Hosted by Conquiztadors: The Quizzing society of Sri Venkateswara College

1. Sci-Fi Quiz
Prelims

2. RULES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
❏ 20 Questions in the Prelims. No negatives, take all your guesses.
❏ Questions will be streamed on MS Teams, answer via Forms.
❏ Only 1 form submission per team will be accepted.
❏ Only the first form submitted will be considered.
❏ Part points applicable wherever multiple answers are required.
❏ Googling and surfing the web is sincerely discouraged and is grounds for
disqualification.
❏ This quiz revolves around sci-fi through an inclusive lens. In case you find ANY
content, framing, behaviour, etc. insensitive, we are open to feedback.
❏ Thanks to Principia, the Physics Society, for this collaboration.
❏ Questions 5, 7, 8, 12, 17 and 19 have been ‘star-marked’ and will be used
to resolve ties.

3. Q1
In a 2009 interview, a former Russian premier revealed that during a break
from negotiations, his then US counterpart had asked if they could keep their
differences aside in case of an extremely unpredictable event. This informal
agreement made during the 80’s, remained only in between both the leaders
and their interpreters. However, the event was easily anticipated by the
president as he was an avid Sci-Fi fan and even named his nuclear deterrent
plan after a popular space opera containing severe daddy issues.
Identify this event and name the said nuclear deterrent plan.

4. Q2
This intergalactic law-enforcement organization uses high-tech gadgets and
weapons to protect the galaxy from various alien threats and attacks. The name of
this organisation alludes to the duty of its members; to plug the leaks in everyday
life such as extraterrestrials, monsters and ghosts. Its origin “lead” to its derivation
from an historic usage in Roman Empire contributing as one of the most known
professions ever. Notable members include George Washington, Benjamin
Franklin and a grandfather who uses his experience to aid his grandson in various
battles along the road.
Identify this organisation.

5. Q3
Featured here are the reel (left) vs real (right) flag of a US organisation, with the
reel version being launched before. However, the release of the real version of this
flag was noted for its striking resemblance to an insignia from another cult sci-fi
TV series. Name both the series.

6. Episode 2 of Space Force features a scene where upon enquiry, Dr Chan
enumerates the kind of stuff floating around in free space in accelerative orbit,
cheekily adding another element among the other variety of metallic ‘garbage’ in
orbit. What is the ‘garbage’ being referred to here, compared by media outlets to
Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain for being a ‘ready made’ work of art?
Q4

7. Pictured here is a brief framework of a creative project undertaken nearly two
decades ago, after a particular musical endeavour was dismissed as silly. This
project served the dual purpose of prioritising art over fame, while also
introducing an iconic genre-breaking identity, lasting until it’s epilogue recently.
Q5*

9. In an alternate universe, this ‘chilled out’ speed-skater was denied an
opportunity to represent the US at the Winter Olympics by the NSA* in the
mid-20th Century, solely on the basis of his extraordinary physical
abilities. While he made the most of it in other endeavours/arenas/, his
inability to locate his primary attire was a running gag that was referenced
in a recent return to the same universe. Who is the person in question?
Q6

10. To help reduce anxiety and relax the cows, a dairy farm in Russia decided to use
Virtual Reality headsets for them. These VR headsets were enlisted because a
relaxed environment would increase the milk yield.
Netizens were quick to draw parallels between this and something released a
little over two decades ago which also had a similar approach to keep the
people relaxed and away from reality.
These VR cows were being compared to what?
Q7*

11. A commemorative coin released a
while ago received considerable
backlash for its inaccuracies. The
addition of another leg, the wrong
type of hat and even a quote that is
dubious. To whom was this coin
dedicated?
Q8*

12. With a story rooted in Indian culture and
Mythology, this superhero quickly became popular
among Indian readers. He has a green, muscular
body with all the ideal traits of a hero. His
extraordinary powers could be attributed to a kind of
limbless reptile, the blood of which flows through
his veins and aid him to decimate all evil from the
world.
Identify this superhero, who also shares his prefix
with a famous celebrity family active in Telugu
cinema.
Q9

