1. ARTHA : THE SCI BIZ TECH
QUIZ
Tathva 2016
Sunday, 23 October 2016
NIT Calicut
2. RULES AND REGULATIONS
We will have a 20 question prelim, of which the highest scoring six
teams will qualify for the finals.
Questions 15-20 are starred and will be used to break a tie in the
event of one.
If two teams have the same points and have answered the same
number of starred questions, then we will follow a policy of sudden
death : the team which is the first to get a starred question wrong
from 15-20 will be eliminated.
Make some noise if you need any clues!
Please refrain from using any unfair methods.
4. 1.
Easy one to start proceedings today.
Just tell me what is unique about the video.
Video follows in the next slide.
5.
6. 2.
Around a week ago, Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto V for the PC
got a rather amusing piece of user created content or mod, as it is
commonly known, which turns the game’s sticky bomb into a X. An
amusing addition to a game that is known to parody real-life
scenarios, the mod became hugely popular and a video of it found it’s
way to YouTube.
However, a few days back, the company that manufactures X issued a
DMCA takedown for the video showing off the mod. Since X was
launched earlier this year, shares of it’s manufacturer have tanked to
all-time lows and has resulted in a lot of negative publicity,
prompting such a reaction.
What is X?
7. 3.
In wrestling, if the coach wants to challenge the decision of the
referee he throws a towel onto the ring. In the recently concluded
2016 Olympics at Rio, the coach was given something else to
challenge the decision. What?
Hint : A brilliant example of marketing. Why else would this be on a
Sci Biz Tech quiz?
10. 5.
As the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, the commonwealth,
and certain other countries, Queen Elizabeth II enjoys a number of
perks not bestowed upon any of her subjects. She is immune from
any criminal prosecution, she owns all the dolphins, sturgeons and
whales in British waters and most importantly, she does not need a
passport to travel abroad, unlike most other diplomats or Heads of
States.
The reason lies in a particular quip in how British passports are made.
If you open up a British passport and turn to the first page, you will
encounter a message, which explains why the reigning monarch does
not need a passport to travel abroad.
What is the message? Funda will do.
11. 6.
Barry Charles Diller (born February 2, 1942) is an American
businessman, who currently serves as the Chairman and Senior
Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and Expedia, Inc. and the media
executive responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company
and USA Broadcasting.
Which villain in the world of cartoons is inspired from this gentleman?
Image in the next slide.
12.
13. 7.
So who hired a failed GRE
aspirant to head their PR
division?
14. 8.
One of the darkest chapters in modern history took place between
November and December 1979 when extremist insurgents calling for
the overthrow of the House of Saud took over the Masjid-al-Haram in
Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The seizure of Islam's holiest site, the taking of
hostages from among the worshipers, and the deaths of hundreds of
militants, security forces and hostages caught in crossfire in the
ensuing battles for control of the site, all shocked the Islamic world.
Being one of the holiest sites of Islam, it is forbidden for blood to be
spilt at the mosque, and the Pakistani Army, who were supporting the
Saudis in regaining control of the mosque, suggested an alternative
method to terminate the terrorists harboured in the mosque without
blood spill and gunfire.
Though ultimately rejected, what was the method proposed by the
Pakistani Army?
15. 9.
X was a mysterious campaign that happened towards the end of
September, 2016. The campaign, whose origins are still unknown,
wanted to change the perception of the commuter as an curmudgeon
by encouraging passengers to chat. Badges emblazoned with X were
distributed to users of the commuter network, much to the horror
and dismay of regular users.
X?
Image on the next slide.
16.
17. 10.
For many people the world over, a bowl of X is their go-to breakfast
of choice. But X, who first created the meal in the late 19th century,
originally intended it to be a ‘healthy, ready-to-eat anti-masturbatory
morning meal.’ The creator, a physician, was uncomfortable about
sex, believing it was unhealthy for the body, mind and soul, and
created X while he was working at Battle Creek Sanitarium in
Michigan.
What is X?
18. 11.
Easy question to appease the geeks in the crowd.
