Gargi Biz Quiz Finals

HighQ @ Gargi College
BizTech Quiz
Finals
Researched and Presented by
Jayant Verma
(with some kindness from others)

GUINEA PIGS
February 18, 2019BizTech Quiz @ HIGH Q, Gargi College by Jayant Verma

THE DESIGN
•4 Rounds
• Bull Run – 14 Questions
• Written – 6 Questions
• Bear Maul – 14 Questions

BULL RUN
•14 Questions
•Direct and Bounce: +10
•Pounce: +10/-5
•Civilized pounces only. Interrupting
questions being read/yelling pounce 25
times etc. will lead to docking of points and
other harsher surprise penalties for repeat
offences.

1
• Nitrogen is used, in what is an expensive and rare process to
cool down cement (and concrete), and generally leads to a
strong bond with certain soil types, but also requires careful
mixing and application.
• The mix is, generally hard to use (in certain operations),
because if the cement is too liquid, then other fluids and
gases will channel through the cement, and cause problems.
• This process, and it being botched up, was the root cause of
what nine year old incident?
• What organization (which was finally ascribed 3% of the
liability), was responsible for cementing?

SAFETY SLIDE

ANSWER
• Deepwater Horizon
Explosion
• Halliburton, the second
largest Oilfield
Management company,
after Schlumberger

2
• When the two brothers, Leroy and Forrest Raffel wanted
a new name for their venture, they initially settled on Big
Tex, but since using it would have caused an IPR
violation, they chose something else.
• What name did they pick, a pronunciation of initials of
their most popular offering, roast ____, which would
offend sensibilities in India?

ANSWER
• They offered roast beef, initialized as RB
• Arby’s

3
• Twenty years ago, MKU received an order of 10,000 units
of mountaineering shoes of sizes less than 8.
• Despite having a monthly capacity of only 8,000 units, it
readily agreed, and completed the order in time, and has
remained a faithful supplier of the Indian Army since.
• What was the reason for such a specific order (ideally
looking for a collective noun in your answer), and what
event led to it?

ANSWER
• The shoes were meant
for Gorkhas (and other
hill-ethnicity) units, who
are (generally) shorter
in height, and hence
require smaller shoes.
• Kargil War

4
• Ajit Haksar was the first Indian Chairman of a an almost 110
year old company, who, among other things, led the company
out of its core business (that also finds a mention in its
name).
• In 1971, he recruited a Bengali young man from Delhi, but his
pick refused, and, explained to him that he’d be unable to join
as he was going to share his future alma mater, HBS, with
Haksar. Haksar understood and encouraged the man to go to
HBS, and the rest is history.
• What now diversified organization did Haksar lead?
• Who was the young man who refused Haksar’s offer?

ANSWER
• Haksar led ITC Limited
• Rajat Gupta (former McKinsey MD)

5
• The fifth largest in advertising and PR, this company, as
an annual tradition, and (reportedly) as a condition of
employment, requires its employees to climb a 3,780m
high dormant volcano peak, which, as it claims, is
intended to promote employee solidarity and teamwork.
• What company is this, and what dormant volcano does it
require its employees to climb?

ANSWER
• Dentsu
• Mount Fuji

6
• Acetylation is the process of introducing an acetyl group
(CH3CO) to a chemical compound.
• In late 20th century, Felix Hoffman, a Bayer employee, was
looking for a way to ease his father’s pain caused by
Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Hoffman added an acetyl group to Morphine, in hopes of
producing Codeine, but the end result was entirely different.
• What did he invent, by adding an acetyl group to salicylic
acid, consumed by almost all of us? What was the result of
adding the acetyl group to morphine?

ANSWER
• Aspirin (Acetylation of Salicylic acid)
• Heroin (Acetylation of Morphine)

7
• In June-July 2017, this company filed a patent for a new
fulfillment center design, as it believed that the existing ones
waste space.
• According to the patent filed, the centers would be filled with
goods-filled containers, placed by either manual or automated
processes.
• The retrieval of these would then be done using acoustic
waves, which would then activate a cartridge inside the
containers, which would then transfer the package to the
surface.
• What company is this, and where are these proposed
fulfillment centers located?

ANSWER
• Amazon, which calls its
warehouses fulfillment
centers.
• These proposed
warehouses are going to
be located underwater.

8
• The Energy Observer, is a 30.5-meter long boat, fitted
with solar panels, wind turbines and a hydrogen fuel cell
system, built with a cost of USD5 million, will
circumnavigate the world, starting from France, and will
take around six years to complete the task.
• What, as a result of the technology that will be employed,
is this boat being touted the first of as, an important
term in eco-tech?
• The time taken, is almost double of which journey, that
started from Seville?

