The Quiz Page
Questions:
1. About which music group did the legendary Phil Spector remark “ The only difference between a pornographic movie and them is that the pornographic movie has better music”?
The Spice girls
2. Who is also known by the title ‘Guardian of the Eastern Dark’?
The Phantom
3. The Leonid showers were meteors formed due to mass shed by which comet?
Temple Tuttle
4. His wife said of him “he is frightened of the titles and degrees on peoples visiting cards” and his card reads ‘ senior shoe salesman’. Who?
Thomas J. Bata
5. It is called ‘deuce’ in English, ‘egalite’ in French. What is it in German?
‘Einstein’
6. So sure were the distributors of the success of this film , that they split up the film into 20 minute segments for a kids morning show. Which film?
Star Wars
7. If you were engaged in an altercation with a friend and he gave you a ‘circum orbital Hemotopo’ what would you have?
A Black Eye
8. What is referred to as ‘blue sky research’ ?
Wasting money on research to find out why the sky is blue etc. etc.
9. What do psychologists define as ‘a disorder in which strongly felt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longing often of a perverse nature’ ?
Love
10. Locals affectionately refer to it as ‘bobby’. It is 90 ft long, has a sinuous body, tail, snake like head and a long neck. What?
The Loch Ness Monster
11. According to legend Allah has 1001 names. To be good men, men need know only 1000 names. Who is the only one to know all 1001 names?
The Camel
12. What contribution did a vague movie by name ‘Rooplekha’ make to Indian cinema?
First movie to feature a flashback sequence
13. The word ‘stadium’ comes from ‘stade’ a unit of distance. What distance was the unit equal to?
The distance that Hercules could run in a single breath
14. In Asterix comics Unhygienix buys a plot of land from Obelix. How do we supposedly know this land today?
The Stonehenge
15. It was believed that the devil was present at all important occasions during the medieval period. What practice arose from this?
The practise of toasting a drink, since it was believed that the clinking sound of glasses resembled a church bell’s ring and that sound would drive the devil away.
16. When King George first met him he asked him ‘Tell me , how did you pee’? Who are we talking about?
Sir Charles Lindbergh
17. What is common to hearty, Patiala, silent, cocktail, open heart, dancing and round?
All types of Laughter
18. In medieval times, in Europe, 1/3 of taxes went to the King, 1/3 to the nobility and 1/3 to the common man. How is this immortalised?
By the nursery rhyme ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’
19. Born with the body of a mastiff, looks of a lamb, teeth of a bunny rabbit and is one of those mutations that happen when God plays dice. Who or What are we talking about?
Ronaldo, the footballer
20. This bird has the unique distinction of being called by the names of two different countries in different parts of the world. Give both names.
As the Turkey in the rest of the world and as Peru in Turkey
21. “There was neither non-exist nor exist. There was neither the realm of space nor the sky beyond”. Opening lines of what?
The Rig Veda
22. In February 1935, the superpolyamide formed from hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid was made by Du Pont. How do we know this compound better?
As Nylon
23. This person wrote about himself thus :"Principal virtues : keeps his nails clean. Principal faults : that he has no family, is bad tempered and has a poor digestion. One and only wish : Not to be buried alive. Greatest sin : that he does not worship Mammon. Important events in his life : None". Who?
Sir Alfred Nobel
24. There's a story that, around 1600, two children were playing with lenses in a shop in Middleburg. What resulted, according to the story, from the game?
Hans Lippershey who observed these children was inspired to invent the Telescope.
25. What was patented by Hippolyte Mege Mouries in 1869, after he was commissioned by the Victualing Department of the French Navy to find an alternative for butter at a time of acute butter shortage?
Margarine
26. They began to appear in quantities in the 1860s. "I hate those redbreasts", cried "Punch" in 1869. In 1877 "The Times" magazine declared them a great social evil, and it was following difficulties with them in 1879 that the London Post Office in 1880 cried out "Post Early". What are we talking about?
Christmas Cards
27. His first voyage, in 1607, was intended to find a quick way to China by way of the North Pole, but resulted instead in the establishment of the Spitzbergen whale fisheries. In 1608, in the service of the Dutch East India Company, he sailed 150 miles past the site of New York, but returned back. In 1610, he explored the site that is now known by his name and was frozen in it. Who?
Henry Hudson after whom the Hudson Bay is named
28. A man by name Friedrich Froebel, walking with two of his disciples over the Steiger Pass on the way to the village of Blankenburg, scratched his head for the right name to give the institution, and then suddenly shouted out "Eureka ! I have it ! It shall be called _______________!". Fill in the blank.