NVIDIA recently showcased a different approach to self-driving, by
using a deep learning approach, by providing its autonomous system
with real-world data from human drivers and letting it to learn how to
drive on its own - like a supercharged, AI-powered teenager getting
behind the wheel using only their experience of being a passenger to
guide them.
Adorably named X, the project is a homage to Star Wars’ X, an
astromech droid .
What is X?
19. 12.
The Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304 / Airlander 10 is a hybrid airship
designed and manufactured by the UK company Hybrid Air Vehicles
(HAV). Comprising an airship with auxiliary wing and tail surfaces, it
flies using both aerostatic and aerodynamic lift. Powered by four
diesel-engine driven ducted propellers, it is the largest aircraft flying
today.
Originally built for the United States Army's Long Endurance Multi-
intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) programme, HAV reacquired the craft
following the project cancellation and brought it back to RAF
Cardington in England. It was reassembled and modified for civilian
use, and in this form was re-designated the Airlander 10, returning
to the air in August 2016.
Looking at the picture, tell me what amusing nickname does this
beast have?
20.
21. 13.
Fight Club is a 1999 motion picture by David Fincher based on the
1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club is,
among other things, a blatant stab at the way in which consumerism
has taken over our lives. Much of the movie’s runtime is dedicated to
analysing the idea that we’re being duped by giant corporations,
which is presumably why director David Fincher decided to include a
X coffee cup in every single scene in the movie. I’m not kidding. In
every scene in Fight Club, there’s a X hidden somewhere – you just
have to be bothered to look.
Easy points. Give me X.
22. 14.
The Anti X Party is a Swiss political party dedicated to decreasing
professional use of X, which the party claims "causes national-
economic damage amounting to 2.1 billion CHF" and lowers the
quality of business in "95 % of the cases". The party advocates flip
charts as an alternative to X.
What are we talking about/what does the party want to restrict?
23. 15*.
Earlier this week, DNA researchers revealed that Ice Age cave artists
recorded a previously unknown hybrid species of cattle and bison in
great detail on cave walls more than 15,000 years ago.
The mystery species, known affectionately as X Boson because of it’s
elusive nature, originated over 120,000 years ago through the
hybridisation of the extinct Aurochs (the ancestor of modern cattle)
and the Ice Age Steppe Bison, which ranged across the cold
grasslands from Europe to Mexico.
Give me the name of the species.
24. 16*.
Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Oysho are some
of it’s other famous retail brands. The group’s flagship brand
originally got it’s name from a 1946 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, the
cover of which is shown in the next slide, before settling on its
current name. The founder and chairman of the group is currently the
richest person in Europe, and has a fortune of $77.2bn in his name.
Image on the next slide.
25.
26. 17*.
The ornament consists of three main things: Firstly, it contains a
magnolia blossom (indicated with the pink part), secondly we can find
a stylised version of the typical salutation “Wai”, if you rotate the logo
90 degrees in a clock-wise direction and as a third it represents the
characteristically pitched roofs. All that put into one with the colours
of gold, standing for the temples, the purple representing the tropical
orchids as well as the country’s silk’s glamor makes up for a true
piece of art!’
What am I describing here?
27. 18*.
X Pier is a pier located on the waterfront of Sai Wan, Hong Kong. X is
well known by the public because of its clear view of Victoria Harbour.
At X Pier, you can take thousand of pictures there with the view of
Hong Kong. After a shower, the floor will have a thick layer of water.
The water reflects a person’s shadow. The stunning sunset sets off a
phenomenon known as the Mirror In The Sky, and has turned out to
be extremely popular among photographers.
What is X?
28. 19*.
Earlier this year, North Korea unveiled a set-top box that offers video
on demand services similar to X. The service is called Y, which
translates to ‘everywhere’ in Korean, and allows consumers to stream
documentaries about Kim Jong Un and other educational programs,
as well as five live TV channels.
X, a streaming video pioneer, did not take the launch lightly and
responded to the launch by changing its Twitter bio to read : Y
knockoff.
Give me X and Y. Part points on offer.
29. 20*.
Computer accessory company Twelve South recently launched a
candle that smells like a freshly unboxed X. For just $24, you can
enjoy a hand-poured, 100 percent soy wax candle with scents of
mint, peach, basil, lavender, mandarin and sage.