ANSWER
• The Energy
Observer will be
the first zero-
emission boat.
• It will take exactly
twice the amount
of time taken by
Magellan.

9
• Nathan “Nearest” Green, was an African-American born
into slavery, and emancipated after Civil war.
• He taught the tricks of the trade to a certain Jasper
Newton, who then went on to establish his own venture
in Moore County of The Volunteer State.
• What did Jasper Newton go on to start? Why did the
choice of Moore county ultimately prove to be ironic?

ANSWER
• Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel, started his eponymous
distillery to make Tennessee whisky.
• Moore County is a dry county.

10
• This establishment/exhibit, stylized as MOX on its
website, is curated by Dr. Samuel West, who has a PhD in
Organizational Psychology.
• He says that he was frustrated reading the success
stories, and therefore, decided to establish this, which
has exhibits such as Apple Newton, Sony Betamax, Casio
TV400, and Bic For Her, among others.
• What is the exhibit called? What is the most well known
Google product at the said exhibit?

ANSWER
• The Museum of Failure (AA: Museum of Failed
Products)
• Google Glass

11
• According to a report in Harper’s Bazaar, Bank of England’s latest
Tenner (Series G, made of polymer), has drawn flak, as it has been
described as a “publicity portrait”.
• The inspiration comes from a portrait drawn up by the subject’s
sister, Cassandra, in which the subject looks “shrew and cross”, but
on the Tenner, the subject looks sweet, and “plump-cheeked”.
• The criticism is well deserved, as the subject has been described as
having a sharp face, and an even sharper intellect.
• Who, thus, appears on the Tenner? Due to the changes, what
modern day phenomenon has been used to describe the act?
• Image if teams unanimously agree.

ANSWER
• Jane Austen
• Airbrushing

12
• This person was also a mental health advocate, and
therefore, did not shy away from openly discussing
sensitive issues such as depression, bi-polar disorder, and
addiction, as she had suffered at some point of time from
all of them.
• Who is this person, whose mother chose to be buried?
• What product’s giant replica did her brother choose as an
urn for her ashes, as it was of great utility, and possibly
helped her a lot?
• Images follow

ANSWER
• Carrie Fischer
• Her urn was a giant
Prozac (AA:
Fluoxetine) capsule

13
• These events, that happen in May and June of every year, see
a lot of performers, most whom stand over 7-ft vying for
accolades.
• The performers are frequent fliers, and due to time
constraints, require a special, chartered aircraft.
• A Boeing 727, outfitted to cater to all their needs, flies them
in 4/5 days before the performance, but at a price, as the
tickets can cost up to 5k US$, but with personal attention
given from boarding to landing, and the Stakes on offer, it
does seem worth it.
• What event(s) are these, and who are these frequent fliers?

ANSWER
• (American) Triple
Crown of
Thoroughbred Racing
• AA: Kentucky Derby,
Preakness Stakes,
and Belmont Stakes
• Horses are the
frequent fliers

AUDIENCE QUESTION
SCORE CHECK
What is the plane that ferries these
thoroughbreds around the States called?

ANSWER
Air Horse One

14
• Founded exactly 100 years ago, this company was named
after the founder’s son, and moved across the border
from Spain to France ten years after its foundation.
• What company, that is often in controversy due to its
employment of unethical marketing tactics to sell the
baby formula it makes?

ANSWER
• Danone

WRITTEN
•Theme: Automobiles
•Scoring: +10

1
• In a recent episode of The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson
tests the Jaguar XE SV Project 8, a direct competitor to
the German-made BMW M3.
• In general irreverent manner, Clarkson says that the car
was “built in a glorified shed in the West Midlands in 18
months” but in the concluding notes, impressed with the
car, says that “...the last time something was designed
and built quickly in a glorified shed in the Midlands it was
called ________ and it won the Battle of Britain.”
• FITB.

2
• What you see here is the scale
model of a 1954 Mercedes
300SL.
• What, from the Laridae family,
is the name given to the design
of the doors, or, alternatively,
what are these doors called?

3
• Where are all these
advertisements
based?

4
• What manufacturer, offers, in almost all its models, the
brand topping, L&K trim (variant)?

5
• What well known product was named after the peregrine
falcon, the bird with the fastest dive speeds, ranging
from 180-200mph.
• The name was apt, too, as the peregrine falcon preys on
Turdus merula, thus reflecting the intentions of the
company to outperform the rival.
• Name the product, and what, from the world of aviation,
lent the name to the vanquished rival?

