?

Siddique or Siddiqui

2) People of which South American city are known as “Chapacos”.

Tarija, Bolivia

3) What is the name of the psychological phenomenon in which some people see images of animals or faces in clouds

Pareidolia

4) What are Ajwah, Safawi, Khudri and Mabroom?

Popular dates from Saudi Arabia

5) Which South American city was appointed as the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in August 2005?

Popayan, Colombia

6) What light sensitive proteins in the eye are responsible for internal biological clocks and sensing magnetic fields?

Cryptochromes

7) Who invented photocopying in 1938?

Chester Carlson

8) What is the name of the salad that originated in Provence, France and is made up of an assortment of leaves?

Mesclun

9) Which was the first band to file a lawsuit against Napster for music piracy in April 2000?

Metallica

10) Which company now owns the Dulux brand of paints having acquired it from ICI?

Akzo Nobel

QUIZ - 116

1) What is the codename for the illicit homemade alcohol in the Arabian countries?

2) People of which South American city are known as “Chapacos”.

3) What is the name of the psychological phenomenon in which some people see images of animals or faces in clouds

4) What are Ajwah, Safawi, Khudri and Mabroom?

5) Which South American city was appointed as the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in August 2005?

6) What light sensitive proteins in the eye are responsible for internal biological clocks and sensing magnetic fields?

7) Who invented photocopying in 1938?

8) What is the name of the salad that originated in Provence, France and is made up of an assortment of leaves?

9) Which was the first band to file a lawsuit against Napster for music piracy in April 2000?

10) Which company now owns the Dulux brand of paints having acquired it from ICI?

Answers to Shammi Kapoor Quiz

1) Name Shammi Kapoor’s debut film released in 1953 and its director.

Jeevan Jyoti, Mahesh Kaul

2) Name the only film to fetch him the Filmfare Best Actor Award

Brahmachari

3) YAHOO has been immortalized in the famous song from the 1961 film Junglee. But the word was shouted neither by Shammi Kapoor nor Mohammad Rafi. Whose voice was it?

Prayag Raj

4) Name the two actresses with whom Shammi Kapoor was paired in maximum number (4) of films

Asha Parekh and Sadhana

5) Saira Banu made her debut with Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film Junglee, 13 years later he played her father. Name the film.

Zameer

6) Name the 1974 film which was the first directorial effort of Shammi Kapoor.

Manoranjan

7) Name the two films in which his first wife, Geeta Bali was his co-star.

Miss Coca Cola and Coffee House

8) Shammi Kapoor essayed double role twice in his career. One was the well known China Town (1962). Name the other lesser known film.

Chhote Sarkar (1974)

9) What is special about the song “Chandni ki paalki mein baith kar koi aanewala hain” from his first film?

He himself sings the last 2 lines in this duet with Asha Bhosle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCBVVj9xWaU&feature=related

10) The legendary Kishore Kumar sung just one song for Shammi Kapoor. Name the song and the film.

Saat Saheliyan Khadi Khadi from Vidhaata. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=howtmM1YzTg

Answers to Independence Day Quiz

1) What is the official duration of the our National Anthem? 

52 Seconds

2) From which Upanishad is our National Motto “Satyameva Jayate” extracted? 

Mundaka Upanishad

3) From where is the design of the central wheel on our National Flag borrowed? What is it called? 

Asoka's Lion Capital at Sarnath. Dharma Chakra (Wheel of the Law)

4) Who was the Prime Minister of England when India got her independence? 

Clement Atlee

5) When was the new Rupee sign adopted by Government of India and who was its designer? 

15th July 2010, Udaya Kumar

6) What is the scientific name of our National Tree? 

Ficus bengalensis

7) Who designed our National Flag? 

Pingali Venkayya 

8) When was the Indian Constitution officially adopted? 

26th November 1949 

9) Which day was observed as “Purna Swaraj Day” (Complete Independence Day)? 

26th January 1930

10) Rabindranath Tagore wrote the lyrics of our National Anthem, but who composed its music? 