Looking at the pictures, tell me what X is?
36. 2.
Around a week ago, Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto V for the PC
got a rather amusing piece of user created content or mod, as it is
commonly known, which turns the game’s sticky bomb into a X. An
amusing addition to a game that is known to parody real-life
scenarios, the mod became hugely popular and a video of it found it’s
way to YouTube.
However, a few days back, the company that manufactures X issued a
DMCA takedown for the video showing off the mod. Since X was
launched earlier this year, shares of it’s manufacturer have tanked to
all-time lows and has resulted in a lot of negative publicity,
prompting such a reaction.
What is X?
38. 3.
In wrestling, if the coach wants to challenge the decision of the
referee he throws a towel onto the ring. In the recently concluded
2016 Olympics at Rio, the coach was given something else to
challenge the decision. What?
Hint : A brilliant example of marketing. Why else would this be on a
Sci Biz Tech quiz?
39. ANSWER
They used stuffed
animal versions of
the 2016 Rio
Olympics mascot,
Vinicius as a
challenge flag and
threw them into
the ring to
challenge a
decision by the
referee.
43. 5.
As the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, the commonwealth,
and certain other countries, Queen Elizabeth II enjoys a number of
perks not bestowed upon any of her subjects. She is immune from
any criminal prosecution, she owns all the dolphins, sturgeons and
whales in British waters and most importantly, she does not need a
passport to travel abroad, unlike most other diplomats or Heads of
States.
The reason lies in a particular quip in how British passports are made.
If you open up a British passport and turn to the first page, you will
encounter a message, which explains why the reigning monarch does
not need a passport to travel abroad.
What is the message? Funda will do.
44. ANSWER
Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State requests and requires in the
name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the
bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer
such assistance and protection as may be necessary.
In a nutshell, all British passports are just a request from the Queen
to allow one of her subjects to travel freely beyond the borders of the
country. The Queen obviously does not need one because she can
grant herself the permission to do so.
45. 6.
Barry Charles Diller (born February 2, 1942) is an American
businessman, who currently serves as the Chairman and Senior
Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and Expedia, Inc. and the media
executive responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company
and USA Broadcasting.
Which villain in the world of cartoons is inspired from this gentleman?
Image in the next slide.
50. 8.
One of the darkest chapters in modern history took place between
November and December 1979 when extremist insurgents calling for
the overthrow of the House of Saud took over the Masjid-al-Haram in
Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The seizure of Islam's holiest site, the taking of
hostages from among the worshipers, and the deaths of hundreds of
militants, security forces and hostages caught in crossfire in the
ensuing battles for control of the site, all shocked the Islamic world.
Being one of the holiest sites of Islam, it is forbidden for blood to be
spilt at the mosque, and the Pakistani Army, who were supporting the
Saudis in regaining control of the mosque, suggested an alternative
method to terminate the terrorists harboured in the mosque without
blood spill and gunfire.
Though ultimately rejected, what was the method proposed by the
Pakistani Army?
51. ANSWER
The Pakistanis proposed to flood the mosque and then pass high
voltage current through the water, thereby electrocuting the
insurgents without having to fire shots at them.
52. 9.
X was a mysterious campaign that happened towards the end of
September, 2016. The campaign, whose origins are still unknown,
wanted to change the perception of the commuter as an curmudgeon
by encouraging passengers to chat. Badges emblazoned with X were
distributed to users of the commuter network, much to the horror
and dismay of regular users.
X?
Image on the next slide.
53.
54.
55. 10.
For many people the world over, a bowl of X is their go-to breakfast
of choice. But X, who first created the meal in the late 19th century,
originally intended it to be a ‘healthy, ready-to-eat anti-masturbatory
morning meal.’ The creator, a physician, was uncomfortable about
sex, believing it was unhealthy for the body, mind and soul, and
created X while he was working at Battle Creek Sanitarium in
Michigan.
What is X?
57. 11.
Easy question to appease the geeks in the crowd.
NVIDIA recently showcased a different approach to self-driving, by
using a deep learning approach, by providing its autonomous system
with real-world data from human drivers and letting it to learn how to
drive on its own - like a supercharged, AI-powered teenager getting
behind the wheel using only their experience of being a passenger to
guide them.