Kindergarten
29. Back in 1890, Johnson & Johnson put together the first of its kind in response to a plea from railroad workers who needed treatment on the scene as they toiled to lay tracks across America. What?
First Aid Kits
30. To the Hopi Indians, who feared it and filled it with frightening myths, it was the trail made by the God Ta-Vwoats when he took a mourning chief to find his wife in the other world; the river associated with it, according to them was an addition to hold back the unworthy. What?
The Grand Canyon
31. An author, as a sign of gratitude to the nurse who had cared for his firstborn child, gave a script and asked her to sell it when she was in need of money. Years later, when the nurse was really in want of money, she sold it and lived in comfort for the rest of her life. The manuscript was the first part of a famous work of this author Name the book and author?
The Jungle Book and Rudyard Kipling
32. Though Magellan is regarded as the first person to circumnavigate the world, technically he was not, and it was a person by name Juan Sebastian del Cano, who is technically the first circumnavigator. Why ?
Because Magellan died halfway through the voyage, killed by the natives
33. In the United States, currently a small stock of this exists at only one location - at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Some additional stocks are available in Great Britain, Russia and China. Stocks of what ?
The Small Pox Virus
34. Masaru Ibuka, after graduating in engineering, failed the entry examination for lifetime employment at Toshiba, and decided to start his own small business. He was fortunate to find a partner who had a flair for finance and salesmanship. Who was this partner ? What did they launch?
Akio Morita and Sony
35. He made his debut as a hero in Shah-E-Nissar and then starred in Durbar with Naseer Banu, Saira Banu’s mother but his carer never took off. His first wife was a woman by name Gwendolyn Rita de Monte. His father was a Pathan and had been honoured for his bravery by Queen Victoria in the Afghan War. His screen name was given to him by K.Amarnath with the release of Bekasoor opposite Madhubala. Who?
Ajit alias Hameed Ali Khan
36. This person signs his paintings using the corruption of the word ‘Au Fait’ meaning ‘its done’. The name was suggested to him by Frank Dudley Wright. He replaced Gina Lollobrigida as the Guest of Honour at the Carnival celebrations at Rio in 1965 and is the lead singer of the band ‘The 3 quarks’ with Ralph Leighton laying the drums and Tom Rutishauser playing the guitar. Who?
Richard Feynman
37. Whose epitaph in Newsteed reads ‘To mark a friends’ remains these stones arise, I never knew one and here he is’?
Botswain, Lord Byron's Dog
38. He created the first universe(different from the present world) and his personal scribe is Weneg. His eternal enemy is represented by a giant serpent. He is always represented with Uraeus the asp who spits flame and destroys god’s enemies. Who?
Ra, the sun god
39. “My debts amount to 3000, 300 to the Jews, 800 to Mrs. B of Nottingham, to the coachmaker and the other tradesmen a 1000 more and these must be increased before they are lessened.” To his lawyers he wrote on April 26, 1809. ‘The whole of my wishes are summed up in thes procure me, either of my own or borrowed of others , 3000 pounds,…. Allow me to depart from this cursed country and I promise to turn Mussalman rather than return to it.’ Whose words?
Lord Byron
40. The Teary Folliculties disease is quite prevalent among the youth of this generation. If you were suffering from it what would be the cause of this disease?
Wearing tight jeans
41. Born in Pasadena, he was arrested for
a minor offence when he was 20. In prison he wrote a book about these experiences
called ‘They tortured me to hell’. After release he went back with the
name James Clark because he was afraid that the KGB would assassinate him.
Who?
42. The publication of the first supplement of the Oxford Dictionary was postponed for one particular reason. What?
To include the word Bodyline
43. What instigated Paul Delaroche to quip, ‘from today paintings are dead’?
The invention of Photography
44. What is the claim to fame of Marcel Marceaus’ utterance ‘Non’ I the history of cinema?
Only spoken word in "The Silent Movie'
45. An author was reading the Times Literary Supplement which carried a review of ‘Human Bondage’. The author, impressed by the review took the name of his next book from it. Who and book?
Somerset Maugham and ‘The Moon and Sixpence’
46. An illegitimate son of a nobleman he craved for the Royal recognition he could never get from the upper classes. Trained as a chemist and a mineralogist his achievements include analysis of Zinc ores one of which, ZnCo3 is named after him. Who?
Jjames Smithson of Smithsonite fame
47. In the old theatres a mixture of CaCO3 and Phosphorous was used to produce effects on stage. Which phrase originates from this?
The term ‘In the limelight’
48. This person was almost exchanged at birth with a Koli fisherman’s family. Fatefully he was reunited with his mother when the resident doctor cracked the case of the missing mole on the bottom. He recalls the incident and muses on the possibilities of fishing in Mahim, if not for the doctor. Who?