6
• The Ford Falcon (XB) was a full-size car that was
produced by Ford Australia from 1973 to 1976. It was the
second iteration of the third generation of this Australian-
made model and also included the Ford Fairmont (XB)—
the luxury-oriented version of the Falcon.
• Look closely at the image in the following slide, and tell
where has it been used famously? (The most recent
iteration, is a bare-bone version of the original)
62

ANSWER
• Supermarine Spitfire

ANSWER
• Gull-wing doors

ANSWER
• Grand Theft Auto
universe

ANSWER
• Skoda, which was
started as Laurin &
Klement, in 1895,
by Václav Klement
(left) and Václav
Laurin

ANSWER
• Suzuki GSX 1300R, or
Hayabusa
• Direct competitor to upset the
speed record held by the Honda
CBR1100XX Super Blackbird,
named after the Lockheed SR-
71 Blackbird.

6
• The Ford Falcon (XB) was a full-size car that was
produced by Ford Australia from 1973 to 1976. It was the
second iteration of the third generation of this Australian-
made model and also included the Ford Fairmont (XB)—
the luxury-oriented version of the Falcon.
• Look closely at the image in the following slide, and tell
where has it been used famously? (The most recent
iteration, is a bare-bone version of the original)
76

ANSWER
• The original Mad Max V8 Interceptor (Pursuit Special)
78

ANSWER
• Bare Bones Interceptor (Fury Road, 2015)
79

AUDIENCE QUESTION/SCORE CHECK
What from the world of
sports is the term given
to the strategy of using
a competitor’s strength
against itself?

ANSWER
Judo

BEAR MAUL
•14 Questions
•Direct and Bounce: +10
•Pounce: +10/-5
•Civilized pounces only. Interrupting
questions being read/yelling pounce 25
times etc. will lead to docking of points and
other harsher surprise penalties for repeat
offences.

1
• In a recent Forbes report, Peter Cohen recalls how in a
primarily B2B industry, one player forced the downfall of its
competitor’s most famous product, through the judo strategy
thought of at least 25 years ago.
• James McNerney, realized that mid-sized products (catering
point to point segment) would be more profitable and in
demand, rather than long-range, hub-segment products, and
thus used his competitors strengths against them.
• Who are these two competitors, and what famous failed
product is being talked about?

ANSWER
• Boeing
• Airbus
• The recently scrapped
Airbus A380

2
• The smallest bottle in which Champagne is stored and
sold, measures 0.1875 liters, and the name comes from
the Italian word for small.
• What is the good name, that will surely remind some of
their childhood days?
• The largest common measure in which the French wines
(Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux) are sold is the 18
liter, named after the oldest member of the Magi, name
that, too.

ANSWER
• Piccolo (0.1875L)
• Melchior (18L)

3
• A trademark is a recognizable sign, design, or expression
which identifies products and while they do exist,
trademarks granted for smell are rare.
• Recently, one such grant was made, described as “Sweet,
slightly musky. Vanilla-like. Slight overtones of cherry.
Natural smell of a salted, wheat-based _____.”
• What product, used by almost everyone at some point of
time, was granted this trademark?

ANSWER
• Play-Doh

4
• In 'Storm in a _-Cup', June Kenton, former owner of Rigby
and Peller, recalls her visits to her most famous client,- the
client would always be half dressed (a requirement) and
polite.
• However, the client did not like it, and immediately
terminated her relationship with her. Mrs Kenton, in her
response said that she did not reveal any personal details,
and did not think she’d be required to submit her
autobiography for review with the former client.
• What line of work was Mrs Kenton in (or, what do Rigby and
Peller sell?) Who is her most famous client?

ANSWER
• Rigby and Peller sell
lingerie
• They held the royal
warrant to be the
“corsetiere”
• Queen Elizabeth II

5
• Bristol Dry Gin, last year launched a new spirit on 7 July,
and was immediately met with social media backlash for
the mistiming and for blatant insensitivity.
• A user commented on the post, “As a resident of
Salisbury I think your marketing team might want to
rethink the name. For those of us enduring this
nightmare it really is in poor taste.”
• BDG apologized and said it was only to lighten the mood.
• What did they name their product?

ANSWER
• Novichok, after the
nerve agent that was
used to attack Charlie
Rowley and Dawn
Sturgess

6
• In the 1920s, this man, head of a Dearborn HQed company,
got tired of the British control over the supply of a key raw
material that came from Sri Lanka, and turned towards Brazil,
to not just obtain the raw material, but also to establish a
new city.
• The plans however, failed due to logistical reasons (as the
new city was to be in the middle of the Amazon basin), with
both costs and time running amok, the project had to be
abandoned.
• Who/What company tried this, and what key material did they
expect to source thus?