Adorably named X, the project is a homage to Star Wars’ X, an
astromech droid .
What is X?
59. 12.
The Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304 / Airlander 10 is a hybrid airship
designed and manufactured by the UK company Hybrid Air Vehicles
(HAV). Comprising an airship with auxiliary wing and tail surfaces, it
flies using both aerostatic and aerodynamic lift. Powered by four
diesel-engine driven ducted propellers, it is the largest aircraft flying
today.
Originally built for the United States Army's Long Endurance Multi-
intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) programme, HAV reacquired the craft
following the project cancellation and brought it back to RAF
Cardington in England. It was reassembled and modified for civilian
use, and in this form was redesignated the Airlander 10, returning to
the air in August 2016.
Looking at the picture, tell me what amusing nickname does this
beast have?
62. 13.
Fight Club is a 1999 motion picture by David Fincher based on the
1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club is,
among other things, a blatant stab at the way in which consumerism
has taken over our lives. Much of the movie’s runtime is dedicated to
analysing the idea that we’re being duped by giant corporations,
which is presumably why director David Fincher decided to include a
X coffee cup in every single scene in the movie. I’m not kidding. In
every scene in Fight Club, there’s a X hidden somewhere – you just
have to be bothered to look.
Easy points. Give me X.
64. 14.
The Anti X Party is a Swiss political party dedicated to decreasing
professional use of X, which the party claims "causes national-
economic damage amounting to 2.1 billion CHF" and lowers the
quality of business in "95 % of the cases". The party advocates flip
charts as an alternative to X.
What are we talking about/what does the party want to restrict?
66. 15*.
Earlier this week, DNA researchers revealed that Ice Age cave artists
recorded a previously unknown hybrid species of cattle and bison in
great detail on cave walls more than 15,000 years ago.
The mystery species, known affectionately as X Boson because of it’s
elusive nature, originated over 120,000 years ago through the
hybridisation of the extinct Aurochs (the ancestor of modern cattle)
and the Ice Age Steppe Bison, which ranged across the cold
grasslands from Europe to Mexico.
Give me the name of the species.
68. 16*.
Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Oysho are some
of it’s other famous retail brands. The group’s flagship brand
originally got it’s name from a 1946 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, the
cover of which is shown in the next slide, before settling on its
current name. The founder and chairman of the group is currently the
richest person in Europe, and has a fortune of $77.2bn in his name.
Image on the next slide.
71. 17*.
The ornament consists of three main things: Firstly, it contains a
magnolia blossom (indicated with the pink part), secondly we can find
a stylised version of the typical salutation “Wai”, if you rotate the logo
90 degrees in a clock-wise direction and as a third it represents the
characteristically pitched roofs. All that put into one with the colours
of gold, standing for the temples, the purple representing the tropical
orchids as well as the country’s silk’s glamor makes up for a true
piece of art!’
What am I describing here?
73. 18*.
X Pier is a pier located on the waterfront of Sai Wan, Hong Kong. X is
well known by the public because of its clear view of Victoria Harbour.
At X Pier, you can take thousand of pictures there with the view of
Hong Kong. After a shower, the floor will have a thick layer of water.
The water reflects a person’s shadow. The stunning sunset sets off a
phenomenon known as the Mirror In The Sky, and has turned out to
be extremely popular among photographers.
What is X?
75. 19*.
Earlier this year, North Korea unveiled a set-top box that offers video
on demand services similar to X. The service is called Y, which
translates to ‘everywhere’ in Korean, and allows consumers to stream
documentaries about Kim Jong Un and other educational programs,
as well as five live TV channels.
X, a streaming video pioneer, did not take the launch lightly and
responded to the launch by changing its Twitter bio to read : Y
knockoff.
Give me X and Y. Part points on offer.
77. 20*.
Computer accessory company Twelve South recently launched a
candle that smells like a freshly unboxed X. For just $24, you can
enjoy a hand-poured, 100 percent soy wax candle with scents of
mint, peach, basil, lavender, mandarin and sage.
Looking at the pictures, tell me what X is?