Sunil Gavaskar
49. A particular hill range in Orissa is a haven for Botanists and home of some of the rarest herbs in the world and attracts experts from all over the world who conduct research there. How do we know this hill?
The Gandhamadhana Hill from where Hanuman obtained the Sanjeevani herb
50. What did Oliver Pollock create to be first used by the US on 1st April 1778?
The '$' sign
51. The Chinese have ideograms to represent ideas. What does the one with ’two women under the same roof’ represent?
Trouble
52. Why were Edgar Rice Burroughs’ books banned in the USA for a large part of their published life?
Because tarzan and Jane were unmarried and therefore living in sin
53. ‘I don’t know who you are or what you do, but I ‘am gonna get you’. Who to whom?
Deep blue to Gary Kasparov.
54. In cyber lingo what does ‘PEFKUSH’ stand for?
Push Every Fucking Key Until Something Happens
55. The walk of this animal is supposed to be sensuous to look from behind that there are instances in ancient Hindu literature asking women to follow the walk of this animal. Who is the latest woman to join this bandwagon?
Madhuri Dixit (Gaj Gamini)
56. ‘She is older than the rocks among which she has been dead many times and has learned the secrets of the grave and has been a diver in the deep seas and keep their falling days about her’. Mark quoted about her saying “She has the look of a woman who has had just her husband for dinner’. Who?
The Monalisa
57. The MIT students calculated my speed to be around 1046 km/sec, bout 3000 times the speed of light. The total load weight involved in my transfer is 321000 tonnes. 214000 living organisms of the same species are involved in my transfer. I have 918 million destinations to reach in 31 hours across 24 time zones visiting 822.6 destinations per second. Who or what am I?
Santa Claus
58. Who were the models for the campaign for safe sex initiated by Johnny condoms, the adline being ‘Appearances can be deceptive. Use Johnny condoms’.
Prince Charles and Lady Diana
59. What instrument was originally invented as a torture device to pull out nails?
The Screwdriver
60. Many objects in India are trademarked with the ISI stamp. What is trademarked ISI No.1?
The National Flag
61. ‘There is no God and Mohammed is the Prophet of God’ Where would you find this inscribed?
On the Saudi Arabian National Flag
62. 50 colonials and members of the committee of correspondence met at the home of a printer named Benjamin Edes at but 4 P.M. on Dec. 16, 1773. Later that evening they drank from a massive punch bowl of rum concoction which Peter, Edes’ son kept filled. After that they left to do what?
They attended the Boston Tea Party
63. A New York stock broker Bill W on a business trip to Akron met Doctor Bob in a pub on Jun 10, 1935 and discussed the horrible brawls they had in pubs. They decided they should do something sand about it. What id they do the next day?
Founded Alcoholics Anonymous
64. A total of 321,360 persons viewed his body as it lay in state at Westminster Hall for 3 days. Crowds stood 5 to 10 hours in bitter cold to see the procession to St. Paul’s Cathedral for the first ever state funeral accorded to a commoner in 50 years. Who?
Winston Churchill
65. On Aug 9, 1945 the US Army Air Force HQ radio station received a message from a 25 year old major in the force. It said ‘What have we done’? Who sent the message and why?
Paul Tibbeths who bombed Hiroshima
66. The result of an experiment at MIT went - ‘Specimen X had a specific gravity of 1.00 Specimen Y had a specific gravity of 1.06. Specific gravity of XLY. Hence QED’. What did the experiment prove?
That Blood is thicker than Water
67. The Texas theatre was featuring a B grade war movie ‘War is Hell’ starring Tony Russell. A man ducked into the theatre without paying the admission and drew attention from the staff. He was arrested for this. who?
Lee Harvey Oswald
68. The novel begins in 1648 and tells the story of Carl Emannuel Madruzzo who is the Archbishop of Trent and Prince of Trentino and of his mistress of 20 years Claudia Particella whose father is the Archbishop’s closest friend and counsellor. The peasants and priests hate Claudia and want them banished. They feel that this would make Madruzzo a better man but Madruzzo is hell bent on marrying Claudia. Name the novel or author.
Mussolini - 'Cardinal's Mistress'
69. His main foe was sexual passion. He tried various methods of restraint. He devised various methods, the most used amongst them being the ‘earth treatment’. Consisting of application of clear earth moistened with cold water and spread on fine linen on the abdomen and at bedtime and removed it in the day, supposed to be a radical care. Who devised this method?