ANSWER
• Henry Ford
• They expected to source
Latex/rubber for the
tires

7
• Like most watchmakers, it has a long history, founded by
Ariste Calme in 1882 in Le Locle, Switzerland. The
original name of the company was Ariste Calame and
would later change to its present name.
• In 1953, they introduced the world’s first dive watch, Sea
Wolf, and followed it with the Super Sea Wolf, in 1970s,
which was adopted by SEALs.
• However, this brand is more famous for inspiring a
certain, dreaded alias as well as the signature.
• What was this alias?

ANSWER
• Zodiac Watches, inspired the Northern Californian serial
killer, who went by the name Zodiac, and had the same
signature.

8
• The General Administration of Customs of this country, by
mid-2018, had intercepted close to a million tones of this
“product”, in 276 cases up 89 percent since 2017.
• The operation was called “Sword at the Country’s Gate
2018”, and also focuses on other things, like endangered
species, which led to uncovering of mammoth fossils
from a truck in Harbin.
• What “product” is being spoken of? What country?

ANSWER
• Trash, as companies
often dump their wastes
in China, instead of
disposing them off
safely.

9
• The product, given that it was made in such conflict
ridden and hard times, has been described as being
made from “leftovers of leftovers”.
• To this end, initial iterations of the product were made by
using leftover apple fibers, mash from cider presses, and
whey.
• What product, that was given its now known flavor some
64-odd years ago?

ANSWER
• Fanta

10
• Ida Tarbell was born in 1857 and spent her childhood
Titusville, PA, and recalled her motivation for what she is best
known for as having stemmed from when she saw her father’s
experiences with his business rival.
• In 1904, when working with McClure, she decided to turn her
attention to the said rival, and went on to uncover,
painstakingly, their misdeeds, which ranged from rigging
railroad prices and preying on competition.
• Who put Ida’s father out of work, who also called her,
disparagingly, “Ms. Tarbarell” and what did her investigative
journalism eventually lead to?

ANSWER
• John D. Rockefeller
• Titusville was the site
of Pennsylvania Oil
Boom
• The breakup of
Standard Oil into baby
Standards

11
• Last year, when this popular product, which was
marketed as “Not A ____________” to avoid legal
hassles was launched, a complimentary product, should
things go wrong, was also offered.
• The company, however, did so in a tongue in cheek
manner, going so far as to claim that the product can
definitely be bought for cheaper, but theirs had a cooler
sticker.
• What non-product, and what complimentary product,
both of which now stand sold out?

ANSWER
• The Boring Company’s
Not A Flamethrower
• Fire extinguisher

12
• This company’s core product is ecologically unsustainable,
since the product is made using oil based processes, and
looking to change that has invested around 1B kr. to research
and development of sustainable materials for its core
offerings.
• That said, botanical elements of the product are now made
using polyethylene, but account for only 1-2% of the total
production.
• What company is this, and what is the (very meta) source for
the polyethylene used to make the botanical elements (grass,
trees, and leaves etc.)

ANSWER
• Lego
• Polyethylene comes
from plants
themselves
(specifically,
sugarcane)

12
• When the Oberoi in Delhi opened after a Rs 600 Crore
Renovation project. It also had an added attraction - it
promises _____ ___ in Delhi.
• For this they used the devices/appliances shown in the
picture below. They claimed that they have installed
these in around 40 locations within the hotel premises
aiming for "single digit figures".
• What are these, and what "single digit" figures do they
aim to achieve?

ANSWER
• Air purifiers.
• Oberoi claims that they'll achieve single digit AQI levels

BEFORE WE FINISH
•Thank you to the Gargi College Quiz Society
for having me over.
•Bouquets and brickbats welcome at
• +91-995-363-1951
• zayant49@gmail.com
• facebook.com/zayant
• Please clean up after yourself!
9 October 2017Gargi College MELA Quiz by Jayant Verma
127

14
• The inclusion of this phrase in the OED, which was
created for an advertising campaign in the 60s, surprised
many.
• Katherine Connor Martin, explained that the decision was
made because the phrase has stayed in the popular
lexicon, as the occurrence of it has gone up, even though
the media utilized to achieve it, have changed.
• What two word phrase, whose other (incomplete)
Wiktionary definition is “The situation in which a business
fails to foresee changes within its industry …”

ANSWER
• Kodak Moment
• A “Kodak moment” might
better refer to the failure
of a once-dominant
business to respond to a
disruptive new technology-
-in Kodak’s case: digital
photography.
• Jerry Ross, The Wrong
Kind of “Kodak Moment”
Will Big Banks Become
the Next Victims of Tech
Disruption?

Gargi Biz Quiz Finals

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Gargi Biz Quiz Finals

Editor's Notes