Prelims of an Open Quiz held at Guwahati University on 15th November, 2015

1. QM: The Monk

2. Rules
 30 Questions and a total of 40 points
 For questions containing 2 parts, there will be 2 points with
1 point for every part. For other questions 1 point.
 Top 6 teams in the finals
 In case of tie, teams answering more questions will qualify
 In case tie remains, the first 10 questions will be treated as
star questions

3. Note
All visuals included in this presentation are the property of the
respective copyright holders. They have been used here for
educational non – commercial purposes, to ask questions about
them, where the presence of the visuals is necessary to determine
or understand the answer. Hence, it is hoped that they are
covered by the fair use rationale. All efforts have been made to
source open source images wherever possible. No copyright
violation is intended.

4. 1
These are pictures from a European town. On a certain day every
year, the town officials provide public showers for bathing, and
water cannons for volunteers to clean up the streets. All of these
happen at the end of something else that also happens in this town
on this day. What ? Also name the town [1+1]


7. Answer
The La Tomatina Festival, in Bunol, Valencia

8. 2
This is a picture of a relatively unknown professional boxer named
Sonny Whiting from Britain with a record of 2 wins and 2 losses.
However, his last professional fight, which took place on October
10 this year and where he lost in 3 rounds by a technical knockout,
was widely covered by the press and television channels. Why ?


10. Answer
He was fighting Vijender Singh, in the latter’s
professional debut

11. 3
Published in 1972, this book by a female Indian author tells
us the story of exploitation of labourers working for
companies building an aqueduct over the Chenab River in
Kashmir. The author drew from her own experience in the
Valley when she briefly lived there with her husband. Which
book ? Also, name the author [1+1]

12. Answer
 চেনাবৰ চৰাত /The Chenab’s Current

13. 4
The date of 15th August was chosen as India’s Independence day
because a certain person “X” felt that this day was lucky for him.
This was because another well – known event “Y” had also taken
place on 15th August in a previous year, in which “X” was involved.
When this event “Y” was announced by the American President
Harry Truman, it sparked off celebrations in New York. These
celebrations have become well – known all over the world because
of an iconic ‘art’ work “Z”. Give me “X”, “Y” and “Z” [ 1 + 0.5 + 0.5]

14. Answer
X = Lord Mountbatten
Y = Surrender of Japan in WW –II
Z = V.J. Day in Times Square

15. 5
Up until the late 18th century, such structures, made of wood or
stone, were commonly constructed outside inns and churches, and
could be seen in many towns and cities over the world. However,
today such structures are seen only at a certain type of sport or
recreational training centre, and are usually made of molded
plastic. What were/ are these structures used for ?


17. Answer
Used for mounting horses

18. 6
The first picture is a poster of a 1951 movie set around a mining
accident, where the word ‘hole’ in the title refers to the opening of
the mine, which got blocked, leading to the tragedy. The title of the
movie later inspired the title of a special TV feature produced by the
Military Channel, which was based on another, much better known
event, involving a different kind of hole . What event ?


20. Answer
The Capture of Saddam Hussein

21. 7.
One of the editions of a famous 20th century work of
literature featured this image on the book cover. Which
work of literature ?


23. Answer
Nineteen Eighty – Four
[ “ It was a bright cold day in April,
and the clocks were striking
thirteen” ]

24. 8
According to Hindu religious belief in many parts of India,
chewing this item is forbidden, and should be swallowed directly
if necessary. The religious reason for this is that this item is
considered to be a wife of Lord Vishnu, and hence chewing it is
disrespectful. However, there is also a scientific reason – this item
contains a small amount of mercury, which is non – lethal, but
can cause damage to teeth if chewed. What item ?

25. Answer
Tulsi / Basil Leaves

26. 9
The pictures are from a funeral that took place around 3 months
ago. Whose funeral ?
Further, the death of the person took place due to a tragedy that
happened around one year ago. In which city did this tragedy take
place ? [1+1]


29. Answer
 Jules Bianchi
 Suzuka, Japan

30. 10
This is an anatomical feature that can be observed somewhere in
the animal kingdom. It is made of keratin, and is operated by a
series of shaker muscles that vibrate up to 50 times per second to
produce the effect for which it is known for. What six letter word
is used to refer to this feature ? Where in the animal world can you
see this feature ? [ 1+1 ]

32. Answer
 It is called a Rattle
 Found on the tail of a Rattlesnake

33. 11
This is a rare surviving original
drawing made in 1936, that was
recently sold in an auction in
Hong Kong for $1.23 million.
Who was the artist ?


35. Answer
Georges Remi / Herge

36. 12
In Christian New Testament mythology, different names
have been given to different periods in the life of Jesus
Christ. For example, the period of his childhood is called
‘The Nativity of the Christ’. What name is given to the last
period, leading up to his death ?

37. Answer

38. 13
This is a driving manoeuvre involving rotating the rear end of a car
around the front wheels continuously, thereby creating circular
skid marks if done right. A certain name has been given to this
manoeuvre, inspired from the name of a food item, because the
shapes created by the skid marks appear like the food item. What
food item ?


41. Answer
 Doughnut / Donut

42. 14
Given below is a monologue that was famously delivered by a
sportsperson in 1981, an incident which has become memorable in
the history of the sport. Fill the blanks. Also, identify the speaker.
[ 1+1 ]
“ ___ ______ __ _____, man. That ball was on the line. Chalk flew
up. It was clearly in. How can you call that out ? He’s walking over.
Everybody knows it in the whole stadium. And you call it out ? You
guys are the absolute pits of the world, you know that ?”