Mahatma Gandhi
70. What was begun on 19th June, 1969 in a flat by 6 like-minded people in Bombay?
The Shiv Sena
71. The SB company is marketing the Bengali version of Paul Robson’s ‘We are in the same boat brother’. Who has rendered this version?
Saurav Ganguly
72. The Andhra Bank is the only bank in the country licensed to sell food products. Funda?
It sells Tirupati Laddoos
73. What connects Calcutta, San Fransisco, tennis courts and Apache Indian?
Tramlines
74. How does the popular pharmaceutical brand Disprin get its name?
Dissolvable Aspirin hence Dispirin
75. Built in 1920 by Count Zborowski on his estate near Canterbury ,England, she had a pre 1914 war chain drive, 75 horsepower, Mercedes chassis which was installed with a 6 cylinder Maybach Aero engine, same type as used in Zeppelins. She had a gray steel body with an immense polished hood 8 ft in length and weighed over 5 tons. In 1921 she won the 100 mph ghost handicap at Brooklands and again in 1922, the Lightning Ghost handicap. But in that year she met with an accident and she never raced again. What?
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
76. The abode of the gods was the summit of Mt. Olympus in Thessaly. A Gate of clouds was kept by a set of goddesses who opened the doors of celestials to earth and welcomed them on return. Name them.
The Seasons
77. Callisto was converted into an Animal by Juno as Jove was captivated by her beauty. One day she was espied but a youth whom she recognised as her son. She was inclined to embrace him but the youth seeing the animal rushing towards him took position to kill it. Jove saw this situation and prevented it. How?
He converted them into the Little Bear and the Great Bear
78. The Greeks believed that was a circular disc divided into 2 equal parts by sea. They also assumed that around the earth flowed a river its course being from South to North. Which sea?
The Mediterranean
79. “ A computer program is like a henchman of a ship charting its course through unknown waters”. This statement gave rise to a word. Which word?
Cybernetics
80. What word was derived from Latin for “To put away or remove flesh’ referring to the abstinence of meat during Lent.
Carnival
81. The Maha Kumbh Mela occurs 4 times every 12 years in 4 places Hardwar, Ujjain, Prayag and Nasik. Why these four places?
The four places where Garuda spilt Nectar while bringing them from the heavens
82. The King Daksha had a daughter who committed suicide as she was unable to bear the fact that her husband had not been invited to the great sacrifice when all other Gods were. Who is this and what practice takes its name from her?
Sati and Sati
83. King Janaka is said to have been the only King to have coined a shloka. Why did he do this?
The shloka recited during Kanyadaana
84. The sage Bharatha is the author of Natyashastra. But he is believed to have been taught the art by a sage who watched Shiva’s cosmic dance. Name the sage?
Sage Tandu (Therefore Tandava Nritya)
85. It is composed of 3 parts. Each is made up of 9 twisted strands. It can be made only from cotton, hemp or wool depending on strata. What?
The Sacred Thread or ‘Poonal’
86. In 1456, the first known book to be printed movable type in Europe was brought out in Mainz, Germany. Which book?
The Gutenberg Bible
87. This French princess was slain by her incestuous father and is the patron saint of the insane. Who?
Demphna
88. What first appeared in the newspaper ‘Belle life in London’ in 1835?
The first Chess column
89. It was created by Ub Iwerks who gave its voice too. Later its voice was given by James McDonald. It first appeared on Jan 13, 1930 with Floyd Gottfredson as writer of the column. Bob Lampett designed the doll version of it. What?
Mickey Mouse
90. Which instrument meaning ‘3 stringed’ in Persian was introduced by a resident of Etah district in UP. He was called Hindu Turk in his home town. Who?
Amir Khusro
91. How do we know Atah Mohammed Khan, husband of Hussaini, a maid in the service of Queen Mriganayanee, the widow of the king of Gwalior better?
Tansen
92. In the world of comics what is the Mabel Syrup’s claim to fame?
Author of Calvin's favourite book ' Hamster Yoiee
and Goeey Kablooie'
93. In the 18th century, wealthy visitors thoroughly enjoyed the mineral springs and baths in a village in South East Belgium near the German Border. What was the village called?
Spa
94. This book originally came out with the adline “ A full vacations’ reading for $3” but didn’t sell because $3 was considered too expensive for it. Then it became a best seller with its alternative adline. Book or new adline?
Gone with the Wind
95. Who was the first sportsman to be given a memorial service at the Westminster Abbey?
Sir Frank Worell
96. ‘If you understand ______ completely,
we failed. We wanted to raise few more questions than we answered. ‘
Who about what?