14. Since Medieval times, this symbol has been used to represent the holy trinity. In the
late 1980's it was used to mimic the Tryzub and symbolised anti-communist
sentiments.
In 2008, It became a part of pop culture after being used by a certain community, as a
gesture of thanks, respect, gratitude, or to say goodbye to a loved one. It then
went on to become a cry against authoritarian regimes and was even banned in a
certain South East Asian country.
ID the phenomenon from 2008 and the gesture which made headlines as recently as
February 2021.
Q10

15. Pictured here are some frames from story of three generations of super-warriors,
meeting for the final battle of their age to conclude an epoch and commence a new
one. In the words of the other, “good guys in the book are forced to cheat and lie
and break rules to win”. What is this story based on? What has it been aptly titled-
a reference to the time elapsed during the course of this event?
Q11

18. Featured is a snippet from an iconic song. The main character from this song,
ended up inspiring the name of a certain first in human history. Look
carefully at the imagery of the song- subject to great scrutiny at the time of its
release owing to the illicit promotion of something- despite the band’s
constant denial of the same. However, this shady allusion was a major plot
point in a film from the last decade where a character goes on to meet her
name sake- the aforementioned first in human history.
Q12- Video Q*

19. An amalgam of sci-fi adventure and love triangle with a juxtaposition to
1818 famous novel, this film is a futuristic techno-thriller in around 2200 or
3000 AD. The visual appearance of a character in this film was based on GI Joe
action figures. A visual allusion to science books A Briefer History Of Time
(2005) and Freakonomics and a classic appearance of the famous stock
scream sound (WilHelm scream) in climax scene makes this film an
overwhelming mash up of sci-fi spectacle and incredible VFX.
What is this film?
Q13

20. While his name literally translates to ‘no-one’, this mythical descendent of
Tipu Sultan suffered great familial losses during the revolt of 1857 and
voyaged across the seas to avenge the imperialist regime. He also
lends his name to a much loved adventurous clown known for his
escapist antics. Who?
Q14

21. Listed below is a team put together to combat an otherworldly team and used a specific
device to train, the name of which also matches up with the level/location of the team they
were up against. Which opponents were they facing, and what device did they use to train?
Lionel Messi (Argentina; Captain)
Mario Götze (Germany)
Oscar dos Santos (Brazil)
Wu Lei (China)
Stephan El Shaarawy (Italy)
Victor Moses (Nigeria)
Radamel Falcao (Colombia)
Lee Chung-Yong (South Korea)
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Wayne Rooney (England)
Landon Donovan (United States)
Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Russia)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Q15

22. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on the music industry, with
even established artists struggling to keep their heads above water. However,
a South Korean entertainment company used these restrictions to launch a
new unorthodox idol group. Each of the members are able to connect with
their fans by maintaining social distancing protocols. How is this
achieved?
Q16

23. The inabilities of the titular structural persona which was stolen from another
1986 sci-fi comedy, made the film rely heavily on the visual component. In the
strive to achieve excellence in the same, over the course of 18 months, a
certain legend was constantly rewatched. This legend also inspired an iconic
loser from our childhood, whose legacy includes certain vehicles. Who is the
legend that was constantly rewatched?
Which film does the titular structure belong to?
Q17*

24. The beginning of the Nobel Prize Awards (2019) was narrated much like the beginning
of the Universe, owing to the popularity of this pop-culture phenomenon in the
scientific community. This provides favourable coincidence, as the quirky, eccentric,
asocial physicist from this, strives to win a Nobel Prize as well with his spouse.
This character was named after a Nobel winning physicist who worked extensively in
the field of superconductivity.
ID the character and the physicist that he is named after.
Q18

25. Pictured are some of the characters created by this author. He was recreated
by his fans in the form of a simulacrum or remote-controlled android designed
in his likeness. Such simulacra had been themes of many of his works. His
simulacrum was included on a discussion panel in a San Diego Comic Con
presentation about the film adaptation of his novel, _ _______ ______ (1,7,6), his
first without the use of Amphetamines, for which he shared the screenplay
credits.
Author and the film?
Q19*

26. This map shows the locations of a mysterious phenomenon, which was first seen in an
epic sci fi movie series. Theories about extraterrestrial participation in this recent
phenomenon immediately popped up all over the internet, but some say this is merely
a prop left behind by the crew of an HBO series. What is being talked about here?
Identify the movie series and the HBO drama.
Q20

28. ANSWERS FOLLOW

29. Q1
In a 2009 interview, a former Russian premier revealed that during a break
from negotiations, his then US counterpart had asked if they could keep their
differences aside in case of an extremely unpredictable event. This informal
agreement made during the 80’s, remained only in between both the leaders
and their interpreters. However, the event was eagerly anticipated by the
president as he was an avid Sci-Fi fan and even named his nuclear deterrent
plan after a popular space opera containing severe daddy issues.
Identify this event and name the said nuclear deterrent plan.