Also Rabindranath Tagore

The Shammi Kapoor Special

Shammi Kapoor, one of the most flamboyant Bollywood actor passed away yesterday. This quiz is my humble tribute to the man who gave me such joy through his mad capers.

1) Name Shammi Kapoor’s debut film released in 1953 and its director

2) Name the only film to fetch him the Filmfare Best Actor Award

3) YAHOO has been immortalized in the famous song from the 1961 film Junglee. But the word was shouted neither by Shammi Kapoor nor Mohammad Rafi. Whose voice was it?

4) Name the two actresses with whom Shammi Kapoor was paired in maximum number (4) of films.

5) Saira Banu made her debut with Shammi Kapoor in the 1961 film Junglee, 13 years later he played her father. Name the film.

6) Name the 1974 film which was the first directorial effort of Shammi Kapoor.

7) Name the two films in which his first wife, Geeta Bali was his co-star.

8) Shammi Kapoor essayed double role twice in his career. One was the well known China Town (1962). Name the other lesser known film.

9) What is special about the song “Chandni ki paalki mein baith kar koi aanewala hain” from his first film?

10) The legendary Kishore Kumar sung just one song for Shammi Kapoor. Name the song and the film.

Independence Day Special

On the occasion of 65th Independence Day, here are 10 questions to test your knowledge of our country. Some of them are really easy, school textbook stuff. Happy Independence Day! Happy Quizzing!

1) What is the official duration of our National Anthem?

2) From which Upanishad is our National Motto “Satyameva Jayate” extracted?

3) From where is the design of the central wheel on our National Flag borrowed? What is it called?

4) Who was the Prime Minister of England when India got her independence?

5) When was the new Rupee sign adopted by Government of India and who was its designer?

6) What is the scientific name of our National Tree?

7) Who designed our National Flag?

8) When was the Indian Constitution officially adopted?

9) Which day was observed as “Purna Swaraj Day” (Complete Independence Day)?

10) Rabindranath Tagore wrote the lyrics of our National Anthem, but who composed its music?

Answers to Quiz - 113

1) What term was coined in 1979 by the astrologer Richard Nolle for an article in Dell Publishing Company's HOROSCOPE magazine?

Supermoon

2) What is the term for several large dark plains on the surface of the moon? Galileo thought they were seas when he first saw them through a telescope.

Maria

3) Who is the only person to have his ashes scattered on the lunar surface?

Dr. Eugene Shoemaker, the Geological Surveyor, who educated the Apollo mission astronauts about craters

4) Who is the last man to walk on the moon?

Eugene Cernan, Commander of Apollo 17

5) What is the tallest mountain on the moon?

Mons Huygens, named after the astronomer Christian Huygens

6) If the Harvest Moon is seen in September, in which month would you see the Wolf Moon?

January

7) What word borrowed from German language describes a long narrow valley on the lunar surface?

Rille

8) In the Aztec culture, the sister of Sun God Huitzilopochtli is the Goddess of Moon. Name her.

Coyolxauhqui

9) What term describes the sudden flashes of light, darkenings, colourations and floating mists observed on the surface of the Moon?

Transient Lunar Phenomena

10) What term describes the irregular oscillations of the moon, because of which we are able to see more than half of the lunar surface?

Librations

QUIZ - 113

Ten questions about the Moon, following yesterday's once in 18 year "Supermoon" phenomenon, when the perigee coincides with full moon.

1) What term was coined in 1979 by the astrologer Richard Nolle for an article in Dell Publishing Company's HOROSCOPE magazine?

2) What is the term for several large dark plains on the surface of the moon? Galileo thought they were seas when he first saw them through a telescope.

3) Who is the only person to have his ashes scattered on the lunar surface?

4) Who is the last man to walk on the moon?

5) What is the tallest mountain on the moon?

6) If the Harvest Moon is seen in September, in which month would you see the Wolf Moon?

7) What word borrowed from German language describes a long narrow valley on the lunar surface?

8) In the Aztec culture, the sister of Sun God Huitzilopochtli is the Goddess of Moon. Name her.