Arthur C. Clarke on 2001-A Space Odyssey
97. He was the first sportsman to have ever modelled for any product. The product was Coleman’s Mustard. Who?
W.G.Grace
98. She began studying drama at the age of 11 and her first acting job was dancing with the Honey monster in a commercial for Sugar Puff cereal. Who?
Kate Winslet
99. This singer. For $8 an hour used to smoke cigarettes for a scientific experiment at UCLA. Who?
Axl Rose
100. In 1969, a world famous personality challenged Broadway in a musical version of ‘By time Buck White’, a play which described the turmoil that ensues when the militant dynamic hero arrives at the address of the beautiful Allelujah Day Soe. It flopped after running for 7 days. Who was the hero?
Mohammed Ali
101. Her ashes were scattered by plane over Marvin County and in her will she left $2500 ‘so that my friends can get blown when I am gone’. Who?
Janis Joplin
102. The legend of Romulus and Remus being suckled by the wolf has inspired two literary characters of the present day. Name both.
Mowgli and tarzan
103. This phrase comes into the language during medieval times where signatures in a petition were placed in a circle so as not to reveal the order in which they were signed. Which phrase?
Round Robin
104. Maine Pyar Kiya was released as “When Love Calls’ in English. What was released as ‘Me stud, you dud’?
Main Khiladi Tu Anadi
105. Hayby Mills who played twins in the ‘Parent Trap’ is the parent of musical son Crispian Mills. Which band?
Kula Shaker
106. It was banned in Iran for 2 reasons, one that it runs counter to Islamic spirit. The other that it damages the hips. What?
Rock and Roll
107. What was started as a result of a discovery made by Mackay, Fair O’Brien and Flood.?
The Gold Rush
108. During the American Civil War, temporary Telegraph wires were set up on trees for speedy processing of info. Which phrase came as a result of this?
From the Grapevine
109. Which consumer good gets its name from the Latin word for ‘Vigour’?
Vim
110. The poem “The old man’s daughter’ and how he gained them by Robert Southey has been parodied by a famous author. The parody being more famous than the original. Which one?
Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland
111. Whose motto is ‘Best Care Anywhere’?
MASH 4077
112. Which magazine’s first issue carried a special message from the editor on the cover saying “Please buy this magazine’?
MAD
113. IN 1932, Japan planned to kill 2 Americans with a view of provoking them to war. One was Joseph Curran, the American Ambassador. Who Was the other?
Charlie Chaplin
114. The title of which music album was inspired by a series of paintings by Hiroshima survivors?
U2's Unforgettable Fire
115. Which music group gets its name from a sadomasochistic novel by Michael Leigh?
Velvet Underground
116. During the Gulf War, all low brow condom manufacturing companies in the US received major bulk orders resulting in a great financial rejuvenation. Why were these bulk orders placed all of a sudden?
To prevent sand from getting into the nozzles of Guns
117. Which English word comes from Cambridge slang for room or chamber mate?
Chum
118. ‘He who paints the sky Green and the grass blue must be sterilised’. Who on whom?
Hilter on Picasso
119. His autobiography is ‘My Story’ and he starred in the movie ‘Le Boheur est dans le pre’. Who?
Eric Cantona
120. Recitation of Rig Veda, Music of the Sama Veda , mime of the Yajur Veda and sentiments of the Atharva Veda came together to form what?
Bharatanatyam
121. The first Pestilence rode a white horse and carried a bow ready to conquer, war rode a red horse carrying a sword. Famine rode a black horse and then came a grey horse with death on it. How do we know them better?
Horsemen of the Apocalypse
122. Whose epitaph ‘The philosophers have only interpreted the world in different ways, the point however is to change it. Workers of all lands unite.’?
Karl Marx
123. What was first advocated in a booklet by the name of ‘A memory of Solferino’?
The Red Cross
124. Aware of the unpopularity of his job, a German tax collector of Apolda in Thuringia developed in the 1880s an especially fierce breed of dogs to help him on his rounds and this breed takes its name from him. Which one?
Doberman
125. Which comic character is also known by the name Marquis De Gorgonzola?
Rastapopoulos
126. Who translated the ‘Jabberwocky’ for Alice in ‘Through the looking glass’?
Humpty Dumpty
127. Darrell Waters first’ book was ‘A Child Whispers’, a book of poems. How do we know her better?
Enid Blyton
128. John Bunyan once said’ Sin will prevent you from reading this book or this book will prevent you from sinning’. Which book?
The Bible
129. Whose said ‘There, where I have passed, the grass will not grow again’ ?
Attilla the Hun
130. Who advertised with the line’ Only the umpires have a closer view’?
Channel Nine
© 1998 Gopal Srinivasan <mailgops@iname.com>