30. Alien Invasion. Star Wars

31. Q2*
This intergalactic law-enforcement organization uses high-tech gadgets and
weapons to protect the galaxy from various alien threats and attacks. The name of
this organisation alludes to the duty of its members; to plug the leaks in everyday
life such as extraterrestrials, monsters and ghosts. Its origin “lead” to its derivation
from an historic usage in Roman Empire contributing as one of the most known
professions ever. Notable members include George Washington, Benjamin
Franklin and a grandfather who uses his experience to aid his grandson in various
battles along the road.
Identify this organisation.

32. Plumbers

33. Q3
Featured here are the reel (left) vs real (right) flag of a US organisation, with the
reel version being launched before. However, the release of the real version of this
flag was noted for its striking resemblance to an insignia from another cult sci-fi
TV series. Name both the series.

34. Space Force, Star Trek

35. Episode 2 of Space Force features a scene where upon enquiry, Dr Chan
enumerates the kind of stuff floating around in free space in accelerative orbit,
cheekily adding another element among the other variety of metallic ‘garbage’ in
orbit. What is the ‘garbage’ being referred to here, compared by media outlets to
Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain for being a ‘ready made’ work of art?
Q4

36. Tesla Roadster

37. Pictured here is a brief framework of a creative project undertaken nearly two
decades ago, after a particular musical endeavour was dismissed as silly. This
project served the dual purpose of prioritising art over fame, while also
introducing an iconic genre-breaking identity, lasting until it’s epilogue
recently.
Q5

39. Daft Punk

40. In an alternate universe, this ‘chilled out’ speed-skater was denied an
opportunity to represent the US at the Winter Olympics by the NSA* in the
mid-20th Century, solely on the basis of his extraordinary physical
abilities. While he made the most of it in other endeavours/arenas/, his
inability to locate his primary attire was a running gag that was referenced
in a recent return to the same universe. Who is the person in question?
Q6

41. Frozone

42. To help reduce anxiety and relax the cows, a dairy farm in Russia decided to use
Virtual Reality headsets for them. These VR headsets were enlisted because a
relaxed environment would increase the milk yield.
Netizens were quick to draw parallels between this and something released a
little over two decades ago which also had a similar approach to keep the
people relaxed and away from reality.
These VR cows were being compared to what?
Q7*

43. The Matrix

44. A commemorative coin released a
while ago received considerable
backlash for its inaccuracies. The
addition of another leg, the wrong
type of hat and even a quote that is
dubious. To whom was this coin
dedicated?
Q8*

45. HG Wells

46. With a story rooted in Indian culture and
Mythology, this superhero quickly became popular
among Indian readers. He has a green, muscular
body with all the ideal traits of a hero. His
extraordinary powers could be attributed to a kind of
limbless reptile, the blood of which flows through
his veins and aid him to decimate all evil from the
world.
Identify this superhero, who also shares his prefix
with a famous celebrity family active in Telugu
cinema.
Q9

48. Nagraj

49. Since Medieval times, this symbol has been used to represent the holy trinity. In the
late 1980's it was used to mimic the Tryzub and symbolised anti-communist sentiments.
In 2008, it became a part of pop culture after being used by a certain community, as a
gesture of thanks, respect, gratitude, or to say goodbye to a loved one. It then
went on to become a cry against authoritarian regimes and was even banned in a
certain South East Asian country.
ID the phenomenon from 2008 and the gesture which made headlines as recently as
February 2021.
Q10

50. Hunger games. Three finger salute

51. Pictured here are some frames from a story of three generations of super-warriors,
meeting for the final battle of their age to conclude an epoch and commence a new
one. In the words of the other, “good guys in the book are forced to cheat and lie
and break rules to win”. What is this story based on? What has it been aptly titled-
a reference to the time elapsed during the course of this event?
Q11