9) What term describes the sudden flashes of light, darkenings, colourations and floating mists observed on the surface of the Moon?

10) What term describes the irregular oscillations of the moon, because of which we are able to see more than half of the lunar surface?

Answers to Quiz - 112

1) What is common to Ela Bhatt, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Mahasweta Devi and Aruna Roy?

All are Magsaysay award winners. Ela Bhatt (1977) Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (1966), Mahasweta Devi (1997) and Aruna Roy (2000)

2) What is the title of P T Usha’s autobiography?

Golden Girl

3) The first lady governor of a state in India was Sarojini Naidu, in Uttar Pradesh (1947-48). Who was the first lady Chief Minister of an Indian state?

Sucheta Kriplani (Uttar Pradesh from 1963-1967)

4) What is common to the film stars – Nargis, Nutan, Meenakumari and Madhubala?

Postage stamps have been issued on them

5) Koneru Humpy once held the record for becoming the youngest woman ever to become a Grandmaster in chess. At what age did she achieve this distinction?

15 years, 1 month and 27 days

6) Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary award was awarded to Indira Goswami for the year
2000. In what language does she write?

Assamese

7) India’s first test tube baby is a girl nicknamed Durga. What is her real name?

Kanupriya

8) Name the social activist who is known for her work among orphan children and whose life has inspired a recent acclaimed Marathi film?

Sindhutai Sapkal

9) She is believed to be the first woman doctor of India and also the first Indian woman to leave the country for education abroad. Name this amazing woman who died in 1887 at the age of 22.

Dr. Anandibai Joshi

10) Name the only woman CEO of Indian origin who figured in last year’s Fortune 500 list?

Indira Nooyi

QUIZ - 112

Ten questions to mark International Women's Day. I had submitted these questions for The 4th Annual Prajnya Intercollegiate Quiz

1) What is common to Ela Bhatt, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Mahasweta Devi and Aruna Roy?

2) What is the title of P T Usha’s autobiography?

3) The first lady governor of a state in India was Sarojini Naidu, in Uttar Pradesh (1947-48). Who was the first lady Chief Minister of an Indian state?

4) What is common to the film stars – Nargis, Nutan, Meenakumari and Madhubala?

5) Koneru Humpy once held the record for becoming the youngest woman ever to become a Grandmaster in chess. At what age did she achieve this distinction?

6) Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary award was awarded to Indira Goswami for the year 2000. In what language does she write?

7) India’s first test tube baby is a girl nicknamed Durga. What is her real name?

8) Name the social activist who is known for her work among orphan children and whose life has inspired a recent acclaimed Marathi film?

9) She is believed to be the first woman doctor of India and also the first Indian woman to leave the country for education abroad. Name this amazing woman who died in 1887 at the age of 22.

10) Name the only woman CEO of Indian origin who figured in last year’s Fortune 500 list?

Answers to Quiz - 111

1) Name the Texan city that has been immortalized in management literature about communication and decision making in groups.

Abilene

2) Name the former top cop of New York City Police whose work is often held up as the finest example of “Tipping Point Leadership”

William J Bratton

3) Who coined the concept of “Level Five Leadership” in his celebrated book “Good to Great”?

Jim Collins

4) What does the Thomas – Kilmann instrument used to assess in a manager?

Conflict Resolution Style

5) Who proposed the Forming – Storming – Norming – Performing model of Group Development in 1965?

Dr. Bruce Tuckman

6) What term describes the phenomenon of self-fulfilling prophecy in which greater the expectations placed on students or employees, better they perform?

Pygmalion Effect

7) Who coined the term “Matrix Organization” to describe the modern organization with complex multiple reporting structure?

Jack Welch

8) Name the author of the best selling book “Drive” that explores the concept of human motivation.

Daniel Pink

9) What does the Gallup Q12 survey measure?

Employee engagement in an organization

10) Name the CEO of Johnson & Johnson who steered the company out of its 1982 Tylenol crisis with his famous ethical decision making.

James Burke