The preliminary round of the General Quiz conducted at Ashoka University by Pramod Emjay, Young India Fellow.

1. QUIZ
W H AT W E R E Y O U E X P E C T I N G ?

2. I M P O RTA N T
N U M B E R S
• 25 questions
• Top 6 in the finals
• 42 is not the answer to any
question

3. 1
John Ronald Reuel was an
Englishman who served in
WW1 and was a professor
from 1925-1959. He was a
devout Roman Catholic and
was a member of the literary
discussion group known as
the Inklings.
He applied the term
legendarium to the larger
part of his work, the majority
of which was published in
1954-55 in addition to a 1937
work.
Identify the two works.

4. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

5. A N S W E R
The Lord of the Rings
And
The Hobbit
By J R R Tolkien

6. 2
One of the most famous nicknames given to X is budha sadhu. Various artists
have credited X with helping derive inspiration for their works.
X, in a particular category, has been the biggest brand for many years in India. X
is usually sold in 5 size variants and has been awarded gold medals at the Monde
World Selections since 1982.
What is X?

7. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

8. A N S W E R

9. 3
The 787 dreamliner, developed by Boeing at a cost of $32bn, was meant to
make their profits soar as it was one of the most fuel efficient planes developed
and was the first to use composite materials for the airframe. However, various
electronic glitches led to grounding of the entire fleet.
Simple question, on what date in 2007 was it unveiled to the public?

10. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

11. A N S W E R
July 8, 2007
Or
7/8/7
(stupid Americans…)

12. 4
Poster, obviously.
Which famous painting did it
supposedly take inspiration
from?

13. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

14. A N S W E R

15. 5
The Shulton Company,
original producer of X, was
founded in 1934 by William
Lightfoot Schultz. The first X
product, for women, was
introduced in 1937. ID X,
whose popular ad campaign
a few years back was
parodied by The Sun:

16. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

17. A N S W E R

18. 6
Paul Shawcross, the Chief of
the Science and Space
Branch at the White House
Office of Management and
Budget rejected a petition
asking for what?

19. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

20. A N S W E R

21. 7
The Yaksha and the Yakshini
represent mythical beings
attendant on the god Kuber.
They are alluded to as
guardians of wealth in
literature. The sculptures were
executed by Ramkinkar Baij
of Shantiniketan.
What building is pictured?

22. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

23. A N S W E R

24. 8
Painting by Picasso.
What is it called?
The bombing of which town is
depicted?

26. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

27. A N S W E R
Guernica
Guernica

28. 9
Still from a 1969 movie.
Whose family crest is this?

30. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

31. A N S W E R

32. 10
Unlike what is popularly believed today, there was nothing sudden about X.
When it arrived in a city, the first step was the Edict of Grace. Following the
Sunday mass, the head would proceed to read the edict; it explained possible
heresies and encouraged all the congregation to come to the tribunals of the X
to "relieve their consciences". They were called Edicts of Grace because all of
the self-incriminated who presented themselves within a period of grace (usually
ranging from thirty to forty days) were offered the possibility of reconciliation with
the Church without severe punishment.
The promise of benevolence was effective, and many voluntarily presented
themselves to the X and were often encouraged to denounce others who had
also committed offenses, informants being the X's primary source of information.
After about 1500, the Edicts of Grace were replaced by the Edicts of Faith, which
left out the grace period and instead encouraged the denunciation of those
guilty.
X?

33. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

34. A N S W E R

35. 1 1
X is a Latin poem written
early in the 13th century, part
of the Carmina Burana. The
poem achieved infamy once
set to epic music by German
composer Carl Orff. Although
it sounds awesome, it is
basically a song where a
student complains about
fate and bad luck. It has
been used in various ad
campaigns, including [vid].
Identify the original
poem/song.

36. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

37. A N S W E R
O Fortuna

38. 12
X (1746 – 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker regarded both as the last of the
Old Masters and the first of the moderns.
At the age of 73, and having survived two life-threatening illnesses, X was likely to have been
concerned with his own mortality, and was increasingly embittered by the civil strife occurring
in Spain. Although he initially decorated the rooms of the house with more inspiring images, in
time he replaced them all with the intense haunting pictures known today as the Black
Paintings.
One of these Black Paintings was Y, a disturbing portrait depicting a Roman/Greek myth which
spoke of Kronos being overthrown by his son just as he had overthrown his father. Y was put up
in X's dining room.
Give X and Y.

39. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

40. A N S W E R
Goya
Saturn devouring his son

41. 13
Simple question: What was the title of Queen's Live concert in Budapest in 1986?

42. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

43. A N S W E R
Hungarian Rhapsody

44. 1 4
Name her son.

45. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

46. A N S W E R

47. 1 5
One of 21 known surviving full
copies of what?

48. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

49. A N S W E R
The Gutenberg bible

50. 16
X quit his job as a reporter in 2012 to become an online blogger. The stated
reason was that he had become tired of the showbiz stories and weak journalism
that dominated media.
X also made news in April 2011 when he renounced his U.S. citizenship. He felt
that the world was too small and connected. This followed a journey where he
walked across the USA, and admitted that he was tired of having his actions
construed as instruments of government policy.
ID X.

51. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

52. A N S W E R

53. 1 7
Nan Wood and dentist Byron
McKeeby.
What is blanked out?

54. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

55. A N S W E R

56. 18
New Moore island was located in the coastal, shallow Bay of Bengal immediately south of the
international border river, the Hariabhanga, flowing between Satkhira district of Bangladesh
and the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India, at 21°37′00″N 89°08′30″E.
The island was claimed by both Bangladesh and India, although neither country established
any permanent settlement there because of the island's geological instability based on silt
deposits in a delta which floods every year.
Bangladeshi government claimed, as during Ziaur Rahman's visit to India in late 1970s, that
data provided clearly showed the main current flow on the western side of the island's
location, thus favoring Bangladesh. India had reportedly hoisted the Indian flag on the island
in 1981 and established a temporary base of Border Security Forces (BSF), regularly visiting
with naval gunships.
In March 2010, the issue was finally resolved. How?

57. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

58. A N S W E R
The island submerged in the
floods.

59. 19
One of the most famous spoken lines in history is believed to have a contradiction due to
the letter ‘a’ being missed out. What was supposed to be a grand statement comparing
the actions of an individual as a reflection of the many was reduced to a redundant
sentence.
The speaker once said, “[I] would hope that history would grant me leeway for dropping
the syllable and understand that it was certainly intended, even if it was not said —
although it might actually have been".”
Who, and what is he/she talking about?

60. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

61. A N S W E R
“One small step for [a] man…”

62. 20
X was a corporation set up soon after the defeat of the Spanish armada. A group of
merchants raised around £60,000 to set it up and the company of merchants was
formally recognized under George, Earl of Cumberland.
The company eventually broke down and only remained as a small coffee and tea
trading arm. Eventually, it was bought in 2005 by an Indian businessman called Sanjiv
Mehta who wanted it to market luxury foods.
Which company? [pics on next slide]

64. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

65. A N S W E R
British East India Company

66. 21
Dihydrogen Monoxide or DHMO is a somewhat dangerous substance. It:
is called "hydroxyl acid", the substance is the major component of acid rain.
contributes to the "greenhouse effect".
may cause severe burns.
is fatal if inhaled.
may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.
Despite the danger, DHMO is often used:
as an industrial solvent and coolant.
in nuclear power plants.
in the production of Styrofoam.
as a fire retardant.
in many forms of cruel animal research.
in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.
Despite all these problems, there are no attempts to control the availability of the chemical, which has often been the cause of disputes in South India. How do
we know DHMO better?

67. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

68. A N S W E R

69. 22
Government organisations and committees love neat little contractions and abbreviations
that remind us all of their Indian-ness.
Like the Society for Integrated Circuit Tech and Applied Research (SITAR) and the Atal
Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
Along these lines, what would be a nice Hindi acronym for Professional Examination
Board?

70. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

71. A N S W E R

72. 23
There are multiple theories to explain how the events of X came about. A,
B, C, D, E are the main people from X.
One theory is that A was a Vietnam draft-dodger, and wanted to be with
his girlfriend B. However, their parents wouldn't let teenagers drive around
the country. So, he paints his van and forms a 'team' with C being the legit
face of the group. C, the nerdy kid, was delighted to be part of the team.
Realising that disappearing for long durations with B would make C feel
like a third wheel, they got D and E to join them. D is A's childhood stoner
buddy and doesn't really care about anything. He brings his pet E along to
keep him company.
Evidence for this theory stems from A & B often disappearing to look for
clues privately, and D & E disappear and come back with a huge appetite.
C, being the actual brains of the team, does most of the work.
What is X?

73. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

74. A N S W E R

75. 24
X was born under a double rainbow, and stopped a blizzard as a baby by raising his
hand.
X's father is believed, by some, to have invented the hamburger.
Recently, a unicorn lair was reported to have been found - the unicorn was once ridden
by X's ancestor, King Dongmyeong, who was born from an egg impregnated by sunlight.
X studied in Switzerland and is addicted to Swiss cheese. He loves basketball and is a
close friend of Dennis Rodman.
X's half-brother was supposed to take their father's place but he was disowned after
attempting to visit Disneyland.
Who is X?

76. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

77. A N S W E R

78. 25
X and Y are half-sisters.
X began studying under her father at the age of 7, and had her first public performance, at
Siri Fort, at 13.
X was the opening act at the 2002 Concert for George, a posthumous tribute to George
Harrison. X was the principal performer in the Indian segment, and the concert was modelled
after her father's Concert for Bangladesh with Harrison.
Y has won 9 Grammies and Billboard named her the top jazz artist of the 2000-2009
decade. Y also has numerous collaborations: with Green Day, Foo Fighters, John Mayer,
Seth McFarlane and, of course, X. She was also nominated for an Oscar with McFarlane on
his movie Ted.
Who are X and y?

79. Oh noes, the answers are
coming :O

80. A N S W E R