54. 18 Days, Inspired by
Mahabharata

55. Featured is a snippet from an iconic song. The main character from this song,
ended up inspiring the name of a certain first in human history. Look
carefully at the imagery of the song- subject to great scrutiny at the time of its
release owing to the illicit promotion of something- despite the band’s
constant denial of the same. However, this shady allusion was a major plot
point in a film from the last decade where a character goes on to meet her
name sake- the aforementioned first in human history.
Q12- Video Q*

56. Lucy

57. An amalgam of a sci-fi adventure and a love triangle with a juxtaposition to
a famous 1818 novel, this film is a futuristic techno-thriller set in around 2200
or 3000 AD. The visual appearance of a character in this film was based on GI
Joe action figures. A visual allusion to science books - A Briefer History Of
Time (2005) and Freakonomics, and a classic appearance of the famous stock
scream sound (WilHelm scream) in the climax scene makes this film an
overwhelming mash up of sci-fi spectacle and incredible VFX.
What is this film?
Q13

58. Robot/Enthiran (2010)

59. While his name literally translates to ‘no-one’, this mythical descendent of
Tipu Sultan suffered great familial losses during the revolt of 1857 and
voyaged across the seas to avenge the imperialist regime. He also
lends his name to a much loved adventurous clown known for his
escapist antics. Who?
Q14

60. Captain Nemo

61. Listed below is a team put together to combat an otherworldly team and used a specific
device to train, the name of which also matches up with the level/location of the team they
were up against. Which opponents were they facing, and what device did they use to train?
Lionel Messi (Argentina; Captain)
Mario Götze (Germany)
Oscar dos Santos (Brazil)
Wu Lei (China)
Stephan El Shaarawy (Italy)
Victor Moses (Nigeria)
Radamel Falcao (Colombia)
Lee Chung-Yong (South Korea)
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Wayne Rooney (England)
Landon Donovan (United States)
Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Russia)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Q15

62. Match Against aliens to save earth, used Samsung
Galaxy 11

63. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on the music industry, with
even established artists struggling to keep their heads above water. However,
a South Korean entertainment company used these restrictions to launch a
new unorthodox idol group. Each of the members are able to connect with
their fans by maintaining social distancing protocols. How is this
achieved?
Q16

64. Each of the members have a virtual counterpart

65. The inabilities of the titular structural persona which was stolen from another
1986 sci-fi comedy, made the film rely heavily on the visual component. In the
strive to achieve excellence in the same, over the course of 18 months, a
certain legend was constantly rewatched. This legend also inspired an iconic
loser from our childhood, whose legacy includes certain vehicles. Who is the
legend that was constantly rewatched?
Which film does the titular structure belong to?
Q17*

66. Wall E , Chaplin

67. The beginning of the Nobel Prize Awards (2019) was narrated much like the beginning
of the Universe, owing to the popularity of this pop-culture phenomenon in the
scientific community. This provides favourable coincidence, as the quirky, eccentric,
asocial physicist from this, strives to win a Nobel Prize as well with his spouse.
This character was named after a Nobel winning physicist who worked extensively in
the field of superconductivity.
ID the character and the physicist that he is named after.
Q18

68. Sheldon Cooper, Leon Cooper

69. Pictured are some of the characters created by this author. He was recreated
by his fans in the form of a simulacrum or remote-controlled android designed
in his likeness. Such simulacra had been themes of many of his works. His
simulacrum was included on a discussion panel in a San Diego Comic Con
presentation about the film adaptation of his novel, _ _______ ______ (1,7,6), his
first without the use of Amphetamines, for which he shared the screenplay
credits.
Author and the film?
Q19*

70. Phillip K Dick, A Scanner Darkly

71. This map shows the locations of a mysterious phenomenon, which was first seen in an
epic sci-fi movie series. Theories about extraterrestrial participation in this recent
phenomenon immediately popped up all over the internet, but some say this is merely
a prop left behind by the crew of an HBO series. What is being talked about here?
Identify the movie series and the HBO drama.
Q20

73. Monolith. 2001: A Space Odyssey. Westworld