43. Answer
 You cannot be serious
 John McEnroe

44. 15
Shown here is a picture of a railway station somewhere in
India. The code name of the station is ‘CAPE’ (just like GHY is
for Guwahati) Just name the city or town.


46. Answer
Kanyakumari

47. 16
In 2005, the capital of this Asian country was shifted more than
200 miles from the original capital to a completely undeveloped
ghost city – a move that drew surprise and criticism from foreign
observers. While the official reason for this change has been given
to be a need for space, observers have suspected other purposes
such as a security against public protests and regime change.
Which country ? What is the new capital of this country ? [1+1]

48. Answer
 Myanmar
 Naypyidaw

49. 17
Give me a 5 letter word to connect the tectonic plate that you
see on the left, to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site
you see on the right.

52. Answer
Nazca

53. 18
The first picture shows the trophy of a certain award that is
presented every year by the International Magicians Society to the
best magicians. This award is named after a famous magician from
British mythology, shown in the second pic. Just tell me the name
of this magician ?


55. Answer
Merlin

56. 19
In 2007, the Guardian newspaper analyzed the history of World
Cup Football, to determine which was the deadliest ____ ___ ____
ever. Eventually, it was determined that the one from the 1982
World Cup shown here was certainly the deadliest. Give me the
three word expression, originally coined by Mexican journalists in
1970

57. Answer
Group of Death

58. 20
Shown here are 3 buildings – which are among a group of 11
buildings in Australia, which have been together grouped into a
single World Heritage Site, referred to as “Australian ______
Sites”. Fill in the blank. Else, tell me what these buildings were
used for.


62. Answer
Australian Convict Sites
Used for housing prisoners who were exiled to Australia

63. 21
If you do a Google search of the greatest French authors of all time,
you might come across his name, with as many as 193 books
ascribed to him. However, the truth is, he only wrote one book – a
romantic novel named ‘Clisson et Eugenie” – which tells the story
of a brilliant young soldier who loves, loses and dies heroically in
battle. The rest of the books are merely collections of his speeches,
orders, personal correspondence and love letters. Who ?

64. Answer
 Napoleon Bonaparte

65. 22. Question on next slide

66. Well, she said “Yes”, and a child was soon born to them.
Who was this child ?

67. Answer
 Super Commando Dhruva

68. 23
First published in 1572, the ‘Os Lusiadas’ is a Portuguese epic poem
by Luis Vaz de Camoes, which is considered the National Epic of
Portugal. Written in the style of Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey, it tells
a fantastical story of the adventures of Portuguese heroes – all real
life personalities . The main hero in the poem, who is also the
narrator, is referred to as “eloquent captain”. Who is this hero ?

69. Answer
Vasco Da Gama

70. 24
“ ________ Panchali” or “The song of ____” is a recent Bengali
documentary tracing the life of Subir Banerjee, a person from a
village in Bengal, who lived most of his life in obscurity as a mill
worker. However, he is well known for something he did as a child.
Fill up the blank, or tell me his claim to fame.

72. Answer
 Apur Panchali
 He played the role of Apu in Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy

73. 25
On the next slide is a picture of the “Cape to Cairo Railway” – an
ambitious project that was proposed in the late 19th century but
never completed. The man who campaigned enthusiastically for
the project was a famous personality from the world of Business
and politics. This idea of his attracted the wrath of European
newspapers, who published cartoons of him, and mocked him by
comparing him to a certain mythological figure. Who was this
personality ? Also, what mythological figure was he compared to ?
[ 1+1 ]


75. Answer
 Cecil Rhodes
 Colossus of Rhodes

76. 26
Recently, FC Barcelona was fined a total of 70,000 Euros by the
UEFA because it allowed its fans to display these flags in the
stadium, which the UEFA considered as unacceptable political
symbols. This is because these flags are used by the supporters of a
certain political demand, who utilize the similarity of these flags to
the Barca flag to publicize their demands. What political demand,
that has somehow always played a part in the history of the club ?


78. Answer
Independence of Catalonia

79. 27
“ How did they ever make a movie of _____” – screamed the poster
of a famous 1962 Stanley Kubrick movie. As it turned out, the
MPAA censors felt the same way, and forced many of the scenes to
be cut. The movie was based on a 1955 book by an author whose
last unfinished book, “ The Original of Laura” was published in
2009 long after his death . Which movie ? Which author ? [1+1]

80. Answer
 Lolita
 Vladimir Nabokov

81. 28
This is a breed of dog that is found in Northern Russia and Siberia,
and is used primarily as a hunting dog. The name of the breed
comes from a Russian word that literally means ‘barker’ or ‘one who
barks’. Just name the dog breed.


83. Answer
Laika

84. 29
This is a picture of a monument located in Paris, France, that was
completed in 1790. Students of Philosophy/ Political Science
remember it as the place where the tombs of thinkers such as
Voltaire and Rousseau are located. Students of Science remember
it for a famous event/ show that took place here in 1851. Name this
monument. Also, what science related event in 1851 ? [ 1+1 ]


86. Answer
 The Pantheon, Paris
 Display of the Foucault Pendulum by Leon Foucault

87.  This fictional document was written over a 21 year period from
1964 to 1985.
 The first entry was dated March 18th, 1964, and ends with the
words, “ I’ll start tonight, with the woman and her killers.”
 The final entry was dated November 1st, 1985, and ends with the
words, “tanks are in East Berlin, and writing is on the wall. For
my own part, regret nothing. Have lived life, free from
compromise … and step into the shadow now without complaint”
 Which document ?
30

88.  Rorschach’s journal
Answer